Miracles and me.

I didn't really have big exposure to yoga. With a dynamic hip screw even The Sun Salutations is an impossibility.

Yet when i was having severe backache, several years ago, I dreamed of the 'Villaasanam', the bow aasana.

It was during the sashti fast. I was in a fast. I was only consuming water and some light liquid nourishment in order to complete my daily chores and duties.

The fast was for six days. The backache could be because of the lack of a balanced diet but i had no intention of quitting the fast.

It was the fourth night and i was twisting and turning in pain. As i drifted into pain disturbed sleep, an old man came to me. He wore a sandalwood tone dhoti.

He was not too old. He had a moustache and beard, long hair. He held a long stick. He was the one who manoeuvred the bow moves on me.

I woke up in the bow pose and the backache had actually disappeared. I've continued doing that particular bend whenever i have pain.

 I have had some chemical short circuits in my system. Due to this, I have abused myself physically. With sleeping pills, alcohol and anti depressants.  What caused the chemical short circuits? That's a totally different story.

Anyway, these did not solve my problems, they actually aggravated them. In fact one after another shoulder froze and made me immobile.

The pain has been crucifying. I'd feel I'm being electrocuted and then I'd collapse. It even came to a few episodes of fainting.

So, I figured, it, the bow asana, was the most amazing fête  for me to do, with those problematic shoulders. Yet i did.

 I can't remember when i started the fast but i do know i will continue it for as long as I'm able. And somewhere along the line even the shoulders got better. So much so i forget often that they actually had issues before.

Navarathiri has been going on for the past nine days. Yesterday was the 9th day. The renowned day for Saraswathy, the goddess of education. We have been vegetarians and have promptly attended prayers and sang the songs of worship.

I've been going through some extremely tough exercises for my Latin dance classes and I've been training my students for their karate grading which is around the corner.

Mentally, I'm totally drained as my 15 year olds were sitting for their government examination.

I have been hurting all over and my bones felt like it had needles in them. I force myself and complete one chore after another.

Yesterday, I winced for every step i took. Never did it strike me that i should take a Beecham or a Panadol or any other painkillers.

It was just an automatic tolerance of pain. Then last night it happened again. The old man reappeared in my semi sleep.

This time, he asked me to stretch my legs wide. My right hand held my right toes and my left hand the left.

My head was pressed to the ground and my chest plus stomach was flat on the floor too.

I don't know if this is an aasana. I will not get answers until i speak to my kalaari master but what i discovered this morning was my body was free of all pain.

Whether fictional, mythical or real, navarathiri did do something for me. Just like how sashti works every time.

Someone somewhere is looking out for me. Let Him be Aathiyogi, or the Lord my Shepherd or the forces of the universe, I bow to all of thee.