health &
fitness
Healing L the inner self By cassey oliveira
ive the life to the fullest, do not indulge” – is what Dr Pramod Kumar, Health Science and Yoga Specialist, strongly advocates. The holistic physician of Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa is now visiting its sister hotel – Grand Hyatt, Doha where he will be consulting on specific rejuvenating treatments, along with yoga sessions at the signature Jaula Spa. During his stint at the Jaula Spa, Dr Pramod has a two-fold objective. “I will be imparting training to the Jaula Spa team on the basics of ayurveda treatments. Through these trainings, the team will be able to use the principles in various treatments without having an ayurvedic physician. While in Doha, I am developing custom-made ayurveda-based treatments using the natural ingredients readily available in Qatar.” Alternative medicine has always loomed in the backdrop of conventional medicine. Lack of scientific evidence pertaining remedies, often renders them as baseless and ineffective. Despite the hazy situation, alternative medicine has proven to be a preferred choice of treatment for many. While conventional medicine combats ailments with formulations, alternative medicine takes on a slower path, intending to wipe out the disease from its roots. “Ayurveda believes in the concept of healing with nature and its principles. It promotes a positive way of life by the prevention of an imbalance and by the right management of ailments and diseases. Even though ayurveda acts as a medical science, it proves to be a science of life.”
What is alternative medicine?
Dr Pramod Kumar Health Science and Yoga Specialist is on a visit to Doha's Grand Hyatt.
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A broad terminology ‘alternative medicine’ encompasses a variety of remedial treatments such as naturopathy, herbalism, ayurveda, homeopathy, meditation, hypnosis, etc. The basic underlying difference between ayurveda and homeopathy is that while the former aims at preventing the disease, the latter aims at curing the disease. This simply means that in ayurveda, the toxins from the body are extracted through herbal medicines to free the body from any disease; whereas in homeopathy, symptoms similar to the disease are introduced in the body, in a more diluted form to enable the body to neutralise the disease, ultimately curing the body. Even the medicines differ – ayurveda uses the plant or flower or root or fruit as a whole, but homeopathy uses the diluted extract or a principle of a plant.
Forms of ayurvedic treatment offered at Jaula Spa:
A holistic approach
This complete body hot fomentation treatment uses a herbal poultice to relive neurological disorders, muscle spasms or stiffness, rheumatism/arthritis, and different kinds of aches and pains.
Back in India, at the Sereno Spa, Dr Pramod takes on a holistic approach while consulting patients. But what is this approach all about? “Holistic approach simply means a deeper understanding. If you consider an individual, an ayurvedic approach is to treat the physical, mental, social and spiritual entities of life. Ayurveda doesn’t simply focus on treating a disease or ailment, but de-roots the cause of a disease through specific purification methods. Also, this approach helps in reducing the relapse of the condition,” he says. “Being a holistic physician, I take into consideration four aspects in a person’s life – eating habits, time and form of exercise, sleep and digestion pattern.”
Synchronised Abhyangam:
Yoga, an essential tool
This traditional Indian massage is performed with synchronisation and a specific rhythm by two therapists to generate heat in the body, soothe muscles and nourish body and mind.
Ayurveda is never complete without yoga. The power of yoga is known by all and it works wonders in stress management. While dealing with yoga and stress, Dr Pramod explains, “Stress is the mental, physical and emotional reactions you experience as a result of the demands of your life. Hence yoga helps to understand and balance the reality of life and living. Stress could be effectively managed through yogic practices." “I too have experienced stress many times but as I accept the reality as it is, it doesn’t turn out to be a stressful condition. The practice of yoga and ayurve-
Udwarthanam:
This powder massage is a classic anti-cellulite treatment to mobilise unwanted fat and reduce cellulite, and is a treatment best practiced to combat obesity in association with diet, Yoga and/or exercise.
Choornaswedam:
Indian Head Massage: This classic Indian head massage uses specific herbal oils to stimulate the pressure points on the scalp and face to energise and revitalise the hair.
da has helped me to combat stress in my day-to-day life.” Gone are the days when spas focussed solely on pampering and relaxing their patrons. Commenting on the current trend of holistic remedy as the next ‘in’ thing for spas, Dr Pramod says, “Spa is one of the upcoming industries in the hospitality sector. Even though the spa concept has a European influence, alternative systems of health and healing has overpowered the basic spa concept of healing through water. Recently, the Indian traditional healing systems like ayurveda and yoga, have amalgamated with the spa concept to become a complete health and wellness industry in the last two to three years.” On his choice of profession, Dr Pramod attributes his ayurvedic career to his father. “I have always had a fascination for nature; this probably owing to the fact that my father is an ayurvedic doctor who, from an early age, instilled this passion within me. It is now my continued endeavour to spread the awareness of healthy living through the holistic approach of ayurveda and yoga through the spa industry.” Patience seems like a forgotten virtue. We are in utmost need of quick results in everything we do which ultimately takes a toll on our health. In such a chaotic situation, healing one’s inner self will serve as a good remedy. Dr Pramod and his patients would surely agree! 2010 September
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