I have been at the clinic for over a week. Since the Ayurveda techs do not take a day off, that means I have had nine days of treatments! But what exactly does that mean to have a day of treatments? I want to use this post to give you an idea of what a day at the clinic looks like at this point in the treatment cycle.
In my first post, I mentioned that I am dialing in a morning routine that will serve me well when I go back home. To that end, I wake up relatively early (generally around 5:30 am), do a simple yoga routine, and then meditate for half an hour. By that time the sun is up, and I go for about an hour walk. I like to go early in the morning because it is much cooler than in the afternoon. It has been reaching the mid-to-upper 80’s later in the day and in the morning, it is generally in the mid-70s. So much cooler!
My walk is interesting because I do not just do circles here in the quiet Sahara States neighborhood. I go out to the main road and get into the flow of people, scooters, cars, and buses getting a start to their day. People are going to work or school, setting up vegetable stands, or opening their shops. It is really unlike anything we have in the States. There are very few stoplights, and the traffic, driving on the opposite side of the road, just flows organically. I really enjoy these walks.
I am finished walking by 7 or 7:30 and then I go to the dining hall for breakfast. After breakfast, I head over to the clinic to get in the queue to see Dr. Raju. He takes your pulse and decides whether to prescribe new treatments or to stay on the course with the existing set. Once I see Dr. Raju, it is usually time for me to walk to the business center for the morning set of treatments.
To start the treatments, I am sitting in a chair and having a head/shoulder massage and foot bath. Then we move to the the massage table where the tech will massage my face and get things ready for abhyanga. Abhyanga is a massage where two techs move in unison to run the medicated oil over your body. You really must experience the massage to understand how relaxing it is. On a clinical level, the rhythmic strokes begin to release toxins in the skin tissues so that they can be disposed of by the lymphatic system.
After the Abhyanga massage on the front and back of the body, plus a dedicated back massage, the techs move on to Patra Pottali Sweda. This treatment is a type of sweating therapy where there are boluses filled with fried herbs that are then heated and stamped over the body. Again, two techs apply it in a rhythmic pattern. This is one of my favorite treatments due to the smell of the fried herbs and the feeling of heat on the body.
The final treatment for the morning is a set of three external bastis. I am given, the Hyrida basti, Chakra basti and Janu basti. For a basti, the techs create a ring of wheat dough and place it on the body in the position called for by the different type of basti. The Hyrida basti is placed over the heart, the Chakra basti over the navel, and the Janu basti over both knees. The ring of dough is then spread out a little so it creates a seal with the body and then medicated oil is placed inside the ring. The Hyrida basti supports the heart and calms the nervous system. The Chakra basti supports digestion. And the Janu basti helps lubricate the joint and restore mobility to the knees. At my age…I can use help in all of these areas! After the bastis, I head back to my room and then downstairs for lunch. I am fortunate that the meals are served in my building. In total there are three buildings that house guests.
There is usually one additional treatment after lunch. When I first arrived, the afternoon treatment was Takradhara. For this treatment there is a continuous stream of medicated buttermilk poured over the forehead. The buttermilk is cool and the treatment helps settle the mind. There is a picture of Takradhara at the top of the post.
Today I had a Shiro Basti for the first time and I feel like I am in slow motion after the treatment…..in a good way. For Shiro Basti a sheet of plastic is wrapped around the head to create a tube. When the tube is in place the techs put basti dough around your head on the inside of the tube. Once everything is sealed they pour warm medicated oil on top of your head and leave you to sit for about 20 minutes. After the time is up they come and take the now cool oil out with a sponge and then replace it with more oil and then…you guessed it, you sit for about another 20 minutes. This is soooo relaxing. It calms the mind and really the time passes very quickly. After the second round, they take the tube apart and then wrap a cloth around your head and send you back to your room. Given how relaxed I felt, I spent the next hour meditating! My hope is that it will help me sleep better.
After being here over a week I am still waking up several times a night. Hope that improves soon!
Alan,
I’m so glad you have this opportunity to take care of yourself this way. It sounds divine, as in truly of the gods.
Thank you Nora. The treatments really work at both the physical and the consciousness level to improve overall health!
Please send me your blogs when you post them.
I would like to receive an email when you post going forward, thanks.
Looking forward to your next post.
Coming Soon…