The Real Ayurveda

Our first few days together were busy, busy, busy, what with climbing up mountains, fishing with the Chinese nets, and shopping like there’d be no tomorrow; so we decided to have a restful Wednesday. That way, we were able to catch our breath a bit, while reflecting on the incredible experiences we’d already had. And, as a small treat for our weary bodies, we set aside some time to get a real Ayurvedic treatment.

Ayurveda is India’s “science of well-being,” and Kerala has long been considered the home of this wonderful, exotic science. Ayurveda is meant to work on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and it is known for its powers of rejuvenation. There are several forms of Ayurvedic treatments, but the most common is the massage.

I’d had one of these oily massages in October, when the volunteers visited Thekkady, but that massage happened in a small hut on the side of the road. This one happened in a real Ayurvedic hospital, and, although the Thekkady massage made for a great story, this one actually made for a great time. For a full hour, two women – one on each side of me – massaged my tired body with the most wonderfully warm oil. In separate rooms somewhere else in the hospital, Mom and Dad were receiving the same awesome treatment.

When it was over, oil was practically dripping from me, but I was given shampoo, soap, and a warm bucket of water with which to take a bath. I took my time with that bath, fully aware that this was probably the last hot “bath” I’d bet getting in a long time. When I was finally finished, I met my parents in the waiting room, and the first words spoken were out of Mom’s mouth: “Is there time in our schedule to do this again before we go home?” We have a pretty packed itinerary, so I just smiled and said, “Well, if not, you’ll just have to come back, won’t you?”