Ayurveda originated 5,000 years ago in south India. My birthday was in sight and Ayurveda was on my radar. Our host recommended a local place down the street from Vizhinjam Junction, where we were staying. The day I was born fell on Diwali this year; Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights celebrating "victory of light over darkness,” “good over evil,” and “knowledge over ignorance". The Ayurvedic Spa was closed. Two men met us in the streets and did not speak English, as there is not a lot of English spoken in the villages. They connected us to the spa owner because we didn’t have local sims at the time. Their smiles will stay with me as well as the selfless acts of kindness that have followed us since our arrival a week prior. Let go of what doesn’t serve and keep the rest. We scheduled for the next morning.
The Spa consisted of a two-room abode in front of the family home of the Ayurvedic Doctor. I sat to his right as he took my vitals. He knew immediately that I was a student of yoga, as he was a teacher too. The diagnosis was low back pain, shoulder tension, and knots in my thighs from cat cows on hard floors (whoops). We are all students of life, and I was reminded to pad my knees during yoga. I would be undergoing four treatments over the next four days, one hour each.
Today was Abhyanga. I walked into the next room and Saundria, the Ayurvedic Healer, switched on the fan to muffle the traffic outside the paneless window and instructed me to strip down and lay on a wood massage table, no cushion, it was solid wood. Saundria was a mother Archetype for sure - warm and nurturing. Her daughter, Devia, was the translator via phone, for she was an English student.
I lay on the table and was tapped with black oil on pressure points, then rubbed with an oil made of Coconut, Kida, and Jeera. She rubbed my face vigorously, especially my cheeks and forehead. The aftermath was a calm hum and a sense of relief; I tend to be in my heart at times and this rubbing caused my mind to feel at ease. She proceeded down my neck and arms. The motion was familiar; she was flushing my lymphatic system. Her hands moved rhythmically, and I could feel the energy shift. This treatment is said to balance Vata constitution, which results in relaxation. Think blood flow and waste elimination: it moves stagnant energy and rids toxins that fog us. I live in America primarily, where an overactive mind is common. Her hands found blockages (oh, those knees!) and she vigorously rubbed them out. Abhyanga is definitely not a Swedish Massage. The pain subsided, and my body felt tingles of peace. I flipped a couple of times and the ball and socket joint of my hips was lubricated by pushing and circling my leg. This treatment is not for the modest. The treatment was completed after an hour, and the excess oil was wiped with a cheesecloth. Saundria recommended I eat bananas and milk in the morning and evening for shoulder pain.
We stepped into the first room and there Andi was with a new mala and friend. The teachings of this doctor have been passed down for generations, and the text was written in Sanskrit on wooden spatulas held together with a piece of dry plant string. We were invited to meet the family and practice yoga after the session the next day. The doctor gave me an herbal blend to be taken three times a day over the next couple of days.
The experience left me with balance and peace and smelled of Jeera.
Keep following me to hear about future treatments and adventures. The light in me honors and sees the light in you. Namaskar.