I invite anyone who wants to enjoy a wellness holiday, to take a look at our proposals for yoga retreats, Ayurveda retreats, mindfulness retreats, places of peace where to stop and reconnect to your essence.

And if we propose you a journey during which you will be immersed in the magical atmosphere of these millenary stories, but even more in the flow of the ocean of real history, of commercial and cultural exchanges that for centuries have given birth to a flourishing civilization along the Silk Road?

Perhaps it is not a classic wellness holiday, like the ones we usually offer, but a trip to Uzbekistan is a dip in magic and in the past, creating great wellness experiences and emotions like those of a yoga retreat or a midfulness retreat.

Its cities were a fundamental stop on the trade route of the Silk Road between the West and the East, as well as important centers of religious and cultural studies that have contributed to the development of the whole of humanity.

Getting lost in the ancient alleys of the citadel of Khiva, Boukhara, Samarkand, being entranced by the magnificence and beauty of their mosques and their madrassas and bazaars is a unique travel experience. In fact, it would be belittling to think of the Silk Road only as an itinerary traveled by merchants to sell their fabrics or their jewels. In fact, together with merchants and goods, something much more transcendent and important was traveling: knowledge.

And I think the same concept applies to travel: not merely visiting places, but creating human bridges first and then cultural ones. Meeting of differences, knowledge that creates peace.

And so the legendary names of cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva evoke the magic of journeys that have also transported the progress of humanity.

Do you want to get excited in front of the Tuchese and blue domes and majolica, entering the caravanserais or listening to the litanies of prayers? Do you want to enjoy the wellness experience of the ancient Hammam of Bukhara? We will visit Registon Square (15th-17th century) and the madrasah of Ulugbek, Tillakori and Sherdor. This place was one of the most important international trade centers on the Great Silk Road which connected Europe to China. The Registan, will fascinate you with the grandeur and beauty of its historical monuments

Contact us to receive the program of our tour of Uzbekistan with guaranteed departure from 9 to 16 September

Itinerary: Urganch– Khiva – The fortresses of Ancient Khorasmia – Bukhara- Samarсanda –Shakhrisabz-Samarkand-Tashkent

(8 days / 7 nights).

A unique opportunity.

Contact us for more details: info@myidealtraveling.com

Where to go then? For those looking for a yoga retreat in Italy, we always suggest our retreat of the heart in Sicily: relax on the splendid beach of one of the most beautiful areas of Sicily, practice yoga and meditation and, for the more adrenaline-pumped, try kitesurfing, surfing, sailing or stand-up-paddle in an oasis of tranquility just a few meters from the sea. A place to feel good, to practice yoga but also biking, skate and offer boat trips. Those who prefer a sailing yoga holiday should definitely take advantage of the weekly departures from Tuscany! The most beautiful yoga holidays on a sailing boat in the company of those who have always lived a great love for the open sea, for the sun and the wind. A week of yoga retreat on a boat in Tuscany, sharing adventures, fairytale scenarios and yoga practice. The trip will start from Marina di Cecina or Marina di Pisa and will continue sailing towards Capraia, Elba or Northern Corsica: true natural paradises, with wonderful beaches for yoga, splendid baths, and to relax in harmony with nature. All completed by the heady scent of the Mediterranean.

For a yoga retreat in Portugal, a must in Albufeira at our fantastic new boutique yoga retreat: a small and luxurious wellness hotel offering yoga retreats and wellness holidays combined with sea sports such as surfing, SUP and kayaking.

For those who need a serious and complete anti-burnout program, always in Portgogallo the new mindfulness center where to start a deep journey of inner growth.

And for those looking for Ayurvedic treatment in Europe, a must at the best European Ayurvedic center in Madeira or Lasko in Slovenia: specialized teams offer Ayurvedic programs tailored to individual needs. Full board stay with Ayurvedic diet, consultations with the Ayurvedic doctor, daily treatments, yoga, meditation and all the necessary supplements for the treatment. A unique wellness experience for a rediscovered harmony of mind, body and soul.

But My Ideal Traveling is not just this and it is not just Europe. India and Sri Lanka also await you during the monsoon season for an Ayurvedic stay, which according to the precepts of Ayurveda is the best time of the year for authentic Ayurvedic treatment.

What holiday would you like? Tell us about it and we will prepare your ideal holiday for you.

We live in a world with a big obsession with weight, the newspapers are teeming with miraculous (and dangerous) and often complicated diets. Ayurvedic treatments for weight control, on the other hand, do not involve anything difficult and Ayurveda suggests some simple but effective remedies to help you lose weight in a healthy way. According to Ayurveda, being overweight causes an excess of Kapha and leads to a further increase in kapha in the body; therefore, it is important to balance this dosha by following some principles. As we know, Ayurveda does not focus on short-term results, so it does not provide for drastic limitations of food or limitation of the variety of food that can be taken. Instead, it offers us guidelines that help us lose weight in the medium and long term and that help us live a healthier life.

It is important to eat three satisfying meals every day

As per Ayurvedic tradition, the concept of digestive fire, transformation and digestion are closely intertwined. Maintaining a healthy metabolism requires adequate ignition of the digestive fire, which can be achieved by adding regular and reliable fuel to the body. It is therefore important to eat healthy and digestible meals every day without snacking between meals to achieve the necessary balance.

It is important to follow a diet that is pacifying for the Dosha Kapha

Eating a pacifying diet helps eliminate excess kapha from the system and can affect the change in the body. Ideally, the kapha diet should include hot, dry, rough, light and digestible foods. It is important to choose freshly prepared homemade food.

Eat a light dinner between 6pm and 7pm

Eating a light dinner (ideally before 7pm) allows the stomach to empty before going to sleep and supports the natural detoxification processes that occur during the night. Soups and vegetables guarantee us a proper cleansing of the body.

Sip hot water or tea throughout the day

Hot water is known to be an elixir of life in the Vedic tradition. Toxins, also known as ama, tend to accumulate in the body. The ama is said to be sticky in nature and can be easily dissolved with hot water. It is important to drink a few sips of hot water first in the morning. Some fresh herbs such as ginger can be added.

Exercise at least three days a week

Taking time for physical activity ensures a faster metabolic rate and efficient fat burning. Walking, running, cycling, yoga or swimming are all relaxing physical activities. A great way to increase your good mood too.

Sleep well

Disturbed sleep quality can ruin health and impact weight. In fact, modern research studies have found that insufficient sleep may be a contributing factor to weight gain. According to Ayurveda, the ideal time period should be 10pm to 6am.

These tips may sound trivial, but they are effective over the long term. A healthy lifestyle is definitely the key to losing weight.

Do you want to discover an Ayurvedic center for a good Ayurvedic treatment for weight control? What would be your favorite destination for an Ayurveda retreat?  India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bali or Europe?

Meditation is first and foremost a training in awareness. Simply working with the mind leads to a better sense of presence, calm, attention, and an increase in human qualities such as empathy and patience. We do not have life under control, but we can more control our actions and especially our reactions. To be able to do this we must be present and nothing makes us more present than the practice of meditation. Perhaps learning during a yoga retreat or an Ayurvedic stay and continuing in everyday life.

In fact, meditating means first of all becoming fully aware of the present moment, without judgment. Paying attention to the here and now means perceiving what is happening on a physical, emotional and mental level. It means observing, without falling into a judgmental attitude, the sensations that are experienced, the thoughts that arise, the moods that come to the surface.

So how to do it? Here are some steps.

You can start by sitting cross-legged or even on a chair, but always with a straight back. Looking towards a fixed point with a blurry gaze, begin to take a few deep breaths and then gently close your eyes.

Take a few minutes to feel the body, observe your posture and the sensations the body feels. Recognize your senses: notice everything you can smell, feel or taste and the sensations of heat, cold or wind.

Slowly turn your mind inward. Scan the body from head to toe, noting any tension or discomfort. Without trying to change what you find, simply taking note of it.

Observe your thoughts. Without judgment, observing them and letting them go.

When the mind wanders, focus on the breath.

Regain awareness of the physical sensations: of the chair, of the contact of the feet with the floor, arms and hands resting in the lap. Notice everything you can hear, smell or taste. Finally, slowly open your eyes.

Difficult to do it alone? Then try offering yourself a wellness holiday, a yoga and meditation retreat during which you can learn the basic techniques. A joyful moment of deep rest for the mind and body, in magnificent places and in excellent company.

Do you think a wellness holiday is just a weekend at the spa? Then try to look at our proposals:  yoga retreats, Ayurveda retreats, a detox or weight control program, a stress management program. A single denominator: an act of love for your body and mind.

A place of the soul where nature begins to exert its magic from the moment you arrive. I arrived in the evening with the changing light of the sunset, a symbol of a possible change of inner light. Not a place to cure only a specific disease, but a path to learn to take responsibility for your own well-being and to understand how the body can heal itself. Diseases and ailments are messages of the body and naturopathy helps us to decrypt them.

I had the opportunity to take a short stay and the detox program that the doctor in naturopathy considered to be the best option for me, was aimed at purifying the body and rejuvenating it, giving it a moment of relief from the strains of everyday life and stress. .

The day starts early at Prakriti Shakti, with barefoot walks on the grass, sunbathing, yoga, meditation. The elements of nature are the healing agents in natural medicine and treatments such as hydrotherapy, mud therapy and heliotherapy allow these elements to interact with the body and facilitate healing and rejuvenation.

A healthy, vegetarian and raw diet to awaken the body complete the path.

An experience that for me was a moment of deep rest and regeneration, but also of ecstasy in the face of the beauty of nature and the Universe.

Ayurveda can then trigger the healing process of several diseases, give a real sense of psychophysical well-being and contribute to a deep inner change.

Ayurveda is an art of living well and an approach to facing one’s own existence while keeping it in perfect balance with the environment and the universe. According to this ancient discipline, life is not only “to be in the world” but “consciously” to achieve the 4 objectives – Dharma (duty -virtù to follow), Artha (understanding, well-being and prosperity), Kama (happiness ) and Moksha (freedom and enlightenment) – which lead to body-soul-spirit harmony.

Preserving health and well-being becomes essential to accomplish this path marked by vital energies (tridosha). Our harmony arises from the balancing of the doshas. Because for Ayurveda every man relates to the energy of the universe and his well-being is the result of the deep connection between body, mind and soul. Each ailment, problem or illness must be considered as a whole. Each ayurveda treatment and therapy therefore becomes unique because it is the result of a personalized assessment of the balance of the three doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha. We must see ourselves as a whole being who must learn to find a center and to listen to every part of himself.

This is why an Ayurveda retreat is not only a place of relaxation entrusted to massages or purification therapies, but an opportunity for a deep connection, an opportunity to take care of body and soul, a moment of listening to the deepest needs. Rest becomes an instrument of real physical and psychological reinvigoration; yoga and meditation accompany the soul towards pacification; targeted ayurveda treatments prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors a way to rejuvenate and regenerate.

In order to be able to answer even more accurately, I myself decided to leave for a trip to Sri Lanka that I could not and above all did not want to postpone further. Travelling is my job, but it is above all my source of internal energy and inspiration. You cannot discover new destinations and new paths by remaining closed in an office.

I have to be honest, the first preparations stressed me out a bit. Understanding what documents were needed, organizing the trip so as to be protected from any inconvenience, all at a time when I too was forced to quarantine at home and “liberation” seemed far away.

But travelling is far from being impossible, the important thing, I will be biased but I highly recommend it, is to get help from a travel agency, especially for long haul journeys. The knowledge of the rules allows us a certain tranquility in guiding the traveler, who could feel “lost” in a myriad of details and regulations. For a cost that is identical to what you would pay by booking directly at an Ayurveda center or yoga retreat, you get more service and assistance.

Each country has its own access rules, even if, in short, by now to travel to non-European countries, with vaccine and swab before departure, you are sure to be able to leave. Each country then has specific formalities. From registration on public health portals to booking in certain authorized hotels, to the obligation to have travel insurance for illness. But these details are secondary and are seen from time to time being updated constantly. You also need to pay attention to the country of departure and its rules. In fact, if practically all European countries now allow trips outside Europe, it is necessary to check in detail the exit and return conditions. Italy currently allows tourism trips in a very limited number of countries, unfortunately there are not our most popular destinations among them. France, on the other hand, only allows vaccinated people to travel to non-European countries for tourism.

What other recommendations? The first is to always travel with travel insurance. The policies now all provide for coverage in the event of an on-site quarantine obligation. But this is a fundamental rule for any trip.

Are we afraid that the risks are greater going for an ayurveda retreat in India or Sri Lanka? With the spread that the pandemic has had in Europe, I have my doubts. The important thing is to travel reasonably. However, paying attention and avoiding unnecessary risks. What if for any reason I don’t want to go far or can’t travel outside Europe? Well, Europe itself offers us the possibility of wellness holidays, Ayurvedic treatments, yoga retreats and even the warmth of winter with Madeira and the Canaries, which have nothing to envy to holidays in distant countries.

Sometimes I feel the fatigue of two years of uncertainty, of plans done and undone, of not knowing where we are going. A great moment of confidence in life, but with its fatigue. So I give myself a moment of healing and take care of myself. The important thing is the present moment: I am here, in good health, My Ideal Traveling is healthy and strong and ready to take you to wonderful destinations for ayurveda retreats of deep healing, for a yoga retreat or for a wellness holiday of pure relaxation.

Destination Sri Lanka then!

This small pearl lying on the Indian Ocean which, over the years, has taken on nicknames, one more poetic than the other: Serendib, the Tear of India, the Resplendent Island, the Dharma Island, the Pearl of the East, Ceylon … This variety of names testifies to its richness, its beauty and the immense attraction it arouses in those who discover it. For centuries its sounds, its colors and the smiles of its people have seduced travelers. Everyone returns with unforgettable images of a peaceful tropical island with a deep spirituality in their eyes.

I dream of a train trip to Nuwara Eliya, the Hill Station created by the British. The train remains the best way to cross the central part of Sri Lanka. Slower perhaps, but allowing to cross the splendid tea plantations enjoying total immersion in the lush nature of the island.

But also Sri Lanka with its Ayurvedic tradition and traditional medicine.

Widely extensive and rich in diversity, Sri Lankan traditional medicine is a combination of the country’s indigenous medicine (Deshiya chikitsa) and Ayurveda of India.

All this accompanied by huge beaches, ancient ruins, a welcoming people, thousands of elephants, irresistible waves, picturesque train rides: welcome to Sri Lanka, where you can get lost in small villages, stroll among rice fields or lush tea plantations and finish the regenerating day with Ayurveda treatments and yoga.

Are you ready to experience Sri Lanka from My Ideal Traveling? For an Ayurveda holiday or for an island tour?

Then follow us!

As we love to say, these are the yoga retreats where you can create your beautiful life.

The feedback always positive, encouraged us to propose it to any soul who wishes to travel with us for a yoga holiday in Spain.

How? Through daily yoga classes and workshops, guided trekkings in fusion with nature, dynamic meditation sessions and joyfull dance celebrations. All this sesoned by 12 months of Spring, lovely beaches and super healthy food.

This will be an experience to breathe new fresh air and get it into your life, get inspired and develop the capacity to empower your everyday life. This yoga holiday will definitely expand your vision and understanding towards existance, enhance your enthusiasm, motivation, and commitment. The program is created to connect with the inner truth.

So what are you waiting to travel with us in this wellness holiday where oyu will learn the practice of yoga for a good health and a happy life full of purpose?

The yoga retreat will be held in the tropical north side of the island of Tenerife. In the fertile valley of La Orotava, next to a coast covered by vineyards and banana plantations. There, in Puerto de la Cruz, 800 meters walk from the sea and Playa Jardín, in a typical Canarian mansion, in a quiet area surrounded by banana fields but within walking distance of the city, you will enjoy the most beutiful yoga retreat, a walk through the pedestrian streets full of gardens, Canarian wooden balconies and squares full of life. Walking distance by the sea and historical places.

You have a body, this body is not you

You have a mind, this mind is also not you

You are the master, the healer, the Soul. Learn this and the entire Universe is at your feet.

If you want to enjoy a fulfilling wellbeing retreat and a joyful yoga holiday join the group!

To see new dates and program please click here.

Health, as yoga and Ayurveda teach us, is to be seen from the angle of union between body and spirit. This way of seeing things is cultivated in yoga and many other mindfulness practices. Awareness allows us to always be attentive to the choices we make, therefore to take care of ourselves, through food choices, exercise, inner calm, the first step to optimal health.

There are several elements on which the holistic approach to health is based, some of which are often neglected: physical health, nutrition, emotions, social well-being, spirituality, intellectual curiosity, financial independence and the environment.

These pillars are actually just points of reference, not precepts. The path to well-being is in fact individual. Each person’s genetics, personality and environment determine the personal definition of well-being. This is why it is important to take a personalized approach.

When it comes to “physical well-being,” one immediately thinks of exercise. Doing regular physical activity is certainly a fundamental pillar but it is not the only one. In fact, the body doesn’t just need to move: it needs to rest well, have good hygiene and a healthy diet. It is also important to have a personalized approach to nutrition, since needs differ according to age, sex, activity level and metabolism. Emotional well-being includes the ability to swim in the infinite sea of ​​our emotions, know how to recognize them, communicate them to others and learn to share them. Social well-being is about cultivating positive relationships with others and developing good conflict management skills when difficult relationships arise. Relationships are fundamental in the life of a human being. Spirituality is an individual journey in the life of each of us. Difficult to define but important to make sense and direction. Stimulation of the mind for a good level of intellectual well-being. Discuss with others, keep the curiosity to learn new things alive. Financial well-being may sound strange in a holistic approach to health, but financial problems are a major source of stress. Being financially healthy means living and planning for the future, at least for the programmable part, with greater serenity. Do not forget the environment, which is of fundamental importance. Whether it is the environment in general understood as planet earth or the family or work environment.

And you, how do you manage all these pillars of well-being? What is your personal holistic wellness recipe?

To promote the holistic well-being, we like to organize holistic journeys in which many of these pillars of well-being are wisely mixed and fully experienced in places of great naturalistic beauty. Whether it’s a yoga retreat in Thailand, an Ayurveda retreat in India or Europe, a yoga holiday in Tenerife, our travel proposals are moments of detachment during which to be able to contact each other deeply, learn healthy nutrition, learn to recognize what is good for us, through yoga, meditation, natural medicine, Ayurvedic treatments, personal growth workshops. All in magnificent paradises and taking advantage of rest and beauty. Do you want to try our recipes? Find them on www.myidealtraveling.com.

Let’s see how to facilitate a balanced Vata and feel a deep sense of well-being phisically and emotionally. Ayurveda tells us that Vata dosha is light, cold, dry, rough, mobile, subtle, and clear.

So, if through our diets, lifestyle habits, relationships, or experience, we touch these qualities, the risk of an increased vata is high. But on the other hand, we can balance Vata with foods and experiences that are heavy, warm, nourishing, substantive, oily, stabilizing, and concrete.

Which lifestyle habit can we take to balance Vata? Small good habits often serve to quickly and efficiently pacify unbalanced Vata. A daily routine is the first important treatment according to Ayurveda. If we look around us, we can easily see how in nature everything is organized with a regular rhythm. The sun raise and set, the seasons have a cycle and animals have regular routine daily and seasonally. The human being went very far from this natural rhythm.

But at the most fundamental level, our physiology is very much adapted to and supported by a sense of regularity. And this is the reason why the daily routine (Dincharya) is such potent medicine, especially to reduce feelings of anxiousness.

Actually the routine has a very grounding and stabilizing effect on our system because it creates a number of familiar and comforting reference points that send a resounding affirmation to the deep tissues of the body that all is well, that we can be at ease. When our body get used to a daily routine like regular exercise, good rest, good food and soul nourishing activities, the nervous system naturally relax. Giving us a regula routine, means that we are offering ourselves act of self love and self care. Whtever it happens with a daily routine we give prioroty to ourselves.

We don’t need to do so many things. We can start from little acts: waking up at the same time, taking regular meals at the same day, sleeping the time we need. In addition a daily practice of yoga, exercice,meditation or prayer, can support us in the most challenging situations. A special place in calming fear and anxitety is given to Pranayama. Pranayama activates and balances many significant subtle channels influencing the mind, including mano vaha srotas (the channel of the mind), prana vaha srotas (the prana-carrying channel), ida nadi (the lunar, feminine channel), pingala nadi (the solar, masculine channel), and sushumna nadi (the central channel). Yoga practice works in the same way. Last but not least… a balance diet!

What blocks us in life is the vain attempt to control something we cannot control. Making choices, changing, always implies knowing how to let go of something, parts of us. We cannot remain immutable over time and under circumstances. To live is also to die a little, every day, from the day we are born. Immutability does not exist, not even in death. Everything is transformed. To accept it is to accept the flow and fullness of life.

If you wish to learn how to establish a positive daily routine, how to learn strategies to face challenging times, we are more than happy to suggest to you some yoga retreat or ayurveda retreat for a fulfilling and healing well-being holiday.

Use it or lose it. The muscles need regular use to maintain their strength and function. The ill effects of a sedentary lifestyle and immobility for prolonged periods of time lead to an accelerated muscle loss and weakness and to many other deseases. Therefore, the first step for reducing the risk is to reduce physical inactivity by adopting a consistent fitness routine.

Strengthen Digestion

Unfortunately, as we age, our digestion becomes weaker and without a strong digestive process, even a healthy diet may fail to provide essential nutrients required to maintain the health and function of your muscles. It’s important to support all aspects of the digestive sequence to maximize nutrient breakdown and absorption. Starting with the mouth by maintaining proper oral hygiene, regular dental checkups, and chewing food thoroughly. In general, we can consume smaller portions and eat more times to ensure adequate intake of nutrients and lessen the digestive burden of large, heavy meals. You can include a small cup of warm lime water before meals to stimulate digestion, support acidity, and promote digestive enzyme function.

Practice Wellness

The importance of staying healthy cannot be overstated and although there are numerous reasons to practice a wellness lifestyle, here’s one more benefit to consider. Chronic illness, such as inflammation, places significant stress on the mind and body. This prolonged stress response leads to the breakdown of muscle, as seen in chronic liver and kidney disease, as well as cancer. Also, the feeling of fatigue, soreness, and overall lack of wellbeing discourages or hinders physical movement, resulting in muscle loss and weakness due to inactivity. When it comes to chronic illness, prevention through practicing a wellness lifestyle is possible.

By Dr. Jason Culp – Chiva Som International Health Resort

A wellness holiday can be a good start to learn adopting a better lifestyle. Yoga retreat, ayurveda retreat, programs of active holidays are a good a joyful way to take care of body, mind and spirit!

But if there are people already used to choosing a yoga retreat or Ayurvedic treatments, personal growth workshops for their holidays, there are also many people who appearing for the first time are intimidated, unsure whether it is the right choice for them.

Will it be too hard for me? I have never practiced yoga or not enough, I don’t feel flexible enough. Alone I’m afraid of getting bored, of not finding company. These are the most frequent fears.

But those who have had the experience even for the first time always tell us about a deep well-being, joy and great enthusiasm. About feeling good in their body, about feeling open, about having found a great relational ease with others and to having built beautiful relationships.

During the retreat, people slide with great facility from the tension and tiredness of the journey, towards a state of ease, of tranquility, towards a feeling good in their own home-body. The energy level rises and you feel a stronger and healthier body, as well as flexible, also helped by a healthy and light nutricion. Then when massages, natural therapies or Ayurvedic treatments are part of the package, for those having opted for an Ayurvedic treatment, then the feeling of deep rest is even more intense.

The mind calms down and serenity pervades the body. The main feeling is of ease, of things going the right way, without effort. In a balance of physical effort and rest, between being alone and being in company, between attention to the body and attention to the spirit.

An experience seasoned with wonderful encounters, with people who share the same ideals and with whom contact is easily established.

So why wait any longer to choose a holistic and healing holiday? To choose a beautiful yoga retreat by the sea in Italy or an Ayurveda retreat in the lush forests of Kerala?

Discover our proposals on www.myidealtraveling.com and contact us for any doubt or suggestion!

Today we all abuse the word spirituality a little bit by linking it to the concept of well-being, of feeling good (which is a good start anyway!). But perhaps the meaning is deeper, it means finding a connection with our true deep nature which is bright and peaceful. A mystical state that is not easy to reach, which requires constant work and above all coherence of life.

Why a harmonious lifestyle is it sometimes so difficult to adopt? Because we are not yet fully awakened to our spiritual nature. How can we live in harmony if we are not connected to our higher purpose in life? Ayurvedic and yogic practices bring us peace, not highs. They support us but they don’t burn us. However, to reach this place, we must go through the fire of awakening our consciousness. This process must be honest and it is not always pleasant. With honesty towards ourselves in the beginning, we feel discomfort and pain and we tend to walk away. We abandon these practices which, even if difficult, lead to harmony and light because the light hurts our eyes. So how do we do to create harmony in our lives? How do we become successful travelers on our journey? There are many avenues to emancipation, but none are greater than our personal direct experience of God, which is reached through meditation and prayer. In the silence of conscience there is the light of God, the infinite, which fills and supports and can allow us to create change in us and then outside of us. The more we know our divine nature, our spirit, the more we are authorized to act in harmony. A first step is for many the approach to the practice of meditation. And it deepens when we are able to meditate on every action of our life, when our life itself becomes a meditation, bringing out our true nature. We are then ready to join the pure consciousness. We become one with God.

How sad to see that fashionable secularism, instead of opening up to all religions, imposes a “non-religion” and a total veto. Sometimes even those who hold Yoga classes in the community are asked, in the name of secularism, not to evoke the notion of spirit or God during the lessons. But whad do we fear?

I love to use the word soul to describe the journeys I propose, but once I was told “no, the word soul must not be used, people are afraid”. But I insist and when I propose a yoga retreat in India or simply in the mountains or by the sea in Europe, an Ayurvedic stay, a wellness holiday, I always hope that it is my soul and God that my travelers go to meet.

What could be better than a wellness holiday? A yoga retreat by the sea in Italy or in Spain, an Ayurveda centre in Europe or India, Thailand or Sri Lanka where you can let yourself be pampered and finally feel serene, a detox retreat to regain shape and renew your energy, an anti-burnout programm to take your life back in hand.

Life should be all a vacation, but it is not and often when we come back we find ourselves faced with the same problems that we left behind. But certainly with some more tools to deal with them, with the centering and contact with the self necessary to change attitude and take the necessary resolutions. Give yourself time, learn to take care of yourself, starting from the little things, giving yourself a moment of respite, giving yourself a cuddle and the necessary attention.

Starting with a breath, as important as it is neglected. When situations stress and overwhelm us, we should learn to take a breath. We start from the breathing, we start from taking care of our body and then … suitcase in hand, we leave to our favorite destinations to embark on inner journeys that choose the world as their stage, as retreat bases devoted to holistic cultures, Ayurveda and to Oriental Medicine, as companions of our path specialists capable of supporting, motivating and suggesting treatments and itineraries that involve body-mind-spirit.

To give back to travel its most authentic dimension: discovery of enchanted places and discovery of the most enchanted place: oneself.

“Ayur” in Sanskrit means life, and “Veda” science or knowledge. Ayurveda is therefore “the knowledge of life or longevity”.

According to Ayurveda philosophy, every living and non-living being in this Universe is a combination of five basic eternal elements, called Pancha Maha Bhoothas and the laws of the Universe are the same of the human microcosm. Actually, the human body reflects the five elements that make up the universe, air, earth, fire, water and ether and every cell in the body has all the properties of the Universe. These eternal elements manifest in the human body in the form of three basic principles or moods – Thridosha in Sanskrit: Vatha, Pitha, Kapha. Body, mind and soul are in an interdependent relationship and interact with each other in creating the life of the individual.

The basic principles are the following:

Everything in the universe, both living and non living, is joined because everything in the Universe is made of the same natural elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth. We are deeply connected to to the environment.
We are in good health if we keep a good balance in connections with others and with the Universe.
Our harmony with the Universe is often disrupted by bad lifestyle. Bad choices in nutrition, lack of exercise and bad relationships can lead us to emotional and physical imbalance and then to deseases.
We are responsible for our own choices and of our health.

In Ayurveda, perfect health is defined as “a balance between body, mind, spirit, and social wellbeing.”

An Ayurveda retreat thus becomes a tool to help the individual maintain good health and well-being which will help him to pursue the goals of life, a tool for promoting life itself. With a holistic approach, to guide human beings in their wholeness and completeness, as part of the Universe. To live in well-being, the individual must live in harmony with himself, with the society in which he lives and therefore with the Universe to which he belongs.

What is the most suitable ayurveda treatment for your need? The ayurveda doctor during the daily consultation, will guide you through the right lifestyle and nutrition to find the perfect balance in your life.

In the article he talks about consistency and yoga, but I think the reflection can apply to any other discipline. Consistency is the strength of any teaching. If you want to empower the word and make it creative, capable of bringing change in yourself and in others, you must behave in a way that is consistent with what you say.

There is a rather widespread misconception in the holistic world: the idea that an authentic work can be done on oneself without rigorous consistency. And to be consistent it is necessary to “put your head out of the mat” and out of the small room where you work and bring the work done in everyday life.

Real growth begins when you immerse yourself in the world, in the chaotic daily routine, full of big or small difficulties that is life. The yoga mat or the practice of any other activity, must not be considered as a fort, a non-place to alienate yourself from reality, but a means that helps us to experience union with ourselves, with others, with Life, with God, in everyday life and in the not always easy relationship with others. In the family, at work, in school.

Practice can help us create internal skills that make us stronger and capable of acting in the world. Sometimes they can also be a moment to catch your breath, purify your body and mind, to center ourselves, relax, have greater awareness, but it must not be a moment of escape. This is the purpose of the yoga retreats, ayurveda retreats and other holistic holidays, healing holidays we orgenize: giving tools to live the life at the best.

Ferrini writes “The authentic yogi is the one who, having known himself in depth, decides to leave the comfortable, protected and silent environments of churches, mandirs, temples, synagogues, mosques, to get off his clean carpet and go to the streets to make his specific, special contribution: helping others to know themselves (as someone has previously helped him), realizing their own spiritual experience, that pure Love that every being has in his heart “.

And I believe that this reflection can be considered valid for any discipline you practice and any belief you adhere to.

I would say that our motto is: “We are not helping people to travel in order to escape their life,
but rather so that their life does not escape them. ”

Traveling to find yourself. To understand yourself. To regenerate. To experience a new dimension of a self who is called to leave its comfort zone and open itself to the world.

My Ideal Traveling was founded with this objective: to consent to the undertaking of an inward voyage choosing the world as the setting, a retreat, esteemed by the Ayurveda and Oriental Medicine holistic cultures, as a base, and specialists who are able to assist, support, motivate and suggest treatments and itineraries, which involve body-mind-spirit as companions for your journey.

The journey thus recovers its universal dimension of exploration and discovery not only of new places and cultures, but also of one’s own individuality, one’s own needs, one’s most authentic needs, which are often suffocated by layers of noise, commitments and stress.

Yoga, Meditation, Ayurveda, holistic treatments become access keys to a more conscious and authentic dimension. A holiday that leads to an improvement in physical and mental health. For those who have a specific goal in mind, whether it is to improve fitness, lose weight, reduce stress, then the recommended option is to choose wellenss retreats dedicated exclusively to wellbeing. There are many yoga retreats, Ayurvedic centers, resorts specialized in wellness programs, wellness retreats. The advantage of these types of facilities is that they are dedicated exclusively to wellbeing programs, natural medicine, with dedicated teams and all guests with the same purpose: to take care of themselves. These hotels are therefore perfectly suited to the single traveler as they can focus entirely on themselves and their wellness goals for the duration of their stay without any distraction. It is not only for physical well-being that people choose a wellness holiday, a retreat: much more often they choose it because they need a moment of profound reconnection with their self, a moment of rest from the stress of everyday life, a need for understand their priorities. The wellness journey then becomes a life coach retreat: learning the tools to feel good.

Each retreat offers the opportunity to indulge in curative or simply relaxing courses based on traditional holistic methods such as techniques of modern natural medicine or Ayurveda. Yoga sessions, meditation, Ayurvedic treatments, massages, but also detox treatments promote the recovery of psycho-physical well-being and stimulate the body’s natural self-healing in the name of harmony. The paths taken thus become the starting point to “change pace” and give way to a new way of approach to life. More aware, more attentive to one’s inner voice, more centered.

Whether it is for an Ayurveda retreat, a yoga retreat, a meditation program or a weight loss program, a detox holiday or a personalized health program, the experience gained by My Ideal Traveling in the field, thanks to a personal verification of all the facilities, is not only a safety index of the proposed solutions, but is also key for defining truly individualized itineraries.

Simple to say, difficult in practice. In fact, the lack of self-esteem blocks a lot of people.

Yet it can be learned. I think I’ve always been learning. With small or large steps we advance and we can build that self-confidence that allows us to feel good inside and out.

During the years of researching the best Ayurveda retreats to offer, I discovered how yoga and ayurveda are excellent allies in personal growth and self-esteem.

These two ancestral complementary sciences help us to use positive energy and create those lifestyle habits that allow us to become more cared for, attentive to themselves and therefore to develop greater self-esteem.

During many Ayurvedic stays and yoga retreats in India, Thailand, Sri Lanka but also in Europe, I discovered through the practice of meditation, yoga and through Ayurvedic treatments, how beautiful it is to develop self love.

It starts with calming your soul and mind and resting your body. Yoga is also a self-soothing practice. Each asana helps us to work on insecurity and on negative feelings and emotions that make us unhappy. Regular yoga practice also improves mental clarity and this helps in taking the right steps forward. Whatever the root of low self-esteem, yoga can help heal wounds and develop a new self-image, self-esteem, confidence and respect for oneself. Meditation is also an excellent help to develop awareness, helping us to manage emotions and to act in a more conscious way in everyday life, especially when the specter of dis-esteem is feared.

And Ayurveda in all of this? Ayurveda is first of all a lifestyle. To learn how to manage our body and mind care and also our actions in daily life.

We can start with the small things: making some changes to the diet based on the principles of Ayurveda and applying some golden rules of daily routine (dinacharya) can make a difference. Choose wisely foods that are natural, pure, fortifying, energetic and consciously consumed. To balance the doshas and nourish the soul.

Ayurveda and yoga also teach us to slow down and go back to basics and in contact with nature, to achieve that holistic alignment that your body and mind need to be loved like never before.

And let’s not underestimate the power of Ayurvedic treatments. The warm and loving techniques of Abhyanga massage and many other Ayurvedic treatments help the body and mind to relax, refresh and connect to show us a different, more positive self.

I can’t wait to offer myself again the opportunity to have an authentic Ayurvedic treatment, in one of the authentic Ayurvedic centers that we have carefully selected, to dedicate myself a moment of pure love. Warm oil, Ayurvedic treatments, lovely places, attentive to loving people.

To give us the strength to discover ourselves in all our beauty.

On the other hand, the lack of social connection can lead to a higher risk of developing poor health, including increased incidence of depression, cognitive decline, and premature death. The results from one large-group study showed a 50% increase in premature death from all causes, found in those individuals reporting a lack of strong social bonds and relationships in their lives. This implies that isolating oneself from others can literally shorten lifespan and negatively impact the quality of life.

In recent news, we are told of “Blue Zones”; a topic that has gripped the attention of health experts around the world. Essentially, the communities designated Blue Zones appear to benefit from longer lifespans and fewer detrimental health conditions, when compared to other global communities. Several key components are said to contribute to the fortunate health outcomes of these individuals, including adequate physical activity, plant-based diets, mindful living, as well as strong community support. Indeed, those people with strong social bonds through family, friends, and the community live longer, happier lives, and reduce the risk of developing certain chronic health issues in their later years.

So how does social connection and strong personal relationships promote your wellbeing? A chronic stress response can be tied to the development of numerous health problems, including cardiovascular, immune, and digestive dysfunction. Fortunately, the positive impact of meaningful and supportive relationships actually helps to reduce the pervasive stress response and the negative effects on your health.

Simple social behaviors, such as a hug or laugh between friends, has been shown to significantly mitigate the stress response, resulting in a measurable reduction in blood pressure. Amazingly, the support that is offered in a personal relationship, such as providing advice or assistance to a friend, benefits both the receiver of help as well as the giver, in promoting health and wellbeing.

Ultimately, we fair better in health when surrounded by those we care about and reciprocally, by those who care about us. Therefore, it is essential to take time out for nurturing your personal relationships and social bonds. The time you invest in strengthening these connections can add years to your life and vitality to your years.

Dr. Jason Culp, ND – Chiva-Som International Health Resort

The Nattika Beach Ayurveda Resort, give us the opportunity to attend daily online yoga classes in the morning, to attend Ayurveda cooking lessons and receive precious instructions and advices for the most perfect ayurveda lifestyle for us. The online yoga sessions are specifically tailored for individual needs. The instructor will guide the awareness to specific areas to enhance the body’s natural intuition with manual adjustments for correct practice of each asana.

The guided Pranayama (yogic breathing) will remove blockages from the subtle energy channels and enhances vitality and relaxation. Through meditation classes various techniques to harmonize the mind and spirit will be practiced.

But not only yoga and cooking classes! The Nattika Gurukulam online certification course is also available: a series of online classes covering various topics for those who want to learn Ayurveda in a more simple way. Designed by the highly experienced Ayurveda faculty, the course is organized with simple terminologies for an easy learning and is delivered by Nattika experienced team of doctors.

COURSES

Level 1- Ayurveda Basics

​Course Duration: 1 Month (12 sessions – 3 sessions per week)

Details: Ayurveda Basic Course builds foundation in Basic Ayurveda concepts/ terms, introduces Doshas, concepts related to five elements (Panchmahabhuta), Agni, Malas, body constitutions and other foundation concepts to build good base for other further studies.

Level 2- Ayurveda Advanced Certificate

​Course Duration: 1 Month (12 sessions – 3 sessions per week)

Details: This course helps you to understand intermediate to advanced concepts and procedures in Ayurveda like concept of disease and treatments, pathology of diseases, Application of daily regimen and seasonal regime in daily life based on Ayurveda principles, Ayurveda diet concept and its classification based on Doshas, details of Panchkarma methods

Looking forward to our next Ayurveda retreat with authentic Ayurvedic cures, let’s get ready to learn more about this fascinating science of life!

For details on registering for yoga classes, ayurvedic cooking classes and the online ayurveda course at Nattika Ayurveda Resort, contact us on info@myidealtraveling.com

Aama represents “Aa” which means “not” and “ma” means “me”. Aama is the poisonous substance that our body does not accept and wants to eliminate. If a disease does not originate from an accident or trauma, Ayurveda says that Aama is the source. The main quality of Aama is that it is sticky in nature. Imagine a combination of water and sugar , it creates a substance like glue. Aama is similar to glue. Some historians, who studied the agricultural evolution, state that in 10,000 BC the consumption of sugar was around 20 teaspoons/year. Today the consumption can reach upto 20 teaspoons/day vis-a-vis we have more Aama in our system compared to any other point of time in the history of humanity. This Aama has to be constantly eliminated effectively to maintain health and efficiency of body functioning. Disease is the expression of the body eliminating Aama. When a person suffers with gout, they become less mobile and hence they think twice before consuming fried food. When a person contracts a cold, they stop consuming cold beverages and stop exposing themselves to cold wind. When a person is fatigues, they will find a way to stop the self-abuse that have been enduring. So the symptoms of disease represent an attempt by the body to heal. In Ayurveda, this concept is called “Prayaschita” which literally means “penalty for abuse”. Disease is a guide for healing and a signal that it is time to change in order to rebalance the body’s natural state. “Niramaya” is a word used in Ayurveda for “optimal health” which literally means the state of a body which is free from all forms of Aama. According to Ayurveda, all diseases can be classified into two categories: diseases caused by under nutrition and those caused by over nutrition. Among them, the diseases caused by over nutrition are more difficult to treat than those caused by under nutrition because eliminating waste is more difficult than consuming the appropriate diet. Elimination from the body is a finite process while consumption is infinite.Some diseases can be due to a combination of both of the above. For example, a person can be obese and suffer from fatigue. A good statement describing this condition is that we are overfed but under nourished. Ayurveda says that it is the “Agni” (Agni is the Sanskrit word for metabolism/digestive fire) that gives the ability to convert food into energy. If the food we eat is only converting into fat, it is not ideal. This is why we need to look at the function of the gut.

What is the gut and why is it important? In Ayurveda the gut is known as “Koshta” which means “the big channel through which life enters´. The gut is the channel where energy enters our body. The gut surrounds of the organs of abdomen. It starts with the tongue and finishes at the anal canal.

The expression “gut feeling” is like a sixth sense and it comes from our stomach. Why does the gut feeling not come from the lung or the heart? It is because the gut has the maximum number of nerve cells after the brain, hence it is like our second brain. From this we can understand the avsolute importance of gut health.

By Dr. Vignesh Devraj   Sitaram Ayurveda Beach Retreat

Bringing awareness to your breathing can enhance your health and well-being in profound and unexpected ways. Here are just a few benefits that you can expect from giving due respect to this essential bodily function:

Increase Energy: The cells utilize oxygen to produce energy that fuels every single function in the body. And where does oxygen come from? The air that we breathe, of course! Our lungs form the interface between the exchange of oxygen in and carbon dioxide out of the body.

In dysfunctional breathing, this delicate swap of gases becomes inefficient and the resulting imbalance leads to poor oxygen availability for the cells. Without the necessary fuel for energy, your cells (and you) become deprived of energy. By correcting breathing dysfunction, you can optimize oxygen and CO2 balance in the blood, thus supporting energy production.

Calm the nerves: Your breathing influences the activation of stress and relaxation responses. From an evolution point-of-view, this makes sense! If you think back to the last time you were frightened, you may recall that you ‘gasped’ or held your breath. This reaction, in turn, speeds up the heart, heightens the senses, and gets you ready to “fight or run” from danger.

So what happens when you frequently hold your breath throughout the day? Unfortunately, the same stress response happens whether danger is present or not. The fight-or-flight drive gets turned up, which leads to the same physical response, including heightened senses, hyper-vigilance, and anxiety. Become aware of pauses in your breath and by practicing a fluid, seamless breathing rhythm, you can restore balance and harmony to your nervous system.

Here’s a simple exercise to balance your breathing rhythm at home. Start with bringing awareness to your current way of breathing. Pay close attention to any hesitations in the rhythm and take note of specific qualities, i.e. deep, shallow, tightness, relaxed, etc… Next, slowly inhale in a relaxed manner to a count of 5 seconds, and without pausing, exhale to the same count of 5 seconds. Practice this throughout the day until your breathing becomes slow, fluid, and free from disruptions. Over time and with practice, you can easily achieve the benefits of optimal breathing that will enhance your health and promote your well-being.

– By Jason Culp, Naturopathic Doctor at Chiva-Som.

In order to promote sustainable lifestyle changes, it is essential to cultivate mindful awareness of the triggers, routines, and rewards that are involved in maintaining your automated habits.

Habits form out of a necessity and this is commonly referred to as a ‘Habit Loop’.  Typically, this automated loop of behaviors consist of a “trigger” that sets off the “routine”, resulting in a “reward”.  A simple example would be describing the health-disrupting habit of emotional eating.  When a person feels stressed (the trigger), they will seek out comfort foods (the routine), that provides temporary relief from feeling stressed (the reward).

In order to promote sustainable change, it is essential to cultivate mindful awareness of the triggers, routines, and rewards that are involved in maintaining your automated habits.

Let’s take the common goal of wanting to wake up early for exercise.   The typical ‘habit loop’ plays out like this:   1) Wake early to an alarm and feel tired (the trigger), 2) Reflex reaction to tap the snooze button (the routine), 3) leading to more sleep and saved energy (the reward).   The routine of hitting the snooze fulfills the reward to save energy because you feel tired.

We don’t want to neglect the reward because it helps improve the tired feeling.  Additionally, we can’t expect the trigger to disappear overnight with sudden awakening in the morning to an abundance of energy.    Therefore, the change of routine becomes our primary focus.

At this point, a very simple change can be added to the routine to shift the habit loop. Place your alarm clock or phone across the room before bed.  This way, when the alarm clock wakes you up, the new routine is to stand up to turn off the alarm.  Research has shown that once someone takes those first steps out of bed in the morning, they are more likely to remain awake and start their day, i.e. exercise, and in turn, the exercise will help to promote restorative sleep and enhance morning energy, permanently resolving the trigger.

In this case, the focus on modifying routine can help to re-route the habit loop.  In other cases, the removal of triggers (when possible) may negate the need for the routine and reward (for example, removing oneself from a stressful situation).

You can use this strategy to unravel any of your habits.  With a deeper understanding of the triggers, routines, and rewards that direct your daily life, you can adapt a simple change to any habit and make a positive and sustainable difference to your health and well-being.

– By Jason Culp, Naturopathic Doctor at Chiva-Som.

Apples and beetroot are high in anti-oxidants like vitamin C which can help reduce the duration and severity of colds. Beetroot is also a powerful vasodilator which can improve blood flow, reduce blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health.

Ginger, while famous for its digestive benefits also contains powerful compounds which can lower inflammation as well as improve anti-oxidant enzyme function in our bodies.

Garlic is the immune superstar in this beverage. By improving the ability of white blood cells to fight invaders and by increasing the production of T cells, garlic can enhance the immune system and thus reduce the risk of colds and other infections.

All of the above are best taken as prevention. The rate of the common cold has been found to be reduced by 60-70% in persons who take garlic daily.

Ingredients:
11/2 large carrots
15 g (½ oz) beetroot
1.5 cm (2/3 inch) piece ginger
1 red apple
1 garlic clove

Method:
Juice all of the ingredients, then pour into a glass and serve immediately.

Nutrients per serving:
Kilocalories 214 kcal
Protein 4.1 g
Carbohydrate 49.6 g
Total fat 1.2 g

Serves 1

Thanks to Chiva-Som International Health Resorts

Lifestyle and environmental disease. Over the last 50 years, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have replaced communicable/infectious diseases as the leading causes of death globally. NCDs (including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, chronic lung disease, etc.) are collectively responsible for 71% of deaths worldwide,and they account for more than one-half the global burden of disease.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), World Economic Forum, United Nations, Council on Foreign Relations, and others, NCDs represent one of the greatest future challenges to global health. And yet, at least 80% of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, as well as 40% of cancers, could be prevented by addressing key risk factors. Consumers are becoming aware that they can reduce risks through physical activity, healthy diets, moderated use of tobacco and alcohol, lower levels of stress, and healthier lifestyles overall. Meanwhile, scientists are only beginning to understand how environmental hazards (such as toxins, molds, pesticides, plastics, and other environmental substances) – along with socioeconomic, community, and social environment factors – contribute to NCDs and other health risks.

Loneliness and mental health. The last 5-10 years have brought growing awareness of a mounting global mental health crisis, alongside the rising burden of physical disease. In 2017, there were an estimated 1.1 billion cases reported worldwide of mental and substance use disorders (affecting around 15% of the world’s population) – and since mental disorders are widely underreported, the prevalence may be even higher. According to the WHO, depression increased by more than 18% from 2005-2015, and it is the leading global cause of illness and disability. More than 70% of people with mental illness do not seek treatment, often due to stigma and misunderstanding.

Policymakers and physicians in developed countries are also worried about the rise of loneliness and isolation as a public health epidemic. A recent cross-country survey found that 9% of adults in Japan, 22% in the United States, and 23% in the United Kingdom report always or often feeling lonely or socially isolated.Loneliness is closely linked with physical and mental illness and has significant health impacts – in fact, its impact on lifespan is similar to smoking 15 cigarettes per day and greater than that of obesity, and it is associated with a greater risk of heart disease, depression, anxiety, dementia, and premature death. The growing visibility of mental health/illness and its gradual de-stigmatization have opened the door to people seeking help through wellness modalities such as meditation, mindfulness, and yoga.

Globally, the population aged 60 and over is growing faster than all younger age groups. By 2020, adults over age 65 will outnumber children under age 5, and by 2050 all regions of the world except Africa will have nearly a quarter or more of their populations at age 60 and above. With aging populations comes the rise of chronic disease, as well as risk of the risk of loneliness as seniors lose mobility and independence. Social isolation is particularly detrimental for seniors at a phase of their lives when they need more medical care, social services, friends, and hobbies than ever, and is linked with cognitive decline, poor physical and mental health, and higher risk of death.

According to the United Nations, “population ageing…is poised to become one of the most significant social transformations of the twenty-first century, with implications for nearly all sectors of society.”For individuals, the important question is no longer about increasing lifespan but how to maximize healthy lifespan (compression of morbidity).

Around the world, people’s happiness and wellbeing have been affected by deteriorating health, the spread of loneliness and mental illness, and the ramifications of aging. Holistic Wellness provides people with new insights, approaches, and tools to address these challenges.

(Thanks to Global Wellness Institute for this contribution)

Pollution. Modern living and human activities release enormous toxins into our air, water, soil, and food. This pollution not only affects planetary health, but also human health. Pollution is now the largest environmental cause of disease and premature death. Nearly three-quarters of these deaths were due to outdoor and indoor air pollution, which increases the incidences of asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases.

The shifting of focus from environmental to human welfare is also beginning to bring attention to some of the sustainability practices that can be harmful to health, such as sealing windows and insulating buildings with toxic materials and substances. In addition to air, water, and soil pollution, researchers are just beginning to realize how light and noise pollution affect human health and wellness. A constant background of artificial sounds, lights, and distractions in the built environment – including traffic, airplanes, and machinery; heating and cooling systems; and digital displays, electronic sounds, and “canned” music – makes it hard to find mental respite, raises stress levels, affects sleep, and even has physical health impacts.

The 20th century’s Green Revolution and industrialization of agriculture have had serious environmental ramifications, including monoculture, reduction of biodiversity, nutrient depletion in soil, pesticides and runoff, genetically-modified organisms, greenhouse gas emissions, and global warming. Only in the last couple of decades has attention shifted to the negative social and health impacts of modern, industrialized agriculture and food systems. The grassroots food movement is now raising awareness of a host of concerns, including the deep connections among farming practices, land use, and health, as well as widespread issues with “food deserts,” food insecurity, food equity, and food safety.

The proliferation of the modern, industrialized system of farming and food production, distribution, and marketing is linked to the spread of unhealthy, nutrition-poor, highly-processed Western diets, which contribute to the rise of obesity and chronic disease worldwide.

Low-density, car-dependent, residential suburban development and sprawl over the last century, are practices that have increasingly been adopted in other regions throughout the world. While the widespread environmental costs of automobile dependency are widely recognized (fossil fuel dependence, pollution, climate change), attention has turned more recently to its health and wellbeing impacts. Planning and design approaches that favor motor vehicles over pedestrians have greatly reduced people’s ability to walk or cycle as a means of transport and greatly increased the time spent in cars, thereby reducing daily exercise opportunities and time with family and friends.

In many parts of the world, people now live and work in obesogenic built environments that reinforce a sedentary and even anti-social lifestyle – favoring driving over biking, sitting over walking, riding in elevators over using the stairs, texting over face-to-face conversation with a neighbor, and watching videos over outdoor recreation. It is no wonder that one in four adults do not get sufficient physical activity, obesity has nearly tripled worldwide since 1975, and 39% of adults are now overweight – all key risk factors that directly contribute to the rise of NCDs.

Environmental degradation directly and indirectly affects our health and wellbeing, through the air we breathe, how we procure and consume food, and how we live and travel. As people become aware of these risks, it’s important to seek out alternative lifestyles that are simultaneously healthier for themselves and more sustainable for the planet.

(Thanks to Global Wellness Institute for this contribution)

In a world where everything is passed off as well-being, even what is actually not and is harmful to health, Borgo Egnazia has included a new word in its programs – happiness – and conceived a path focused on the principles of happiness and how it can make us live longer and better.

Happiness is the maximum expression of health and well-being. In Borgo Egnazia, with the Happy Break, it is possible to experience a complete program to increase Happiness and learn strategies for living a full and satisfying life. Positive thinking, a conscious meal, a massage, a hug, the movement and the beauty of nature can provide a feeling of pleasure which, in the presence of awareness, leads to happiness. Through equanimity, the sense of happiness extends over time. Through meaningful human relationships, this individual psychological condition is strengthened. A strategic journey to learn how to achieve a state of lasting happiness and deep well-being in a welcoming and warm-filled land in Southern Italy, where traditions are rich and alive and the climate is mild all year round.

I was lucky enough to have a little taste of the Happiness Break program. Other than anything I would have expected. Just much more that I would have expected. A luxurious wellless resort, which has not lost its intimate, warm character. A feeling at home at all times. A path in which to get involved personally. At the beginning with a bit of embarrassment…but then, after a Master of Laughter lesson animated by the “Fool”, the only thing you need is to let go of the weights that you carry with you and give yourself lightness. Which then becomes joy. With a talk, a good healthy meal, jovial company – in this land not even the solo travelers will feel alone- and a warm and enveloping massage from which you can perceive the care, the perspective changes immediately. The olfactory tests are unique and absolutely incredible, which I will not discuss extensively here because they deserve special attention. I will only say that they are a perfect tool to put us in direct contact and “make our unconscious speak”.

The retreat is situated on one of the Blue Zones – which are designated areas all over the world where inhabitants experience greater longevity thanks to a combination of lifestyle choices: healthy food, simple and regular lifestyle habits.

An unparalleled and extraordinary experience, which left me with the feeling of being emotionally, spiritually and physically stronger, with a more positive perspective and attitude. Happiness is now even more about being open to opportunities and experiences, and this trip is definitely a stimulating trip that I recommend with fervor. Borgo Egnazia provided me with a button to do a “re-start” that I hadn’t even realized I needed, bringing me back to the base and giving me space to remember how to find and promote joy and happiness in all aspects of life.

Failing health systems. Health systems around the world are failing to meet the challenges of caring for the growing number of aging, chronically ill, and mentally ill patents. The specific problems vary from country to country, but mainly involve widespread issues with cost, availability, and quality of healthcare, as well as systemic issues with inequality and health equity. The current healthcare industry model, based on the paradigm of conventional Western medicine, is increasingly seen to be broken – a model that costs too much and delivers too little.

Most medical systems are designed to focus on acute care over chronic care and prevention. The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) estimates that only about 4-5% of annual global health expenditures are on prevention, risk reduction, and public health. Meanwhile, recent research on the determinants of health indicates that up to 80-90% of our health outcomes may be due to external and environmental factors. These include economic and housing inequality, neighborhood and city planning, transportation infrastructure, education systems, social and cultural environments, physical environments, and many other factors that extend far beyond the realm of the healthcare system.These “upstream” factors have only recently started to be recognized and understood by public health experts and would require attention at all levels of government in order to address the growing global health epidemic and escalating medical costs.

Adopting a patient-centered and whole-person-centered approach focused on long-term functional status will also help address the current fragmentation of care and help standardize prevention strategies and lighten the burden supported by healthcare systems. Most doctors specialize in a single disease, age group, body part. But preventive medicine doctors take a holistic approach. This means that they focus on the whole patient and the many factors that play a role in their health. This includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but it also goes further and also looks at the role of family and community.

The World Health Organization defines Health as “ the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being…and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Knowing what Health is to each of us is the first step in achieving it.

So where do we start? We start right we are, wherever we may find ourselves….In our homes, in our offices, in our schools, in our communities, and in our country. We start by seeking out information and learning what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. We start by learning about food and its importance and impact on our individual health. We start by learning about movement and what is healthy, safe and supportive for each one of us as individuals.

And why not learning by offering ourselves a wellness holiday?

Ayurvedic Daily routine helps in maintaining balance and harmony in your body and nature by regulating your biological clock and advocating a healthy lifestyle. It also helps in proper digestion, absorption, and assimilation of food. The discipline that you adopt in daily routine also improves self-esteem, brings happiness and promotes longevity. We are happy to share with you Dinacharya suggestion from Kalari Rasayana, CGH Earth Ayurveda, one of the best Ayurveda Retreats in Kerala.

Dinacharya, planning the day as per principles of Ayurveda

In Ayurveda they say that a good physician is judged not by how many patients he has, but by the number of healthy people there are in his village. In order to maintain the mental and physical health in our body, Ayurveda lays emphasis on following a certain daily routine or regimen which acts as preventive maintenance for the body.

Waking up in the morning:

Ideally one should get up naturally in the morning without any alarm. Practically, the ideal time to wake up is between 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM, subject to the time zone and the condition of your body.

Morning hygiene:

Our body can be considered as a factory, which is working constantly with the supplies coming in, and products are manufactured and delivered, wastes are removed regularly, and the unit is well maintained. All parts work together towards a common goal. In the morning, we need to clean all the orices of the body – anus, urethra, mouth, both eyes, nose and ears.

Going to toilet:

It helps release the majority of toxins collected in our ystem over the night.

Brushing teeth:

Ayurveda recommends using herbal pastes or powders for brushing the teeth as it helps in reducing dental and gum issues. Avoid using sweet and gel pastes.

Cleaning eyes, nose and mouth:

Wash eyes with clean and comfortably cool water. You can also use rose water or triphala water. For the nose, you can practice Jala Neti with saline water.

Exercise:

You can do Surya Namaskar, yoga asanas, aerobics or a physical activity you enjoy as per your convenience. It is advised to stop exercise before you to start to feel fatigue. Exercise improves the vitality and strength of the body.

Massaging:

In order to stimulate the whole body and all the vital pressure points, massage your body with oil regularly if possible, or at the least apply oil on the head, ear lobes, palms and feet. A proper oil application reduces fatigue, nourishes the skin and reduces vata issues. Those who have a hectic schedule during the week can opt to massage on the weekend. You can use sesame oil, olive oil, almond oil etc as per your body and skin type.

Shower:

Only once you have cooled down after completing your exercise, take a shower as per the weather and state of your body.

If you have applied oil on your body, keep it on for 15-30 mins and wash it.

Plan the day after taking a bath:

Prayer or meditation: You can say a prayer or do light meditation before starting your chores for the day.

Food:

Based on your regular practice, eat up to 3 main meal a day. Eat your meals on time, where your heaviest meal is during the day. If you are hungry in between the main meal, you may take a light snack of fruits, vegetables, nuts or fruit / vegetable juices.

Work & life:

Try to allocate the first half of the day for brainstorming and energy-intensive work. After lunch, focus on follow-ups and other routine work. In the evening, the body needs to shift to a shutdown process. To reduce the fatigue of the daywork, one can do a

short breathing exercise like Pranayama, spend time with family or friends, or something  else which feels rewarding. Take a warm shower or tub bath before dinner. A warm shower normally relaxes the body.

Positive thought and deeds:

Stay positive, avoid listening to negative messages, try meditation and Pranayama for clear and positive mind and thought. Do not engage or spread false news. Reflect on the day passed by highlighting positives and lessons learned with the negatives. Never end the day on a negative note. Focus on your inner sense of well-being towards the night.

Sleep:

Go to bed at the earliest if you can. If there is unfinished work, wake up early and finish it after your morning rituals. Never do it in the night, as much as possible. Night sleep is one of the three pillars of our health and it is called the ‘mother of all elements’. The duration of sleep can change from person to person. The recommended duration of sleep is a minimum of 7 hrs.

All these small acts make you feel that you are doing something for yourself, which will lift you physically, mentally and spiritually.

I do not intend to make a simplistic or abstract speech, but also to share my personal experience, what are also my difficulties at the moment. Because like everyone else, I am following the rules of social distancing, paying attention to my health, to that of my loved ones, to the protection of the community in which I live. I am therefore overcoming the first obstacle, for the defense of life, which is the most precious asset we have.

But I am also humanly vulnerable, with the concern of the “afterwards”, when the emergency is over and I will have to deal with rebuilding the work, legitimate concern of many at this moment. My wonderful work wanted with all my strength, in which I put and I’m putting all my energy, passion and all my love.

And then all of a sudden at home, you can no longer travel.

Within two weeks, everything stops, you have the impression that everything collapses and you find yourself realizing how illusory your certainties are.

When things don’t go as we would like, the first human, normal reaction is to try to collect the pieces as quickly as possible to resume the old life. It is part of human nature to avoid emotional obstacles by preferring the slow and steady rhythm of a peaceful life. There is a sort of denial process … It is only for a few days then it passes. But in doing so we lose the precious opportunity of opening up to potential change.

If we are capable of being resilient, we can understand what great opportunity we have right now. The difficulties are like a knife: they cut but also refine and remodel, they allow us to completely reinvent ourselves, to indulge in something bigger. They are windows through which we can glimpse who we really are and what is possible for us.

As we learn to recognize and accept the extraordinary power of change, developing the art of abandonment, we will be rewarded with a natural alignment between body, mind and spirit that already exists within us.

An exceptionally difficult passage that shakes our foundations and makes us doubt the meaning of our existence – represents this type of radical change. It is an opportunity disguised as loss, the ability to connect with our deepest inner essence. Make the real experience of being in the here and now, of living the certainty of the here and now.

When we leave our old world we can feel a deep sense of separation. Our challenge will be to observe our way of life, freeing ourselves from the old habits and beliefs that have fortified our ego so far, but that are no longer needed. And let us start again stronger and centered.

“Taking on a style needs vigilance and a lot of time. It is necessary to be vigilant about oneself and one’s life, to take care of the body, as well as of the inner life, to always exercise responsibility towards the other. Style cannot be episodic, but must become a habitus, a posture “This writes Father Enzo Bianchi, prior of Bose community in Italy, and this means having the ability to concentrate in our own life. Being always aware of our actions and reactions, our positive and negative thoughts, what is happening in our mind and the surrounding environment allows us to understand who we are and what we need to change. The purpose of introspective activity is not only psycho-physical well-being, understood as a form of relaxation detached from everyday life. The aim is not to remain seated for hours in the lotus position to estrange from reality, but to be constantly present in what we do and how we do it, in what we think and in how we think it, to realize what is our reality. Of how we place ourselves in our existence and whether ours is the right way to behave.

The pillars on which traditional yoga rests are, in order of importance, a simple and regular lifestyle, a daily sadhana, the knowledge of ourselves. If we want to evolve, improve ourselves, we must change the way we face the world, change ourselves. Yama and niyama have this purpose: to change in it. There are ten rules of behavior and lifestyle for those who practice yoga, to improve their conduct towards others and themselves. An extremely ancient text speaks of it for the first time, but still today they constitute a fundamental basis for the practice of yoga and for individual spiritual path.

They are rules of behavior, of a social order (non-violence, honesty, sincerity, continence, non-attachment) and moral (cleanliness, willpower, adaptability, introspection, subordination to the will of God). Millions of people today practice yoga … which is mostly Yoga gymnastics. Let’s try to imagine what social revolution would start if all these people started to change their lifestyle, to implement the principles of Yama and Niyama, acting with others and with society in a different way.

At the Prakriti Shakti center in Kerala, for example, you learn the power of self-healing to develop the ability to correct an inappropriate lifestyle by transforming it into a beneficial one. Dedicating to the practice of Yoga and Naturopathy in the most authentic way, the team of doctors and therapists accompanies the mental, physical and spiritual awakening that leads to a deep understanding of the state of health and individual needs. The individual needs are the basis of the evaluation of the Ayurvedic doctors of Sitaram Ayurveda Retreat, a NABH accredited Ayurveda center. In this place of the soul, the perfect combination of traditional Kerala hospitality and the most authentic Ayurveda, it is possible to follow treatments studied with a scientific approach but inspired by nature. The most modern diagnostic methods are thus accompanied by classic Ayurvedic treatments and supportive therapies, such as physiotherapy, yoga and naturopathy with the aim of building full well-being. Objective and not chimera also for Chiva-Som, in Thailand. Actually, in this timeless energy retreat, a real wellness adviser welcomes you, ready to listen and understand your deepest needs, to guide your in a regeneration itinerary entrusted to treatments that lead to the sublime meeting of body and spirit. From here begin the inner rebirth and abandonment of negative practices, such as that of smoking. From Thailand to Spain the step is short if you want to say goodbye to tobacco. Also at the SHA medical SPA, located near the beach of El Albri, in Alfaz del Pi near the picturesque town of Altea, a specific “Anti-Tobacco Program” has been developed,  which in 7 days, using phytotherapy, acupuncture, laser therapy, oxygen therapy, relaxation techniques, but also psychotherapy sessions, massages, yoga, tai chi and nature walks, allows you to quit smoking naturally by reactivating the body’s functions. And good intentions become reality.

The International Pain Study Association defines pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of that damage. Pain is classified into acute, subacute and chronic depending on the onset, duration and intensity. Most pains are chronic in nature and last for more than six months. Most chronic pain is almost constant with occasional exacerbations. The American Chronic Pain Association has classified chronic pain on the quality of life scale between 0-10, where 0 represents the pain that limits the person in bed and 10 is the person who leads a normal life despite the pain. Pain in Ayurveda is defined as shoola or ruja and is said to be caused by Dosha Vata in its pathological state.

Ayurvedic medicine can help in eradicating the causes of pain. Managed diseases: migraine and related headaches, neck pain, back pain, knee pain, fibromyalgia, frozen shoulder, arthritis, low back pain, disc problems, postural pain, trigeminal neuralgia, headache, neuropathic pain etc. Ayurvedic medicines have minimal or no side effects when used correctly and as prescribed. Ayurveda is based on the treatment of the underlying condition and the correction of the pathology where possible. Ayurvedic therapies give proven results and improve the health of the affected part and the general sense of well-being. Ayurvedic pain management techniques and Marma therapies heal the person physically and mentally.

One of the Ayurvedic centers where there is a precise pain treatment protocol is Harivihar in northern Kerala. Harivihar’s integrated chronic pain management program is designed to manage the category of Vedana pains that fall under the 5-10 rating on the American Chronic Pain Association quality of life scale. The program is structured for:

Investigate the reasons for pain through a detailed consultation.

Reduce pain through pain management techniques with internal Ayurvedic medicines and Ayurvedic external pain management techniques such as Lepam, Pichu, Sthanika Vasthy, Bandham, Dhara, Kizhi, Vasthy, and other treatments that will be established according to the individual situation.

Use of manipulation techniques such as traction, marble therapy, acupressure, personalized yoga asanas to improve joint flexibility and reduce muscle stiffness, personalized meditation to relax the mind.

Elimination or mitigation of pain through personalized diet, lifestyle advice, psychological advice.

Follow-up sessions and continuous reviews through direct consultation or online discussions with members of the expert group

Harivihar is a 170 year old royal residence located in Calicut, the northern city of Kerala.

Atmosphere and hospitality play an important role in the recovery process from chronic pain. In Harivihar the experience of care and stay are unique. The welcoming and familiar environment, the constant smile of an attentive and caring staff, the tasty, healthy and simple vegetarian food and the careful supervision of Dr. Srikumar, his experienced team of ayurveda doctors, his wife and son make the therapeutic experience a moment of deep rebirth.

Learn more: HARIVIHAR HERITAGE AYURVEDIC HOME

CGH Kalari Kovilkom and Rasayana

The LifeCo

Being overwhelmed by the urgency to tidy up the pieces of one’s own mosaic is the most human thing to happen in these moments, when ideas get crowded together and the vision of one’s own tomorrow appears impossible to construct as if  the foundation of one’s “home”  no longer existed. And it is exactly from this feeling of emptiness that I have always restarted, from this opportunity to create new bases that I was born again, from the possibility of transforming pain into joy that I have gained strength. There are those who call it resilience and those who, like me, simply life. Every difficult moment allows us to discover an unknown part of ourself that, coming to light, makes us more aware of our uniqueness and the ability to regenerate by placing ourself at the center of our inner circle. A transition that requires patience but above all an authentic desire to evolve. Driving emotions. Flying the journey. There are places that, more than others, create the conditions to find ourself, to dispel the mists and find our own light, only blurred. In Thailand and Bali I lived experiences that allowed an emotional change charged with value, to recover harmony and well-being, to dissolve those inner knots that blocked my gait. Yoga, meditation, calibrated nutrition, but also emotional strengthening programs have allowed me to “embrace” myself, making stress an opportunity for growth and not an obstacle. Because change cannot be stopped.

If “controlling energy” is its essence, “the right practice” is one of its foundations. The effort causes pain and overcoming its own limits can be harmful and prevent from moving with awareness. To achieve balance and space alignment, therefore, gentle and regular movements that allow to accumulate qi (vital energy) are necessary. The Qui gong is precisely this: the art of cultivating Qi, increasing it, strengthening it and refining it, through external and spiritual techniques that have positive effects not only on the body’s organs, but also on the nervous system, the immune system and the cardiovascular system. In the “static” and “dynamic” version, this discipline is also often included in wellness programs that include Taoist exercises and self-massages – useful for improving internal breathing and for strengthening energy – and the practice of Tai chi chuan. As a Taoist metaphor reminds us, “practicing Qi gong without studying tai chi chuan is like wanting to make a powerful machine go without putting gas in it”.

Where Qi Gong can be practiced?

Lands of balance and regeneration, places of peace and wellbeing, spaces where time has a flow unknown to most people and the natural cycles of sun and moon mark the rhythm of the day: Thailand and Vietnam are the ideal scenery to approach the practice of Qi Gong which, born in China, has rapidly spread to countries in the rest of the East. The art of slow movement and the cult of energy control has then crossed the natural boundaries of its origins contaminating cultures apparently distant from the one in which it has its roots, like the European one.

See here My Ideal Traveling programs for Qi Gong

Originally transmitted with religious teaching and practiced in the sacred enclosures of Buddhist temples by monks who were also custodians of the medical knowledge of the time, the Nuad Bo Rarn also becomes an expression of the deep link between sacred teaching, the practice of meditation and a full gesture, inspired by the profound knowledge of the human being in its totality and by inner calm, fundamental principles to allow the maximum interpenetration between body and energy of the assisted. With this ancient technique the physical and energetic bodies enter into a relationship generating a silent dance marked by an internal rhythm that allows the latent energies to be released. Precisely for this reason the Nuad Bo Rarn requires continuous work on the body, on the state of concentration and on the recovery of inner calm.

Where Nuad Bo Rarn is practiced?

It can only be Thailand, the cradle of culture and history, the place of choice for this therapeutic technique that not only gives relaxation and lightness, but also well-being, of body and spirit. Voice of the soul and sound of the heart, the Thai Eden is an oasis of regeneration where traditional medicine marries Buddhist meditation practices and some ancestral practices giving way to long journeys in pleasure entrusted to the hands of those who made the Nuad Bo Rarn a massage ‘art. Art that is also learned in the West, in countries where Ayurveda, Wai-Thai and Thai massages are part of the vocabulary of personal well being.

Click here for our suggestions for a wonderful Thai massage

A Universe in transformation

Five phases (wu xing) describe the universe,  each associated with a season, a color, an organ, functions of the human body and above all an emotion. To represent them graphically is a circular section that connects many elements: the wood, associated with the green color, symbol of the vegetation, of the earth that awakens in spring, Yang season and symbolically corresponding to the liver and gall bladder responsible for the construction of substances and therefore to the growth of the organism; the fire that refers to red and summer, to brightness and heat, an expression of Yang and a voice of the heart and of the pericardium that make the blood circulate giving heat to the organism; the earth corresponding to yellow and at the end of summer, to the Yin polarity, to the stomach and to the spleen-pancreas that assimilate and ruminate what is absorbed; metal, a representation of hardness and fixation, but also of autumn (Yin expressions), white color and lung strength; the maximum water of the Yin, whose dominant color is black, the reference season is winter and is related to the bladder and kidneys. Each phase or movement is not passive but dynamic and carries out a cyclical transformation in which “generation” and “destruction” alternate: each element originates from the previous one and creates the following.

Perfect integration: Western medicine and Chinese medicine

If the Western Medicine is suitable for the solution of immediate problems, the Chinese one is saving to solve chronic diseases, long-term that, in being treated, require a “global” approach, functional to relate heart, mind, body, spirit re-establishing the correct dialogue. Helping in this construction-reconstruction is the use of herbs and the application of acupuncture which, practiced for over 3000 years and recognized by the World Health Organization, is one of the main therapeutic tools of traditional Chinese medicine which it takes up and applies the fundamental concepts – search for the balance between Yin and Yang, meridian theory (channels of energy passage between organs), disease prevention – with the aim of facilitating the circulation of energy in the body through the stimulation of 366 points spread along 12 channels (meridians).

To integrate it are other techniques such as energy diagnostics – a patient examination system that uses as a diagnostic point, wrists, eyes, skin, tongue – Chinese pharmacology, which uses plants, minerals and animals in different ways from that of conventional medicine, the massage that acts on the tendino-muscular, osteo-articular system, meridians and individual acupuncture points and medical gymnastics in which the patient performs slow or vigorous exercises marked by correct breathing. Moxibustion obtained by stimulating the acupuncture points with the heat of an inflamed herbal torch (moxa), cupping (application on the skin of ‘cups’ whose inner air has been heated so the to create a functional negative pressure to lift the skin like a suction cup) and acupressure, on the points of the meridians to be treated.

Where you approach traditional Chinese medicine

To get to know the approaches of Traditional Chinese Medicine, to understand its foundations and philosophy, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia are the places where Yin and Yang find their balance and well-being is art. If traditional medicine meets Buddhist meditation practices in the Thai Eden, giving way to long journeys in pleasure entrusted to the hands of those who have made massage an art and stimulation of the senses a skill, the land of Halong Bay, Phong Nha Ke Bang and Hoi An is a true holistic sanctuary, a source of regeneration from the frenzy and toxicity of everyday life through stimulating programs that begin with the sunrise on Danang beach. Wellbeing and harmony, the primary goals of Chinese Medicine, can be read, however, not only traveling to the East, but also building itineraries that point westward, in countries that believe in the law of Yin & Yang.

To Discover Chinese Traditional Medicine by traveelling with My Ideal Traveling click here

The traditional science of Ayurvedic Panchakarma is the most natural and complete cleanse. It is the ideal method of detoxifying and rejuvenating the body and mind and healing from within.  The first stage is Purvakarma or pre-purification measures. Before purification begins, there is a need to prepare the body with prescribed methods to encourage it to let go of the toxins. The program starts with improving digestion both at the cellular and gastrointestinal level through digestive juice stimulants (dipana), and digestants (pachana). This is followed by Snehapana or consumption of medicated ghee for three to seven days in different doses depending on strength and nature of an individual. In the shorter 14-night program, Sadhyo-snehapana includes 1 or 2 days with fixed dosage of medicated ghee. Next is Snehana which is the application of oil to the entire body with a massage technique that helps toxins move towards the gastrointestinal tract. Alongside there is Svedana or therapeutic sweathng and is given every day following the Snehana. The second stage consists of cleansing Panchakarma processes which includes Vamana -emesis, Virechana – purgation, Basthi – oil and decoction enema and finally Nasya – elimination of toxins through the nasal passage.The third stage is Paschatkarma which focusses on special diets to rest and rejuvenate the cleansed system, along with natural herbal remedies to replenish the digestive enzymes and immune system. Lifestyle changes are prescribed following the Panchakarma, for long lasting benefits.

Panchakarma is a very special Ayurvedic procedure and requires proper guidance from a highly trained and skillful Ayurvedic practioner. There is a heaven, a paradise nestled amidst the mystical beauty of Himalayas, where the Panchakarma program is a life enhancing experience: Ananda in the Himalayas.

At Ananda, Panchakarma is performed under the supervision of  expert Ayurvedic Doctors and customized for each guest with their specific constitution in mind. While the sessions are a broad guideline of inclusions, Ananda’s Panchakarma programme is customized for each individual based on age group, healing conditions, constitution, gender and other factors like digestion, existing toxin levels etc. Hence it is imporant to share a detailed medical history prior to the inception of the programme. Based on this assessment and with a detailed consultation on arrival, a customized program is created by Ananda’s Ayurvedic experts.

From April to September the mild tropical weather amidst verdant Sal forests is ideal for a Panchakarma programme. The perfect timing to enjoy the best offer at this amazing Estate.

Panchakarma program on promotion until September 30.

Contact us for detailed offer!

Life, man, emotions in the sign of fusion

What is life for Ayurveda? Who is the healthy person? What are the aims it pursues? Three simple questions that open up a universe. If life is a continuous relationship – interaction between body, sense organs, mind and soul, the healthy man is the one in which “all the components of the body are in balance and the spirit, the senses and the mind always pleased”. This perfect joint allows to prevent diseases, treat and maintain health and promote longevity through methods that always take into consideration the nature of the single person and his connections with the environment, considered as a harmonious integration between the internal and external world, relationship with the “home” in which we live and bond with Nature. From here, well-being takes shape, a mosaic of correct lifestyle, adequate and personalized nutrition, detoxification, revitalization, sensory cleansing, ecology of the mind, management of stress and emotions.

Where to approach Ayurveda

India and Sri Lanka are the lands of choice of this ancient medicine that has its roots here permeating its culture and defining the existential approach. If India is the land of the Spirit where the soul finds dwelling and the heart the peace, Kerala is the place of election of Ayurveda, the Medicine of God that the ancient sages received during the high meditative states of which nature he became an interpreter and an inspiration. Just the earth, with its indomitable strength and its energy, is the first call to appeal to rediscover inner balance as suggested in Sri Lanka, a small pearl lying in the Indian Ocean that has made its own of the magnificence of the environments track.

To learn more about these two destinations:

INDIA-KERALA    –  SRI LANKA

A well-being revolution that places man at the center, suggests listening and contact and new diagnostic channels, enhances a global vision of the disease so that the answers to treat it can only be the intertwining of body & soul, thought & feeling, mind & heart. A holistic view that, if in the populations of the countries of origin of these medicines is part of the DNA, in the rest of the world it represents a new acquisition, an unexpected “journey” capable of speaking several languages ​​simultaneously and opening new borders. How not to be fascinated? How can we not allow ourselves to regain possession of every personal dimension – physical, emotional, psychological and energetic – to find true existential well-being? How not to try to recover the most intimate dimension of one’s self to generate a new life cycle? Starting from the connection with nature, from the deep connection with the earth and from human contact, traditional medicines become the forerunner of new paths that determine saving blackouts from stress, anxiety and alienation. If finding inner equilibrium is the goal, triggering positive changes in lifestyle functional to disease prevention is the cure, which sees the transformation of the human body into a miniaturized version of the Universe its success. More than simple healing systems, traditional therapies are existential philosophies in which physical, moral, mental and spiritual well-being becomes the framework of happiness, peace, harmony and stability and a brick on which to build the architecture of one’s existence. From here we start and here we return in a circle of continuous regeneration.

SEE THE PROGRAM: THE PATH OF THE BOUDDHA

I underestimated the power of my mind and of the spiritual forces that flood Peru making it one of the earth’s chakras, an energy node, a mystical center, destination of pilgrims and soul seekers. A place of experimentation where direct and unique contact with nature, immersion in “extreme” landscapes, the clear gaze and the welcoming smile of the population define paths of awareness that lead to knowing and overcoming one’s limits. Crossing Peru is like crossing oneself to get to reunite soul and body in a harmonious “one”. A path full of suggestions amplified by the reckless beauty of cities like Cuzco and totalizing landscapes such as those that lead to Matchu Picchu, the fascination of Andean culture, the mysticism of tribal rituals and native ceremonies, moments of meditation and yoga in the Sacred Valley.

A journey deep within that restores mind and body, an exploration of one’s own spirituality through shamanic knowledge, the connection with the earth and its most energetic elements. The Inca mini trek tested in Peru is a “full” and “vital” experience in which the size of the holiday naturally gives way to the path of rebirth.

Among the Andes I understood that everything can be achieved when the clear eyes and light heart are the guides, strength of spirit and tenacity mark the way and self-awareness defines the path.

In my personal story there is a before and after Bali, because it is in this place of the soul where I have matured the change, let the thoughts flow and flow the energy to light my intentions and realize them in actions. At Pranaveda, ayurvedic and holistic retreat in the north of the island, practicing yoga and meditation, I learned not only to get in touch with my deeper self, but above all to maximize my physical and mental strength, to recognize what concretely improve the quality of my existence.

In this haven of peace I felt the flow of life going through my body and I regenerate making myself aware of my power. Immersed in nature I let myself be guided by the river of energy that passed through me giving me feelings of completeness and well-being that only love for oneself, for others, for the world around us can give. What was supposed to be a wellness holiday in Bali, an explorative step in my paths of discovery of places and detox, yoga, Ayurvedic retreats, has thus transformed into an experience of rebirth, enhancement and motivation.

Cradled and protected, led by teachers of yoga and meditation, I learned how to reduce the motion of beta brain waves, due to the constant background buzz that accompanied my days, to the benefit of the alpha, natural viaticum of thought towards deeper states. Bali was a journey of inner healing, a pit stop in my evolution, a watershed in my life: here I found the incentive to draw the future I wanted, strong of the peace of mind I reached, of the feeling of rejuvenation of body and spirit , of the holistic itinerary undertaken. Here I re-learned to listen to myself, I regained clarity, I followed what body, mind and spirit showed me as a way to happiness. My Ideal Traveling was born on my return from a holistic resort that represented my first, real, new “home”.