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To further my insight into the amazing ancient wisdom that India has to offer, I decided to do an Ayurveda & Panchakarma course......
Ayurveda ('knowledge of life') is an ancient system of holistic health science that has existed for over 5000 years. Panchakarma is a collection of purification/detoxification techniques that are prescribed for some diseases and periodic cleansing (rejuvination purposes).
I learnt so many incredibly valuable and interesting things during this month......there was quite a bit of theory at the beginning but then mainly practical training, where we learnt among many other techniques, several types of massages (using oil, oil and more oil as well as making 'bolus bags' with either herbal powder, leaves or rice).
I was the 'model' for the bolus bag body massage using rice (bags filled with herb rice mash and dipped in hot milk and rubbed all over the body)......it was extremely relaxing and nourishing ....but I was quite a sticky mess by the end of it!!!
We also learnt a treatment called 'Shirodhara' (which I can't think of ANYONE who wouldn't benefit and totally love this treatment!!!)........you lie down and have hot oil dripped back
and forth over your forehead......it
is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo relaxing....and most of the times I've had it done, I've fallen asleep (like the 'Yoga Nidra', your kind of in that between state of awake and asleep!)....its awesome! It allows your mind to calm and quiet itself for a while, plus you get all the benefits of the oil for your hair!
Win-Win!!
If its one thing I learnt during this month it's the importance of oil and the daily need we have for oleation of the body and head.....to smooth and nourish our skin & hair (and also help with the aging process!!).
During the month, I also did a 2 week Beauty Course where we learnt how to make loads of different beauty products all from scratch and using all natural things ...herbs, spices, leaves, flowers etc.....it was wonderful! We did hair treatments, facials, manicures, pedicures, eye treatments, body wraps etc...and all from natural treats that we can find in our own backyard! Nature gives us everything we need....we have just forgotten that over the years!
I also did a one week Pregnancy & Baby Care Course where I learnt pregnancy massages and baby massages. All very good info that will hopefully come
to good use one day!
The Hotel we stayed at, Mascot Beach Resort, was great - right on the ocean. Plus all the people that worked there were great and treated you like royalty! The teachers, Sapna & Rajesh, were just so lovely and it felt so comfortable and just like home there.....one night they invited us over for a delicious dinner and we stayed up dancing round the room to crazy Indian music! It was so much fun!!
I really got into the funky Indian beats.....one night the fabulous and kind Hotel owner, Jitu, invited me to go and join his friends having a 'jam-session' in one of the hotel rooms. One of the guys, Kuzhalmannam, was the Guiness World Record Holder for longest hand drum marathon (he played the Mridangam (Indian drum) for 101 hours straight!!). So it was quite an amazing night we had.....such talent and I've never seen fingers move so fast!! He is a mentalist!
The 5 other people in the class were so lovely too and we became like family over the month. It was lovely having a small little group - it meant we could get more one-on-one attention and
more practice with our massages/treatments etc.
The course definately left me thirsty for more and more knowledge....so luckily I bought a zillion books......so I think I'll be hibernating when I get home just to get through them all!!!
I have visions (dreams!) of one day having my own little 'treatment room' in my house (I have to get a house first though!!! hehe!). I also want to create a little (or big!) herb farm at
Bencke Headquarters!! Don't know if my parents would be up for that though!!! hehe!
Overall, it was a really magical experience that will stay with me forever.
I hope to take everything that I've learnt and put it into practice in my life back home.....we'll see how we go!
If anyone wants a massage (or some friendly advice about their 'bodytype' and what is most suitable in terms of diet and lifestyle etc for them, then please don't be shy to ask....I'd love to try and help...and also get the practice on my massage techniques!!).
If anyone is interested in looking up the courses I did....here is the website link.....
http://www.ayurvedacollege.net
Happy Healthy Body, Mind & Soul to
you all :o)
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