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Published: June 26th 2010
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I managed to get myself into a wonderful 6 week residency course at Lonavla in Maharastra. Harish, the owner of Kaivalyam in Munnar had suggested that I do the course as he had completed it some time before. And that’s why no one has heard from me for so long! I have been totally consumed with study, study, study.
Wow, what a course. The subjects covered were at university level - Structure and Functions of the Human Body, Ancient Yogic Texts, Yoga and Mental Health, Values Education, Yoga and Physical Education. Not to mention 3 - 4 hours of practical yoga each day. I LOVED IT. The girls were great and they treated me just like one of them even though I was old enough to be their mother. I also surprised everyone by doing very good asanas, (showing off now) I could even do some posed that some of them couldn’t, they soon learned though.
Shilpa, was a great room mate. When I complained that I would never be able to learn all the Sanskrit words, she told me that I could and would and I did! Then I set up a study regime to keep us on
track for all 6 exams. After the practical yoga exam we had six three hour exams. Imagine writing for 3 hours at a time. I’m used to computers, not hand writing. But I did it and learned more than I have in the last ten years.
I have amazed myself. I now have the bug and want to learn more especially about yoga but I am considering acupressure, massage and there are a few other things too. Wait till I come back girls, I will pamper you!
I also had a wonderful friend in Lonavla called Kuku who helped me out in many ways. While we were taking the course we were only allowed out on a Sundays the only day we didn’t have lectures and we had to sign out and sign in at the gate. I didn’t bother and got caught coming in late one Sunday - after 7p.m. and was promptly told off. I had a great deal of trouble not laughing. He was old enough to be my son (although that didn’t stop him coming on to me later, but that’s not a story for the internet).
That’s where Kuku came in. He
would recharge my phone for me, bring ice cream as a treat which I would share with all the other foreigners. (We were houses together not in dorms like the Indian students, who by the way were locked in by 9.p.m. so they didn’t have a chance of getting out) He even brought chocolate, fruit juice and mangoes to help us study and on more than one occasion took me out for a lovely dinner with EGGS! Sometimes I hid in the back seat to that I could escape the prison warden if it wasn’t a Sunday. Such fun to be 17 again when you are also quite prepared to say stick it if need be. Didn’t like to though as everyone was delightful. When I first checked in I was in a room with no bathroom and Kuku even spoke to someone and got that changed. Kuku is who you go to in Lonavla if you have a problem, a truly lovely man. Thank you dear Kuku.
So, have I passed? Who knows? I think I have as I studied really hard but it will take about 6 weeks until the results are on the internet, then I
get my certificate and can teach - if that’s what I want to do. I have a few ideas up my sleeve!
I had a few days at Kaivalyadharma, that’s the name of the institute, before leaving for Mumbai so Elke (a lovely, lovely friend from Belgium) and 2 Japanese boys and I went to Pune and called in to the Iyengar studio. If you know yoga you will have heard of him, a living legend doing amazing yoga at the age of 92. See, yoga works!
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Bhavika
non-member comment
...YO..
Hey Beverly , it was really great having you with us for the course , u inspired us in just so many ways. Yes you are right Yoga days were really the best ones we ever had!! Keep writing !! and BON VOYAGE for all your trips u take around the WORLD!! Do come backl to Lonavala . :)