Ancient Ayurveda in Glorious Gozo
Published on Sky Life Magazine © 2006
Lie back, close your eyes and imagine yourself about to experience the luxurious bliss of TOTAL relaxation. Gently heated oils are poured sinuously over your body and massaged into your joints and pressure points by expert Indian therapists, until all the stress accumulated during your travels, and any anxieties and aches and pains still lingering in the body simply dissolve in a pool of herbal oils. Welcome to the wonderful world of Ayurveda!
When the first signs of stress come along, one should try to do something constructive about them rather than continue to suppress these feelings until the pot boils over and more chaos is wreaked! Perhaps that is why with a sigh of relief I welcomed the offer to be pampered for two days at a leading Ayurvedic Centre and try out a number of different therapies without much hesitation. Fortunately I didn’t have to pack up and travel all the way to the subcontinent of India to be soothed by this ancient science of body-mind health, but just take a short road trip to our very own charming village of San Lawrenz in Gozo!
So what exactly is Ayurveda anyway?
It is an Indian holistic science of health and longevity, a philosophy and a system of healing the whole person, body and mind, which has been serving mankind for more than 5000 years and still survives today because of its sheer therapeutic value. "Ayur" in Sanskrit means "life", while "Veda" means "science", so Ayurveda literally means the "science of life" and is considered to be the traditional system of medicine of India, originating from the heart of Kerala, a lush and verdant state aptly known as ‘God’s Own Land’. Ayurveda treats illness at its source, rather than at the level of symptoms, and helps an individual to take responsibility for their own health.
This powerful system of healing originated within the tradition of the Vedas, India’s ancient books of wisdom, which were ‘discovered’ by ‘seers’ known as ‘rishis’ - enlightened experimenters who worked within the ‘laboratories’ of their own awareness. Out of the abundance of their compassion they systemized their findings for the less enlightened posterity!
One might ask how can such an ancient system of health care be relevant to the people of today, when technological advances have radically altered our lifestyles, our environment and our medicine? People everywhere are realizing the importance and benefits of taking personal responsibility for one's own well being, making Ayurveda the perfect system of health knowledge for today's world.
Life according to Ayurveda is a combination of the senses, mind, body and soul, and it offers specific recommendations to each individual on lifestyle, diet, exercise and yoga, herbal therapy, and even spiritual practices to restore and maintain balance in body and mind.
First of all one is given a consultation whereby the individual’s particular constitution is recognized through pulse diagnosis and typical body features, expressed through the three Doshas known as – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The whole purpose is to make sure that the three Doshas within an individual are balanced. Then one is ready to sample the wonderful healing treatments according to their varied constitution.
The healing ritual often begins with an Indian head massage to relieve mental tension, during which the therapist has time to connect with the ‘patient’, followed by a full body massage such as the Marma massage, a technique which uses 107 pressure points in the body. It is by far more intense than a regular massage and extremely pleasurable. Another traditional massage is The Elakkizhi, which is a very effective and soothing Herbal Bag Massage. This kind of massage uses fresh herbs cooked in Ayurvedic oils and packed into bags, which are then applied over the body. Great for lubricating the joints, relieving pain especially backache, cleansing the channels of circulation, and expelling toxins through the sweating, I found the pressured application of the heated bags also had the double effect of being an excellent skin scrub!
Highly recommended, and definitely to be tried at least once in a lifetime is the Shirodhara technique, one of the most popular treatments of them all. In this process, a steady stream of medicated buttermilk is poured on the head in a particular pattern, mainly for mental relaxation, but also effective for sleep disturbance, insomnia, mental problems, anxiety, and severe migraines. Your thoughts begin to slow down naturally, and melt away as the drops of healing liquid are poured delicately over your forehead.
One also finds special ‘Rasayanas’ consisting of about 150 different kinds of herbal jams mixed with water or milk, to be taken internally and renowned for their effective anti-ageing properties. These are used for the Rejuvenation Therapy, which includes detoxification of the body and tailor made programs for maintaining youth and strength, improving memory and virility. There are also Infertility Treatments, Pre-Natal and Post-Natal treatments, Spine & Neck Care Treatments, Psoriasis Treatments as well as treatments for arthritis, sciatica, and lower back pain often recommended by regular doctors. Ayurveda has also been known to help children with problems such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy or Polio.
Another treatment especially popular with the ladies, but certainly not made exclusively for them, is the Body Slimming & Anti Cellulite Treatment. From the perspective of Ayurveda losing weight is not about starving or suppressing the appetite but about balancing and correcting your fat-matter metabolism. The Body Slimming techniques are carried out according to a person’s Doshas, and in fact being overweight generally comes about from a Kapha imbalance. Using special massage and healing powders there have been proven cases of weight loss of up to 8-15 kilos in just 3 weeks!
Many visitors are also coming all the way to the Maltese Islands to experience a full Panchakarma Program which takes up to two or three weeks of care. Panchakarma is a five-fold therapy for complete purification. It is especially recommended if toxins in the body are abundant, and is one of the most profound therapies you can find within this system of holistic health.
Traditionally Ayurveda has also been giving special attention to the problems that affect women in every stage of their lives. It is a great help for women who want to slow down the aging process, and periodic rejuvenation therapy will keep health, beauty and zest for life intact throughout the years. Women worldwide have become aware of the lasting and long-term benefits of natural ingredients as compared to the short term and side effect-prone results produced by hazardous chemical ingredients. This, along with its therapies that are intentionally harmonious with Nature, is what endears Ayurveda to women, young and old, throughout the world. And what better way to relax and experience this connection with Nature than with a divine bath of milk, herbal remedies and flower petals – pure bliss!
All of the above treatments can be found at the exclusive Kempinski San Lawrenz’s Resort & Spa in Gozo, home of one of the Mediterranean’s best Ayurvedic Centres, run in association with Softouch Ayurveda - an International Ayurveda Group based in Kerala, South India.
We are indeed fortunate that these authentic and dedicated therapists from the actual Indian region of Kerala, have made it to our shores and continue to practice their ancient healing therapies right here on our islands. Recommended for anyone visiting our islands and in need of some healing, rest and relaxation.
For more information contact Dr.Vijay at Softouch Ayurveda Centre, Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, Gozo, Tel. 22115820,
Email [email protected], website www.kempinski-gozo.com www.softouchayurveda.com
When the first signs of stress come along, one should try to do something constructive about them rather than continue to suppress these feelings until the pot boils over and more chaos is wreaked! Perhaps that is why with a sigh of relief I welcomed the offer to be pampered for two days at a leading Ayurvedic Centre and try out a number of different therapies without much hesitation. Fortunately I didn’t have to pack up and travel all the way to the subcontinent of India to be soothed by this ancient science of body-mind health, but just take a short road trip to our very own charming village of San Lawrenz in Gozo!
So what exactly is Ayurveda anyway?
It is an Indian holistic science of health and longevity, a philosophy and a system of healing the whole person, body and mind, which has been serving mankind for more than 5000 years and still survives today because of its sheer therapeutic value. "Ayur" in Sanskrit means "life", while "Veda" means "science", so Ayurveda literally means the "science of life" and is considered to be the traditional system of medicine of India, originating from the heart of Kerala, a lush and verdant state aptly known as ‘God’s Own Land’. Ayurveda treats illness at its source, rather than at the level of symptoms, and helps an individual to take responsibility for their own health.
This powerful system of healing originated within the tradition of the Vedas, India’s ancient books of wisdom, which were ‘discovered’ by ‘seers’ known as ‘rishis’ - enlightened experimenters who worked within the ‘laboratories’ of their own awareness. Out of the abundance of their compassion they systemized their findings for the less enlightened posterity!
One might ask how can such an ancient system of health care be relevant to the people of today, when technological advances have radically altered our lifestyles, our environment and our medicine? People everywhere are realizing the importance and benefits of taking personal responsibility for one's own well being, making Ayurveda the perfect system of health knowledge for today's world.
Life according to Ayurveda is a combination of the senses, mind, body and soul, and it offers specific recommendations to each individual on lifestyle, diet, exercise and yoga, herbal therapy, and even spiritual practices to restore and maintain balance in body and mind.
First of all one is given a consultation whereby the individual’s particular constitution is recognized through pulse diagnosis and typical body features, expressed through the three Doshas known as – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The whole purpose is to make sure that the three Doshas within an individual are balanced. Then one is ready to sample the wonderful healing treatments according to their varied constitution.
The healing ritual often begins with an Indian head massage to relieve mental tension, during which the therapist has time to connect with the ‘patient’, followed by a full body massage such as the Marma massage, a technique which uses 107 pressure points in the body. It is by far more intense than a regular massage and extremely pleasurable. Another traditional massage is The Elakkizhi, which is a very effective and soothing Herbal Bag Massage. This kind of massage uses fresh herbs cooked in Ayurvedic oils and packed into bags, which are then applied over the body. Great for lubricating the joints, relieving pain especially backache, cleansing the channels of circulation, and expelling toxins through the sweating, I found the pressured application of the heated bags also had the double effect of being an excellent skin scrub!
Highly recommended, and definitely to be tried at least once in a lifetime is the Shirodhara technique, one of the most popular treatments of them all. In this process, a steady stream of medicated buttermilk is poured on the head in a particular pattern, mainly for mental relaxation, but also effective for sleep disturbance, insomnia, mental problems, anxiety, and severe migraines. Your thoughts begin to slow down naturally, and melt away as the drops of healing liquid are poured delicately over your forehead.
One also finds special ‘Rasayanas’ consisting of about 150 different kinds of herbal jams mixed with water or milk, to be taken internally and renowned for their effective anti-ageing properties. These are used for the Rejuvenation Therapy, which includes detoxification of the body and tailor made programs for maintaining youth and strength, improving memory and virility. There are also Infertility Treatments, Pre-Natal and Post-Natal treatments, Spine & Neck Care Treatments, Psoriasis Treatments as well as treatments for arthritis, sciatica, and lower back pain often recommended by regular doctors. Ayurveda has also been known to help children with problems such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy or Polio.
Another treatment especially popular with the ladies, but certainly not made exclusively for them, is the Body Slimming & Anti Cellulite Treatment. From the perspective of Ayurveda losing weight is not about starving or suppressing the appetite but about balancing and correcting your fat-matter metabolism. The Body Slimming techniques are carried out according to a person’s Doshas, and in fact being overweight generally comes about from a Kapha imbalance. Using special massage and healing powders there have been proven cases of weight loss of up to 8-15 kilos in just 3 weeks!
Many visitors are also coming all the way to the Maltese Islands to experience a full Panchakarma Program which takes up to two or three weeks of care. Panchakarma is a five-fold therapy for complete purification. It is especially recommended if toxins in the body are abundant, and is one of the most profound therapies you can find within this system of holistic health.
Traditionally Ayurveda has also been giving special attention to the problems that affect women in every stage of their lives. It is a great help for women who want to slow down the aging process, and periodic rejuvenation therapy will keep health, beauty and zest for life intact throughout the years. Women worldwide have become aware of the lasting and long-term benefits of natural ingredients as compared to the short term and side effect-prone results produced by hazardous chemical ingredients. This, along with its therapies that are intentionally harmonious with Nature, is what endears Ayurveda to women, young and old, throughout the world. And what better way to relax and experience this connection with Nature than with a divine bath of milk, herbal remedies and flower petals – pure bliss!
All of the above treatments can be found at the exclusive Kempinski San Lawrenz’s Resort & Spa in Gozo, home of one of the Mediterranean’s best Ayurvedic Centres, run in association with Softouch Ayurveda - an International Ayurveda Group based in Kerala, South India.
We are indeed fortunate that these authentic and dedicated therapists from the actual Indian region of Kerala, have made it to our shores and continue to practice their ancient healing therapies right here on our islands. Recommended for anyone visiting our islands and in need of some healing, rest and relaxation.
For more information contact Dr.Vijay at Softouch Ayurveda Centre, Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, Gozo, Tel. 22115820,
Email [email protected], website www.kempinski-gozo.com www.softouchayurveda.com