The entrance of a traditional pit Kalari is often referred to as Gaja Mukha, the elephant face. Three and a half steps down into the clay pit lit by dim light of the altar. Here the abhyasi begins his ancient journey into the Tantra Yoga of Martial Arts...

Sat, Sept 27, 10am-12:30pm

Foundations: Lo Har, Surya Namaskara, Kalugal and Vadivu
The Kalari practitioner is commonly referred to as abhyasi, the repeating one. In this first session, the abhyasis will be introduced to some key elements or the practice: Grounding, steadfastness, focus, alignment, flow and expanding the sensory awareness. After set of warming up exercises (Lo Har) from the Buddhist tradition we will continue with a special Kalari Surya Namaskara. We will then proceed with a characteristic nadi stretching exercise called Kalugal. We will conclude with Vadivu, animal postures.

Sat, Sept 27, 2:30-5pm

Salutation: Puthara and Kalari Vandanam
Every Kalari class in the Vadakkan Sampradayam style will start the main practice with one form: The Vandanam form. It is in this form that we prostrate in front of the seven-step-altar in the southwest corner of the Kalari called Puthara and salute the sacred space of the Kalari. The Vandanam is an ageless and beautiful flowing sequence that includes many of the animal postures, as well as a set of absolutely unique movements.

Sun, Sept 28, 10am-12:30pm

Siva and Sakti: Kaikuttippayat - Siva Pilaitangi I
Siva and Sakti forms are the heart of the practice. We will start with Siva forms, often known as Kaikuttippayat. Siva and Sakti forms have different families. The family of Siva forms that we commonly start with is called Pilaitangi. Here powerful energy is created by focusing on male aspects: stamina, will power and the pure and emotionless aspect of energy culminating in the transformation fury of the Siva Tandava.

We will conclude our final session with a short Q&A.

What is Kalarippayat?

Kalarippayat
Kalarippayat literally means "training ground-exercise" and the term "Kalari" can used both to describe the practice, as well as the room in which it is practiced. It has been a major influence on the development of yoga and ayurveda since ancient times. Kalari is often referred to as "the tantra yoga of martial arts", building its principles upon the 96 tattvas that constitute our universe and the eternal dialogue of Shiva and Shakti. It developed at the junction of the indigenous Dravidian culture and the Vedic culture that migrated from the north.

When the Body Becomes All Eyes
Kalari and Yoga share principles and a lot of terminology. However, there are also obvious differences. Kalari stresses the tantric concept of living in this world, strongly stressing the expansion and development of the senses, as opposed to the classical practice of pratyahara or going inside. This paradigm is commonly called "when the body becomes all eyes." Another unique principle is called "embodying the animal spirit", a psycho-physical practice in which the abhyasi actually takes on the animal's attributes, not just its shape or posture.

The Mother of Martial Arts
Scholars often refer to Kalari as the mother of all martial arts. According to legend, a young prince from Kerala named Boddhidharma and was a skilled Kalari warrior, converted to Buddhism and later traveled north where he became the tutor of the Shaolin monks. Even today, the similarities can still be seen in some animal postures, movements and exercises.

Kalari Chitsa
Last but foremost Kalari is a unique healing system. This branch is called "Kalari Chikitsa" and the Kalari Masters are often considered the neurologists and orthopaedists of ayurveda. It includes many techniques which have been adopted by Ayurveda, but is most famous for its original system of foot massage, nadi- and marma-therapy. It is believed that only a practitioner who is both physically and spiritually strong and pure can bear the strain of the intense treatments where strokes are often administered in the same deep and energetically powerful stances that the practitioner has been practicing for years before finally being taught the massage. It is said that in order to heal something you must first learn how to destroy it.

Kalari in Practice
In short, the actual practice presents itself in class as a blend of yoga, martial arts and dance. The five most important principles in every class are grounding, alignment, rhythm and flow. Other Key principles include the concept of Siva and Sakti, expansion of sensory awareness ("When the body becomes all eyes"), embodying the animal spirit and continuous flow of opening and closing, contracting and expanding.

"No sports" had been the credo of Gerhard Schmid for a long time – until by coincidence he came across Kalarippayat (“Kalari”) — the traditional Indian martial art. From the first session onwards Gerhard was amazed about the effects: After a hard training he felt more fit, more present than before. He was totally taken only a few months later, when he had the chance to attend a seminar with C. M. Sherif Gurukkal, one of the most acclaimed grand masters of Kalarippayat. That was back in 1999. Since then Gerhard has embarked on a powerful journey, training up to six months every year with his teacher C. M. Sherif Gurukkal in Kerala/India, and immersing himself ever deeper into what is said to be the most ancient martial art in the world. By now he has completed almost nine years of the traditional 12-year-„gurukkula“-education and is one of the very few Westerners who have been trained in the three different styles of Kalarippayat - Vadakkan (Northern), Madhya (Central) and Tekan (Southern).

Kalari, not only being a martial art, but equally a healing art (Chikitsa), it offers a wide range of treatments and is considered to be the neurology and physiotherapy branch of Ayurveda. As such it's focus is on the marmas, the "vital spots" of the body.
Gerhard is trained both in Nadi- and Marma-Therapy as well as in Foot-Massage (Chavutty Uzhichil) — a complex full body treatment, given with the feet of the therapist.

He is a certified senior instructor of the Kerala Kalarippayat Academy in Kannur / Kerala and teaches at his own studio in Hamburg/Germany as well in various places in the US His inspiring classes are deeply rooted in his fundamental knowledge, his descriptive approach, his love to share what he was granted to discover and his great sense of humour. His ability to lead each student according to his/her individual potential makes every class an experience of growth and joy — for beginners and advanced practitioners alike.