With every passing year our demands and expectations from our body and mind keep growing, we are constantly under pressure to perform, tweak and optimize to be more efficient
TAKE A PAUSE !!!
It's time to listen to our body and mind. Our hormones, sugar levels and bloodwork are completely out of whack crying for attention and demanding a reset and detoxification.
We must give at least 8% of a year (365) if not more for a complete reset.
An Ayurveda Retreat in India is a great way to reset and naturally detoxify your mind, body and soul. Ayurveda being a science more than 5000 years old professes that the body is the temple of our soul and the best way to keep it healthy is to nourish it emotionally, mentally and physically.
Ayurveda unlike modern medicine is ancient, works in harmony with nature and its true focus lies in correcting imbalances in Vatta, Pitta and Kapha hence it focuses on the root causes rather than just immediate relief from symptoms hence Ayurveda can’t by nature be quick or cheap.
The natural state of the human body is that of health, happiness and an inner sense of well-being. Health is defined as the body being clear of toxins, the mind is at peace, emotions are calm and happy, wastes are efficiently eliminated and organs are functioning normally.
At an Ayurveda Retreat in India, Ayurvedic doctors and experienced therapists use a combination of herbal medicine, diet, massage, aromatherapy, yoga and meditation to heal and balance your Vatta, Pitta and Kapha. Some of the most popular types of Ayurvedic Retreats are
Also read: 10 Most popular Ayurveda Treatments
The ayurvedic fraternity recommends 2 weeks or more to be spent at an Ayurveda Retreat in India to start to see some benefits (keep in mind these vary from person to person and more so from retreat to retreat). Some of the most sort after benefits of visiting an Ayurvedic Retreats are
Image source Krishnendu Ayurveda Retreat
The 1st week at an Ayurveda Retreat in India is mostly focused on bringing about a change in dietary habits, balancing the Vatta, Pitta and Kapha and getting the body and mind ready for a deeper detox. Most traditional Ayurveda Centres would forbid coffee, refined sugar, alcohol and smoking which can cause withdrawal. The in house Ayurvedic doctors are there to help, examine you daily and make adjustments to the treatments when required.
The daily therapies include full-body massages which are not only luxurious & pampering but also functional as they use herbs and medicated oils which percolate the skin to enter the body benefiting both. These massages are carried out mostly by 2 experienced therapists hence the term ‘4 hands’, their rhythmic movements take time getting used to but once your mind is accustomed there is no better way to pamper your body than a 4 hands massage done by experienced therapists using the highest quality of medicated oils and organic local herbs.
Book your Ayurveda Retreat in India a minimum of 45 days in advance, this will give you ample time to prepare and collect all the reports you might need. Check the weather of the place where you plan to go make sure you are prepared accordingly. Ayurveda is most effective in the monsoon as the skin pores are open the widest then but, monsoon is also the season of bugs and mosquitoes best to be mindful of the pros and cons of the location and weather.
Before you book your Ayurveda Retreat in India speak to the resident Ayurvedic Doctor to discuss your goals, ailments and allergies so that a realistic plan can be chalked out. Everyone is unique due to their body constitution (Prakrti), Dosha dominance hence the Ayurvedic plan is a customized and personalized affair.
Carry all your reports and blood test reports for Doctors reference. A blood test before and after for example a 14 Days Panchakarma Detox can tell you a lot about the reduction in HSCRP, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and Heavy Metals. (Results vary from person to person and from centre to centre).
Check with the Ayurveda Retreat in India if they provide disposable innerwear for massage and therapy sessions, most reputed Ayurveda Retreats do, in case they don’t then you would need to pack a good number of black innerwear which you don’t mind getting all soaked in oil and herbal juices.
Quite a few Traditional Ayurveda centres put you on a total digital detox or on restricted use of the internet (some even forbid mobile phone usage, yup that extreme) and this can be disruptive especially if you are a digital worker working long hours checking sheets and charts answering the dings, pings and pokes.
The best way to prepare is a reduced screen time 1 month prior to your retreat. Your colleges might also have to buy into your digital detox.
At the retreat between the morning yoga, the afternoon ayurvedic treatment and the meals you will have oodles amount of time that too for weeks best to plan for the NOW WHAT TO DO? Moment and yes it will come.
Most people bring books and yes quite a few of them so many that Ayurveda Centres now have a library of books which have been left by the guest after reading. If you like writing then carry a notebook, if you like sketching or drawing do that.
No junk food, no coffee, no alcohol, no smoking and no dairy (some centres even don’t allow that). To time to prepare your body and mind for that else the craving and withdrawals will be out of control. The best is to gradually change your diet. You may also consult the Ayurveda doctor or a Dietitian.
Some other blogs that you might find useful to know more about Ayurveda and Ayurveda Retreat in India in particular are as follows