Entries Tagged 'Ayurveda' ↓

Ever since the departure of Marie Anne, Dr Muralidhar insisted that I have somebody with me day and night. What a service!These few days were assigned to me Moncy, a young lad who recently joined the organization.Boy of 18 years, Moncy came from Punalur of the state of Kerala. He only got another sister who is now 22years old and presently working in Kuwait as a nurse.He misses his parents being 16 hours away from home, some 600 kms afar. His Mom is the most affected of his absence as she all so often phones him on his friend’s mobile phone.She is a staunch Christian and spends daily more than 3 hours praying and reading the bible.She finds solace in Christ her Saviour. Moncy is determined to learn and be trained as a ayurveda therapist.

Meanwhile I am so pleased and pampered to have an angel guardian to look after me.

Marlyse Grossenbacher, who I mentioned in my blog of the 12th is now spending more time at the centre to deepen her knowledge in Ayurveda massage and treatments. She is a very well versed lady in the subject and has studies years  to tune her up to run a reputable centre in Switzerland, not so many of its kind!Her web site is well worth a visit. I found  that the Vedic chanting  provided thereon  to be exceptionally soothing for relaxation and meditation. Bravo Marlyse!Marie Anne got to know her a little better. “Marlyse degage un air de serenite!”
Her set up in Switzerland is in association with the well known French institution dispensing Ayurvedic treatment in Normandie and Paris directed by Kiran Vyas who has published several books in french on Yoga and related subject.

Through the weeks, my daily encounter with the chief medical officer got me to know him a little bit better. A person of some 50 years of age, he has been practicing ayurvedic medicine for many years, after having qualified as a doctor. He has been blessed with 2 children, a boy and a girl, who are already in their early twenties and starting up their professional lives.

He is a very dedicated doctor, well known in this province of Karnataka. Before taking up his present position, he had been a professor of ayurvedic medecine in various institutes and tought at the ayurveda training school. One of his hobby is to perform as a vocalist in Karnatak classical music. Indeed, a man of many talents! I was struck by his great modesty,knowledge,kindness and understanding of people. He is jovial, warm and affectionate. What drives him is to get the best out of people, and he’s always listening, to improve himself and the others. I had the opportunity to listen to the weekly lectures that he gives to guests on ayurveda.  His demeanor was very much that of a university professor, where timing, precision  and  imparting of knowledge were of essence. I, and most of the people present really enjoyed the 30 mins talk where unusual eastern concepts were made simple to us westerners. I have now a better knowledge of vata, pitta and kapha.

During the past week ending on Friday, I underwent for 7 days a very special treatment practised by Ayurvedic specialists from Onkola, which is a village in the far north of Karnataka state near Goa, on persons in my condition. I am back to a normal diet today having only lost 1.5 kilos, after being fed only on rice and mung Dhal water and no solid.

I really enjoyed this morning the papaya, doss (Indian salty crispy wafers) and stir fried broken wheat with vegetables. A very festive meal for me.

A particular aspect which impressed me most was the constant prayer to God by the therapists before every treatment. During their prayer, looking at them, and hearing them sing the prayer, I could sense their deep reverence to God as God-fearing people.

Is it particular to these people of the centre, is it because they have been trained this way, is it part of ayurveda treatment which combines body, mind and soul?

I had a similar experience way back in 1996, when I visited the Madras, now Chennai, airport set up of the budding of Jet Airways, the most prestigious Indian airline for the present. Already in those days, each shift of staff taking up their duty, would get together as a team and hold hands to pray God to help them in their tour of duty. Thereafter, they would religiously recite the company’s mission statement as a mantra. The supervising manager would then ask each one what is the particular point he would watch out for the day. In turn, each individual will come up with his main objective for the day. Though I did not see first hand the break up of the shift, I was told similar ritual took place, where they all got together again to thank God for their work and would in turn, tell the assembly whether they succeeded in attaining the objective which they l have set out to accomplish.

I am in awe with such reverence to God and to the living up to their mission. This might be a lesson to learn from.

I have been quiet for the last few days because of my incapacity to approach my desktop, for fear of putting masala on the keyboard and spoiling my valuable equipment! Even today, I had Marie Anne type out what I have to write.
This morning, while I was sitting on a stool waiting for the paste over my body to dry, my wife Marie Anne came back from her royal rejuvenation treatment. Why royal? It’s because the treatment consisted of whole body massage, followed by a bathtub dip of 15 mins in hot water where herbal decoctions , ground sandal wood and rose petals had been added. When she breezed in, the perfume she exuded filled the air, whilst I was like a garlic/mustard seed/turmeric smelling monster cowering in the bathroom! Fortunately, I’m on my last day of this particular treatment, for the moment. After a week’s of normal massage with special oils brought in from Onkola, I’ll be having a second body paste regimen. The beauty is being rejuvenated whilst the beast is having the pungent smell and starving stance. This is my story of the Beauty and the Beast. To obtain a little bit of mobility in my condition, what will I not do and suffer? I really feel jealous of Marie Anne who is having an exhilarating stay here. If my jealousy would add to my cure, so much the better!

Indeed, at Ivac,we meet people of different walks of life. 2 days ago Christian Olsson, who has sojourned in IVAC for the last 10 days, left. He is German and owns a Graphic design company. He needed some rejuvenation and had a break from work. When Christian left, he told me that his time at the Ayurveda Centre not only cleansed his body, he also had time to work on his mental stresses. He is now all ready to face the challenges of his world.Christian allowed me to discover his conception of Graphic Design and we had a lot of exchanges & sharings in Marketing products as he works for Siemens, Liebherr and many other German firms. Marketing Strategy, positioning of the products to achieve better results were the themes we talked about. I was enthused!In the nutshell, what I learnt from the exchange: a top class designer’s only mission is to design for the message desired by his customer irrespective of what he himself like or dislike on the material produced. The designers’ job is to arouse the proper emotions of the targeted audience to receive the message wanted by the clients.
May I wish Christian a continued succesful carreer. I am so grateful to the Lord to have placed him on my path.

On the advice of Dr. Khrisha U.K., the resident director of ayurvedic care, Dr. Murlidhar, prescribed a new treatment for my condition. He has ordered from Onkola, 200 kms from Mysore, special herbs and spices which have to be collected at specific time of the day. These ingredients have now arrived and since yesterday, at the most auspicious hour, which was noon, according to the panchan, they started my treatment. The ingredients were ground on stone similar to those we use to grind masala in Mauritius. The paste obtained was then applied all over my body and I had to stay in a standing position until the paste dried. From the smell of it, I could make out that there were mustard seeds, garlic, turmeric, and cloves. The other components consistered of herbs which Dr. Murlindhar said he will give me the recipe in due course. On application of the paste, I could feel a hot and cold sensation all over my body. I was told that the active elements of the spices and herbs would permeate my skin to stimulate the non responsive nerves. Hopefully, this procedure, which I shall have to undergo for 7 days in all, will bear some fruit. Though uncomfortable, it is bearable. From the turmeric I look like a jaundiced Chinese!!

The last 2 days, the temperature in Mysore dropped slightly, so they have brought in a heater in my room to enhance my comfort.

Yesterday after lunch at the Indus Valley Ayurvedic Centre, I lingered awhile at the common lobby to digest my great vegetarian lunch and to have a social chit chat with the reception staff. Past by the lunch room to get back to my chalet, I found two European looking guys who were still eating well after the normal lunch opening hour.

My interrogative face immediate got an answer from Sunil, the luncheon Captain without having had to utter a single word from my part. This only demonstrated the power of people to read the visual expression of others. The phenomenon is particularly true and widely used by persons in service industries where they are trained and continuously anticipating the needs of their clients. Bravo to Sunil! Who read my mind promptly? By the way I am reading EMOTIONS REVEALED by Paul Ekman. The reading has probably prompted this present diversion to my present story!

“Sir, these gentlemen came in for a late treatment and we are giving them lunch now” Sunil said.

To my greatest surprise, I heard them speaking French with a Quebecois accent. Needless to say, I had to greet them and was burning to know more about them. They told me that they are on a business trip to Mysore and just concluded a deal with a local partner to establish a joint venture company in the field of computers. On being asked where I came from? I played the game which I pull out from my bag of tricks. “I shall pay you 50 Dollars if you give my country and you will be allowed 5 answers and for each wrong answer I shall reduce 10 dollars from the prize. The first answer was Japan. No, you are left with 40 dollars. Thereafter Vietnam! Laos! They were searching for Asian country where French was spoken. Canada! Australia! “Now that you have consumed your 5 chances it would be you to pay me 10 Dollars for each new reply” I retorted. With this joke we broke the ice.

Ile Maurice bien sur! They were in development of online computer games and have been in this line for a number of years. One of their customers is in Reunion Island. Philippe Nadeau explained to me very briefly the niche market they were exploiting within the Computer Games market. Guess who their customers in Reunion were? Frederic Caille & Alfred Chane Pane! My APM Reunion island pals! Olala! Que le monde est petit!

Soon Alchemic Dream India will be born to give service to the world and cover the world time zone. According to them their business is growing exponentially. The market for online computer games is only budding and the potential is enormous.

This is the tale of Ayurveda and world wide online Computer games. What alchemy?

Yes, the great today has arrived. Thanks to all of you who have contacted us to wish us a bon voyage and a good sejourn in India.

I came to realise more so the power of internet communications, particularly these few days. We have been able to communicate, leave instructions and do what have to be done..banking arrangements …etc so fast and neatly through the net.

I used my Skype call facility fully these last days. Only a few minutes ago I had spoken to my friend in Manila who called me to wish me best of luck for me ayurveda experience. I am in awe.

In the next hour, I shall be off the Bombay connecting a few hours later a Jet airways flight to Bangalore.We have booked a car for our drive to Mysore.

I am thrilled and have equipped myself with enough books,CD and dvds to last the next 10 weeks.I am confident to come out a new man when I shall be back to base in Mauritius.They promised me that internet connections are available in my next week’s outpost. So until then… See you.

You will recall that in October last, I dropped in a few lines about Ayurveda. During these last months I have been reading a fair deal about this ancient India medicine and more importantly I have been inquiring about the possibility of undergoing therapy for my condition.

I have now decided and all arrangements are now done. My dear old friend, Bob has arranged for me to spend 10 weeks at the center. I am planning to leave on next Tuesday 22 November for 10 weeks. You will probably hear from me from Mysore, once I am settled in the Ayurvedic center.

I must admit that I have visited Mysore and the surrounding area of Bangalore some 30 years ago. I had the chance to stay in those days in the Raja of Mysore in his palace. Things have obviously changed since. You will understand my excitement to go back to place where I visited in my youth!

I still carry today, 40 years after, the same spirit of adventure and of discovery. These new experiences will only bring to me more learning and will broaden the limits of my knowledge.

Let me wish & hope that the therapy I shall undergo will be beneficial to my health. The least that I say to myself: I have tried. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

This reminds me of a story:

Once upon a time there was that poor guy, who for a couple of weeks, had been with great faith, diligently and faithfully praying & asking God to make him win the lottery. He was in great need of money to achieve a project dear to him. After the weeks of supplications, he became nervous as his request was not met by the Lord. Coming back from the chapel where he daily went to his prayer, that morning he met a friend and shared his anxiety to him. “For weeks now, the Lord has not dared to answer to my request, I am starting to get fed up” he told his friend. The friend replied back: “Did you buy a lottery ticket at least to give God a fair chance to help you?” “Aha” he said.