Life after the ashram

My Pancha Karma finale treatment was extra special and very erotic! My oh my……………therapy is wonderful! It was called Navarakizhi.

NAVARAKIZHI
Navarakizhi is a special massage, which rejuvenates the body. A highly effective rejuvenation technique using a special type of rice that is cooked tied into boluses and dipped into an herbal decoction and warm milk. Medicated oil is first applied liberally over the patient's body. Then the body is massaged with small linen bags filled with cooked Navara rice. The rice is cooked by boiling it in cow's milk along with suitable herbs. The linen bags filled with rice are dipped in the same mixture kept boiling and applied by massage therapist at a comfortable temperature over the whole body. Body perspires & releases toxins through this treatment.
This treatment improves complexion of the skin and restores vigor. This therapy endows several benefits to a healthy individual as well as to the person suffering from musculoskeletal disorders, degenerative conditions and neurological problems etc. The boluses made up of Rice, herbal powder and herbal leaves used in the treatment are called Njavarakizhi, Choorna Kizhi and elakizhi respectively.
I had 4-lady therapist working on me at once. Yes that is 16-hnads! You will never see this in the USA because of labor costs. It is hard to describe the sensations, but here goes. You are naked, except a little diaper g-string and spread eagle on a droni, a wooden Ayurveda massage table.

They used several gallons of hot cow’s milk mixed with herbs and mushy cooked rice. So it felt like a hot mud concoction. They are also using bolstices, linen bags filled with the rice mixture to massage and exfoliate you. This must have lasted for good 45-minutes. I would consider this my favorite Ayurveda treatment I have ever received. If it were in a luxury spa environment it would be an off the chart experience!

Today I traveled by private car to Mussorie, a big tourist spot the British set-up as a summer retreat. It was a mild case of culture shock after being in a quiet and protected compound for 5-weeks. I stopped in a large capital city of this state called Dehradun to get my hair done. I was shocked. I was the most expensive hair cut and treatment I have ever received at a $150 USD!!!!! I was shocked. India can be very expensive if you do not live like the locals. It was obvious to be an owner operator salon. He was the only stylist but probably had 15-people working for him. All he did was cut hair. My cut lasted about 2-minutes. My hair was washed, colored, and I was attended to by several others. There was even a worker to dust off the hair around your neck and one to hold the bowl with color in it. Only in India! I then had lunch at a nice place. It was the first time I have had the opportunity to have meat in 6-weeks. I ordered Chicken Tikka which is similar to Chicken tandori; only chicken breast chunks are used. I couldn’t eat it! I had to send it back first because it wasn’t done. Then I just couldn’t eat it the second time. Maybe I will become a vegetarian after all.

I am going to tour around for a couple of weeks, including meeting a friend at a wildlife refuge. I’ll tell you more about this soon. I am so excited, especially about my new friend. During part of my Joyful Living Program the teacher opened my heart chakra, so now I feel more open to giving and receiving love. I need love in my life and maybe this why I have experienced so much pain. I have also missed having my hands on bodies. It was my way of giving love.

I am at beautiful retreat that is like being in an English cottage. I’ll do some exploring in the morning. I am locaed at about 6800 feet and it is chilly tonight. It feels like teh foothills of Denver. I haven't been this chilled since early March in Antigua Guatemala. I went for a walk this evening and the monkeys scared me away. There were about a dozen or so of them on each side of the road and in the middle of the road. When there are mothers with babies I get intimidated, so I didn’t walk far. This is the first time in 5-weeks I have not done yoga or stretching in the evening. I am enjoying vodka tonic before dinner………..also first drink I have had in 5-weeks!!!!!