Saturday, January 8, 2011

Things I Did Before Visiting the Sivananda Ashram in Madurai

Ok, it was about time to update my blog. So what have I been doing since my last update two months ago? After Mamallapuram, I went straight to Kovalam Beach and spend a whole month there. "A whole month??!!!"

A visit to Amma's ashram, the Hugging Saint, in Amritapuri


Four years ago, during my first trip to India, I heard about the "hugging saint" a lovely Indian lady guru called by her followers "Amma" (Mother).  She just sits down and gives hugs to hundreds of people each day, a hug that according to her disciples can open your heart and awaken the spiritual energy dormant within ourselves.

This is called Amma's Darshan and believe it or not she has been given it for about 30 years already embracing about 26 million people!

The Sivananda Yoga Teachers Training Course in India [Review]

Sivananda Yoga Teachers Training Course Kerala

My stay at the Sivananda Ashram in Kerala, for their Sivananda Yoga Teachers Training Course, started with an early visit to the nearest hospital.  I got so sick I had to see the Ayurvedic doctor of the ashram.

I was a bit worried, I thought he would just recommend me an Ayurvedic massage or tea but he actually gave me very good advise.

Kovalam Beach

From Mamallapuram to Kovalam Beach...... that was a looong journey! I took a local packed bus from Mamallapuram to Pondicherry, then an overnight bus from Pondicherry to Bangalore, from Bangalore an overnight train to Trivandrum and from Trivandrum a local bus to Kovalam Beach.