Sonia (97) reflects on yoga and spirits in troubled times

THE memory of a trip to Peru by myself and the manageress of my health centre many years ago is becoming more vivid daily as the coronavirus develops, writes Sonia Kelly. It now appears to be exceptionally relevant in these troubled times.

When we were in Lima, the capital, we joined a group of sightseers who were boarding a train for Machu Picchu, a tourist venue high up in a neighbouring mountain. A short time later, to our alarm, they began to collapse, until finally me and my friend were the only two people remaining upright.

It transpired eventually to be altitude sickness and after a lot of deliberation we concluded that it was the yoga breathing, which we did automatically, that brought us through unscathed.

Later our enquiries revealed that any of the teachers we asked did not know of the potential of the breathing technique. But an American doctor got wise to it and introduced it to the American army so the soldiers learn it now as part of their military training.

This is how it goes...
Lie flat, breathe in to the count of eight, the first four to the lower part of the lungs and the second four to the upper part. Hold your breath for four and breathe out for eight, finally holding the breath out for four and then start again.

Normally people breathe in automatically to the top part of the lungs only. When you have practised enough you will breathe into the lower part only, which is how myself and friend were breathing in Peru.

 

Help from spirit world

I am lucky enough to have a second source of help. This comes courtesy of the spirit world and via a psychic relative.

On one occasion the relative was visiting and she reported seeing three men in uniform going around the house and protecting me. She recognised the uniform as belonging to the Boer War whereupon I dismissed them as I had never heard of any relation connected with South Africa.

Subsequent research revealed that Garnet Wolseley was a famous soldier who had won every war he was engaged in and received every accolade possible for soldiers, finally being knighted. He had married the illegitimate daughter of my great-grandfather's brother, who was a barrister in London, and had plenty of money to spend on his daughter Louise's education after she had been adopted by my great-grandfather, Joseph Holmes.

When the coronavirus outbreak first began, I asked the relative to see if the spirits would protect the family.

She told me that my aunt Kitty had been constantly with me all my life. A Louisburgh doctor, who had once been mine, and Sir Garnet, who had his hand on my shoulder, were all about me, helping, and the atmosphere in my bedroom was extremely positive.

Do you think that I could wish for anything more?

* Sonia Kelly (97) is the founder of Cloona Health Retreat in Westport