Medical Class

I’ve attended the therapeutic/medical classes every day since coming to the Institute. The first day I told myself I would sit on the sidelines and observe but soon I was whisked into action by assisting with prop getting and simple adjustments. The first few days I met and worked with a couple of senior teachers from the US. When Anna arrived last Friday, everything changed.

• 
  Since her arrival, I’ve been attached to her like glue. Anna is in the medical classes to attend to a neck problem that started when she was injured many, many years ago and has been compounded by subsequent accidents. She has had the senior Indian teachers, as well as Guruji guiding her. I’ve been photographing the process, which started relatively easy with many supported poses and adjustments by the teachers. Yesterday everything was intensified.
  
  Guruji got personally involved in her recovery and began to direct her program. He taught a class yesterday to the ladies, channeling his instructions through his granddaughter Abhi. Anna did not take the class because of an additional problem, torn knee ligament, but luckily she was sitting right next to Guruji and took meticulous notes. Little did she know that within this class would be gems of wisdom for her to practice by. He told her later that evening that this class was for herand that she must attend to the principles given.
  
  To say I’ve been overwhelmed with what I’m learning in these therapeutic sessions is an understatement. It is truly a humbling experience being around this brilliant man and his very able Indian teachers. Guruji’s mind and hands are like quick fire. He has no patience for incompetence or slowness. To watch this man work with his fierce determination at age 92 is nothing short of amazing.
  
  The senior Indian teachers have been generous, gracious and thoughtful in how they work with the “patients” in the therapeutic classes. There are young children; teenagers, middle aged and elderly people all together being assisted through yoga therapy. There are knee problems; back problems, neck problems; heart problems; cancer patients; psychological problems; feet problems; hip problems; elbow problems; and a myriad of organic problems and more ….. all in this asana room doing yoga with great assistance. It looks chaotic but each patient has one, two or more teachers working with him or her in order to access the poses for their recovery.
  
  There are days I feel overwhelmed when assisting in these classes. Yesterday was one of those days. Anna assured me that feeling inadequate here was normal. All I can say is that I am on one big learning curve over here.
  
  It is also wonderful to see how the teaching in the regular classes seques into the teaching in the yoga therap/medical classes. The big difference is that in regular classes we are self-contained and use few props with no assistance. But many of the instructions are the same and are being used in the medical classes.