Day 6 of Treatment: "The Mother of all massages"

A new day, a new treatment.  Today we start with the Abhyangam massage plus I have the Kizhi pouch treatment.  Again I stress, the Abhyangam is not as painful an experience for everyone as it is for me.  And Ramesh assures me that no other people react the way I do to this massage with body pain all over (not one of the occasions where I like to be “different”).  Regardless, as he says, if he gave me a regular massage, then my body would not benefit. NO GUTS NO GLORY.

Felt privileged to have been invited to my 12 year old daughter-in-law Feby’s school Award ceremony and performance night.  She received more awards than anyone else.  Most awards were a silver multi-purpose tin – functional and cherished.

So the Abhyangam is known as “the mother of all massages” and is the principal healing tool of Ayurveda treatment.

Feby and her proud parents Judit and Freddy

The description is: “It is a whole body massage given with herbal oils customised to your body type to detoxify, nourish and revitalise the body tissues. It nourishes layers of the skin to relieve fatigue and stress and release accumulated toxins in body tissue, it is given to help the body expel toxins from the body as quickly as possible.

Abhyangam has much deeper and more far reaching effects than ordinary massage by using mineral oils and lotions. Abhyangam achieves the deepest healing effects by naturally harmonizing the Mind, Body and Spirit.  This massage is one of the most rejuvenating treatments of Ayurveda which enhances the complexion and lustre of the skin to provide nourishment and stamina to all part of the body.

Fascinating skit by boys on alcoholism and how it effects the family. Wow, it doesn't get any realer than that.

Benefits : Increases tissue strength, improves blood circulation, rejuvenates the whole body, removes cellulite, beautifies the skin, anti-aging, helps sleep better, relieves stress and tension headaches, relaxes muscles, improves flexibility, lubricates joints, improves posture, lowers blood pressure, helps manage pain, helps with depression, improves breathing, promotes vitality, strengthens immune system, reduces Vata imbalance.

And I can feel it doing all these things.  The oil has a deep rich caramelised smell and plenty is used.  Though not as much as I recall my previous therapist used 5 years ago – man he had me bathing in it during massage, but this feels luxurious and not overly oily.  The oil is getting in to your skin is part of the key.

That's Feby in the middle in pink dress - also a great dancer

The knot behind my right shoulder I think has become a personal mission of Ramesh’s to remove.  He gets stuck into it “hammer and tongs”.   He says he gets them from working hard during treatments, but his goes very easily and quickly with massage – mine has had some top professional have a stab at it for 28 years with no change.  When we got to the shoulder blade I asked if my “old friend” was still there, and yes it’s hanging in there.  But he is adamant it will be gone soon. I believe him and trust.

That’s been a comment of many people I’ve seen how I have the stamina to keep going, to keep searching, to keep trying new treatments with the hope I would get help.  I felt that I always had no choice.  Being constantly spasaming and partially paralysed is no way to live.

The cycle of spasming and improving became a way of life, but also leaves me on high alert always to be holding my body in case I moved it in an unusual way and kick off a spasm.  I would sit at a work desk with heat packs, rubbing in lotions and popping pills.

Young boys front & centre loving it.  So did mine he had a ball.

A “kids” cartoon once cracked me up as the marsupial tried to convince his buddy to come exercise, and he said “do muscle spasms count” – oh it still cracks me up – an “inside” joke I think.

The big, big major difference for my body now though is how it reacts post-Ramesh’s deep, persuasive massage – the reaction is all positive.

This is a profound difference for me.  I remember my muscles going into hard spasms for days and becoming hot and inflamed from ANY treatment in the past.  During my Hydro-Therapy days, the therapist asked if I “should be having this treatment”.   I mostly look like nothing is wrong with me and moved through the water easily.  However, post-class my body would go into spasms for days and no Doctor could work out why.

It was a packed hall - and so hot, who needs a Sweda sweat treatment.

It became a mystery and my journey to find out why treatments would always just make me inflamed for a few days – physiotherapy, chiropractor, Feldenkris, massage of all kinds, acupuncture, Chinese treatment, herbalists, and the list goes on.

But with Ayurveda it doesn’t happen.  I guess it’s because they are treating me both internally and externally.  So even though I scrunch up and wince and yelp in pain during the hard, muscle penetrating massage, it’s when his hands move away that I feel instant relief AND I don’t go into spasms soon after. (Well I did once in my shoulder the other day but that lasted about 5 minutes – 5 whole minutes is all – wow and wow).

Ramesh says "pain is good".  I’m not sure about his philosophy or if it’s lost in translation but I know body pain’s reason and its power.  And the message behind it is to pay attention.  I have my body pain to thank for leading me in this life direction.

They sang "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" in Malayalam

Firstly, to have been able to experience the miracle of motherhood – my thanks will never cover it.  And also now that it is a way of life.   Well the beginnings anyway, I still have to see an Ayurveda dietician to learn more about my Dosha type and the foods that are good and what to avoid.  I know it on paper, but I want to commit to memory.  I want to make it a habit.

I’m asking around to find an Ayurveda physician who specialises in diet and have some contacts to follow up which is exciting.  Also my plan is to do some Ayurvedic vegetarian cooking classes while I’m here to I can teach and pass on at home.  This will work well with my studies in Nutrition planned for this year.  More on Dosha types, food and diet to come.

Sweetest little dancers - you can see how hard they worked on learning their choreography was lovely.

Young girls with beautiful matching sari's and gold jewellery

This dance was to the fastest modern funky music Ive ever heard - the girls worked it

Lovely voice from a courageous young girl

These boys were as fascinated by us as we were by them.

Day 5 of Treatment: End of Udvartana and Steam

PHOTOS: After treatment we go “into town” by local bus.  The biggest town in the State is Trivandrum and its about 20 mins by car and 30+ mins by bone crunching rickshaw or local bus.  Today we thought we’d go by bus and Ive taken some photos of the journey and bus interior. My son has had his hair oiled as well, which is the custom here.  I don’t think it looks that crash hot, and really I think its divine on Indians but probably no-one else.  Having said that it’s the secret to their lovely lustrous locks. 

Today was the last day of Udvartana weight loss massage and the Steam (I was having the Abhyangam massage in the middle so treatment was for about 2 hours).  Its kinda  crazy that when you explain to someone you can have 2 hours of treatment, to most it would seem heavenly, but for me with this body pain, I thought it was kind of like incubating a baby for 9 months – when someone said to me, oh yeah you get to the end of 9 months and you are so over carrying a child in your body and just want to have it already …….

That's the bus shuddering, not my camera hahah

Well it’s kind of like that for me – I just want to have no pain during my massage and have it be done with thank you very much.    At last the Udvartana was really relaxing and I’ve grown to love it.  The Abhyangam massage again is not easy for me – but miracle of miracles there are bits of me that when massaged, just don’t hurt anymore.

Most importantly, my feet don’t hurt.  I was once told that pretty much everyone’s feet will hurt with strong massage and when I came here I could barely touch my own feet from them being sensitive and agony to touch.

I even avoided going for a pedicure for fear of giving the lovely ladies a kick in the face when they touch my feet - here would you like me to paint your toenails – boot!!  Anyway its true they hurt that much and today its heaven, it’s amazing, how is that possible when yesterday I screwed my face up, clenching teeth in agony, and today its lovely and relaxing and a joy.

It is actually heaps of fun

I feel so boosted with positivity and hope and relief.  My neck did some spasming which was more annoying than worrying as I feel I couldn’t be in better hands to have this happen and then the next day to have it fixed.

I think I brought it on myself while sitting in a silly position while working on the internet.  The body is amazing when you choose to listen to it; it’s telling you the path, the right way, and the wrong way.

A previous client said she thought I was lucky that my body was so sensitive.  I am quite in tune with my aches and pains, and now that I think about it, it’s kept me on the straight and narrow so to speak.  I remember when I was younger I tried out a wild and crazy lifestyle living it large (lots and lots of times), but my body always, always had the last word and kept me inline.

 I’ve also become quite accustomed to sitting in the Sweda sweat cupboard and still think it’s quite hilarious, especially when I saw the photos of my silly read head.  And then to share them online is really quite insane.

Tomorrow I change my treatment to start with Abhyangam massage and finish with Kizhi pouch treatment.  

From memory of my last treatment I loved the Kizhi pouch.  I remember thinking it was a pretty wacky treatment to thump my body with a pouch of medicated herbs that’s been dipped in heated medicated oil.  And like many things, being a bit sceptical that something like this could have an impact on my aching stiff body.  I recall though that at the end of the Kizhi phase of my treatment that I had felt a breakthrough with the pain.

I’m excited.  A breakthrough it just what I need.

In-case you cant see, the traffic appears to come at you from all directions.  They are not big fans of staying on the "right" side of the road.  And the horn is simply for communication, to say, I'm here, get out of my way.  The sound is as chaotic as the traffic but it works, and you get strangely unaffected by it after a while.

Gorgeous fabric for little girls dresses

Dresses and temples, temples and dresses

Day 4 of Treatment (& funny steam photos)

Well I take it all back about the knot behind my right shoulder blade – it’s definitely not gone and when Ramesh got stuck into it, I really felt how painful it still is.  I don’t tend to talk through the treatment but I was curious to ask Ramesh if he thinks it’s possible to get rid of that knot.  And again, it was said to me with great conviction, that yes, of course it can be removed. Yay and yay.  I can’t wait.

He also said that no, my body pain, and in particular the excruciating pain I feel when he digs deep into my calves and feet, no it’s not normal.  Other people don’t normally feel this kind of pain.  This news is both comforting and bothering.  But who cares, it’s my pain and Ramesh re-assures me that my body will be changed in one week.

I’ve also been doing some reading by Thich Nhat Hanh and was pondering the nature of suffering, and my suffering during the Udvartana massage today. 

In “The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching” he writes “We all suffer to some extent.  We have some malaise in our body and our mind.  We have to recognise and acknowledge the presence of this suffering and touch it.  After we touch our suffering we need to look deeply into it to see how it came to be.  We need to recognise and identify the spiritual and material foods we have ingested that are causing us to suffer.”  This is the First and Second of the “Four Noble Truths”.  

The Third, and he writes, is “Good News”.  It is the “cessation of creating suffering by refraining from doing the things that make us suffer.”  Much to my relief, he writes “The Third Noble Truth is that healing is possible.”

It’s a lot to take in, especially as the Fourth Noble Truth “is the path that leads to refraining from doing the things that cause us to suffer.  This is the path we need the most.”

But the Udvartana is over and now the Abhyangam massage takes up all my attention – the pain makes me unable to think – just feel.  I can hardly wait until I don’t feel this way any longer.  I asked to get in touch with my “suffering” and this is exactly what Im forced to do. The sheer desperation to have the pain end brought me to tears.  I guess only people with similar problem as me and possibly acute body inflammation would experience this kind of all over body pain during a massage.

I haven’t told you about the steam yet – its full on.  After the Abhyangam massage he finishes with a gorgeous facial massage and some pretty furious head massage that just puts me back into a happy relaxed place.  So then I step into what looks like a magician’s trick cupboard and sit down on the stool.  Im still just in my undies covered with oil, and Ramesh closes me up by shutting the door and placing another piece of wood jigsawed to fit exactly around my neck, and then seals me off with a towel.  Steam is emitted into the chamber below and it only takes a few seconds before I start to feel the giant beads of sweat pouring off my body in rivets. 

Dr George says this is to open the pores of my skin which is to aid in the process of both elimination and opening up the channels of my body.  The first day was hard core (if you saw the photo you will see what I mean), but in the days since, I don’t think its quite so hot plus I know what to expect and today Ive really enjoyed my 10 minute sweat.

When Ramesh opens the cupboard Im absolutely dripping and the only thing left to do is towel down my arms & he wraps me in a Lungi (2 metres of cotton fabric) and ties me off behind the neck so I can comfortably walk around Kovalam afterwards.

Its funny because you see many people walking around post-treatment in their Lungi.  Everyone knows where you have been and what you are up to as you walk around all oiled and in your treatment “uniform”, which looks more like glamorous resort wear.

Tomorrow is the last day of the Udvartana massage and steam.

DAY 3 of Treatment

 (PHOTOS are taken on Kovalam beach where the fishermen bring in the nets everyday and the women carry them on their heads to their destinations, eg the local restaurants on the boardwalk - its beautiful to get such fresh seafood straight from the ocean and it always draws an excited crowd)

Well they always say it gets worse before it gets better.  Not my “normal” body pain though thankfully, that is improving little by little every day.  Especially the gigantic knot that has been behind my right shoulder blade for at least 10-15 years.  So very many therapists have not been able to budge this knot and I/we have tried. 

I was amazed that this is the first part of my body that has released first and it’s encouraging.  Unfortunately because of my sensitive system I’m having some effects from the medicines and experiencing extreme gas pain in the top of my stomach and even up into my chest.  I have to burb to release the pain constantly. It’s just gas and not smelly thankfully, but again, I know its because of my sensitive system that I react strongly to all treatment and medicines – both negatively and positively.

The medicines I am having are as follows:

·         In the morning 1 hour before I eat I have 4 caps full of Varadi Kashayam (Used for weight loss).

·         Then after breakfast and dinner a spoon full of the black as tar Dasamoolahareethaki Leham – it’s not as lethal as it sounds and people who like spice will love it.

·         Then at night before sleep I take Dr George’s own brand, AyurGe Detox Powder which is one teaspoon in water and definitely doing the trick because by the morning there are no problems in the #2 department if you know what I mean.

On the AyurGe Detox packet it has a long list of herbs you can look up and says it “improves digestion, relieves constipation, liver detoxification, good for eyes” 

I’m also now taking at night a teaspoon of Chyavanaprasam.  This is the miracle black gold.  Dr George says this is what children from a young age take in Kerala and it gives you a strong immunity and strength.  And quite frankly, it appears to have worked, the kids here are so active, running about playing, working hard with their parents and studying hard.

My 12 year old niece Febi is studying Malayalam, Hindi and English and is so bright and active and voluntarily pulled out her school assignment last night to complete – and it was a Friday night!!!  Sure she has taken to playing Angry Birds on my phone but it only lasts a few minutes and would prefer to be running around playing with my nearly 4 year old boy.  It’s divine to see.

My stomach pain abates late into the night finally and I only eat light which is great.  Im actually not hungry and just eating fruit and light curry or tea and toast.  I like not being hungry it’s so convenient and time saving hahahah.