Ayurveda at Kairali

 I recently visited the Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village  for some ayurvedic treatment. To describe it in 3 words, it was: TOTAL relaxation and rejuvenation! Kairali is located in Kerala, South India, near by a small town called Palakkad. It is an absolutely beautiful resort, nestled among many rice fields and coconut trees, away from the busy city. As you drive towards it, you can already feel the calmness and peace settling upon you by seeing the beautiful landscapes. But as soon as you enter the resort, the real tranquility takes over.

  

They have many cottages, which have been made according to vastu shastra (Ancient scriptures with guidelines how to build houses auspiciously), and are named after the nakshatras (star signs) of the Hindu calender. There is a yoga hall, meditation hall, a library and small gym, a swimming pool which looked inviting, and a dining hall. The food served here was amazing!!! Super tasty, wholesome and healthy, traditional South Indian dishes. I guess it all depends on your treatment, but we went for the general set menu. Each meal was something we looked forward to very much! They also served special 'herbal' water with a nice pink colour, which helps all the more for the treatments to be effective.

Now, let's get to the exciting part... the treatments!! They have two doctors, and several nurses. They evaluate your current health condition, and then prescribe the treatments you have to undertake. I went for a simple rejuvenation treatment, which involved two sessions per day. I had abhyanga (oil bath & massage), shirodhara (oil being poured on the forehead), pizhichil (two liter oil bath), and a face pack, with a daily steam session in addition. I haven't felt this good in months!!! Even just a few days of treatment made a significant effect on me. My skin was glowing. My hair was super soft (after the oil came out). I felt very calm and peaceful inside. Any small body pain or discomfort went away... And i slept like an angel!

The treatment center is very professional. They know exactly what to do, and take care of you in such a great way! After each treatment we had steam session, followed by a bath where we use green gram powder to scrub off the oil from the body. It's a fantastic cleanser! It absorbs the oil, scrubs the dead cells, and leaves your skin feeling soft and nourished.

Ayurveda is an amazing system of healing and prevention, which comes from ancient scriptures in India. All medicines are plant based. As well external treatment such as massages etc, one can take internal medicines depending on the ailment. According to ayurveda (which means knowledge of life), every human being is composed of three doshas:

"The basic principles of Ayurveda deal with the natural way of living a healthy life. Every human being is a unique combination of the five elements – earth, water, fire, air and space, making up the three vital forces of life –“Vata” representing ether and air, “Pita” combining fire and water, and “Kapha” meaning water and earth. The perfect balance of these vital forces results in true health." -Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village

It is when the doshas are out of balance, that the body gets disturbed or sick. Thus ayurveda helps to bring back into balance these three doshas. According to Kairali, the two main jobs of Ayurveda are to prevent and to cure ailments:

"Rejuvenation programs at our Ayurveda centers are a combination of medicinal massage and herbal remedies, helping to boost general wellbeing and strengthen the immune system

The curative aspect of Ayurveda works towards the total eradication of a particular ailment, and aims to bring the body to a perfect balance of health. Almost all known diseases can be treated with Ayurveda, including paralysis, spondylitis, arthritis, rheumatism, bone and joint disorders, slipped disk, anxiety, depression, nervous disorders, diabetes, hypertension, cardiac related disorders, sinusitis, migraine and many more. In most of these cases we see an improvement of nearly 80% after a patient goes through an Ayurvedic treatment process."

I very much recommend everyone to undergo Ayurvedic treatment every year. It does wonders to your body, your whole system, your mind, and your general sense of wellbeing. You will feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and very peaceful after undergoing treatment. I think its one of the best creations on this earth for human beings to enjoy! And if you are looking for a traditional and authentic place then Kairali is definitely a great option. You don't feel like you're a hospital patient here, you will feel like a pampered princess/prince, and yet you still get all the therapeutic and healing benefits of the treatments, in a place which is an abode of tranquility, nature, calmness and harmony......

Enjoy!