I haven't written for a long time, I know. And the time has been weighing down on me as if it were tangible and could be held and accumulated day by day. But as the weight increased it became even harder to write. Articles sat hidden, somewhere inside the invisibility of my lap top. Each time I would think about searching them out in order to complete and post a blog, I found an excuse to distract myself and yet this only added to the weight. The thing is that these last few weeks have been as busy as they have been heavy – but not necessary busy with yoga, or even with learning, but with strange events...
After the large Volcano under my arm had erupted, I resumed my yoga training. All was going well, until on my day off I was tempted into a plastic tent offering Ashtanga Classes. The teacher of the Ashtanga Class was not actually a 'trained' teacher, but that is besides the point. The point is that after the first Sun Salutation where the untrained teacher began picking up students and pressing their feet against the wall (to achieve what exactly?!) I should have taken my rainbow coloured (thanks Dan!) yoga mat and walked. However, a mixture of stubbornness and curiosity prevailed and before I know it I am in asanas which I should not be in for many more months. Two days later, my head is hanging onto my right shoulder, my neck is bending in direction it really should not be bending and my right shoulder far far away from my left shoulder– the top three vertebrate of my spine have moved. This combined with a neck crunching shoulder moving massage for a trained yoga teacher, meant I was once again, in unimaginable pain and the yoga course was on hold. Now previous experience of the local hospital meant that I didn't even bother with the beautiful walk down the hill, instead I revisited the Alternatives, and along the way found an incredible Tibetan Doctor of Massage.
The Doctor of Massage is actually the cousin of the Doctor of Acupuncture (who helped to rupture the Volcano), and coincidently, their uncle, is a famous Tibetan Doctor, who rumour has it treats the Dalai Lama (that is of course when he is not in a private Western hospital). I took my bent neck and hanging head to the Doctor of Massage who over the course of three sessions has managed to realign my spine, as well as providing some 'free' advice. This advice goes something along the lines of: “You have a body of a Princess!” Meaning: “Your body is very weak, you should be a gym instructor not a yoga instructor”. As well as: “You have an acid body!” Meaning: “You should not eat Japanese food” etc etc. However, I have never had a treatment like the one the Doctor of Massage gives, and I recommend to anyone in the vicinity that (even if your head is not handing and your neck is not bent) you should make an appointment for a completely surreal Tibetan 'massage'.
The treatment goes something like this:
Strip to your underwear and sit on the bed. Within minutes the Doctor of Massage will have 'read' your body, and be ready to manipulate it back into its original place (even if its been several decades since your body has been there). He does this with a combination of deep tissue and chiropractic techniques. Then he will place hot hot HOT pouches of herbs all around your body: One on the sole of each cold foot, one under each clammy palm, one on your forehead (leaving a fake bindi mark for a whole 24 hours after), and (if you have a bent neck) innumerable amounts of hot hot HOT pouches under and around your hanging head. Next the Doctor of Massage places a row of Tibetan Singing Bowls (identical to the ones used in Buddhist monasteries) on top of your body. He then begins to play the bowls – sending waves of vibrations filter through your body, reverberate through your tissues and settle in your bones. Waves of bright blue electric transpire through your body and mind creating colours behind your closed eyes. The combination of the vibrations, the singing sounds and the hot hot HOT heat would be overpowering if it were not so addictive. Even the most subtle of vibrations seem to reach the most forgotten part of flesh, ringing through your blood and carrying with it all that needs to be carried away – awakening the most dormant of stressed filled tensions and hidden emotions; singing them to silence.
Of course, my straighten neck was not the last of my 'health' problems over the last few weeks. It was immediately followed by flu, and then by a chest infection, which the Doctor of Acupuncture tried to treat by sticking needles in my face and even through my thorax (perhaps he was just trying to silence my endless questions?). In fact, after my initial reservations of 'Alternative' medicines, I would now describe myself as a triast – as I take both prescribed decongestants and aryuvedic formulas all with a face full of needles.
Luckily, I have the time to be 'ill', which is what is needed when one is trying to finish a two month long yoga teacher training course. Moreover, it is virtually impossible to feel sorry for yourself in India. As soon any thought of self pity attempts to seep into your mind, an unknowing beggar, (usually with leprosy eaten hands) will offer a smile and a wave, and the attempt of self pity will immediately transform into a mixture of Gratitude and Guilt.
What is more is that perhaps the cause of all of these infections and illnesses lays right in front of me. With such intensive yoga practice, it is hardly surprising that toxins are finally rushing from my body, which leaves me with no doubt of the Power of Yoga.
Anyway, I feel much 'lighter' now after finally writing an update....more to come!
