Kerala - Day 9

Started the day with yoga. We got through all of the "selected asanas to maintain the general health of the body and mind" and learned some pranayam (breathing exercises). I'm learning how yoga can cure disease which is incredibly fascinating to me. I just found out about a yoga university where they do scientific research on yoga and it's physiological affect on the body. I love the idea of an inpatient hospital where you are taught specific yoga poses and breathing exercises to treat your disease and you go home and heal yourself. It's teaching a man to fish. The university has a month long program that I plan to do. Quote of the day from class:

The Gestalt Prayer (misquoted, which is just so India)
I am me and you are you
I do my thing and you do your thing.
I am not in this world to live up to your expectations,
And you are not in this world to live up to my expectations.
And if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful.
If not, it cannot be helped.

We had a very busy day of class. I can't quite remember what all we did, but I know we gave each other facials using fresh fruit, herbs, olive oil and almond oil. We did netra basti which is a treatment for the eyes which would benefit me greatly except that I'm contraindicated because my eyes are so jacked. We also learned nasya which is something I felt a little weak on and I'm glad we went over it in depth.

After lunch, a few of us received the head covering treatment we learned yesterday. It's good for premature graying and I don't know if anyone does it in the US, so I had requested to experience it. Then, it was back to class for the afternoon to finish in time for a field trip! We went to see a Kalaripayattu demonstration and on the way, our auto rickshaw driver asked if we wanted to drive! Shannon drove there and I drove back at night. The demonstration included a massage done mostly with the feet holding on to ropes that hang from the ceiling. I didn't know anything about Kalaripayattu, before I got there. It's really cool! I was told the word "karate" comes from "Kalaripayattu" and it pre-dates east asian martial arts. Does that make it the original martial art?

We got back from the field trip to a late dinner. We were spoiled in Tangatur by our wonderful chef, Srinivas, who not only made us amazing South Indian vegetarian meals three times a day, but almost always made some dessert. We haven't had any here, and people have really been missing it. I don't usually eat dessert, but I do like me some gulab jamin. While we were waiting for dinner to be served, we decided to go out and get some after dinner. When the food came out, there was the gulab jamin we'd been craving! Manifesting is fun.

After dinner, one of the staff members needed to run an errand in the closest town, Mahe, and wanted some company. So, Shannon and I hopped on the back of his motorcycle and went for a ride. That goes on the list of things I'd never do at home, but am somehow ok with in India.

Last night, Monica and I discovered that one of staff members does Bollywood style dancing. Of course, we told him we wanted him to show us some moves, so after the motorcycle ride, Saheer gave us a little lesson and a big workout.


I was pretty wired after that, and I hadn't had a chance to really practice my head massage. I've been trying to get some of Rigesh's time to practice on him, but he's been really busy. He turned up after we were done dancing, so I practiced on him. I didn't get any clicks and he seemed mildly satisfied by my massage overall. When I asked how it was at the end, he said "More better." I'm ranking that above "better" but below "ok" and the elusive clicking sound. He told me what I had to work on. I'm hoping to get some time with him tomorrow evening. I'll get that click and a head nod yet. Subtlety is one of Rigesh's strong suits.