Travel photography is a stressful job indeed. With nearly 30 days of travel scheduled within the last 45 days, the stress on me has been unrelenting. Editing photographs and pitching to editors is no mean feat indeed. So when I got a chance to rejuvenate at an Ayurvedic Healing Village in Kerala, I wasn’t going to say no. I traveled to the sleepy town of Palakkad in the hope of rekindling my spirit and calm and Kairali did not disappoint even a single bit.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda means’ The science of life.’ Ayurveda deals with the natural way of living a healthy life.The theory of Ayurveda understands the five elements as the root cause of existence, a metaphysics common to all ancient cultures. The five elements appear in different combinations in each of us and from our unique individuality. They work in combination to form the tri-dosha system, including; Vata Dosha, representing ether and air; Pita Dosha representing fire and water; and Kapha Dosha, representing water and earth. Imbibing this ancient practice, to enrich body, mind and soul, Kairali has given the holistic touch of Ayurveda boundless wings.
At Kairali, an Ayurvedic doctor sits down with you and analyzes your doshas finally suggesting a treatment that will correct your imbalances. The property in itself is very relaxing. With Kerala’s trademark lush green in quite some abundance, you will start with your rejuvenation the moment you set your eyes on it. We had arrived late in the evening amidst pouring rain and were quickly shunted to our cottages after a short welcome.
The Living Cottages
The living quarters at Kairali are a balance between spartan and luxury. As the Ayurvedic center recommends minimalism, the luxury is made up for in the architecture and service. There are cottages across categories that you can choose from. They are built in a typical Kerala style with thatched roofs and according to the ‘Vastu’ i.e the holistic concept of design and architecture in Ayurveda. Although the overall design is very simple, the intricate patterns make the observant eyes gleeful. The hexagonal shaped brick cottages are offset by bright colours of green. A small courtyard opens up into the gardens ahead where you can hear the sounds of birds. There are a plethora of tall coconut trees right next to your cottages along with a small bridge that crosses over the small water body.
The Ayurvedic Treatments
The days usually start off with a Yoga session to kick start your rejuvenation. An hour long Yoga session is enough to get your heart racing with the Surya Namaskar straining even the fittest. Some meditation and Shavasan is combined along with it to calm the nerves. This is followed by the Ayurvedic massages which are the specialty of this place. And an hour long meditation with a therapeutic approach during evenings. My therapist Dr. Arti and Divya guide me to the changing room. This is followed by entry into the therapy room. The Massage room is equally spartan with a special wooden bed (Droni) dominating the centre. The massages rejuvenate the body and help maintain the physique. In ayurvedic therapy, the purification is done by eliminating morbid doshas by ‘Panchakarma’.
Both the masseuse stand on either side of me applying herbal oil on the head and massaging gently. The therapy is continued on the neck, ears, shoulders, chest and back. They then lie me on my back and the massage is continued from shoulder to toes. The massage consists of long firm strokes that are repeated to gain maximum circulation in the muscles with the massage finally ending in the sitting position. Abhyangam has been found very effective for removing stress and strain, improving eyesight, immunity, longevity, sound sleep, rheumatism, vitality and provides with a glowing skin. This massage also improves the immunity, rejuvenates and maintains the physique.
The next component of the therapy is the Potli Massage. Potli therapy is done using heated herbal pouches(Potli) that are placed on the effective area of the body. This Potli contains a selection of carefully chosen herbs on the basis of individuals Ayurvedic constitution. They are then packed into a muslin cloth and dipped in warm medicated oil. Divya then holds the potli and gives me presses all across my body and massage onto specific pressure points. Potli massage helps you rejuvenate and revitalize your human mind and body and thus diminish the effects of osteoarthritis and spondylitis. This is a special therapy for stress, strain, sleeplessness, and relaxation.
Food at Kairali
One of the most essential components of a healthy mind and body is the food that we eat. With the amount of food I have to put with Sudipto being a food writer, this was quite a change, albeit a bit challenging. The food is pure vegetarian with therapeutic values and is cooked with less oil and has extremely wholesome and subtle flavours. More than the flavours, it is a mental adjustment that you have to make to adjust to the type of food. We also took a Herbal Garden Tour to learn more about herbs and its therapeutic value in food. I shall share you the nutritional value of food in Ayurveda in my next post.
Cultural activities at Kairali
Other than the massages, there are a plethora of activities that you can do around Kairali. In the evenings, there is a shadow puppet show that is an art indigenous to Kerala. An hour long program that tells a different story each night. You can also take a dip in the pool to relax the muscles after a robust session on the massage temple. Kairali also offers you the modern day necessities like the library, games including chess, carom, and billiards in the common room. I also visited an Ayurvedic Factory which I will be detailing in another post.
Why you should be visiting Kairali?
Kairali- The Ayurvedic Healing Village is not your run of the mill luxury spa. It is an Ayurvedic centre which has a commitment to caring for your mind and body. Splurging and being a voracious eater are truly discouraged here. If you come here with a mindset to gaining your health, you will go back superbly happy.
Please click on the link for any queries regarding Kairali- The Ayurvedic Healing Village, Palakkad, Kerala
Image Credits: Snigdha (Salt And Sandals)
