Not quite here, not quite there

The awkward in-between

I just came back from an intense three months of Kalari training.

In the next three days, I’m leaving for the mountains—the next leg of my journey.

But right now, I’m in the between.

A time of wrap-up and preparation. A break that has no time for a break.

My head is so full of tasks that I couldn’t think of anything to write about since yesterday. I even considered skipping this week’s newsletter. But then I realized—this in-between moment is the story.

We rarely talk about the transitions, do we? We celebrate beginnings, we reflect on endings, but what about the space between them? The restless limbo where one chapter hasn’t fully closed and the next hasn’t fully begun. The part that’s messy, rushed, and often uncomfortable.

The in-between is full of contradictions. It demands movement but craves stillness. It asks for closure but also for readiness. And in the process, it reminds us that life isn’t just made up of arrivals and departures—it’s also made up of waiting rooms, packing lists, and the quiet realization that we’re not quite the same person we were before.

So, I’m honouring this space today. Even with a head full of tasks, even with the uncertainty of what’s next, even when I feel like I have nothing to say—I showed up anyway. Because sometimes, that’s all we need to do.

If you’re in an in-between moment too, I see you. Let’s not rush through it. Let’s sit with it, even just for a breath.

Remembering the past three months

Kalari has been intense, humbling, and transformative. I’ve lost a few kilos, but that’s the least of it. I feel stronger, and more physically capable, and that has done wonders for my confidence. Even though I’m tired from an intense experience, I also feel powerful. It’s been a pleasure to indulge in a movement art that has such deep roots and such an amazing impact.

Few pics from Kalari photoshoot

What’s Next?

After this intense phase, I’m looking forward to slowing down. From the heat of Kerala, I can’t wait to cosy up in the cold of Himachal Pradesh. The next one and a half months are for creativity, slowing down, and refreshing myself in the quiet of the mountains.

And in the in-between…

I’m treating myself. Good food, resting my knee, and pampering myself with a few beauty treatments—especially a pedicure for my feet, for carrying me through these past three months of training.

See you next week, from the mountains.

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Little Joys

“Joy is always around if only we pause to acknowledge it.”

With life's burdens and big ambitions, it's easy to overlook our everyday joys. let’s take a moment to acknowledge the small joys from the last week. Here are mine -

• I got a Kalari Madyama certificate for finishing 3 months of Kalari training!

• Participated in a Kalari performance and got a small cute memento for it.

• So many people complimented me on how good I have gotten with my movement over time!

• Found a place that serves good Gobi 65 and had it 3 times in the last week!

• Had deep and reassuring conversations that made me believe in my journey.

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Stories from my journey

I shared a reel of me doing a Neduvadi Payattu (long-stick sequence) which is a skill I learnt from the first week of the training and it gained quite some traction. The video is of a small monthly display - You can watch it here.

Also shared what in retrospect feels like a shit post (which I never do) and post on how the gracefulness of Kalari surprised me.