Welcome to Drama at the Shala!
If you’re new here: Hi! I’m thrilled you’re here! (And if you’ve been here before, I’m even more thrilled! :D)
I’m Kathrin, online marketer by day, aspiring ashtangi by… well… early morning (Mysore FTW!). I started Drama at the Shala to have a place to share my thoughts on yoga and life. I began to get into yoga in my early 30s and started to have a more or less regular practice 3 years ago. I started out with vinyasa and hatha (instructed in Hungarian, a language I don’t speak! lol) and did a 200h Yoga Teacher Training in 2018. No, I don’t really want to teach, but I wanted to learn more about yoga, yoga philosophy and proper technique. After doing a lot of led Ashtanga classes over the years, I’ve recently decided to commit to a regular Mysore practice and this is where the story of this blog begins…
Am I the Worst Ashtangi EVER?
I love Ashtanga and my daily practice, yet sometimes I feel like I’m the “worst ashtangi” ever! I’m cynical, impatient and get frustrated during my practice. Sometimes I feel lazy in the morning and have to really force myself to get going. I modify certain poses even during primary series. And no, I don’t know if I’ll ever embark on the pilgrimage to Mysore or if I’ll ever make it to second series even. I’m not the perfect Ashtangi you see on Instagram and I probably never will be. But you know what? All of that is ok for me. I’m ok just being an ashtanga student, who’s figuring things out and trying to do her best to show up on the mat 6 days a week.
Ashtanga is a very strict practice with many rules. To some of my friends, who don’t do yoga, it almost seems like a cult and I understand why. The chanting, the set sequence, the ashtanga-speak… It can seem a little (or very!) weird and intimidating. It sure did to me, when I got started. I was intrigued, but also very irritated after the first led ashtanga class I ever took.
Why I Started this Blog
Over the years, I have grown to better understand ashtanga and I started this blog to share my yoga journey with you and other readers. On this blog I write about my ashtanga practice, how it evolves and the questions it brings up for me (Spoiler: Many!).
I’ve always liked writing and enjoyed sharing ideas. Over the past few years, however, I went through a bit of a phase, where I felt like there was no need for yet another voice, yet another blog. I’ve changed my mind on this one. (Oh hello there, newly found self confidence!)
I take my Ashtanga practice quite seriously, but I am also a very imperfect human and yogini. I have a very tongue-in-cheek kind of humor and view of the world and the tone of this blog reflects that. I want my stories about my practice and the people I meet along the way to make Ashtanga more approachable and less intimidating for those, who are just getting started.
I hope you’ll enjoy my somewhat lighthearted musings on life, yoga and everything in-between as I work towards finally opening up my hips and figuring out Marichyasana D!
If you wanna get in touch, please do! I’d love to hear from you!
Kathrin
PS: Oh. And if you wonder about the name of this blog, HERE is your answer! 😉