One of the virtues of being here in residence is that I have access to some wonderful workshops. Last weekend I participated in a 3-day seminar to learn the "The Divine Touch" an Aryuvedic yoga massage technique. We were a small group of 11, including our Swami Antar Khiraad, and by the end of the weekend had grown quite close and symbiotic.
We began each morning with an hour-long meditation at 7:00am, then ate breakfast together, then after showers rejoined at 10:30 to learn a particular section of the body, say the back, until a mid-monring tea break. Then more massage until lunch, next the legs, and then on until 4pm. Then we rested until dinner.
Each day futons were spread around the floor and we decorated the floorspace with flowers (always the red rose petal, marigold and yellow wildflower combination). We used sesame seed oil to warm and lubricate the body and calamis powder (from the ginger family) as a gentle abrasive. We each had 3 partners from whom we received and to whom we gave. It was blissful. Where tantric massage is designed to awaken the senses and our sexuality, Aryuvedic massage is a healing massage intended to stretch the body, open the joints, enhance circulation and improve alignment. Swami worked for some time on my pelvis and hip joint, freeing it from residual pain and stiffness resulting from last year's hip accident. Good breathing was a key element in our work.
Naturally, owing to the intimate and peaceful environment we created, no photos were taken f the actual sessions. But here we are at mealtime, after a spontaneous pillow fight and in our final circle where I serenaded the group with Nature Boy.
We began each morning with an hour-long meditation at 7:00am, then ate breakfast together, then after showers rejoined at 10:30 to learn a particular section of the body, say the back, until a mid-monring tea break. Then more massage until lunch, next the legs, and then on until 4pm. Then we rested until dinner.
Each day futons were spread around the floor and we decorated the floorspace with flowers (always the red rose petal, marigold and yellow wildflower combination). We used sesame seed oil to warm and lubricate the body and calamis powder (from the ginger family) as a gentle abrasive. We each had 3 partners from whom we received and to whom we gave. It was blissful. Where tantric massage is designed to awaken the senses and our sexuality, Aryuvedic massage is a healing massage intended to stretch the body, open the joints, enhance circulation and improve alignment. Swami worked for some time on my pelvis and hip joint, freeing it from residual pain and stiffness resulting from last year's hip accident. Good breathing was a key element in our work.
Naturally, owing to the intimate and peaceful environment we created, no photos were taken f the actual sessions. But here we are at mealtime, after a spontaneous pillow fight and in our final circle where I serenaded the group with Nature Boy.
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