Yoga / Reiki courses in Tamil Nadu?

Birdie

After having travelled in India for 8 months I'm spending my last 5 weeks in or around Chennai. I would like to do some yoga and / or reiki courses during that time. Right now I'm in Mamallapuram, where nobody I asked has ever heard of reiki, so was wondering if anybody can give me some info on whether there are reiki courses being given in Chennai or Pondicherry or anywhere nearby. Also, if anybody can recommend a good yoga teacher in this area (preferably hatha, but not necessarily), I would be most grateful.

(Posted on the Chennai-thread as well)

livin-in-india

Chennai has a famous yoga school: http://www.kym.org/

And Isha Yoga in Coimbatore has a great guru, yet the yoga is not hatha, or at least isn't only hatha.

Move over to Bangalore and you've got Shri Shri Ravi Shankar and his Art of Living course and ashram.

Then back in Tamil Nadu you've got Tiruvanamalai, a town with one of the most powerful temples I've ever experienced, and lots of long(er) term, more mature (age) Westerners engaged with Advaita. Lots of advaitists there to learn from. Yoga classes were available last year when I last visited.

Here in Mysore it seems like half of the housewives are Reiki masters. Shouldn't be too hard to find teachers.

Pondichery has Aurobindo's ashram and Auroville. I assume yoga opportunities exist there.

Last time I was in Mahabalipuram (8 years ago?) I met a yoga teacher, an American guy, who had burned his passport and made a life for himself in India. First as a Sadhu, and then later as a husband and father (got his servant girl pregnant). Forgot his name... maybe he was from the 51st state (Canada).

If you are looking for spiritual growth, Isha might be your place (make sure the guru isn't on tour).

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India is the great Yin-Yang. Amazing lightness, equally amazing darkness. Wrapped up to make one complete whole.