My attempts to learn Yoga and Vedanta have had many mishaps.  Then a chance meeting with Swami Govindanand set the stage for a month long teacher training in Kodakkad, North Kerala: a new ashram, limited students and peace filled surroundings.

The course was designed by Swami Vishnudevananda back in the 60’s when he wanted the West to experience the depth of Yoga and he integrated Vedanta into it in what i found was a seamless way.  Twelve basic asanas, two Pranayamas, a map of essential Vedanta and much mantra chanting is the core of the course.  It is intensive and extensive- there is not a moment to spare on most days but they are filled with so much that can make life meaningful.

As ashrams go, and i have sampled quite a few, the Sivananda Yoga Vidya Peetham is charming being compact with three modern laterite structures and fair amenities set in rural paddy fields and much wilderness.  Kodakkad, as a village, is quite lovely with its few and far apart homes, wells, ponds, good roads and a cluster of temples. It faces east and not a single sunrise over the small hill of palms should be missed.  On many mornings we would be taken from our chanting routine to do some barefoot gayatri mantras looking at the sun- a most memorable moment of the month.

While the Asana teacher was disappointing but one plodded along, the Vedanta teaching more than made up for it: Swami Govindananda is extraordinarily lucid and engaging- he lives by his teachings and that gives a certain strength that is rare to find. His family provides a great support team- with a touch of Gurukulam.

A feature of this training are the pujas that all conducted with much vedic vigour- yantras, havan and chanting imbue the space with pranic energy.  We all noticed subtle changes in us as the days passed- the critical mind softening into the more accepting mind.  All questions are fairly answered by swamiji.  We all felt cared for through little gestures of Swami G.

Now a few weeks later, the ashram life is alive within- something has shifted and I want it to grow.

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What I really want to share with you is the lessons I learnt on this trip:

1. Our cells are smarter than we are: Freed from digestive stress and with detoxification, they healed me when no medical system worked. The biggest barrier to health is digestive stress- and its cumulative. Regular detox through short and long water fasts and raw is my mantra. I am a lot more trusting of self healing today.

2. Deep Rest: Goes beyond sleep which varies in rest intensity – a night routine of wind down allows for shorter time in REM. The sea and the forest healed me as much as the fasting and Panchkarma. I can’t emphasise the healing power of pranayama, jal neti and yoga enough.

3. Stressors: Disconnect from self, emotional turmoils, unresolved issues, overthinking, overeating… there are so many stressors that create disease. I am more aware of my stressors now and feel calm just knowing this. Stress is becoming the theme of my next book.

4. Yoga Nidra: This powerful tool that i learnt at Bihar School of Yoga was finally practised and I see it’s potential big time. If you would like the guided recording of Swami Satyanand putting you into YN, I am happy to forward.

5. Present Moment Awareness: Finally I practised it for sometime everyday. What a ringside view of eternity. I am still at the threshold and look forward to deeper dives.

6. Minimalism: Was so happy living out of a bag for 60 days. My home feels too heavy and have been decluttering last few days. Things tie us down. We use such few things. If i count the things I haven’t touched in 3 years, the number will be over a 1000… Less is so so much more.

7. The elements: Sun bathing, plenty of water, contact with Nature and Earth, deep breathing, moving the body and emptying your mind = Health

So what was Panchkarma all about-here is Chris Lipp’s (fellow Panchkarmi) little ditty about it

Panchakarma its Day 1,

I’m sure this trip’s gonna be so much fun.

Oil massages and herbal steam,

The full treatment sounds like a dream.

Panchakarma its Day 2,

Cuisine is rice and vegi stew.

Taste is bland, ain’t so bad,

My body’ll be healthy and I’ll be glad.

Panchakarma it’s Day 3,

You know food is bad when beets are luxury.

Oil massages not what they seem,

buy lederle minocin Feels so rough and not so clean.

Panchakarma Days 4,5,6,

I’m drenched in oil and everything sticks.

And every night mosquitos swarm,

But dinner with friends makes it all feel warm.

Panchakarma it’s Day 9,

Started with drink from a cup of slime.

Soon enough my guts let loose,

Again and again and again and again…

Panchakarma it’s Day 10,

Don’t want to go through that again.

Got some oil up the “ooohh!”

And now my colon feels so cool.

Panchakarma it’s Day 11,

Water’s going up in the wrong direction.

But now my colon is spanking clean,

I feel light and my body lean.

Panchakarma Days 12 and 13,

My therapist is intimate with oiling my seam.

And now it’s coming to a close,

I’m feeling unadulterated down to my toes.

Going to take more care on what I feed,

No more panchakarma is what I need!

that’s him on the left

To your health and god bless her country Kerala!

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