March 29, 30 and 31st - Oh those Detox proceedures

Detox treatments currently involve one of us drinking a herbal medicated ghee and the other having medicated oil enemas, each for three days.  The enema amounts increase each day and go from 60 ml, 90 ml and then 120 ml. The drinking of the ghee takes place around 7:30 am, and then you go to your room and drink warm water every 15 minutes, about ¼ cup each time. The thought is that you are now lubricating your insides. If you are drinking ghee you are allowed to eat lunch at 1pm but encouraged to wait and have fruit at 4:00 with tea time and then eat a light normal dinner.

During yoga on Tuesday morning Leslie got so dizzy she could not participate. It appears that she did not blow out all the water from her nose in the yogic kriyas, and some stayed in her sinus and seem to have traveled to her ear. One of the other guests went back to the room to fetch David to come help her get back to the room. The on-duty doctor came to the room and then had Leslie come to the Spa area to have a nasal steam treatment prior to drinking the last ghee drink. A steam treatment was done again that afternoon and no more Shirodhara treatments for awhile.

Shirodhara

I ate lunch the first day but not the next two days. It is amazing how tiring it is to digest this ghee! The last day it was very hard to get the ghee down without throwing up because the smell is revolting as is the slimy consistency not to mention it is green….

When you go for your daily therapy in the late afternoon the Abhayanga sesame oil smells like ghee. I asked them to put some other nice smelly oil in with the sesame oil because the smell was making my stomach churn. The Dr. ordered some other oil that I think may have been camphor oil added to the sesame and then put directly under my nose. I enjoy the steam bath after the Abhayanga massage.

David’s enemas were given in the late afternoon, so they continued to give him massages on his back in the morning. These usually included 2 men working on him and usually doing the Kizhi.  Kizhi is a massage which uses small herbal boluses made of various herbs which are warmed in medicated oils. After first oiling you down, these boluses are then heated in oil and then pounded lightly on your feet moving slowly up and down to your hands. It is a mixture of pounding and rubbing, which follows once the boluses cool down. You can have bits of the herbs which have come out of the boluses stuck in your hair. The benefits are believed to be in reducing inflammation; improving circulation, relieving pain and stiffness in joints; improving mobility and flexibility; toning the skin; and alleviating arthritis pain.

His afternoon treatments were a short head massage followed by a back massage with hot oil and then the dough on the back to make a “dike” around the back injury which is then filled by hot oil in that bounded area.  (Kati Basti) This wonderful process was then followed with the oil enema which he was requested to keep inside as long as possible.

During this 3-day period, his food was restricted to mild, cooked food like soup each meal, a dhal-rice mix, or mix of cooked spinach with rice, and sometimes steamed vegetables, with only herbal tea allowed and no salads, desserts or fruits. At some dinners, bread was allowed. Presumably the restrictions were to make the stomach more controlled. The process seemed to make us both, and particularly David, somewhat tired and lacking in energy.

We were happy when this three day period was over and even looked forward to Purgation day. Leslie was told though she might have to do another day of ghee drinking and to come see the Dr. before her afternoon treatment.  Thank goodness her skin was shiny which meant that she had absorbed enough ghee one way or another such that she did not need to drink any more.

March 27th and 28th at Devaaya Spa

Friday, March 27^th     

Neti pot and eye cups

Leslie was out the door by 6:30am so that she could experience the yogic kriya cleaning which involves a neti pot, a cup and two eye cups. “A little common salt should be dissolved in luke-warm water and filtered. Fill it in a specially designed tubed tumbler with a nozzle. Stand up tilting forward a little. Now turn the head a little to the right. Place the nozzle of the tumbler in the right nostril and bend the tumbler such that the water flows into the nostril. Breathe in and breathe out through the mouth only. The water that enters into the right nostril comes out from the left nostril automatically, carrying out the dirt in the nose. Entire tumblerful of water should be poured into the right nostril. Now tilt the head to other side and repeat the same process through left nostril with another tumblerful of same water. Throughout this process breathing is through mouth only.” (yogasimplified.com)  This takes some practice to get it right.

The location for these cleanses is a special hut with 9 sinks and stools. The water from the taps is filtered water. You then are give a cup full of warm salt water to gargle and spit out…you can imagine the sounds around you at this point.

You pay $2 for your neti pot and eye cups. The eye cups are filled with a mixture of rose water and filtered water and you raise them to your eyes and blink 6 – 8 times. This does sting a bit and gets easier I am told with each passing day.

Then it was off to 1 hour of basic yoga with sun salutations and breathing.

David recollects getting an hour oil massage (Abhayanga) in the morning and then a shorter head massage (Shirodhara – described on March 26^th) for a half hour in the evening. Leslie’s therapies were the same as the day before being well greased with hot sesame oil mixed with herbs for an hour/steam bath in the morning followed by the foot massage in the afternoon.

We swam in the late afternoon but David was more walking in the water because his back is still a problem. Leslie recognized that the only advanced yoga person had left the resort and asked management if an intermediate yoga put be put on in place of the advanced.  It was decided to keep the late afternoon advance yoga and put on an intermediate class just before lunch from 12pm-1pm.

We enjoyed our dessert at lunch, but when we asked for dessert at dinner, we were told “No sweets in the evening, sir.” Such is healthy living….

Saturday, March 28^th

As David reported his back problem to the Dr, when we saw her in the morning and his treatment was changed from the pre-detox exterior oiling to include treatment for his back. David got treated with an hour massage with oil from 12 noon to 1 PM, in which two men simultaneously and rhythmically wacked his body with hot powdered herbs in cloth sachets. This was supposed to be good for pain, particularly for my back, on which there was some concentration of effort, although they covered the whole body, front and back, even arms and legs. After lunch, at 2:30 PM this was followed by a half hour session in which a small dam was built around my lower back injury, which received several infusions of hot medicated oil. (kati basti)

Leslie continued to be the early riser doing the yogic cleansing and then the morning yoga. The number of guests is now down to 11 and as the heat is increasing we don’t expect to have too many more new guests coming. Her morning therapy was again the Abhayanga (full body hot sesame oil massage followed by steam bath).  Her afternoon therapy was the dripping warm oil on the forehead treatment –Shirodhara. They recommend that you keep this oil on your hair overnight and I think everyone tries this once and then decides they don’t need to do it again.

David has had Delhi Belly from food possibly on the Air India flight and it had gotten worse so he went to the Dr. He was given some herbal medication  (Kutaj Ghan Vati and Shanka Vati) to take and surprisingly it did clear the problem up quite quickly.

Our Breakfast and Lunch area - cooling breezes

Our Dr. also advised us that she had now decided on the type of detox program we would each have – the alternatives were medicated oil enemas or drinking medicated ghee. David’s treatment was to be oil enemas (Anuvasana Basti) and Leslie got the ghee (Virechana). “Here’s a list of the benefits of cleansing with ghee, explained in detail below: Flushes old bile – which can be re-used by the body up to 17 times; Stimulates the liver to make new bile, so 94% of old toxic bile is not re-absorbed; Scrubs the intestines of toxins and bad bugs; Supports the primary source of energy and immunity for the cells of the gut; Supports the health of the beneficial bacteria in the gut who make butyrate; Lubricates and softens the hardened tissues of the body; Pulls stored fat soluble toxins and molecules of emotion out of the body;  Encourages fat metabolism and weight loss; Supports stable mood and energy level; Protects against bad bacteria in the gut.” (lifespa.com/top-ten-reasons-cleanse-ghee/)

Why did we pick an Ayurveda Center as a travel destination? A friend had a knee injury that would not heal. Her sister, who is a holistic health practitioner, suggested she go to an Ayurveda spa in India and gave her three spa names (Isis, Kensville, and Devaaya) . Our friend went to Isis last year and found that after having treatment her knee started healing and she felt really good and relaxed after being there.  Due to the fact that we would be here during the hot part of the year David insisted on AC, and other activities such as swimming and tennis so we chose Devaaya. We have read very little about Ayurveda and are learning as we are experiencing it firsthand.

 

March 26th - Day one at Devaaya Spa

Thursday, March 26^th. We were up and out the door for morning Yoga at 7am. The basic yoga is sunrise salutations as the sun rises overlooking the water and includes other balancing poses, stretches and breathing, and lasts one hour. 

Daily Schedule

Buffet breakfast follows 30 minutes later and is open for one hour. The first morning, because they had had a storm the night before, breakfast was served by the poolside which is the usual dinner location. There was oatmeal, almonds, dates and honey, bread along with other Indian vegan options to choose from, including rice, daal, and masala. No fruit or juice to be located.

We saw Dr. Akshata, a young woman, to review our medical history and she would then devise a program for the 2 weeks we are here. We were given a list of foods that David cannot eat (unfortunately nuts are a favorite snack food for him and now he can only eat walnuts) and we both lost yogurt as a food according to Ayurveda logic.

You are given a colorful cotton gown to use for going to and from therapies. I now understand that Ayurveda is synonymous with oils! Each guest has 2 therapies a day; the one in the morning is 45-60 minutes and the one in the afternoon is 30 minutes.  We both had the Abhayanga massage as our first therapies.

Abhyanga includes – coconut oil on the scalp with the head massage, a face massage with a cream and then the followed by a whole body massage with herbed oils on a hard table surface. The treatment ends with steam therapy. One must put modesty aside as you quickly learn here…you might get a thin papery loin cloth but that will be gone as soon as you turn over. This up-close and personal procedure is going to take some getting used to!  In Ayurveda an “Abhyanga Herbal Oil Massage is a holistic healing and complementary medicine program and NOT a conventional massage, oils are applied to detox physical toxins, mental toxins and emotional toxins and also for pacifying aggravated vata dosha (due to hectic and stressful lifestyle and improper foods/food habits) which is the root cause of imbalance, also it helps relieve stress” (aurvediainpittsburgh.com). I see in Pittsburgh for $100 you can get the same treatment the following listed benefits: “Nourishes mind and body; Rejuvenates the whole body; Increases longevity; Delays aging; Relives fatigue; Builds stamina; Promotes deeper sleep; Enhances complexion and luster of skin; Cleans your body (detoxify) ;Helps you avoid stress and enjoy a brightness of the senses (Balance body, mind and soul.); Prevents stiffness of muscles; Corrects digestion and blood pressure and enjoy better sleep; Mind (Avoid bad thoughts and feel happy) ;Soul (Only a sound body can bear a good soul).” (aurvediainpittsburgh.com)

They ask you not to shower for at least an hour after these massages and to leave the oil on your head as long as possible

Lunch was served down by the water in a covered upstairs area which received lovely breezes off the water. The meals are served buffet style with all foods described by name, ingredients and then by dosha (Vata, Pitta, Khapa) Leslie was told to eat the VPK Balanced and VK foods and David the VPK Balanced. The selection of choices included a soup, 2 salads, 4 cooked choices all vegan, 2 types of bread which are usually a nan and roti variety, a dhal and white rice. At lunch a dessert is served – happiness. The sweets are based on honey and/or jaggery (a coarse dark brown sugar made in India by evaporation of the sap of palm trees. Jaggery is made up of longer chains of sucrose. Therefore, it is digested slowly and energy release is also slow).  The drinks you get with your meals include hot water plain or hot water with ginger. There is also a choice of Masala chai (black tea, milk and spices) or herbal tea for after lunch.  No fruit is served with cooked meals.  There is a fresh cut fruit time every day at 11am but we missed it today. It is believed that you should have at least 1 – ½ hours between eating cooked food and fruits.

We had our afternoon therapies about an hour after finishing lunch. David’s therapy was Shirodhara. “A steady flow of warm oil onto the forehead stimulates the pituitary gland, or "third-eye." This is one of the most divine therapies, awakening your body’s intuitive knowledge. Benefits of Shirodhara include: Stimulates the 3rd eye and crown chakras, and awakens intuition and inner wisdom; Relieves stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia through natural serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin release; Helps mental focus and concentration; Balances VATA DOSHA; Works on the cerebral system, helps to relax the nervous system, and balances the 'Praan Vaayu' (life force energy) around the head; Improves the sensitivity of five senses; Reduces and relieves migraine headaches; Decreases hair loss and fatigue and makes one calm and refreshed; Deeply relaxes mind and body; Releases negative emotions and thought patterns; Improves sleep patterns; Rejuvenates the entire face and softens worry lines; Heightens the senses; Increases spiritual awareness; Pacifies vata reducing anxiety, restlessness, irritability, nervousness, fear & excessive thinking; Improves mental focus and concentration.” ($105 cost in the spa in Pittsburgh from which this information was derived)

Leslie’s therapy was a foot massage to increase circulation.  Unlike a Thai foot massage where you sit in a chair, here you lie on the table and they only work on the soles of your feet. Minimal time is spent on the front of your foot and ankles and no time on your legs. The thirty minute massage hits energy points in a linear fashion and also focuses on the toes.

Tea time is at 4:00pm and is a choice of two masala teas. You can add honey for sweetness. We are really missing our diet cokes!! We were busy doing a laundry in the bath tub and hanging things out on the line we made. While we sent some clothes off to the laundry service here it takes basically two days before you get your clothes back. With all the heat, humidity and oil treatments we need to get our clothes back faster than this!

Questionnaire for Dosha Type 

 

We headed off to 30 minutes of Advanced yoga (total of 3 of us in the class) followed by 30 minutes of meditation. The yoga we survived and David gamely sat through a 30 minute meditation session with pulled a back muscle. Mediation was seating cross legged on a mat with a small cushion while you stared at a candle flame. There were probably 8 women and David in that session in two groups.

Trāṭaka is a fixed gazing method of meditation – we were staring at a candle flame placed on the closed window ledge such that it was eye level. You are to breathe deeply and regularly sitting with your back straight and legs crossed. You are to keep your eyes focused on the candle flame without blinking and let your thoughts just focus on the candle. All the while the yoga teacher will gently remind you to focus on the candle; this gets more necessary as we older folks keep adjusting our uncomfortable positions!  After about 15 minutes of this you are then instructed to close your eyes and focus on the candle image in your mind. This takes some concentration. We limped back to our rooms after this experience.

Dinner is served at 7pm. After dinner you check the spa board to see what time your therapies are. Today there were 21 guests shown on the list but tomorrow we drop down to 14. We put the TENS unit on David’s back and will have to tell the Dr. about this injury tomorrow.

Our home for the next 2 weeks is the room J-4 which is below the pool and directly across at the bottom of the photo

We are hoping that the pictures with words can be clicked on and then zoomed so that you can read what is written if you are interested in some of the details.

Another new experience - an Ayurveda Spa and Health Center in Goa March 2015

We have been on various adventures other than the Silk Road which we did detail our blog: traveling though Sri Lanka and North India; a family vacation on Alonissos Island in Greece, then travels through Turkey with my sister Liza joining us for Greece and Turkey adventures.  This was followed by a quick visit to Washington and San Diego to see family, then two months in Cuenca, Ecuador learning Spanish and enjoying the Galapagos islands, and Liza visiting and traveling with us to Mindo, Otovalo and other birding sites together with the Amazon. We had a big Bosch family gathering for Christmas 2014, and the periods in between we were in Chiang Mai, Thailand covering almost four months of the year, November through February.

David at Madain Saleh, Saudi Arabia

We left Chiang Mai March 5^th  2015 and traveled to Oman for a few days and then on to an Aramco Reunion in Dhahran Saudi Arabia, an overnight stop to see our son Jonathan and his wife Kat, to kiss and hold our grand daughter and then to David’s 48^th year Kodaikanal High School reunion. Now we are spending 2 weeks in the Devaaya Ayurveda Spa and Health Center in Goa, the former Portuguese colony on the Indian Ocean.

Wednesday – March 25^th We travelled here from Madurai on Air India and had a 3 hr stop in Chennai. We arrived at Goa in the evening and then had a 1 hour drive plus small car ferry (5 minute) to Divar island where the Devaaya Ayurveda and Nature Cure Center is located at the tip end. Even though we arrived after 9pm the staff had a dinner on a tray already for us which we appreciated very much.

The well-maintained resort is very clean, with gardens, a pool, meditation room, yoga area, wi-fi areas and 2 eating areas along with a library/ room with some exercise equipment. The main building on the resort is the Spa/Treatment area.  Our standard room (J-4) is on a lower floor and has a view of a field and water, AC, overhead fan, TV and bathroom.  We have a patio with nice tables and chairs. We look forward to our Ayurveda experience.