In olden times it was used as training for martial arts practitioners and theatre and dance performers. It started in the north of India, but the successive invasions of Muslims and the British caused all the schools and their teachers to migrate to the south of India, to the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There it formed part of the training of Hindu warriors.

Now in the 21st century, according to David Beriain, the coordinator in Spain of Vyayama it is a discipline and an art form which has kept its essence, practice, form and philosophy pure.

What does it consist of?
The basis of Vyayama is to work on the aerobic capacity and breathing of each person in order to control their vital energy more effectively. Learning how to breathe properly and how to get the most out of your breathing in any task, whether it be intellectual, sexual, work related, physical, etc. This is the main benefit of Vyayama, says Beriain.

A Vyayama programme includes passive breathing; Svaradoya or techniques of tantric breathing; Svara or special respiratory rhythms textos; Vayukas or breathing to fill and empty the body, and to concentrate the pressure of the body and its energy. All of this perfectly embellished and coordinated with movements which emulate Hindu dance, warriors bearing arms, animals going through the jungle and nature itself.

Difficulty and equipment
Anybody can do it as it not at all difficult; it adapts to the demands of each person and not the other way round, as is the case with other sports.

It should be done in comfortable, loose and breathable clothing, preferably black. The ancient Hindu warriors believed that this colour concentrated energy. You can do it barefoot, in socks or wearing some very flexible Japanese slippers called Tabi.

Benefits
If you practise assiduously two or three times a week you will feel how your body and mind gain in agility and vitality, you will strengthen the muscles of your back, and your spine, and you will become more flexible. You will also be helping to prevent ailments such as arthritis, arthrosis and osteoporosis.

Ideally you should practise it daily to redirect energy all round your body. It will help you to eliminate stress, muscular pain and frozen joints.

The breathing used is expansive and generates a lot of internal heat which may cause the body to perspire, Beriain explains.

Where to get information
� Ayurshala Spiral Madrid. Tel. 915 43 05 29 and 610 50 16 81.
� Spiral Granada. Tel. 958 26 34 94.

Ayurvedic Massage
Vyayama is one of the disciplines recommended by Ayurveda, or traditional Hindu medicine, and its benefits can be complemented with massages for the reestablishment and conservation of health, as our expert explains.

There are different ways of giving a massage, and the Ayurveda Karali Massage has two versions: Shan Tala and Danda Sthan. The first is oriented towards harmonising the vital centres. The second, towards adjusting and stabilising the skeletal structure.

Common to both these massages are the essential oils used, the body's different energy centres, called marmas and talas, which are worked on and, most importantly, in the use of breathing by the masseur while performing the massage.

Beside the countless physical benefits of this massage, it also allows us to balance or activate our mind and emotions.

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