Sita-pati's Bishnu Charan Ghosh Cup Challenge

I'm in the Australian Regional (National) Finals for the Bishnu Charan Ghosh Cup Yoga Asana Championships, to be held in Melbourne on November 30. Currently I'm training in Auckland, New Zealand where there are no less than three Bikram studios - with two in adjacent suburbs even, and with interleaved classes (for example, you can go to an afternoon class starting at 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, or 6pm!).

Bikram yoga must be wildly popular here.

I popped in for a class today, and discovered that Darren Ma, two time and current Australian National champion, is leading the advanced series in Newmarket tomorrow.

No prizes for guessing where I'll be.

I spent last Saturday with Darren, or as I dubbed him "Dronacarya" ;-), at Bikram Caloundra, doing a posture clinic. He spent some time coaching me for my Cup challenge (hence the Dronacarya moniker - Dronacarya taught the warrior who eventually killed him). I was worried that my New Zealand trip was going to knock me off my training schedule, but it seems to be taking it to another level... I missed the advanced classes that they are doing in Brisbane in the run-up to the cup, but I get another day with Darren here. Krishna is in control, clearly.

I'm staying at my mum's place in New Lynn - it's equidistant from New Varshan (the local Hare Krishna farm and temple) and the Bikram studios, so I'm perfectly situated.

Protein bars and powders are cheaper here than they are in Australia, strangely enough. Many of them are New Zealand brands, but even the Australian ones are cheaper here.

Here's the first line from the Bishnu Ghosh Regional Yoga Asana Championship Waiver and Release of Liability, which I had to sign:

I acknowledge that this hatha yoga championship can be an extreme test of a person's physical and mental limits and carries with it the potential for serious injury.

Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout! Bring it on!