SWASWARA GOKARNA update June2012

Like the shot?

Lovely to return to Swaswara again. I was there recently as part of the Faculty for SHARANs Reversal of Disease programme for 21 days taking care of the Meditation for healing and stress. A mind blowing programme that saw people reduce/eliminate many years of medication.




YOU CAN TELL I LOVE THEIR BLUE DOME!

Lovely pool

Swaswara is the one of the few 5 star properties I know in India, that is seriously dedicated to Wellness as a destination spa. They have a strong Yoga offering, a strong Ayurvedic component and now Chef Joy has learnt a  lot of healthy and nourishing vegan oil free, sugar free, cooking! Super, they dont compromise their philosophy at all for the sake of commercialisation.

Blue Dome the Yoga Hall

The rooms here are all Konkan style villas very spacious and luxurious with an outdoor space for your lounge. The bedrooms are cleverly protected from heat, rain and damp with air conditioning. I was welcomed to my suite by a little frog, cricket and grasshopper. So cute. I grew to really love them while I was there.

Vinod and Krishna, Yoga teachers

We did lots of Yoga taught by Krishna and Vinod. Ever heard of the Durga Namaskar? Enhancing the feminine principle, and also specially designed to keep the feminine organs healthy and functioning.
We also did Chakra balancing through Beej mantras and seven different Mudras. Lovely stuff.

Beetroot and cucumber parcels with mango coulis

Chef Mala cooked up a vegan pizza!

Soumya and Jincey Ayurveda Therapists and their prayer below

The Ayurveda Spa here is spacious and very well maintained. As you enter, the doctor and his wife are there to consult with you and give you a fairly lengthy questionnaire to fill up. From the information given,  I was diagnosed as vata/pitta, which was no surprise to me. I opted for one 20 minute concentration on the meridians of the hands (due to some lesions forming from using the computer too much!), another 20 minute treatment for my calf muscles, and two Abhyanga treatments.  

Abhyanga is a basic treatment that is recommended on a daily basis. Usually two pairs of hands work in synch with very defined circular and long strokes. Hot medicated oil is used for the massage which is not very deep. Abhyanga is said to be nourishing, to pacify the doshas, relieve fatigue, provide stamina , enhance sleep and leave you with glowing skin!

Jincy and Soumya, my therapists, started with a prayer to Lord Dhanwantari, the God of Health and to all the Vaidyas (ie the learned men). Sweet voices that will always remind me of the coconut trees, the backwaters, the smell of the oils, the humidity of Kerala etc. Dual therapists are always a bit tricky as their hands need to be well synchronised. With a little feedback from me they got it right and excelled in the hour long oily treatment. 

My favourite part of the treatment is the circular feather touch chakra they make on the stomach to end the session. I also love to shower off afterwards in the open air baths, with the channa dal paste to remove the oil from the body! HMMMM! I love Ayurveda!

A treatment room

Mini and  her team

Congratulations Mini in evolving Swaswara   into a flourishing wellness destination!

I liked this inscription placed on their Meditation Hill overlooking the famous OM Beach!