I am not a purist.

I've been practicing many types of yoga for over 10 years. I began my journey with Hatha. Then went through training to practice yoga therapy for children with special needs. My own yoga practice intensified through jivamukti and power yoga. I've never considered myself a purist. In fact, one of my favorite parts of teaching yoga is finding or creating a great sequence to further one's practice.

Everything changed, in a way I hadn't quite expected, when I traveled to Mysore, India to study Ashtanga.

My cousin, Angelique Sandas (find her blog!) is a certified Ashtanga yoga teacher. I tagged along with her on one of her biannual Mysore trips. She is a purist. She, as Ashtangis do, dedicates her practice to Ashtanga. She honors the sequence of series as presented by Sri Pattabhi Jois. Well, I warned her before we went to India, "I am not a purist." (She smiled.)

Even as my body began to transform in India, as my practice began to transform, I watched all of the other students from around the world coming to this very special place to practice, and saw myself as outsider, as a watcher. I am not a purist. Toward the end of my trip I began to feel like one "of them". Watching new students arrive, seeing them go through the transition and transformation that I went through. Still, though, I did not see myself as a purist.

Now much time has past. Winter turned to spring, to summer, to fall. My life has changed quite a bit too. I have gone from stay at home mom to full time special education teacher. I am trying to find my way to my new normal. Its been very difficult. I miss being home with my son terribly. And for some silly reason, I though I would finally have time to dedicate to my own practice since I wasn't teaching yoga anymore. Silly me.

What I am finding though, that the time I do create to practice yoga, I am only practicing Ashtanga. I have no desire to attend any other style of class. I am only seeking out Ashtanga teachers, and more specifically ones who practice Mysore style. But, I repeat, I am not a purist.

Or am I? Why do I only desire to practice Ashtanga? Why do I get irritated in class if a teacher isn't practicing Mysore style? Perhaps my experience has led me down a path that I did not anticipate. I always say that yoga calls you to the mat. If you find yourself practicing, its not a coincidence, you have been brought there for a purpose, to do work. Ashtanga is calling me. In a very purist kind of way.

I stand by my statement, and am curious to see how my yoga path unfolds. I feel India calling me back. I don't know how or when that calling will be fulfilled.

I am not a purist. Or am I? I guess only the future will tell.