The 10-minute walk to the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM) took us past hundreds of Cennai's self-employed, entrepreneurs, and small retailers, not forgetting an assortment of dogs, chickens and cattle.
We had four lessons/teachings at KYM:
1. The life story of Krishnamacharya and his beliefs, from Sri Sridharan, a retired senior teacher who returned to his village many years ago to get back to his own practice and provide a sort-of doctor-cum-yoga health service. He came back just for this week for Wendy, our UK yoga teacher and tour organiser.
2. Asana practice - the physical stuff - was a gentle but effective lesson in some basic asanas from Sunita Nair focused on flexibility. I never cease to be amazed by the healing power of (what seems at the time) delicate stretching.
Lunch was sandwiched (sorry!) between two rides in an automatic rickshaw, or tuk tuk. Think of a moped pulling a bright yellow trailer with room for 3 passengers - and maybe one more in the front - driven by a homicidal maniac who assumes that everything else on the road - animate and inanimate - will move out of the way. I wouldn't want to meet one of these drivers on the dodgems at the fair because they are expert at not getting hit in the tightest of spaces and I would guess they would have the determination to hunt you down!
Lunch itself was Chilli Cheese Toast - cheese on toast with a liberal sprinkling of raw green chillis, plus a refreshing drink of watermelon juice.
3. Shobana taught us the Vedic chant which goes by the name 'Gurvastakam' by Shankaracharya which stresses that whatever you do in your practice, connection with your teacher is an essential requirement which must not be neglected!
4. Padmini talked to us about the benefits of meditation and led us through a Sun Meditation Practice which I will continue when I get home!
Many more photos were taken on the return walk to the hotel and three of us gave pens to three young children which they used to write their names in Gayle's journal. Sweet - ah!
Dinner was taken at the Vrindavan Restaurant at the New Woodlands Hotel, a hotel in Chennai owned by a Brahmin family - hence the lack of alcohol and the strict vegetarian menu. Speaking for myself I think I sampled about 25 dishes if you include starters, main course, breads, side dishes plus desserts and all were extremely tasty. When the bill arrived we were shocked to find that even if we included a generous tip the cost was a mere £5 each. I wonder if they do takeaway?
Night night!
We had four lessons/teachings at KYM:
1. The life story of Krishnamacharya and his beliefs, from Sri Sridharan, a retired senior teacher who returned to his village many years ago to get back to his own practice and provide a sort-of doctor-cum-yoga health service. He came back just for this week for Wendy, our UK yoga teacher and tour organiser.
2. Asana practice - the physical stuff - was a gentle but effective lesson in some basic asanas from Sunita Nair focused on flexibility. I never cease to be amazed by the healing power of (what seems at the time) delicate stretching.
Lunch was sandwiched (sorry!) between two rides in an automatic rickshaw, or tuk tuk. Think of a moped pulling a bright yellow trailer with room for 3 passengers - and maybe one more in the front - driven by a homicidal maniac who assumes that everything else on the road - animate and inanimate - will move out of the way. I wouldn't want to meet one of these drivers on the dodgems at the fair because they are expert at not getting hit in the tightest of spaces and I would guess they would have the determination to hunt you down!
Lunch itself was Chilli Cheese Toast - cheese on toast with a liberal sprinkling of raw green chillis, plus a refreshing drink of watermelon juice.
3. Shobana taught us the Vedic chant which goes by the name 'Gurvastakam' by Shankaracharya which stresses that whatever you do in your practice, connection with your teacher is an essential requirement which must not be neglected!
4. Padmini talked to us about the benefits of meditation and led us through a Sun Meditation Practice which I will continue when I get home!
Many more photos were taken on the return walk to the hotel and three of us gave pens to three young children which they used to write their names in Gayle's journal. Sweet - ah!
Dinner was taken at the Vrindavan Restaurant at the New Woodlands Hotel, a hotel in Chennai owned by a Brahmin family - hence the lack of alcohol and the strict vegetarian menu. Speaking for myself I think I sampled about 25 dishes if you include starters, main course, breads, side dishes plus desserts and all were extremely tasty. When the bill arrived we were shocked to find that even if we included a generous tip the cost was a mere £5 each. I wonder if they do takeaway?
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