Tuesday, November 27, 2012

HEALTH SPECIAL...Rediscover a brand new You!



Rediscover a brand new You! 

Ayurveda’s birthplace, India is gifted with nature’s bounty. Indulge in a rewarding rejuvenation session in the hills or by the riverside... 

    The comfort, warmth and reassurance of touch at spas can improve the body’s well-being by stimulating its own natural healing abilities, giving a sense of well-being and restoring both the physical and psychological self.
    Massages at the spas of India’s best known yoga boutique retreats offer the ideal solution to these damaging effects of accumulated stress and aid in harmonising a troubled body and mind. Touch is a simple means of communication and comfort; something that comes to us quite naturally. Regular massage strengthens and tones the entire body system. It can stimulate or alternately calm the nervous system, help ease tension, stiffness and pain, leaving the recipient with an enhanced sense of well-being.
    While you may have indulged in the common massages, ET-Travel suggest you try the coffee bean mask massage or the honey and cucumber wrap massage.
    Sea salts are a great way to exfoliate dead cells. Not just women, in fact, men need to indulge themselves in invigorating sessions like these, even more.
    Take your pick of Visakhapatnam, Coorg, Shimla, Srinagar or Darjeeling, these touristy towns can breathe new energy into your body and mind.
    As you approach a new year, reward yourself with a new You. Read on to know just how...
INDIAN SECRETS FOR REJUVENATION
    EXTRAORDINARY GLOWING TOUCH:
Ubtan is an extraordinary Ayurvedic herbal paste made of many fresh rare herbs found only in India. A combination of turmeric, saffron, sandalwood, Bengal-gram and seeds of yellow mustard, mustard oil and rose water enliven the skin retrieving its natural freshness.
HEAL IT: Ubtan has antiseptic properties as well, effective enough in exterminating all the smallest and invisible bacteria of body. Traditional physicians (Vaidyas) cured many serious diseases with the ubtan by applying it all over the body of affected ones. LOOK GREAT: Ubtan, believed to be an indispensable part of ritual marriage, is much popular in Punjab as ‘Battne Di Rasam’, and in Tamil Nadu as ‘Kappumanjal’.
    WHAT: SHIRO DHARA
    WHY YOU MUST INDULGE:
Shiro Dhara is a holistic treatment, and a very relaxing one. It is unique for its employment of a special Ayurvedic massaging rhythm that could only be described as being of a ‘swaying’ sort. The sensation in Shiro Dhara is akin to that of being caressed; this becomes more apparent when one considers the liquids used, which range from simple oils and herbal oil concoctions, to medicated butter milk, and others. Shiro Dhara is a powerful experience, which puts the patient at peace and often invokes tranquil feelings from within. It is also one of the most important treatments in Ayurveda, as it is used to change a person’s body condition (prakriti). Shiro Dhara is one of the treatments that can be used to relieve insomnia, depression, cervical spondylosis, (excess of) bodily heat, headaches and migraine, and sinusitis; it has also been said to improve memory.
    WHAT: UDWARTHANAM
    WHY YOU MUST INDULGE:
Udwarthanam is an Ayurvedic body scrub that details the specific use of a herbal paste called lepam, which is made from dry grain, medicated milk and a variety of oils. (Another less common method is through the application of steam.) In Udwarthanam, the body is massaged after an application of the herbal paste to the skin. A warm bath that accompanies Udwarthanam then washes away the paste, all the while emitting a lovely scent of leaves. There are many different types of Udwarthanam, and they are categorised with reference to their purposes, whether it is medical or for relaxation. Udwarthanam softens and exfoliates the skin, improves muscle tone, and is a favoured treatment for those with sensitive skin. In addition, Udwarthanam improves blood circulation, eases joint pains and is also known to be effective against certain skin diseases.
    WHAT: ABHYANGA
    WHY YOU MUST INDULGE:
Abhyanga is one of the
panchakarma
treatments, and it also happens to be one of the most traditional of Ayurvedic treatments. Abhyanga is essentially a fullbody oil massage, often taken before one’s morning shower or bath and it is very popular. Many affectionately refer to Abhyanga just as ‘the relaxing massage’. A vaidya will use Abhyanga to stimulate the many marma (nerve points) of the human body – on the head, ears, chest and stomach, spinal lines, and feet, primarily — using strong, but brisk, circular rubs. This massage utilises warm herbal oils, each and every one of them hand-picked to suit different body types. The oils are generously applied for maximum penetration and help lubricate joints and strengthen connective tissues. The full-body massage and application of herbal oils improves muscle recovery and flexibility, which makes Abhyanga a fantastic treatment for those with sore muscles. The treatment also improves blood circulation and has a soothing effect on the nervous system. Abhyanga is well-noted for relieving rheumatism, arthritis, cervical spondylosis, joint pains, myalgia, (excess) body heat and sunburn.
    WHAT: REFLEXOLOGY MASSAGE
    WHY YOU MUST INDULGE:
It’s about the life source ‘Qi’ that comes into play here. Reflexology is a natural healing art based on the principle that there are reflex points in the feet, hands and ears and their referral areas, which correspond to every part, gland and organ of the body. A reflexology professional eases the pain via application of slight pressure using some nice smelling creams or lotions on the feet and helps relieve tension and improve circulation. Reflexologists posit that the blockage of an energy field, invisible life force, or Qi, can prevent healing. A reflexology session can be taken in the outdoors amidst green orchards. As the cool breeze sings a lullaby, the mind signals the body to balance its channels. It’s worth a try!
    WHAT: YOGA AND MEDITATION
    WHY YOU MUST INDULGE:
Meditation often involves an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way. It may be done sitting, or in an active way. For instance, Buddhist monks involve awareness in their day-to-day activities as a form of mindtraining. Prayer beads or other ritual objects are commonly used during meditation in order to keep track of or remind the practitioner about some aspect of the training. Meditation may involve generating an emotional state for the purpose of analysing that state — such as anger, hatred, etc — or cultivating particular mental response to various phenomena, such as compassion. There are dozens of specific styles of meditation practice. Meditation has been practiced since antiquity as a component of numerous religious traditions and beliefs.
Compiled by Nimisha Tiwari ETTR121122

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