Catherine, USA
Greetings!
I attended a yoga therapeutics class last May 2012. I had fallen 6 months before on my R shoulder, it eventually became frozen, and difficult to move or use. Dr. Sherat and staff performed "closed surgery" on my shoulder and it completely healed. It is a year later now and I am attending Dr. Sherat's continuing course, May 2, 2013. I leave in a few weeks to return to Los Angeles, and my yoga continues to improve ( it takes a lifetime, and I am ready). Many thanks and Namaste
It is almost ten years ago that I first walked into Sharat's center in Arambol, Goa. I was 24 at the time and was suffering from quite severe back pain for over a year. I had knee surgery a few years earlier and some problems in my neck. My back was making me miserable, I was in constant pain - sitting, walking, even in bed. I had no control over the pain, no understanding of how it happens and what to do to make it go away. I had tried physical therapy, Ayurveda, naturopathy, massage, Tai-Chi, some made me worse, some made me feel a little better for a while but then the pain would come back and I was helpless against it. I remember when I finished the first 5-day course, I was surprised my back wasn't any worse. I was glad that I could do things, I could twist and bend and move without hurting myself. So I stayed for another course. Then another. Within a few weeks, I started noticing changes. I learned what to do when the pain starts, how to make it go away. I learned what not to do, how to not destroy the progress I was making. Sharat showed me how to modify the poses so that I can derive maximal benefit from them without taking any chances with my back.
I came to the HIYC 5 weeks ago, I was not expecting to be here for so long. I came here with a pretty broken heart, feeling really sad a little bit lost and wanting to come back to my yoga, wich I didn't do for a few month. So I started a 5 day course and immediately started to lift my spirit and let me get out of my mind and get back to my body, and started to ground me. So after I took the subsequence 5 days course and a Therapy course, which was intensive and challenging and It started to hill some things that I carry for a long time. The Centre is beautiful, full of flowers and has really lovely surroundings. And Sharat, the teacher, is quite a guru, he is not only a teacher. He is a master and spiritual guide for me, I am very grateful to him for having created the centre. And also, the teacher trainees are amazing people with a lot to share with you and guide you. It is an amazing place, if I could stay for other 3 or 4 month I think I would. I will come back.
I had 4 weeks of intense practice including a Therapy Course. The main reason to come here was because I had a chronic knee pain and I haven't had my period for 6 years, and within a week with Sharat I've got it which is amazing. The hole awareness about my body and mind, my standing postures and understanding what yoga is about just changed my life. Thank you!
The Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre is my home now. I live next to it, work there and have a great group of friends with who I share the practice and my free time. After my second or third 5 Days Course I knew I had to get into this technique. My humor, my energy and the awareness of my own body start to change very fast and a big smile took my face. The opportunity of receiving classes in exchange of my work is a dream come true. Now I am helping with the contents of the web site, taking pictures and assisting the teacher in the classes.