I was not brought up in a hug friendly family. We Tamilians never hug each other.

My father in law will always hug me anytime we meet and I always found it uncomfortable. I miss his hugs.

Whenever Prithvi and I fight, and when we reconcile Sangeeta will say now hug each other. Otherwise we hardly hug one another.

And I hugged a grown man yesterday.

Sorry for the click baity title, but that was the first thing I told Prithvi when I hugged him yesterday after being away – both physically and without phone contact – for 4 days ( and as usual Sangeeta said – go hug your Nana. ) “you are the 2nd person I am hugging today.”

Mar 12th, 7:30 AM I took one selfie sent a message to Sangeeta and turned off the phone at Isha Yoga Center Chikballapur and handed it over to the volunteer at the desk.

I was there for Sahdguru’s Shoonya Intensive. An advanced course for Inner Engineering Practitioners.

The next 4 days were gruelling. We slept in a dorm – boys on one side, girls on one side. Each was assigned a bed  – we have to carry it from the luggage room to the same hall we practiced – and we had to unroll, roll it and stack it up after sleeping.

5 AM there will be a gong and the beds have to come off. 5:30 AM there will be another gong. And 5:45 AM onwards there will be claps – and will not stop till all of us got into the hall – from the volunteer Annas and Akkas (  8 were there – working professionals who also switched off their phone and lived with us – cut off from lives – to serve food, to discipline us, to help us with cushions and our silly needs – so we can also experience what they are experiencing in their life ).

Meals were satvic – no onion no garlic. In fact the 10AM brunch had no carbs even to facilitate the practices. Some uncooked veggies a fruit and soaked peanuts. Night dinner was around 9PM it had carbs – pongal, tomato, lemon millet rice, sambhaar – and was super tasty.

I was waking up at 4AM almost daily – the bathroom stalls are limited – didnt want to get late to get ready and end up with someone clapping outside the bathroom door to hurry up :).

6AM sharp the torture sessions begin. Goes on till 10PM. Sitting erect. Stretching this. Stretching that. Breathing in. Holding. Breathing out till lungs come out through the nose. With few breaks inbetween – just enough to eat or drink something or go stand in the queue for the toilet.

And we learnt 3 major things. Surya Shakti, Shakthi Chalana Kriya. and Shoonya – the primary focus of this course.

Taught via the age old Gurukul tradition – verbally transmitted while we watch demonstrations on the big screen of how to to do the asanas. To maintain integrity the teacher never performs the actions to us. Always pulls up a video of 2 Isha Yoga guys pre recorded – one Indian and one European looking guy –  both of whom I hate btw 🙂 – because they demonstrate the asanas so effortlessly –  and I can hardly pull it off.

With each and every step painstakingly drilled into us. Each one of our actions corrected by our teacher akka. In the end they did not give any instruction manual – even when we asked umpteen times. All the steps were literally burnt into our brains. I still remember, but have to do this for one mandala – 40 days – twice a day to internalise it. Then I will never forget – like riding a bicycle,

I am not going to explain what these 3 things we learnt – because I am not adequate enough. You should google Sadhguru’s videos on these topics.

Fast forward – Mar 15th, 4:30 PM – Last day, last part of the program participants were sharing their experiences.

One young man broke down – should be in his 30s. He said he did not want to thank the teacher because words are inadequate. And while sobbing he told he does not want to say thank you and wants to be indebted for ever to this teacher and Sadguru.

I was leaving the hall with my belongings and saw he was still sitting all by himself.

I went and sat next to him and hugged him. We both sobbed. I dont know what I told him but could feel his pain and relief.

And this reminded me of another beautiful moment in our lives.

2 weeks back we were watching Sarvam Maya – a cute ghost love story Mallu movie.

Sangeeta and I were crying while watching the movie. Prithvi was upset  saying he did not get any tears.

Sangeeta hugged him and told – once you lose someone dear tears will come automatically. I hope Sangeeta or I am there to hug Prithvi that day. Problem of single kids.

Life is like that. I dread going to these courses. Takes lot of reading about the course, almost signing up and closing browser after filling the form and finally take a deep breath and click the final submit –  I am going into the unknown – going far away from  my comfort zone.

These courses turn me upside down. Breaks something and reshuffles something deep inside me.

Here is an earlier one I did in Mumbai long back – but not as tough as this one – https://kvrlogs.me/2014/09/22/art-of-silence/

If you are curious – this Shoonya Intensive is Rs.5,500. 4 nights say in Isha Chikballapur with some amazing Organic food. And learn something which no book or school or college will ever teach. And stays with you life long. And I guarantee will be like no other experience you have ever had or will ever have.

The only 2 photos I took there which I sent to Sangeeta – what to do they confiscated my phone 🙂

Before

After