Alan hasn't read Yoga Mala

December 25, 2000

Mr Skull, you are right. I do a lot more

practicing than reading yoga books, and I intend to keep it

that way. I went to most of the workshops I mentioned

in my first year or two of practice, when I really

knew nothing about theory and hadn't considered going

to Mysore - I just knew I loved the classes I was

going to, and if my teacher said "it's worth doing a

workshop with so and so" I would give it a try. Most of

them were in Oxford organised by Ian MacDonald (if you

ever have the time and the money, you should consider

going to some. They have some great visiting teachers,

and Ian and the Oxford ashtangis are a super friendly

and welcoming crowd) The first time I had a

chance to conveniently pick up a copy of Yoga Mala was

at Guruji's workshop this summer, and I decided not

to because I didn't want to feel like I was behaving

in a fan-clubby, "bought the teeshirt" kind of way.

(I can write this without feeling *too* hypocritical

because my photo of me with Guruji is in the living room

and my PC is in the kitchen, so he isn't smiling

benignly down on me as I write). Possibly a mistake, but

there you go. I found that now, with a few

years practice behind me, yoga theory books start to

make sense. I bought Georg Feuerstein's very

intimidating "The Yoga Tradition" nearly two years ago, but

have only just started to make any real progress with

attempts to read parts of it. Also read Stephen Cope's

very interesting "Yoga And The Quest For The True

Self" this year. I hope my mother has got me

John Scott's book for Christmas as requested - am off

to England on Wendesday to find out. Viel

Spass in Italien! Alan

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