Om Namah Shivaya

We continued on the path of releasing toxins from the channels and tissues of the body/mind this week. There were days when each of felt tired or low energy as the process unfolded. At other times, however, we will filled with abundant grace and energy. The Ayurvedic doctor told us at the beginning that we would go through swings of energy and emotional releases. We have been able to watch the mind go through its usual gymnastics as well. The thing that helps us the most is we retire early in the evening. Usually we are asleep by 8-9pm and arise between 4-5am to do our individual spiritual practices. This is the key to maintaining balance along the way. Without the spiritual opening the cleanse is just like any other western style cleansing program which only works at the physical level. Ayurveda requires that we go deeper into consciousness which is where all dis-ease in the body/mind originates.

The male practitioners who are performing the therapies on us have prepared themselves spiritual for thie program. They begin each treatments with prayers, chanting and a puja. This sets the whole mood for our opening to the healing center that is within each of us.

This week included three days of receiving the massage with warm bolluses of grains, medicinal leaves and herbs soaked in herbal oils. It was followed by Kadi Vasti which involves making a donut of various grains placed on the vertebrae at the spot of our pain, tension or blockage of energy. The Vasti is filled with hot herbal oil for 30 minutes. After this we sometimes sat in the steam cabinet but not everyday. I also was given Karna Purana or warm medicinal oil in the ears and Nasya which is the herbal oil in the nasal passages for cleansing the head and sinuses. There is a Five Sense Therapy which the doctor offers including these two plus treatments for mouth, skin and eyes. The next three days we received massage, shirodhara and steam. It was glorious and seemed to get better each time they worked on me. Some times it actually felt ecstatic when they were massaging certain places like the scalp, feet, the back of my legs and my low back.

Today we had a day of rest from therapy. We still had a type of therapy by traveling to a city in the hills near our city. It was originally established as a hill camp by the British soldiers in 1827. It was so beautiful there because it overlooks the higher Himalayas that a city was built. We found a Tibetan village there called Happy Valley. The temple had been visited by the Dali Lama. We were both overwhelmed with the beauty and energy of the temple and stupa. For lunch we discovered a little Tibetan restaurant that served unbelievable food including momos, noodles, fried rice and chai tea. It was a wonderful way for us to spend our day off.

We have only four more days of PK with more Kadi Vasti for me and the Netra Vasti for the eyes. Of course, we receive more massage with the herbal bolluses, and steam. Will erport to everyone one more time before leaving India on Nov 30th.

OM Shanti
Vijaya