17 August,2010 06:46 AM IST | | FYI Team
Try Kalaripayattu, the ancient Indian martial art, for fluid body movements and inner peace
For as long as I can remember I have always been intrigued by the art of Kalaripayattu, sometimes referred to as the "mother of all martial arts".
The mere mention of its name conjures up images of warriors with deadly weapons in their hands, performing graceful movements.
My Experience
Kalaripayattu is an art that I've wanted to learn for a long time, but it never worked out, until around a year ago when I met my teacher Pradeesh Raj.
I believe it took so long because, to paraphrase a famous saying from Hindu mythology, "Knowledge comes to you, when it is due to you."
The trigger was a film. I was set to train for an assignment and was on a hectic search for someone who could teach me the art of Kalaripayattu.
What is Kalaripayattu all about?
Kalaripayattu is said to be the oldest existing martial art form, and can be traced back to more than 2,000 years ago.
The Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma spread awareness of the art from India to China. Like Tai-Chi, Kalaripayattu also involves fluid movements, taking inspiration from the raw power and sinuous strength of animals.
So, you will find yourself shifting between the wild boar pose and the elephant pose, with the good ol' horse pose thrown in.
Are you visualising the poses and grinning? Try them and watch the smile disappear as you struggle to get it right.
There is also a lot of weapon training involved, and if you are seriously interested in that aspect of training, you will probably need to head to Kerala, the heartland of this ancient art.
Also essential to this art are the various Ayurvedic oil massage treatments, which increase the practitioners' flexibility, treat muscle injuries incurred during practice, and problems related to bone tissue, or the nervous system.
The Benefits
The first thought that occurs when you start ( at least it did to me) was: "Damn, am Iu00a0 really this inflexible?" Not the most reassuring realisation.
But I have been practicing Kalaripayattu for about a year now, and it's probably the best thing I have done for my body. It's a great combination for strength, flexibility and agility.
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I can tell you from personal and, a few painful moments, that there is a lot of hard work involved if you are planning to take up this art as a form of fitness.
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But the benefits are worth the effort; a feeling of strength, the unblocking of various nerve centres, and a pliant and supple body. So if you are looking for a one-stop shop to fitness, this is as good as it gets!
As told to Dinesh Raheja, Bollywood News Service
