The Somanatha Kshetram is located on a hilltop, the highest point in Hyderabad, and has a beautiful outlook over the city. The atmosphere here is peaceful, serene and harmonious - even the plants here are happy. It is truly an oasis!
My time at the Kshetram was very gentle, restorative and restful, while at the same time deeply empowering, inspiring and uplifting.
I was well looked after in every possible way, and was lucky enough to attend a series of "special classes" in which Maharshishared with us many yogic secrets, and answered questions on all aspects of yoga. In between classes were singing lessons, walks around the 'mountain', mano yoga lessons with the very patient brahmacharyas, plenty of time for private practice, and gentle and inspiring conversations with my friends there.
On my final night Maharshi gave 'darshan' for the local people, and many came with their problems and grievances. Maharshipatiently helped everyone who needed it and gave his sweet blessings, and prasad, to all! Maharshi's aura is very large, and to be at the Kshetram is to be contained within it, once there it is somehow difficult to leave, so when the time came to board the plane for Chennai I left with a heavy heart. This needen't have been so, as I soon realised that Maharshireally is a great yogi. He had said that his blessings would be with me wherever I go, and it was during a quiet, reflective meditation in Chennai that I saw him clearly before me - clearing the path, guiding my way.
Chennai is a coastal city in the state of Tamil Nadu, affected by the tsunami in 2004, and recently by torrential rain and mass flooding. It rained for much of my visit there, but pleasantly so. The city may have experienced recent disasters, but you could hardly tell - the people are busy, optimistic, going about their lives in a happy kind of way.
I spent my time here studying at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram [KYM], a short rickshaw ride from my hotel in leafy Mylapore. KYM is one of the most famous yoga schools in the world, and is thought by many to be the 'source' of modern yoga practice. Dedicated to the late T. Krishnamacharya, guru and teacher of famous yogis BKS Iyengar and Patahbi Jois, and others, the KYM was founded by his son TKV Desikachar in the original premises. They teach yoga and yoga therapy on an individual basis, and my private classes here with their senior teachers have enriched my knowledge and experience of yoga profoundly.
My classes were on yoga therapy, yoga teaching practice, the yoga sutras, vedic chanting, and yoga asanas and sound. After six days of study it was time to head home for Christmas with my beloved family who by this time I was missing a great deal! I took with me the blessings and teachings of some of the greatest living yogis on earth, and left behind some of the love and gratitude I feel for this most amazing country, its people, its mountains, its spiritual tradition....
Somanatha Kshetram
click here to go to the India Yoga Study Tour 2007/2008 page
