Sylvia's Journal

About 6 kilometers from where my friends live, beyond the outskirts of Pune, is the Tanman Ayurvedic research center, associated with the International Academy of Ayurveda. That was the last item on my ‘checking the boxes’ list – an Ayurvedic massage; not just one, the Tanman massage but also the Shirodara, where a copper container with hot oil angles over your head and drips the hot oil on your forehead. It advertises as a stress and tension reducer, which it did so well I fell asleep. 

All slippery and oily I was led to a steam box where I nearly fell asleep again. My therapist (Chief Therapist said her name tag) was Blessy, a young woman whose husband I later met and who was also a Chief Therapist.

For the final moments of the ‘treatment’ that I had signed up for, I felt like a queen with a personal attendant. She helped me as if I was too old to do things for myself – I could have taken it as an insult but I loved it. She walked me across the slippery floor, soaped and then rinsed my body under the shower, washed my hair, toweled it dry, combed it and helped me put on my clothes. At the end she planted a kiss on my chin and embraced me tenderly. 

There are people in residence here, living in small cottages. There is also a restaurant that is open at all times for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I heard one woman ask when it was lunch time. The junior doctor, who had checked my tongue, my weight and my blood pressure, told her, ‘when you are hungry.’

Currently there are two American women and two Spaniards in residence for treatments. These can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. After an initial consultation (done by email for non residents), the senior doctor(s) make a preliminary diagnosis, draw up a treatment plan and indicate how long it will take. That’s when you buy your plane ticket. Once you are here a physical exam will finalize the treatment plan and confirm the length of the required stay. You might decide to change your return date at that point.

The center has an organic farm, lots of cows (a particular breed important from Rajastan – Tharparkar Desi cows), yoga in the morning and evening, a number of senior and junior ayurvedic doctors who are available for consultation and all sorts of treatments for all sorts of ailments.  

There is a treatment of 7-15 days for arthritis I would be interested in (ankle, heel, knees, finger joints). The length depends on the source of arthritis. It could be related to osteoporosis (a longer treatment) or to toxins in your body (less time), or other causes. We are all uniquely configured and uniquely responding to what we eat, our habits, our sleep, our environment and our digestion (agni).

In between treatments, yoga, meditation, walks and meals you can take Ayurvedic cooking lessons, learn about herbal medicine, buy Ayrvedic products. And, if you are tired of peace and calm, get a cab into Pune for coffee, alcohol, processed food and polluted air.

I can think of some people who could benefit from a week here.