Ayurveda is the divine science of life. Our hands should be clean when treating a patient. Everyday we pray to Dhanvantari, the God of Ayurveda, to give us blessings for the treatment of the patient. God should give us the strength to heal. Sometimes we can’t cure every patient, but it’s important to keep the mistake out of our hands. This is the only thing I pray to God for as a doctor. ”
THE WORLD’S FIRST AYURVEDA TOURIST RESORT
“Mythology says that ‘Soma’ is extracted from a plant called ‘somaltha’, drink of Gods that gives you eternity, and ‘theeram’ is the word for shore in Malayalam. The name Somatheeram means a place (or shore) where you will get long life.
This name was given to resort by Mr. Baby Mathew, founder and director of Somatheeram Ayurveda Group. Somatheeram, his first ayurveda project started in 1988 and Manaltheeram in 1990. Both resorts are offering the same ayurveda treatment programmes and services. The only difference is the location. Somatheeram is situated on the top of the cliff and have beautiful view on the bay. Manaltheeram is almost touching the Chowara beach.”
Built with eco-friendly materials, the lodging facilities are designed to merge elegantly with the vibes of Manaltheeram. Properly ventilated to allow natural air flow, the cottages, Kerala Houses as well as the ordinary rooms are built in a classy style to suit Manaltheeram. Most rooms have beautiful gardens in the front and provide an excellent view of the sea which would make one to stay on for longer and to visit this enchanting place again and again to sale.
AYURVEDA IN MANALTHEERAM
Ayurveda treatments at Manaltheeram include therapies, yoga and exercises, proper diet and herbal medicine, all put together in a disciplined and conventional manner for the individual to suit their specific needs and desires. Your Ayurveda treatment program is supervised by experienced and qualified practitioners who will advise you on how to get the most out of your stay at Manaltheeram.
Ayurveda therapies at Manaltheeram are prescribed by experienced Ayurveda doctors in accordance with the condition and body constitution of the patient. Well-trained therapists execute the treatments with perfection and care. The common body care therapies in our list include rejuvenation, slimming, stress management, body immunisation, body purification and others so each body type or concern can be accommodated. Treatments for arthritis, paralysis, nervous disorders, mental tensions, fibromyalgia, psoriasis, allergic disease and obesity are also carried out here.
The medicines used for treatment are specially prepared either at Manaltheeram or Somatheeram using herbs and plants grown on the sites but always to guidelines set out by our medical licence. Adhering to a healthy diet is essential for the Ayurveda treatment to be effective. Manaltheeram gives the inhabitants the choice of around 250 different vegetarian dishes and a variety of salads and fruit juices to select. Yoga and meditation, a key part of Ayurveda, can be learned and practiced at Manaltheeram. The breathing exercises and the different yoga postures help to pacify the mind and soul, achieving balance the necessary to prevent illness.
The medicines used for treatment are specially prepared either at Manaltheeram or Somatheeram using herbs and plants grown on the sites but always to guidelines set out by our medical licence. Adhering to a healthy diet is essential for the Ayurveda treatment to be effective. Manaltheeram gives the inhabitants the choice of around 250 different vegetarian dishes and a variety of salads and fruit juices to select. Yoga and meditation, a key part of Ayurveda, can be learned and practiced at Manaltheeram. The breathing exercises and the different yoga postures help to pacify the mind and soul, achieving balance the necessary to prevent illness. Manaltheeram takes great care to meet the high standards expected of it. A (an Ayurveda-holiday) health holiday at Manaltheeram is sure to give a healthy body, a content mind and an enlightened soul. Charaka Samhitha (Treatise on Medicine), Susrutha Samhitha (Treatise on Surgery) and Ashtangasamgraha (Treatise on the basic principles) are considered to be the three major treatises in Ayurveda. Other treatises written between 9th and 16th century AD include Sharangadhara Samhita (Treatise on Ayurvedic Recipes), Bhavaprakasha (History and classifications) and Madhava Nidana (Treatise on Diagnosis). Ayurveda advocates that every living and non-living being has five basic elements (Pancha Maha Bhoothas) within them namely earth, water, fire, air and ether which manifest itself in the human body as Vatha, Pitha and Kabha (or the Tridoshas). Air and ether form the Vatha principle, fire the Pitha principle and earth and water the Kapha principle. Every human being has his Prakruti (constitutional nature) determined by the dominance of bodily bio-elements Vatha, Pitha or Kabha or their combinations. Harmony in Prakruthi indicates good health. The cause of a disease is diagnosed and treatment prescribed by monitoring the Tridoshas, Dhatus (that which supports the body functions), Malas (the metabolic bi-products formed in the body), Agni (which is responsible for metabolism) and the Prakruti of the patient. The outcome of an Ayurveda treatment is ideal health, a relaxed mind and rejuvenated body which is achieved by gaining balance in the Prakruti
There are seven Prakrutis or constitutional types:
- Vata type
- Pitta type
- Kapha type
- Vata-Pitta-Kapha type
- Vata-Pitta type
- Vata-Kapha type
- Pitta-Kapha type
Vata Principles
Vata is considered the primary dosha as it governs all other dosha.
- What are the attributes?
Dry, bright, cold, rough, subtle and minute, moving. - How it functions?
To control movement, breathing, natural urges, tissue transformation, motor functions, sensory functions, controls secretions and excretions, fear, impulses and anxiety. - Which parts of the body are affected if dosha is out of balance?
Large intestine (mainly affected), pelvic region, thighs, ears, bones, skin.
Pitha Principle
- What are the attributes?
Slightly oily, penetrating, hot, light, unpleasant odour, spreading nature, liquid form - How it functions?
To facilitate metabolism and hormonal functioning, regulate body heat and temperature, ais digestion, understanding, intelligence, hunger and thirst, perception, color and complexion, control anger, hate, jealousy - Which parts of the body are affected of the dosha is out of balance?
Navel (main site), stomach and upper part of small intestine, sweat, lymph, blood, eye, skin.
Kapha Principle
- What its attributes are?
Oily, cold, heavy, slow action, slimy, soft, stable - How it functions?
Gives stability and energy to the body and helps in development, lubricates, increase enthusiasm, sexual urges, forgiveness, immune resistant, attachment, holding, possessiveness, greed, accumulation, knowledge. - Which parts of the body are affected of the dosha is out of balance?
Chest (major area), throat, head, trachea, joints, stomach, lymph, fat tissue, nose and tongue
Wellness, The New Leisure
Once found Manaltheeram Ayurveda Beach village is a destination that will end your search for the perfect authentic Ayurveda experience. This beach-side village retreat has tailor-made, traditional Ayurveda treatments along with all you need to care for your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional wellbeing. Located in Chowara, Kovalam near Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, Manaltheeram is as good a synonym for classic Ayurveda treatments as its sister concern, the acclaimed Somatheeram Ayurveda Village. People of diverse nationalities and cultures come together to share the glory of an ancient wisdom – Ayurveda, Yoga & Meditation. This eco-friendly resort has earned a stunning international reputation for maximizing its efforts to nurture the health of humanity, maintain social responsibility and commitment towards nature. Feel the heavenly waves, meditate, enjoy holistic wellness and take home a better you.
Rejuvenation therapy (Rasayana Chikilsa)
Rasayana Chikilsa or Rejuvenation therapy has its methodology taken from ancient Sanskrit palm-leaf manuscripts. This treatment includes body massage with medicated oil and cream by two masseurs using hand and foot, internal rejuvenation medicines and medicated steam bath. This therapy is for 90 minutes to 2 hours per day for 7 to 14 days. This therapy is to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul, to tone up the skin, and to strengthen all systems so as to achieve ideal health and longevity.
Duration: 7-14 days
Body purification therapy (Shodhana Chikilsa)
Shodhana Chikitsa (Body Purification Therapy) helps flush toxins out of the body. It brings tri-doshas (Vatha, Pitha and Kapha) under control and into balance, improves health and encourages longevity. The treatment mainly involves Panchakarma and Swedanakarma to drive toxins from the body. The therapy is accompanied with Body Massage, Snehapanam (medicated ghee eaten on empty stomach), Nasyam (Medicated oil given through the nose), Virechanam (medicated purgative). Snehavasthi (oil enema), Dhara (warm oil application on forehead), Pizhichil (heat treatment), NjavaraKizhi (massage with medicated bolus bag), KarnaPooranam (ear cleaning), Tharpanam (eye cleaning), Siro Vasti (oil application to head). Plus internal herbal medicine, offering a head to toe detoxification.
Duration : 15 days
Slimming Programme
Slimming is not just weight loss; it is about toning your body and attaining a body type that you are comfortable in. This treatment deals with a healthy way of cutting down unwanted fat from the body, which may be due to genetic factors or unhealthy lifestyle that we are prone to in the modern world. Ayursoma offers this natural weight loss programme which uses medicated herbal powder massage, herbal oil massage, intake of herbal juices and tea and customised diet. In the process you attain your desired body type and renewed mind and soul.
Duration: 14, 21 or 28 nights.
Stress Management Programme
Ayursoma’s Stress management programme focuses on relieving you from the exasperations and demands of the modern world. Stress is caused by the imbalance of 3 mental functions: Dhi (learning), Dhriti(retention), Smriti (memory) and lack of Ojas or energy of the body. This therapy re-establishes this balance using a combination of Ayurvedic treatments, yoga and meditation programs. It also includes rejuvenation massage and therapy, dhara, njavarkizhi, thalam, herbal steam bath, herbal pack, intake of herbal medicines, etc.
Duration: 14 or 21 Days
Beauty Care Programme
Beauty care in Ayurveda focuses on external beauty by enhancing overall well being of body, mind and soul. At Ayursoma, you will experience a combined programme of beautifying treatments for skin, as well as yoga and meditation. All natural products like herbal face pack, herbal cream massage, massage with special oils, fruit juices, herbal juices, body pack, head pack, steam bath or herbal bath are included in the therapy. Massage is used for better circulation of vital fluids which nourishes and tones the skin.
Duration: 14 & 21 Days
Ayurveda anti ageing programme
At one point or another, every human has to confront the reality of aging in their lives. Tame it before it takes control of you, tame it. Ayurveda prescribes several treatments to stay young. Aging process in human body starts with changes in skin. Ayurveda has an effective system to repair cells and tissues of the body for body and for the mind and soul to be at harmony. The wear and tear of the body due to ageing process is repaired and the vital energy called ‘ojas’ is improved through proper purification. Finally, strength and vitality are increased through ‘Rasayana’ intake for an all round therapy to target aging.
Duration: 22 days
Yoga
Yoga and Ayurveda are two sides of the same coin – the path to mental and physical well-being through a long and healthy life, to achieve this one must harness the healing power of both Ayurveda and Yoga, along with meditation. We at Manaltheeram embrace this to the full striving to offer our customers the best preventive health care in the world and a way to peace and lasting happiness, this is well known and has seen us receiving visitors from far and wide. Through Ayurveda, Yoga & Meditation these visitors gain what they are seeking, an escape from the stress of work and busy lives and entry into the calm, balanced inner peace these ancient therapies reveal. The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’ meaning ‘to join’, ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’. The practice of yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with universal consciousness leading to an enhanced sense of self awareness. Essentially a spiritual discipline, yoga is based on an extremely subtle science which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. It is an art but uses science to achieve healthy living, adopted by many who will strongly advocate its benefits
Manaltheeram
The most important and most famous purveyor of yoga was the great Sage Patanjali, the author of the treatise ‘Yoga Sutras’. He may have been the first to record the yoga principles, which have since been passed orally from generation to generation over many years.
Yoga is perhaps world’s first system to recognize the interconnection and interaction between body and mind along with the healing power that this union has. The main purpose of yoga is to isolate the mind of all thoughts, worries and fears, and to increase the strength and flexibility of the body. This is achieved through physical poses, breathing techniques and meditation, these can be altered to tailor techniques to the different body types ensuring effective treatment for all. Regular practice of yoga can help keep stress and tension at bay and facilitate the mind to a state of well-being and peace. Along with the healing effects benefits include better sleep patterns, relief from fatigue, clearer skin complexion and a youthful vitality.
Ayurveda and Yoga are science sisters. While Ayurveda is mainly concerned with the health of the body and the mind, Yoga also deals with mental health issues as users focus more on self-awareness and the immediate needs of the body. Yoga exercises help with their preventive and curative effect to bring the neurohormones and the metabolism of the body in a natural order and balance and improve endocrine metabolism. This practice gives relief from stress and stress-related disorders in a natural way and with lasting effect. All roads for physical well-being, mental peace, harmony and moral elevation meet in Yoga. The art of living a healthy and contented life, it is among the six systems of Indian philosophical thought. Mastering Yoga demands a steady graph of perseverance, persistence, dedication and total surrender from the person seeking it. See what Patanjali says in ‘Yoga Sutras’ about the eight-fold path for liberation from pain and suffering. He indicates that yoga is not simply an exercise but should be a way of life which is revealed by the eight paths or more clearly described limbs as they intertwine as the branches of a tree or weave through all facets of your life.
Yama (five restraints)
Is concerned with social behavior and how you treat those around you, the moral principles are as follows:
Ahimsa (non-violence); Do not harm in thought or deed
Satya (truthfulness); Tell no lies
Asteya (non-covetousness); Do not steal
Brahmacharya (non-sensuality); Don’t be self absorbed (celibacy is not required)
Aparigraha (non-possessiveness); Don’t be greedy
Manaltheeram
Niyama (five observances)
Is concerned with how you treat yourself
Shaucha (Purity); by following the five yamas, keeping clean, treat your body as a temple
Santosha (Contentment); be happy with what you have, cultivate contentment and happiness
Tapas (Austerity); restrain your body, speech and mind, direct them to higher spiritual aims
Svadhyaya (Self-study); of the ancient texts of relevance to you
Ishvarapranidhana (Surrender to God); be devoted to whatever you hold as divine
These plus a further two elements offer control over the physical body
Asana (Discipline of the physical body or posture)
Pranayama (Control over bio energy through respiratory action – breathing)
Known as external or Hath Yoga these elements must first be mastered before moving onto internal or Raja Yoga simply because the average person is unlikely to be able to accomplish Raja Yoga without having skills in Hath Yoga. Raja Yoga includes:
Pratyahara (Withdrawal of the senses inwards through abstraction or meditation)
Dharna (Concentration – focus on one point or image)
Dhyana (Meditation – leading to heightened awareness)
The goal of the eightfold paths is Samadhi (Self-realisation), this is a state of absolute bliss where you and the universe are as one. This enlightment once attained can last forever.
Take a look at a few poses or Asanas.
Bhujangasana- Cobra Pose
Dhanurasana- Bow Pose
Padmasana- Lotus Pose
Sarvangasana- Shoulder Stand
Savasana- Corpse Pose
Sirsasana- Head stand
Vajrasana-Thunderbolt Pose
Yoga Do’s and Don’ts
Start practicing Yoga under the guidance of an expert.
Keep the instructor informed about any medical condition you have.
Do not try hard on the workouts to cause injuries.
Set a pace you are comfortable with.
Never perform Yoga immediately after food.
Always practice yoga in a peaceful surrounding with plenty of fresh air
MEDITATION
Meditation is a practice where by focusing the mind a high concentration level is achieved which calms and clears the thoughts and takes one into the inner depths of the mind, achieving a state of true enlightenment. The road to enlightment consists of three phases – dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (enlightenment). Dhyana can be reached by fixing attention for a long time to any particular cause. Prolonged meditation eventually leads to Samadhi or enlightenment but takes practice and guidance to achieve, for this you need the wisdom and experience of a meditation guru. At Manaltheeram, yoga and meditation are taught by highly experienced guru’s who have honed the art of meditation and are ready to pass on their knowledge to interested individuals.
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