Healing and rejuvenating the ayurveda way

Sanjay Khurana

Are you suffering from ailments such as rheumatism, arthritis, lumbago, hypertension, spondylitis, slipped disk, paralysis, palsy, migraine, nervous debility, sinusitis, chronic cold, obesity or depression and looking beyond allopathic treatment? If yes, you can try ayurveda, one of the oldest and scientific medicinal systems. Its practice dates back to the dawn of civilisation, and continues to be pursued almost everywhere, particularly in Kerala.

Ayurveda has two main objectives: first, to help maintain good health; second, to provide care for the ill and restore their health. Its therapeutic approach guides towards a lifestyle which incorporates eating wholesome food and sound sleep. The result is good health and long life. All ayurveda therapies improve general health by removing toxins from the body and increasing the immunity.

Panchkarma

Panchkarma — a complete ayurvedic health programme — promotes fitness through massages with medicated herbal oils, made with different combinations of herbs. Massage exercises the whole body, tones up muscles, improves blood circulation, repairs worn-out tissues, removes toxins and knocks off fat. Besides, there are special massages for treating ailments such as rheumatism, arthritis, lumbago, hypertension, spondylitis and migraine to name a few. These treatments focus on the root cause rather than the symptoms.

Kairali’s ayurvedic healing village, set up at Palakkad (Kerala) in 1999 by KV Ramesh, is one-and-a-half-hour drive from Coimbatore airport. The resort, spread across 60 acres and comprising 30 villas, designed on the basis of zodiac signs, has a meditation centre, hospital, therapy centre, pharmacy, canteens, swimming pool, fountains and several lush green gardens. Here, one can experience the authentic healing practices of ancient India. It specialises in rendering authentic ayurvedic treatments and wellness packages. It also manufactures ayurvedic products under strict quality control for export.

“I have been suffering from acute pain in my knees for the past six years. It was difficult for me to travel and walk. But after getting treatment in the resort for 12 days, I have lost 6 kg and three inches, and almost 80 per cent of the pain is gone. All this without taking any medicine,” said Rajiv Sharma, an Indo-American. who has a chain of Indian restaurants in New York.

Expansion plans

Gita Ramesh, Managing Director, Kairali, said they were planning to come up with centres in Goa and Rishikesh. Currently, the group has a presence in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Siliguri, Raipur, Faridabad, Lucknow, Patna, Nagpur and Vadodara. Besides, the group also has international centres in Tokyo, Yokohama (Japan), Abu Dhabi (The UAE), Mauritius, Bangkok (Thailand), Prague (Czech Republic) and Varna (Bulgaria). Any plan to set up a centre in Chandigarh or Punjab? “We are open to a franchisee model and talks are on for establishing a centre in Chandigarh,” said Gita Ramesh.

A sought-after wellness destination

A large number of foreigners visit this centre for treatment, thanks to a residential facility for patients. People from countries like Japan, China, Korea, France, the UK and the US have been visiting the centre for treatment of lifestyle-related ailments. Initially, said Gita Ramesh, only foreigners would come for treatment and rejuvenation, but now even Indians and NRIs visit.

It is important to factor in the season before landing here for treatment. The rainy season is the best to undergo treatments like Dhara, Pizhichil and Navrakizhi. This month is known as Karkitakam in Kerala and is good for restoring the balance of the tridoshas — vata (air), pitta (fire) and kapha (water).

Established in 1908, Kairali Ayurvedic Group has over 100 years of accumulated experience, and has been propagating health and well-being worldwide. Kairali also set up an Institute of Panchakarma Training in 2010 that offers various training programmes and certificate courses in ayurveda and yoga. They operate at four locations —Kerala, Delhi, Mumbai and Gurgaon — and offer training programmes to cater to the demands of both domestic and international audience. All programmes are run by an experienced faculty, which includes senior ayurvedic doctors, therapy experts and professional trainers. They impart the knowledge of ayurveda and yoga with special curriculum and training protocol. Kairali has also been ranked among the top-50 wellness destinations of the world by National Geographic Traveller.

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