Rejuvenating ayurvedic massage, the Kairali way (IANS Spa review- With Image)

PALAKKAD - A massage on a wooden plank in natural light with no air-conditioners or music systems around might not be your idea of a relaxing massage, but this is what a rejuvenating ayurvedic massage at the Kairali health resort is all about.

Set amid 55 acres of lush green land, the resort in Palakkad, about 380 km from state capital Thiruvananthapuram, provides a cure for the ailing body and mind in nature’s lap.

The complex houses 30 pyramid-shaped cottages with structures based on Vastu Shastra - the ancient Indian building science.

The resort offers treatments for ailments like sinusitis, migraine, arthritis, skin diseases, infertility, slip disc and spondylitis. It also has wellness packages for obesity, de-stressing and rejuvenation.

There is an ayurvedic centre that has a separate massage section for men and women.

A two-kilometre-long artificial water stream flows through the resort that has as many as 700 coconut trees, 600 mango trees and a few medicinal trees like neem and pepper.

Shielding the grounds from the sun are the branches of these trees, allowing one to take a walk even on a hot day and enjoy the serenity of the place.

The massage rooms are kept very simple - a droni (wooden plank) in the middle of the room and a wooden table-chair in the corners. Natural light makes its way through the windows and door. Chirping birds, croaking frogs and the sounds of flowing water and breeze make up for the music system.

There are five massage rooms in both areas. They have a traditional steam section - comprising a closed wooden box that is open at the top end through which one’s head comes out while seated inside.

This is unlike the modern steam sections where the whole body is exposed to the steam and sometimes the pressure comes on the head as well.

Once in, the steam outlet is switched on and there is a direct impact of steam on the oily body which allows the pores to open and absorb the oil, making the skin soft and supple.

After this, one has to shower with a herbal shampoo and herbal powder to remove the oil from the hair and skin respectively.

The herbal powder is effective because it removes the oil from the skin in one go.

Also, the main ingredient of all ayurvedic massages is herbal oil and every session starts with a hair oil massage and then a complete body massage.

Depending on the treatments and requirements a few changes are made but the strokes remain the same and so do the two masseurs who massage the body in a rhythmic sync; even the regular thumps are so synchronised that one wonders if they are programmed like robots!

All the masseurs here are trained before they start giving the services.

Some of the basic avuyvedic massages that one can take are - abhiyangam, dhara and elakizhi.

Abhiyangam is a full body massage that is very effective for improving eyesight, sound sleep, rejuvenation and skin tone.

In dhara, an earthen pot like apparatus filled with oil is placed at a specific height from the head and a masseur then swings the apparatus back and forth so that the oil flows continuously and gently across the forehead. The treatment is good for diminishing the effect of aging and getting rid of stress and strain.

In elakizhi, linen bags filled with various herbs and medicated powders are used to massage the body. After a light oil massage - hot steam bags are thumped on the entire body and special emphasis is giving on joints to relieve pain. It helps to remove the wastes from the body and tone the skin.

All these massages come in various packages that one can opt for in the health resort.

(Shilpa Raina can be contacted at shilpa.r@ians.in)