The Yoga training program was being conducted in a village, Pundi, at the feet of Valiangiri Mountains, 37 Kilometers from Coimbatore. The venue was Spand Auditorium of Isha Foundation. There were about three hundred persons attending both males as well as females. Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev was the director. I was upset with my lower-back-pain. I have a nodding acquaintance with English and I could follow the instructions (in English) but alas! my lower-back refused to concede.
Yet, I continued the Yoga training as best as I could manage. Only Yogasans posed a problem there was none in Pranayam and Dhyan. The surrounding was getting richer day by day. When a large group gets involved in an activity they become mutually complementary one radiating to every other. We had a systematic practice of Hatha yoga, Shaktichalan and Shoonya Dhyan. We realized the age factor reduces the flexibility of muscles. Yogasan becomes difficult because the body fails to comply with instructions. It was insured there that our diet should keep us light and enable us to carry out Yoga practices.
In addition to Yoga exercises, Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev used to address spiritual discourses. It proved to be a unique opportunity to me. After the discourse, the curious ones used to raise queries which he used to answer in a lighter vein arriving at conclusions with easy examples. His discourse used to cover spirituality, the universe, science, religion and human behavior in a structure, layer upon layer. I could grasp new lifestyle and modes of behavior. His vast knowledge, subtle use of English language and his voice left an indelible impression on me. For me, it was a crowning experience.
On the fifth day, we were to climb the Valiangiri Hill top. There were three options, climbing to the mountain and those who didn't want to climb can circle the Ashram and the last option was to rest in one's room. The third one made me extremely happy. I was the only person in the whole group to have opted for the third option.
The morning began with usual exercises at six. Three hours later, at nine, everyone began preparing for the summit climbing. The happiness on their faces made me jealous. All would be going except me. Then my heart prompted, ‘Why not try, come what may.’ I said to Madhuri, "I'll also come along."
"How will you climb with lower back pain?" Madhuri asked.
"There is, no doubt, pain. While all of you will enjoy yourself I would remain confined to bed."
"What if your pain aggravates?"
"It is not my problem. It is for the Sadhguru to deal with."
"O.K., then, come along", She said.
I put on special shoes meant for climbing and joined others. There is neither a road nor a foot track. There were bushes and plants on all the sides, some small mounds, and sharp climb. All were climbing one after another, in a file. A young volunteer kept my constant company to keep me whenever I had trouble. After a little while, it began raining which made the surface slippery and our clothes drenched. Overlooking my pain I kept climbing. After the hectic climb of three hours and a half, I managed to reach the summit while Madhuri and several others reached later, 15-20 minutes after me. That day I struggled and fought my pain and learnt that nothing was impossible. I also realized that none can beat strong determination. After reaching the top I danced for a while because those were the moments of pleasure, weren't they?
There was an arrangement for meals at the top which was followed by Sadhguru's discourse. After halting for three hours and began a downward journey through the same route, slippery ground and support of a volunteer. It looks us two hours and a half. When we entered Spanda Auditorium I was completely exhausted, I wanted to spread my legs and stretch. But the instructor was differing with my belief and made us do our Asanas, again, "carry on....".
I was novice in Yogic exercises which I seldom practiced. The training camp at Isha Foundation had experts in Yoga. Under their supervision, I learnt several Asanas, Pranayam and methods of Dhyan. I became familiar with techniques for body and mind control. The exercises conducted in a systematic manner though it began with initial complaints but very soon became easy to carry on and got well stored in the memory. As a result, my body has become so habitual that I can not resist them and I continued them for the past eight years. Even during the railway journey, I manage to do them and people fully co-operate in providing enough space. If because of some reason I fail to take exercises my body remains restless throughout the day. Sorry, I forgot to tell you an important reward, my ten-year-old lower-back-pain is now a part of history and it doesn’t bother me anymore. I am talking about July 2007. My association with Yoga kicked medicines away.
Yet, I continued the Yoga training as best as I could manage. Only Yogasans posed a problem there was none in Pranayam and Dhyan. The surrounding was getting richer day by day. When a large group gets involved in an activity they become mutually complementary one radiating to every other. We had a systematic practice of Hatha yoga, Shaktichalan and Shoonya Dhyan. We realized the age factor reduces the flexibility of muscles. Yogasan becomes difficult because the body fails to comply with instructions. It was insured there that our diet should keep us light and enable us to carry out Yoga practices.
In addition to Yoga exercises, Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev used to address spiritual discourses. It proved to be a unique opportunity to me. After the discourse, the curious ones used to raise queries which he used to answer in a lighter vein arriving at conclusions with easy examples. His discourse used to cover spirituality, the universe, science, religion and human behavior in a structure, layer upon layer. I could grasp new lifestyle and modes of behavior. His vast knowledge, subtle use of English language and his voice left an indelible impression on me. For me, it was a crowning experience.
On the fifth day, we were to climb the Valiangiri Hill top. There were three options, climbing to the mountain and those who didn't want to climb can circle the Ashram and the last option was to rest in one's room. The third one made me extremely happy. I was the only person in the whole group to have opted for the third option.
The morning began with usual exercises at six. Three hours later, at nine, everyone began preparing for the summit climbing. The happiness on their faces made me jealous. All would be going except me. Then my heart prompted, ‘Why not try, come what may.’ I said to Madhuri, "I'll also come along."
"How will you climb with lower back pain?" Madhuri asked.
"There is, no doubt, pain. While all of you will enjoy yourself I would remain confined to bed."
"What if your pain aggravates?"
"It is not my problem. It is for the Sadhguru to deal with."
"O.K., then, come along", She said.
I put on special shoes meant for climbing and joined others. There is neither a road nor a foot track. There were bushes and plants on all the sides, some small mounds, and sharp climb. All were climbing one after another, in a file. A young volunteer kept my constant company to keep me whenever I had trouble. After a little while, it began raining which made the surface slippery and our clothes drenched. Overlooking my pain I kept climbing. After the hectic climb of three hours and a half, I managed to reach the summit while Madhuri and several others reached later, 15-20 minutes after me. That day I struggled and fought my pain and learnt that nothing was impossible. I also realized that none can beat strong determination. After reaching the top I danced for a while because those were the moments of pleasure, weren't they?
There was an arrangement for meals at the top which was followed by Sadhguru's discourse. After halting for three hours and began a downward journey through the same route, slippery ground and support of a volunteer. It looks us two hours and a half. When we entered Spanda Auditorium I was completely exhausted, I wanted to spread my legs and stretch. But the instructor was differing with my belief and made us do our Asanas, again, "carry on....".
I was novice in Yogic exercises which I seldom practiced. The training camp at Isha Foundation had experts in Yoga. Under their supervision, I learnt several Asanas, Pranayam and methods of Dhyan. I became familiar with techniques for body and mind control. The exercises conducted in a systematic manner though it began with initial complaints but very soon became easy to carry on and got well stored in the memory. As a result, my body has become so habitual that I can not resist them and I continued them for the past eight years. Even during the railway journey, I manage to do them and people fully co-operate in providing enough space. If because of some reason I fail to take exercises my body remains restless throughout the day. Sorry, I forgot to tell you an important reward, my ten-year-old lower-back-pain is now a part of history and it doesn’t bother me anymore. I am talking about July 2007. My association with Yoga kicked medicines away.
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