06/01/2025
Following our last posting on here, we have several times been asked for more information about Ayurveda as it was mentioned we stayed at a treatment centre hotel. What exactly is ayurveda? Is it new? What happens during treatment? So, I thought I would do my best to give you a little more basic information.
Ayurveda is an ancient medical system, which began in India and Sri Lanka thousands of years ago, I believe. It is a holistic system where the whole person is treated, using various methods, - a specific diet which is holistic and mostly Vegan, plus daily full body massages lasting about an hour and a half and using two masseurs and, maybe yoga and meditation sessions, too. Apart from the specified foods and the daily massage, nothing is compulsory.
You first have a consultation with an ayurvedic doctor, who takes your four pulses and decides which ones are good and which ones are out of line. From this they decide what kind of treatment you need (especially if you have told them of any conditions, etc, you personally know about), type of massages, which oils will be used (can be anything from a mineral based one to something flowery or other plant based one). Usually you will have one massage a day, but, sometimes, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, is decided by the ayurvedic doctor and discussed with your masseur.
Meals are taken at usual times with, often, a large selection of various dishes, but all cooked according to ayurveda vegan/vegetarian recipes. Something which I was not looking forward to, but as it turned out, these dishes are actually often quite delicious, nutritious and perfectly filling. The resort we last stayed at served a very good selection of tasty dishes. We lost a little weight (which is not a bad thing!) mainly from around our middles and that has remained gone for the past three months since we got home, we are both pleased to say.
Other than that, if you stay at the kind of centres we stay at, the rest of the day is yours free to relax by a swimming pool, wander along the beach where there is one, go out sightseeing, or, try out yoga and meditation sessions at the centre if you want.
I, personally, would heartily recommend a stay at an ayurveda centre in India, but you must be guided towards the ones which are serious about your treatment and, at the same time, also give you a comfortable and pleasant experience.
We can help you with a visit to a good ayurvedic resort in India, of course - just ask! Put a small group of family and friends together. They'll all thank you, I am sure!