I fully believe that in order to be able to really understand something, we need to experience it first hand. Yoga and Ayurveda both are subjects that require a lifetime of study to even begin to touch on all nuances of each of the disciplines. I decided that if I was going to be a half-way decent Ayurvedic Practitioner I needed to come to India, where Ayurveda began over 5,000 years ago, so that I could experience it first hand. And, in order to really experience it (solely for the sake of research and study) I checked myself into the Ayurvedic Natural Health Centre. The program here each day involves Asana classes (yoga), 3 hours of Ayurvedic treatments (based upon your constitution which is determined by a Dr. at the center), 3 meals prepared by Ayurvedic chefs, using all the Ayurvedic principles and then anything else you choose to add in. I choose to add classes on Ayurvedic Diet and Nutrition which included hands on cooking (and I was the only student in my session, so I had plenty of time to ask all kinds of questions … I was in heaven). I was taught how to make things from a digestive tonic called Manda (yummy) to made-from-scratch Chai Tea.
The Centre provides treatments for relaxation (primarily what I did) all the way to the extreme of Panchakarma treatments. My treatments mainly consisted of things like a two person massage (two people massaging me in tandom), Shirodhara (see picture below), head and neck massage and finishing off with a steam. Like I said, all done for the sake of research. 3 hours a day. I am a dedicated student.
If you are thinking of traveling to Goa, I would highly encourage taking advantage of the treatments and if you are interested in furthering your Ayurvedic knowledge I would also highly recommend the classes. The yoga? Well, the yoga at the Centre is not “my food group” but the benefits and learning I received from the rest of my experience was well worth it. And, all this (including my overnight stay in a “deluxe”, (remember, everything is relative here), room for about the price of a night in the Motel 6 in Seattle that Kelly and I have decided we will never return to … I will leave the reasons why up to your imagination.
My therapist, Gheetau is taking the picture, but is usually right behind me swaying the crock above my head back and forth, tricking the oil in my hair.
Here is me in the steam box. Like I said, research purposes only …