Yoga in the heart of the city

Jude Hynes' Story

How I came to Yoga
by Jude Hynes

Health, wellbeing, stress-related-diseases - all terms, which came into my vocabulary at 12 years old. My 42 old father had a heart attack and family survival (financially & emotionally) was threatened.

The negative effects of stress presented themselves during yet, another of the milestones of my life events. A separation from a 10 year long defacto relationship, at a time in my life where a 50 hour working week (lecturing in Early Childhood Education - teacher training courses) was regular, and an exercise programme was something I procrastinated about.

I was 30 years old and experiencing intense feelings of impatience, frustration, irritation, anger as well as chronic muscular tension, indigestion and poor elimination. Deep despair mingled with moments of excitement and a sense of adventure, came and went in waves.

Knowing that the greatest possession is self possession and that perseverance brings success, I recalled literature from the Heart Foundation which found its way home from the coronary unit in dads belongings years ago. Key concepts of self care and self responsibility were correlated with practical suggestions for a healthier lifestyle. It seemed if one took care of ones physical, mental, emotional & spiritual well-being everything else took care of its self ie. financial well being, intimate relationships, career prospects etc.

Separation & divorce have a funny way of bringing old and dear friends back into ones life, as well as creating time in which to pursue interests, put on hold forever and a day.

A ritual unfolded, in which my sister, an old & dear friend and I, staggered weary from a days work along Takapuna Beach, up the Strand, to the RSA hall in which Peter Nilsson held Iyengar Yoga classes. After putting our stiff plank-like bodies through a rather challenging but rejuvenating yoga practice we would "float" back along the beach front to a quirky meal of bake beans on toast. We joked in a rather Monty Python like manner about the restricted way in which our bodies responded to a yoga poses, while marveling at the layers & layers of muscular tension that were released.

I believe that practicing yoga helped me through that extremely painful period. It opened me in a way that allowed me to respond to my grief, accepting my pain and assisting with recovery from emotional drain and fatigue.

I gave myself an entirely fresh start with yoga!

As the body became more flexible so did my thinking. As the muscles became stronger so did my inner power. Within 9 years I stepped out of the security of highly paid employment to start my own small business - sura therapies. Cliches such as "Do what you love & the money follows" "Feel the fear do it anyway", "Life is what we make it, always has been always will be" rang in my ears as I handed over my letter of resignation.

I surrendered my intellect to faith, took the plunge into self employment and haven't looked back since!!

Teaching classes and one on one sessions at the Yoga Academy - a successful central city school at which I had completed a part time three year apprenticeship is one aspect of the 3 fold business which has its roots in ancient Indian culture. The two styles of yoga I teach B.K.S. Iyengar & Ashtanga yoga hand down to modern culture the art of healing the physical body through the use of a highly sophisticated array of postures, movements and breathing techniques. The exercises take each joint in the body through its full range of motion - strengthening and stretching each part. Mental, emotional and physical health are promoted.

Ayurvedic cooking sessions one on one are another unfolding aspect of the business. Ayurveda is a very comprehensive medical system practiced in India for generations. It is the science of life which focuses on subtle energies in all living and inorganic things as well as in our thoughts, emotions and actions. According to Ayurveda it is the imbalance of ones vital energies that leads to the development of disease. Diet plays a large part in healing one self and compliments the yoga practice since it is vegetarian in content ie: a light nourishing diet. The third aspect of the business is massage which also works on physical and mental levels, transmitting a life giving energy that assists all systems of the body to repair and renew themselves.

The Ayurvedic massage &; cookery aspect are relatively new areas of my business and life. Although I received a certificate from Wellpark College in Grey Lynn for completing their Ayurvedic Courses stage 1, 2 and 3 it is with much enthusiasm that I seek consultation with Auckland Ayurvedic Doctor Ajit Kumar and relish the trips to India to study first hand - yoga & Ayurvedic massage and cooking.

Mysore is an attractive city in southern India 12 degrees north of the equator and the home of 83 year old K.Patthabi Jois reigning grand-master of the Ashtanga yoga system. Guruji (teacher, one who brings light) teaches Indian and an increasing number of western students with the help of his grandson Sharat. Ten students work through the practice at any given time Pattabhi Jois and Sharat give adjustments as needed and encourage students to let go of fear and to trust the softening effect of the "free breathing" - no easy task when some poses involve wrapping both legs behind the upper back & shoulder area!!! Gurujis affectionate, firm manner wins my heart time & time again especially when he weaves humor into a scolding "Bad lady $50 fine", when I accidentally leave a pose out.

Since the practice begins at 5.30 am - (preceded I might add by a bicycle ride in the dark winter morning at 5 am, in and out of pot holes, over railway tracks, past urinating men, sleeping cows and crawling buses autorickshaws) - and finishes at 8 am I am well able to take advantage of our Brahman hostesses offer to squat beside her in the kitchen and learn to cook. To this woman who follows the Ayurvedic system as a matter of course, food is medicine. It is with some amusement that I witness her quietly cueing Peter my partner into how to use salt, sugar, pickles or raita (yoghurt cucumber dish) to reduce the heating effect of the subji (vege dish) we are enjoying at lunch. He is unaware of her intention and insists that salt, sugar are very bad - "in fact are amongst factors that cause heart attacks in our country" he goes on to add. She politely turns and serves more food to those of us sitting at the table eating. Because I am a 'Westerner' and paying guest I sit at the table with the men of the family & Peter , my partner.

However traditionally women serve the men, clear up & then sit down to eat! Peter and I spend many nights discussing the views we have regarding the rights of women with this family - but that's a whole different story!

Within 3 days of misunderstanding Amah's (the mothers of the house) polite cues on how to reduce the effects of chilli on his digestive & elimination system Peter has diarrhea & is throwing up. Now he is open to my suggestion that Amah is offering us Ayurvedic knowledge that we could well benefit from!! Salt & sugar, yoghurt & gee can all be used to reduce the heating effects of chillie. Over the 8 week stay Amah responded to our needs by reading signs such as change in skin colouring, mood changes, inability to sleep soundly. With no fuss and little criticism our diet was tailored to address the imbalances she noticed. 'Badaam', a warm nut milk drink was created for me one evening when I was unable to sleep. white poppy seeds were toasted lightly and ground by hand along with almonds, cashews, a little coconut, cardamon pods and jaggary (neutral cane sugar). This paste was boiled in water and added to boiled milk. A labour intensive task I commented. "No, no Jude a labour of love! Done with love, affection and with correct ingredients, food is medicine. Come drink. Massage your feet with oil tooand then you will sleep" was the reply.

And I might add, I did. sleep well that is!!

Of course it is always a pleasure to research and study Ayurvedic massage! I'm yet to find a teacher in Mysore, but it's been an experience joining in with Amah and her family every 2nd Sunday for an oil bath. One is rubbed from head to foot with castor oil which relieves dry skin and removes excess body heat. This is left on for an hour and then removed by rubbing a mixture of 'channa dal' (chickpea flour) or a specific nut powder & then rinsing with water. To my amusement the men cruise round the house during this hour clothed in a lungi (a cloth sarong from waist to knee) and not much else, looking in my opinion very sexy. Ironic when one considers that women cover from head to toe showing only the belly. Any other form of dress is considered inappropriate. there is no shorts or off the shoulder tops or even tight fitting shirts which show breast form!!

Women's role in this society contrast sharply with that of the women in Aotearoa as I know it! But then one only has to note the regular reports of "bride burning" in the local rag to be awaken to such disparity.

Ayurvedic massage & cooking compliment my study of yoga and so it is that a two yearly visit of 2 months allows me to develop professionally & personally by going to the source.