Ashtanga World

Happy New Year to all of you!

I hope that this year brings you health and happiness. Last night we have a nice gathering here to bring in the new year. We gathered together for a group meditation. The community here is very special and just feels like an extended family. We have people from England, Belgium, America, Israel, Thailand, Canada, Italy, and I am sure many more to come. It's nice too because most people tend to stay for several weeks or more so you really get to know people. I am sure that some of you must be curious about what my day to day activities entail so here's a brief overview......
Yoga practice begins at 7:30 each morning. This lasts 2 hours and is done in the Mysore style. That means that each person is doing their own practice but in a group setting. If you are new the teachers (Prem and Heather) will teach you the sequence but then once you are familiar with it you follow your own breath. They just move around the room giving students help and adjustments as needed. In Ashtanga yoga there are 6 series of poses. I do about 2/3 of the first series along with opening and closing poses. As you are ready for new poses the teachers will just add on another pose to your practice.
So, after practice I walk down to the kitchen area and get a fresh king coconut. I cut it open and drink all the milk inside and then eat whatever meat is there too. Then a couple of us walk over to a neighboring beach for a swim. We swim out across the bay to a rocky point and then back. It's a good little workout after practice. Following the swim and some beach time which usually includes some spontaneous handstand practice or headstands......I head back to rocky point. By now it's 11:30 and time for breakfast.....a huge bowl of fresh fruit....bananas, papaya, pineapple, and mango. A bowl of fresh buffalo milk curd is also served. The curd is made daily nearby and is never in the fridge.....in fact not much is ever in the fridge. Cooking in the tropics is an adventure and so is dealing with the ants and flies that are everywhere.
The rest of the afternoon is filled with a variety of things that include body surfing on another nearby beach, reading, trips to town, or other learning opportunities. A lot of teachers are attracted to this place and everyone has something to share. Tonight we are having a pranayama workshop. Then every evening at 7:30 there is a community meditation hour. It is just an hour sit in silence.
If you want to see more check out ashtangaworld.com and I will post some pictures soon. Sri Lanka is a very special place and the people here are friendly and kind. Although there has been violence in some parts of the country it is very safe here.
Many blessings to you in this new year.

Love, Jacob

Swimming with Elephants

Greetings all....



I have safely arrived in Sri Lanka and it is very peaceful and beautiful where I am. I am just around the southern tip of the island on the east side. Looking out from the beaches there is only ocean between me and the south pole. Ironically the first book I read while here was Endurance......about Shackelton's journey on the ice. It's a great read.

Life in Sri Lanka is pretty wild. This is my frist trip to South Asia or India and what a different world it is here. The driving here is pretty crazy....high speeds, dodging cows, elephants on flatbed trucks being transported toceremonies, bikes everywhere, etc. It just sort of feels like a free for all on the road. Everyone keeps telling me that this is tame and just wait until I go to India.....I look forward to it.



As for the yoga it's great. It is extremely hot and humid here so it makes for a very wet and sweaty practice each morning. There are magnificient beaches here and this morning on our daily swim there was an elephant walking on the beach. What enormous footprints! I hope you are all well and enjoying the holidy season. Much love and blessings from the other side of the earth.

I will update you all more frequently. Life is very slow here and coming to town for email and a meal in town is our big event for the day. Namaste. Jacob

Singapore Sling

Here I am in the Singapore airport at a free internet terminal....and there are about a dozen computers right around me for people to use....Singapore is a really modern city that is super easy, safe, and clean. Everything went smooth on my flight over here except that my duffel bag never made it.....lost in the pacific somewhere. No worries though.....Singapore airlines took care of me and gave me petty cash for my trouble yesterday and to go buy some clothes. I am sure my bag will make it eventually but the important thing is that I have my passport and yoga mat.
I spent last night with my friends Woolsey and Steff from Mount Shasta. They live and work here and have a great place right downtown. We had a sweet night that involved delicious food and some Singapore Slings...a tropical cocktail that'll throw you for a whirl.
So I am off to Colombo now and will share more later.....I hope you are all well.
Cheers, Jake

I need to proof read these posts...my spelling was not so good in the last one. Cheers.

Leaving tomorrow

I am off tomorrow for the other side of the world. I can't wait to get on that plane and crusie over the Pacific to lands undiscovered and mysterious. I must really be getting into yoga and meditation.....I am skiiping ski season and going to the other side of the world just to study yoga. Lots to do today and more to come......