This morning's lecture was on Patra Potala Sweda (massage with hot herbal boluses.) After a short lecture on how the boluses are made, we got to make them ourselves and practice using them on one of our own. There is literally an old guy out back that prepares all the decoctions, oils, and other herbals formulations.
He let us sample some of his chyawanprash and it was delicioius! I would like to bring home a barrel. We chopped herbs, cooked them up and wrapped them in cloth to make the boluses.
Then, we heated the boluses and used them to massage Monica, our courageous demo body. Patra Potala Sweda is good for stiffness and pain. I was experiencing some muscular main in my shoulder (probably from carrying all my crap around). I got to try a little local Patra Potala Sweda on my shoulder at the end of class and I experienced immediate relief. This stuff really works!
In the afternoon, we reviewed the head massage and learned a facial massage. Rigesh is my new punching bag, so to speak. He's a therapist and gives good feedback, albeit subtle. "It's OK" with a head nod means your doing a satisfactory job. "Better" means you've improved vastly from the shit job you were doing earlier. As best as I can tell, when you're doing a great job, he just makes a clicking sound with his tongue. I've only heard the click once. I have to work hard at getting him not to multi-task and help other groups while I'm working on him, though. I like to think I'd get more clicks if I had his undivided attention.
Another beautiful sunset at the beach to end the day. The soccer boys wanted me to take their photos again. When I asked why, they didn't seem to have an answer. I appeased them by telling them to go play soccer and I'd take photos of them playing. Dinner was chickpeas and fresh chapati! Mmm...
Yoga at 8:00 am tomorrow. I better get to sleep!
He let us sample some of his chyawanprash and it was delicioius! I would like to bring home a barrel. We chopped herbs, cooked them up and wrapped them in cloth to make the boluses.
Then, we heated the boluses and used them to massage Monica, our courageous demo body. Patra Potala Sweda is good for stiffness and pain. I was experiencing some muscular main in my shoulder (probably from carrying all my crap around). I got to try a little local Patra Potala Sweda on my shoulder at the end of class and I experienced immediate relief. This stuff really works!
In the afternoon, we reviewed the head massage and learned a facial massage. Rigesh is my new punching bag, so to speak. He's a therapist and gives good feedback, albeit subtle. "It's OK" with a head nod means your doing a satisfactory job. "Better" means you've improved vastly from the shit job you were doing earlier. As best as I can tell, when you're doing a great job, he just makes a clicking sound with his tongue. I've only heard the click once. I have to work hard at getting him not to multi-task and help other groups while I'm working on him, though. I like to think I'd get more clicks if I had his undivided attention.
Another beautiful sunset at the beach to end the day. The soccer boys wanted me to take their photos again. When I asked why, they didn't seem to have an answer. I appeased them by telling them to go play soccer and I'd take photos of them playing. Dinner was chickpeas and fresh chapati! Mmm...
Yoga at 8:00 am tomorrow. I better get to sleep!
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