Support Amanda in Mysore

So I've made it. I have been practicing in Mysore, India for about a month now. For those of you who don't know, Mysore is the home of ashtanga yoga and traveling there will allow me to learn ashtanga "at the source".

Not only is this the first international sabbatical I've ever taken, it's the longest sabbatical I've ever taken. I'm here for three more months. Though the majority of my major expenses are taken care of (three months rent paid, fridge purchased, plane ticket and visa taken care of, home wears appropriated) I still have to eat and pay shala fees for the next two months. The good news is that the second two months at the shala are cheaper than the first.

I am surviving off a small chunk of income that is still coming to me from classes. Many of my classes are suffering in my absence. Class size has dropped and I'm still responsible for rent and paying my subs. So the vast majority of my money from classes is going back into keeping those classes going for you all.


Beyond the basic costs of survival over here, I've also incurred several unplanned expenses back home in Indianapolis.


First, I had an immediate death in the family shortly before I left for India. I am the nearest immediate family member and am this responsible for all arrangements. Though this individual didn't want anything fancy, final arrangements are always expensive.


In addition, my home was burglarized last week. The cost of repairing windows and paying the alarm company to come out has almost killed me.


I really don't want to leave Mysore early or have to ask the shala for leniency on paying my fees. I'm here to study and that's what I'm trying to do.

Because this is such a huge opportunity for me and by extension, a huge opportunity for my students, I'm offering my readers, students, friends, family, and social network the opportunity to help me stay in India through monetary donations. If you want to help and lack the finances to do so, there are lots of other ways you can help. Just ask me.

Anything you can give to show your support for my ability to continue to stay here and learn will be greatly appreciated, as every little bit helps. It is tough to live off a yoga teacher's earnings, but it is worth it to be able to make a living doing what you love and serving others. Help me stay here get the training I need to continue to learn and grow as a teacher. The more world-class training your local yoga teachers gain, the better quality instruction we can share with the Indianapolis yoga community.