Differently the same

How is everyone doing? I hope you are doing well. 

This new moon is quite special. Our muslim brothers and sisters are celebrating the end of Ramadan. Happy Eid to all our brothers and sisters. I find it very interesting that a lot of cultures have a lot to go back to the moon cycle, from different parts of the world. The more I travel and the more I meet people I see this nuances. And it shows me that we maybe all different but there is also a lot of similarities. Same with learning languages, learning one language sometimes helps the understanding of the other. The more I study the more similarities I find. And for me this is something that remains very interesting.

The ashtanga practice usually has a rest day, Saturday for me, because in my life right now it makes more sense. A lot of questions were raised when the Saturday rest day was moved by Sharathji to Sunday rest day in Mysore. He moved it to spend more time with his family, and who are we to question. He is right to want to spend time with his family. He is busy enough with the students. And I think this was also beautiful to see that in such a rigid practice, there are ways when we can 'bend' the rules. 

When I was just starting (or restarting again and again, over and over, till now I do this) I didn't want to have rest days. Because I felt like it was breaking my learning progress. And up to this day I do have weeks when I do not observe a rest day. Because personally I found that my mind is more steady when I practice. Yes yes I know, I never said I am a good student, I think I am a very bad one. I bend enough rules :). It's probably better not to discuss all of the rules that I like to bend. And besides that would be such a long list. I don't really want to bore you with it. 

Anyway, whether or not I practice a rest day, I try to have a day with a less intensive practice. Also on the days when I feel my mind or my body, or both are weak, I revert to an easier practice. It helps me calm down instead of fire up. Weekends are for me also oil bath day(s). The castor oil bath usually goes with the rest day of the ashtanga practice. It is not an actual bath to the western idea of bath. It's more like an oil soak. Starting with the head and then the rest of the body in the sticky castor oil. And then I try to soak in it as long as I can. And I think (I'd like to believe) this helps me relax the body. 

​It has been one ride this whole 2020. And we are barely halfway. Always dig deep, you will find courage in there. Maybe it seems like it's very bleak but keep digging. I know you have it in you. There is always something left. And sometimes we really get the good stuff in the end. I'd like to believe that. Yes I am a dreamer. I am also a realist. And I know the things we feed, it grows. So keep feeding the good in you, the perseverance, the patience, the belief, the sometimes little voice that keeps you going. Always take care and I send my love. Lots of it.

Love always
J