Woke up to beautiful blue skies and a delicious papaya and yoghurt breakfast. I was speaking with David about the yoghurt... here it's amazing! So much so that upon arriving I bought three large tubs, together with salt and cumin powder. Yes, salty yoghurt! It's super. I have it for breakfast and dinner and I'm hoping it will also help my stomach rebuild some of its flora after all the antibiotics. TRAVEL TIP (which you might have heard if you followed my blog in 2009): if you ever get a Delhi Belly/Explosive Diarrhea (yes, sometimes it is so)/any other digestive system imbalance while in India, these two foods could become your best friends:
1. White rice and yoghurt (lightly salted or not)
2. "Tender Coconut" Water. You ask for "tender coconut" so that the vendors will be the youngest ones from their crop.
They might not be the only suitable sources of nutrition, but I know they are efficacious.
Today I spent most of the day at KYM, from where I took advantage of the beautiful views of Chennai from the building's windows. Here is one:
The classes continue to be very interesting, although I feel the need for a more interactive component, such as a small project that would help me digest and absorb the material that we are learning. We are being inundated with wonderful ideas and information, but what to do with it all? For now, a lot of note taking and allowing it to wash over me.
Theoretically, I have been most inspired by Sangeetha's teaching of Yoga Philosophy. Today we looked at the first Yoga Sutra and she taught us the many definitions of the word "yoga" according to the Amarakosha (the Sanskrit Dictionary). She mentioned 7 different definitions for the word! I am also enjoying our Healing Chants class (every time I write that down I think of Harry Potter - it makes me think the class could be called Healing Potions instead). The chanting warms my body and wakes up my lower abdominal muscles in a wonderfully energising and supportive way. It also enhances my breathing and leaves me feeling open and relaxed. From Ganga I am learning to enjoy simple chants, and I appreciate her constant translation which keeps me interested and involved. Once again, I feel very thankful for all our teachers here. (A small amendment to one of my earlier posts - we DO have male teachers! Every morning N. Srinivasan teaches us Asana Practice while Varun does the demonstrations).
We all had a long day, staying past 7.30p to watch a movie documenting Śri* Krishnamacharya's 100th birthday in 1988 (*originating from Sanskrit, Śrī ‘beauty, fortune,’ is used as an honorific title). The film was made by a French production company with the support of KYM and consists of a composit of footage from 1988 and images and films dating back to the 20's and 30's. Among other things, it was wonderful to see Śri Krishnamacharya as a young man... (and what a stunning young man!)
... as a grandfather teaching his grandchildren... (he believed that children would feel more secure and supported if learning yoga in contact with the teacher/grandfather - how wonderful!)
... and as a centennial man still teaching, debating, and practicing his rituals. The celebrations for his birthday involved a whole performance of pujas, chanting, burning, decorating and garlanding - a powerful ritual filled with sounds and energy. (Through the film I discovered that the beautiful drawings at the entrance of houses and buildings are a tribute and offering to Lakshmi in her role as goddess of abundance.)
I left KYM after the film and it was dark outside, but I still took a few shots on my way home:
Sweets cart.
Although the sweets looked delicious, they were sitting right next to the side of a very busy and polluted road, so they didn't make it to my mouth.
A tailor in his shop.
Whenever I get on an Auto (rickshaw) on the street, I feel a little as though I were betraying Alphons. Not necessary, really, but I miss him. He now gets a kick out of making me say good morning in Tamil to all the people he knows and finds relevant between my guest house and KYM. So: "Kaaley Wannakam" (my transliteration).
Small Ganesha temple and flower stand, on the move.
Chai (Tea) shop, on the move.
Sending you all good energies from the South,
B
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