I have almost finished 7 days of this treatment in my panchakarma. Bundles of rice with medecinal herbs are cooked in milk. The milk is kept hot and the bundles are used for gently massaging the whole body, including the face.
I have 2 women massaging me, while chanting Amma's 108 names and the Lalita Sahasranama (1000 names of the Divine Mother) in verse form, finishing with
Lokah Samastah Sukinoh Bhavantu which means
'May all the beings in all the worlds become happy'.
The treatment is lovely, relaxing and leaves your skin smooth, smelling of sweet milk.
This treatment is very good for muscular problems, wasted and weak muscles; neurological problems and paralysis. Although the massage itself is very gentle, it has really slowed me down, I feel more tired and my back is tender. I feel like lying down though it is better not to as I then tend to fall asleep which is not good as this inhibits the detoxification process. I am mostly in solitude except at meal times, and when I do seva in the Kali temple helping with the Matravani magazine folding. It is also more hot and humid now, though this treatment does have a cooling effect and helps to regulate body temperature.
I am bored with the same kind of food so today I had lunch at the western canteen which I appreciated and enjoyed. Always good to have a change as my dietary options are quite limiting. I can't eat fried foods, sugary foods, dairy and wheat; avoiding vata provoking foods which create more wind/gas. I've cut down on the rice and rice based staples as it felt too heavy; I am eating more vegetables and a bit of fruit, with occasional ground sesame and almonds.
During this week, I am noticing my behaviour in relation with other ashram visitors and residents. I know I have a bad habit of cutting in so it is good for me to practise listening and allowing others to speak instead! I am going through Colin Tipping's book "Radical Forgiveness" a little at a time. I highly recommend everyone to take a look at this book. His model and writing is easy to follow. The teaching in the book is powerfully transforming.
Although I feel this panchakarma seems to be dragging, I know I will have grown and developed myself further. Though I have been a yoga teacher for many years, enabling others to relax, I normally keep myself very busy, rarely relaxing and generally projecting into the future instead of being present to the moment.
Panchakarma is making me face myself in the present moment, enabling me to be at peace with myself and the world in spite of the drama that is unfolding. I am still concerned about and sympathetic to global suffering, poverty, injustice and climate change, but using what I am learning in 'Radical Forgiveness', and bringing in lessons learnt from the great teachers of India past and present, I am learning to accept the drama for what it is, still act but without blaming, becoming angry and labelling the 'aggressors'. No doubt, I will find myself judging and now, I hope to correct those thoughts when I become aware of them. We are Spiritual beings having a Human experience. Each one of us, individually and collectively as groups, are here for a specific purpose or dharma. I am still figuring out my dharma.
Amma is personally a great example to follow. She is all Love and Compassion, actively involved in the world, working tirelessly on humanitarian projects worldwide while personally comforting and awakening the masses who come to her for darshan (blessings).
Today there was a solar eclipse, though we did not see it in India. It is also the March equinox and a super new moon, plus the International day of happiness. A good time to leave behind old ways of thinking, leaving behind the victim archetype and moving forward to an elevated consciousness.
Lokah Samastah Sukinoh Bhavantu
I have 2 women massaging me, while chanting Amma's 108 names and the Lalita Sahasranama (1000 names of the Divine Mother) in verse form, finishing with
Lokah Samastah Sukinoh Bhavantu which means
'May all the beings in all the worlds become happy'.
The treatment is lovely, relaxing and leaves your skin smooth, smelling of sweet milk.
This treatment is very good for muscular problems, wasted and weak muscles; neurological problems and paralysis. Although the massage itself is very gentle, it has really slowed me down, I feel more tired and my back is tender. I feel like lying down though it is better not to as I then tend to fall asleep which is not good as this inhibits the detoxification process. I am mostly in solitude except at meal times, and when I do seva in the Kali temple helping with the Matravani magazine folding. It is also more hot and humid now, though this treatment does have a cooling effect and helps to regulate body temperature.
I am bored with the same kind of food so today I had lunch at the western canteen which I appreciated and enjoyed. Always good to have a change as my dietary options are quite limiting. I can't eat fried foods, sugary foods, dairy and wheat; avoiding vata provoking foods which create more wind/gas. I've cut down on the rice and rice based staples as it felt too heavy; I am eating more vegetables and a bit of fruit, with occasional ground sesame and almonds.
During this week, I am noticing my behaviour in relation with other ashram visitors and residents. I know I have a bad habit of cutting in so it is good for me to practise listening and allowing others to speak instead! I am going through Colin Tipping's book "Radical Forgiveness" a little at a time. I highly recommend everyone to take a look at this book. His model and writing is easy to follow. The teaching in the book is powerfully transforming.
Although I feel this panchakarma seems to be dragging, I know I will have grown and developed myself further. Though I have been a yoga teacher for many years, enabling others to relax, I normally keep myself very busy, rarely relaxing and generally projecting into the future instead of being present to the moment.
Panchakarma is making me face myself in the present moment, enabling me to be at peace with myself and the world in spite of the drama that is unfolding. I am still concerned about and sympathetic to global suffering, poverty, injustice and climate change, but using what I am learning in 'Radical Forgiveness', and bringing in lessons learnt from the great teachers of India past and present, I am learning to accept the drama for what it is, still act but without blaming, becoming angry and labelling the 'aggressors'. No doubt, I will find myself judging and now, I hope to correct those thoughts when I become aware of them. We are Spiritual beings having a Human experience. Each one of us, individually and collectively as groups, are here for a specific purpose or dharma. I am still figuring out my dharma.
Amma is personally a great example to follow. She is all Love and Compassion, actively involved in the world, working tirelessly on humanitarian projects worldwide while personally comforting and awakening the masses who come to her for darshan (blessings).
Today there was a solar eclipse, though we did not see it in India. It is also the March equinox and a super new moon, plus the International day of happiness. A good time to leave behind old ways of thinking, leaving behind the victim archetype and moving forward to an elevated consciousness.
Lokah Samastah Sukinoh Bhavantu