Meipadam, a traditional holistic fitness system originating from Tamil Nadu, India, offers a comprehensive approach to purifying, opening, and strengthening the body-mind-energy system.
It seamlessly integrates dynamic bodyweight exercises, breathing techniques, and mind training practices. Physically, it improves agility, strength, power, stamina, endurance, balance, mobility, and flexibility. Vitality is increased and the mind becomes still and strong.
Our system unfolds in a systematic step-by-step manner, following three distinct journeys crafted by my teacher, Dharmaraj Aasan of God's Warrior, a Traditional School of Yoga and Martial Arts in Madambakkam, Chennai, India.
Each journey consists of one or more stages, guiding practitioners from external techniques to inner work as they progress. These journeys are:
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Bala Padam - foundational practices.
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Vidalai Padam - intermediate practices.
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Kalai Padam - advanced practices.
Bala Padam
Return To Youthfulness
Foundational practices aimed at restoring the natural body by removing the obstructions in the limbs and awakening the waist and spine.
Vidalai Padam
Stepping Into Power
Intermediate practices designed to cultivate strength, agility, and flexibility in the body, enhance vitality, and foster mental toughness.
Kalai Padam
Graceful Power
Advanced practices aimed at cultivating inner power, stilling the mind, and fostering stillness in movement.
More About Bala Padam
'Bala' is the Tamilian term for a child up to 12 years old. In Sanskrit, Bala means young, powerful, child-like. 'Padam' means lesson. Bala Padam consists of lessons aimed at restoring the natural open body of a child and rekindling the fearless, vibrant qualities typical of this stage of life.
Bala Padam Payirchi has two stages. The backbone of each stage consists of a sequence of 18 movements. Alongside the 18-movement sequences of Bala Padam, our curriculum for this initial journey includes a variety of traditional physical exercises, pranayamas, and mind training techniques.
For instance, in our 'Introduction to Meipadam' weekend course, we teach an excellent exercise known as Yogi Jagi. It is a simple movement that works our core and boosts our cardiovascular fitness, energy, and stamina. It's kind of like running in place, but with a twist.
Since we're all about vibrant inner stillness here, let's explore how this exercise can help us achieve just that.
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Stand up with your feet shoulder-width apart, and let your arms hang loose by your sides.
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While keeping your mind connected with your lower belly, lift your right knee up towards your right shoulder and raise your left arm up at the same time. Then, switch it up – lift your left knee and right arm. Keep switching back and forth like this for a total of 48 reps. And remember, count each one out loud as you go – it's kind of important!
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Finish off with the 'Find Your Whole Self' technique. Take a moment to really feel the aliveness permeating your entire body, experience the vibrant inner stillness and the silence within.
Karalakattai training involves dynamic linear and circular movements using heavy wooden clubs, to further enhance the practitioners’ physical and mental conditioning.
Our school emphasizes a wide range of leg stances and powerful breathing techniques.
Before commencing Karalakattai training, it's essential to adequately prepare the body through at least 8-12 weeks of Meipadam practice. Completing the first stage of Bala Padam establishes a solid foundation for undertaking and sustaining more demanding practices like Karalakattai and Martial Arts.
