The pandemic has fuelled several physical and mental health issues, and a clear outcome has been to return to one’s roots. And in India, Ayurveda, a 5000-plus-year-old science, has been at the forefront courtesy of its holistic power and natural healing capabilities.
Return to Roots
Ayurveda, the ancient Indian healing technique, addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our well-being. The Ayurvedic way of life helps strengthen and fortify our body against diseases and viruses using natural ingredients and techniques. Ayurveda’s key principle to stay healthy is to keep the body in a state of balance, a balance of everyone’s bio-energies or tridoshas. “This balance can be achieved through the detox and panchakarma programme that we offer at SwaSwara, a CGH Earth experience in Gokarna, Karnataka. Ayurveda addresses the mind as well. A happy and content mind is key to being healthy. Post-pandemic, we see an increasing number of people choosing SwaSwara as a natural sanctuary to relax, reset and refocus. A soul-searching holiday to reconnect with the real you. At CGH Earth’s SwaSwara, one can choose wellness programmes that are relaxing, rejuvenating and curative in nature,” says Sidarth Dominic, CEO, CGH Earth Wellness.
Food facts
Post-pandemic people have become more attentive to their health. In fact, people are now opting for a vegan diet, or we can say a Sattvic diet. Ayurveda is gaining more and more relevance as people understand the importance of treating long chronic health issues. It is estimated that the Sattvic diet originated in India over 5,000 years ago. According to traditional beliefs, sattvic food provides calmness, happiness, and mental clarity and not to forget that it is friendly to our gut health. “Earlier, it was very rare to find sattvic food anywhere on the menu list, but in this post-pandemic phase, people now want more of the sattvic diet and food, and thus so many hotels are shifting their interest or starting a new venture of sattvic restaurants. Here at Ayushakti, we have seen foreigners also adapting the same lifestyle once they are here at our clinic for 2-3 or 5 weeks of detoxification (panchkarma),” says Dr Smita Naram, co-founder of Ayushakti.
Ayurveda is about understanding and restoring the state of balance between mind, spirit, body and the environment. This holistic healing system does not work on the symptoms of a disease; instead, it looks at root causes.
Holistic hues
Ayurveda is about understanding and restoring the state of balance between mind, spirit, body and the environment – or Samatvam. It has a multimodal approach, and there is no specific flowchart; it believes all about customisation, which is entirely different from conventional healing techniques. This holistic healing system does not work on the symptoms of a disease; instead, it looks at root causes – trying to understand why an individual has lost physical, mental, or emotional balance. “Each Ayurvedic treatment is customised to correct imbalances when they occur through knowledge and altered behaviour. Ayurveda also enlightens you about the daily and seasonal regime to improve your overall wellness. Ayurveda is a lifestyle change aiming to prevent the disease rather than treat the symptoms. This is significant when we consider COVID or other infectious diseases – we can better equip our bodies to fight the illnesses and strengthen the immune system,” says Tania Vangal, Creative Director, Ayurvedagram, Kerala Ayurveda.
Bespoke treatments
The retreats are geared to offer various programs that focus on something basic like detox and address chronic health issues. Most detoxification programs aim to remove excessive doshas and toxins from the body. “The first step is preparing your body for detoxification by giving potent, specific herbs and diet plans. The second process is the elimination of toxins from all bodily channels by special purgation therapies. Thirdly, Panchkarma repairs the system and channels using medicated oils and special herbs to repair the damaged cells and tissue, removing the blocks from channels. These are the main steps that aid in the reduction of chronic pains, improved heart functions, normalised blood sugar, regularised blood pressure and cholesterol, improved sleep, reduced anxiety and depression, better joint functions, reduction in Asthma, allergy, frequent cough, cold fever, reduction in excess weight and improved immunity,” says Naram. Rejuvenation helps build new cells and tissues, improving immunity, thereby preventing and protecting the body from further illnesses. At Ayurvedagram, for instance, there is a wide range of Ayurveda therapies unique to the Kerala tradition of Panchakarma – this includes Kizhi, Pizhchil, Shirodhara, Padabhyanga, Shirolepa, Dhara, and many more. The duration may vary from 3 to 21 days, where you will get a sattvic diet and regular yoga sessions.
Go natural
Ayurveda has always been strongly rooted in Indian heritage. Natural care, yoga, naturopathy, homoeopathy are all practices that have been part of Indian medical procedures and remedies for years. Ayurveda is a holistic health care system that emphasises prevention and encourages maintaining good health through balance, diet and lifestyle. In recent years, Ayurveda has evolved as an evidence-based medicine system, increasing popularity and wider recognition globally. “With prevention and cure at its helm, Ayurveda is not only a healing system that provides you with instant relief, it also aims to restore health by understanding the root cause of the problem. It helps detoxify, cleanse, strengthen body tissues and balance a healthy lifestyle. The pandemic has made us introspect into our current lifestyle and the need for change for the better. Never has Ayurveda gained so much popularity and momentum, as it did in the last two years. It has shaped people’s perspective of “illness” to “wellness”. We have come closer to nature and are looking back into the book of natural care and food elements to prevent and cure diseases and strengthen immunity,” says Tejas Chavan, Managing Director, Green Spaces – Viveda Wellness Village. Ayurveda philosophy is to cure the root problem, not just symptoms and to strengthen the body from within. Especially post-pandemic, everyone is trying to boost their immune system and inculcate more natural healing techniques in their daily lifestyle, and that is where Ayurveda’s influence and relevance have grown post pandemic. Ayurvedic medicine aims to restore health by understanding the underlying causes of the diseases. Its main principles are to enhance detoxification, strengthen the body tissues, balance the bodily doshas, and ensure a cure.
Seasonal fix
One of the important aspects of Ayurveda is that the best season to take them is the monsoon. This is when they focus on cleaning therapies offering detox programs which include liver flush, colon hydrotherapies and other cleansing therapies. One of Ayurveda’s noteworthy distinctive healing philosophies is its relationship with the cycles of seasons and wisdom of nature, called Ritucharya. Dr Sanjay Khanzode, Wellness Consultant, Fazlani Natures Nest, says, “Some of the unique treatments are Kashayadhara, where fresh medicinal herbs are used for making Kashaya – herbal decoction, and the Dhara therapy is done for guests who have insomnia, stress-related issues, hair fall, etc. Another popular treatment is Spinal Basti, where warm herbal oil is held in place for a certain amount of time to treat back pain, sciatica, and lumbar spondylosis. We follow that as part of the healing philosophy at Fazlani Natures Nest and recommend treatments as governed by the seasonal cycles. For example, Takradhara or Dhara Therapy for cooling and calming the mind is prescribed during the summer season, Nasyam Treatment during spring, Abhyangam massage therapy with warming herbal oils and Swedanam treatment, inducing sweat during the winter season.” Karkidaka or Ramayana month is very important in undergoing purification. It is the last month of the traditional Malayalam calendar, from mid-July to mid-August. “There is a sudden climate shift from scorching summer to the cold, damp monsoon; thus, the body and its immunity are severely affected. The body is more vulnerable to respiratory, digestive, and joint diseases. Karkidaka chikitsa is a specialised purificatory regime followed in Kerala to overcome the difficulties faced by the body during this season. It includes Keraleeya panchakarma chikitsa, diet modification, and healthy regimes. Keralites have followed it for centuries, and so do we at Ayurvedagram,” says Vangal.
Be Well
Most ayurvedic retreats focus on not just treatments but also provide a mix of activities that are good for the guests. Apart from the Ayurvedic therapies, you can enjoy unique experiences that include walking around the property and immersing yourself in nature. So, whether it is the sweet chirping of birds, the energising breeze from medicinal plants or gazebos and benches that allow you to practice meditation in silence or take yoga sessions from yoga masters, they have it all. Cooking classes are also usually offered as one of the best ways to help you incorporate Ayurveda into your everyday life. “A therapeutic mélange of Ecotherapy, Ayurveda, Naturopathy, wellness cuisines, and nature-based activities have been curated to offer holistic well-being.
The wellness programs and retreats offered are immune resilience, weight management, healthy natural living to address lifestyle-related ailments, detoxification, natural relaxation for indulging in spa treatments for renewal and rejuvenation,” says Khanzode. The best part is that these Ayurvedic retreats give you a lifestyle that allows you to embrace the holistic good health of your body, mind, and spirit. You can discover the ancient Indian healing system of Ayurveda with a wide range of treatments that not only rejuvenate the body and mind but also address specific ailments. On your next break, take the Ayurveda route and you will return feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and relaxed.
