12.01.2005

Ayurvedic cleansing

Posted by danielle

Whether you're looking for it or not, India has her special way of serving up a dose of natural healing and spirituality. After receiving our first hit in MacLeod Ganj, we were definitely ready for another. With Jo's super-powers of sussing out award-winning health retreats, she had us all booked in for a week of sea-side Ayurvedic treatments and pampering.

Ayurveda is an Ancient Indian (6,000 year old) medicine, which is prominent in Kerela. It is based on a holistic approach to a healthy life, which is exactly what we were after.

Once we'd arrived at the health resort (nestled beneath a palm plantation, I might add!) we were keen to get stuck into the Ayurvedic treatments. Our first step was a consultation with the Ayurvedic doctor. While I busily scribbled away at the six-page questionnaire, he quietly sat and observed me in order to determine my constitutional type (there are three primary categories and ten altogether). Through his observations and the questionnaire, consideration was made to my body frame and weight, digestive and elimination patters, immune function, disease history and psychological characteristics... and the list goes on. Gee, I never though the day would come when I'd run out of room in the designated box titled 'Problems'. I guess my body really is becoming old and decrepit after all of these years! Once the factors were determined, the doctor prescribed a diet according to my constitution type and specific health problems.

Our daily diet was a a tasty affair consisting of vegetarian meals. The consumption of our prescribed herbal medicine, on the other hand, was one to die for - literally. Three different types of herbal medicine thrice daily was really pushing the limit. I lived with the hope that the worse it tasted, the better for me it was. But we all successfully kept up with it for 21 sittings. Go team!

We were wholly surrounded by herbs, herbs and even more herbs (and no, there were no 'happy herbs'). Pots of herbs with long-exotic-and-very-impressive-names grew throughout the property giving it a similar density of, say the Amazon. OK, maybe a slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean. We walked alongside herbs, we breathed herbs, we drank herbs, we ate herbs, we consumed herbal medicine, we washed ourselves with herbs, and our treatments used herbs.

Our two-hour daily treatments varied in nature. Our constant daily treatment was a full body herbal oil massage, conducted by two women simultaneously. It was quite an interesting experience to say the least. Any uncomfortable feeling you might have about strutting around in your birthday suit while getting oiled up by two strangers must be left at the door, cause this is the natural way things are done around here man. Alternative treatments included heavy duty papaya/egg face packs, foot massages, hand massages, facial massages, clay-pot oil-drips (on your forehead), hot mud-pack back massages, and a steam bath. It doesn't get much better than that does it!

But as they say, Ayurveda is a way of life. With this in mind, we'd run, swim, do yoga and also meditate daily. The beach was our playground, and I can tell you that I had full intentions to soak up the rays before hitting rainy old London. We also ventured out to the Kerela backwaters one morning - an attraction which Kerela is renowned for.

Just in reference to the photos down the side... since there was no chance in hell that a camera was entering into our treatments, I thought picks of the backwaters and our night life would suffice!

With such a natural existence over the past couple of weeks, with Bruce and Jo, our bodies and minds feel completely cleansed. And I can tell you that my quality of life has also been heightened now that I'm not required to take that putrid medicine anymore!