An Invitation to anchor yourself at Oneworld Ayurveda

Experience a transformative Panchakarma retreat in Bali

Is it just my perception, or does our world feel increasingly intense, tumultuous, and even a little unhinged lately? Whilst I firmly believe in our ability to create our reality, it can be challenging to navigate and discern what’s genuine in these modern times.

And I feel certain we are all meant to be having more fun and joy in our lives.

Which is why it feels more important than ever to build inner strength, resilience, and establish a grounded lifestyle anchored in nature and reality.

As a global spa and wellness consultant, I travel the world designing spas and retreats and feel Ayurveda is one of the most empowering disciplines for activating and maintaining health, happiness, balance, and vitality.

Ayurveda is a nature-based holistic medicine system native to India. The word Ayurveda stems from the Sanskrit terms ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge). Ayurvedic medicine is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and offers a wealth of treasures for one to enrich their wellbeing.

An Ayurveda lifestyle generally embraces the power of eating well, herbal medicines, massages and treatments, yoga and meditation – what a wonderful way to live!

What I appreciate about Ayurveda is its profound philosophy of interconnectedness, where we humans are integral components of a vast, breathing universe. Ayurveda is not about treating separate body parts or necessarily labeling diseases per se but emphasizes prevention and the introduction of practices to keep our body, mind, spirit, environment, and life purpose thriving and in beautiful harmony.

An essential component of Ayurveda is Panchakarma (PK) therapy that involves Pancha (five) karma (actions) to deeply detox the body of accumulated toxins to restore the body back to health and balance.

This leads me to Oneworld Ayurveda, an authentic boutique Panchakarma brand with two retreat locations in Bali. If you are seeking a deep and enduring physical, emotional and mental reset then you’ve arrived at the perfect destination.

Experience a Panchakarma at Oneworld Ayurveda Tegallalang

Nestled not far from the spiritual center of Ubud in Bali, Oneworld Ayruveda Tegallalang is a haven cocooned by lush gardens, verdant rice fields and bamboo forests. The retreat promises a transformative experience. There’s the stunning treatment center, a tranquil yoga shala and bountiful permaculture herbal gardens. With twelve well-appointed accommodation rooms, you are assured of the finest in personalized attention and care.

Breakfast in rice fields

Oneworld Ayurveda offers an immersive PK detox firmly rooted in the Ayurvedic tradition and therefore, a minimum stay of 7 to 28 days is required.

Your detox begins with an in-depth consultation with an Ayurvedic physician who will assess your bio-energies (dosha) to determine any imbalances and considers any underlying health conditions you may have. From here, your PK adventure unfolds with tailored meals, medicines and treatments designed to address these imbalances.

Meals are delicious and wholly satisfying (not resembling a fast by any means). In my opinion, the treatments here are the best I’ve experienced worldwide – all delivered by highly trained Balinese therapists. The daily schedule includes twice daily restorative yoga, two amazing treatments each day, meditation, leisurely rice field walks and inspiring talks and cooking classes, all of which are completely optional.

A highpoint of the retreat is the opportunity for silent days. In fact, you can choose to undertake the entire retreat in silence, a truly sacred experience. You are free to take any meals in the privacy of your room which can be a blessing if you seek solitude. However, engaging with fellow retreat guests from all walks of life is a wonderful reminder of our ‘oneworld’ human connection.

People embark on a PK for a multitude of reasons. Some are seeking a results-orientated detox, stress relief, weight management, and to slow down the aging process. Others may have more substantial issues and seek support with cancer rehabilitation, high cholesterol, arthritis, insomnia, digestive disorders, depression and anxiety to name a few. On this note, it’s essential to understand Ayurveda is not an alternative to modern medicine but a potent complementary therapy.

Shirodhara treatment

Everyone responds differently to the detox. For me (and a few others), we suffered chronic lower back pain during the first few days of the detox. It’s not uncommon to experience discomfort, fatigue, and headaches as the cleanse draws out the toxins from the body. However, the outcome is incredibly positive – expect to leave glowing and feeling radiant inside and out, as well as a renewed sense of clarity and purpose.

As this is a serious detox, one can’t leave the retreat to go sight-seeing and staying off the digital devices is encouraged. This is designed to truly give your body deep rest enabling a thorough detox followed by rejuvenation and replenishment.

I found the results to be accumulative. After a two-week PK in February, I have continued to infuse many of the Ayurveda practices into my life – avoiding foods that disrupt my balance, embracing the morning rituals like tongue scraping and self-massage to lubricate my skin and stimulate the lymphatic system and I am committed to daily meditation. While I’ve returned to my morning espressos with delight, I integrate the doctors’ evening recommendations and I am sleeping much better.

The outcome? I’ve maintained my weight loss and feel stronger, calmer and happier with more resilience to navigate life’s ups and downs of life with grace and dignity. I have a tool kit of Ayurveda knowledge to help me get back on track and return to balance anytime, anywhere.

In essence, an Ayurvedic Panchakarma is a journey of self-discovery and renews our sense of purpose and what we are here to do and be during our precious time on planet earth.

More about Panchakarma

The goal of a PK is to not only dramatically reduce inflammation in the body that we know contributes to chronic diseases, but also reduce any emotional imbalances such as stress, worry, fear and anxiety. Developed over centuries, Ayurveda treatments are particularly effective on the metabolic system, nervous system and nutritive systems.

Feel supported as you progress through the stages of Panchakarma that includes preparatory treatments that dislodge deep-seated toxins in the body, readying them for elimination. Panchakarma therapy consists of 5 cleansing actions including medicated nasal oils, medicated enemas and medicine-induced purgation to name a few. Not all of these procedures are administered during one’s detox as each PK is individually prescribed according to one’s health condition and needs.

Whilst these methods may sound unfamiliar, the PK detox at Oneworld Ayurveda is profoundly grounding and nourishing.

Ayurveda treatments are results oriented and address degenerative issues, nervous system disorders, insomnia, stress related ailments, pain and inflammation. They encompass warm herbal oil body massages, steam baths, head and foot massages, therapeutic bathing soaks, toxications to remedy skin conditions, neurological diseases, muscle and joint inflammation as well as herbal poultices for treating conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and cervical spondylitis, to name a few.

Throughout Panchakarma, doctors closely monitor your safety and progress. Following the cleansing comes the rejuvenation phase that revitalizes the digestive fire and bring more energy to your mind, body and spirit. A personalized post-detox diet is recommended to ensure the lasting benefits of Panchakarma.

It’s highly recommended to undergo a PK cleanse at least once a year to maintain the strength and vigor of your body. The benefits accrue over time, so the more you consistently incorporate some (or all) of the Ayurvedic prescribed foods and lifestyle practices, the greater the rewards you’ll continue to enjoy.

Discover your Dosha: Understanding Ayurveda

Ayurveda is rooted in the elements of earth, water, fire, air and space that exist within and around us. According to Ayurveda, when our doshas are out of balance, we can develop disease, aliments and disquiet over time.

Discovering your Dosha body type can be a profound tool to empower us to identify potential health issues before they manifest. Ayurveda serves as a roadmap, illuminating the path to a harmonious and healthy life aligned with our individual unique dosha constitution.

Identifying your Dosha type is akin to discovering your authentic self. Oneworld Ayurveda offers a complimentary Dosha quiz to guide you on this journey.

Your physical appearance, functional aspects, and emotional well-being are counted to determine your body type or dominant Dosha. Our body type remains the same from birth till our last breath.

If you are unsure answering certain questions, reflect on your whole life journey, from childhood to now, not just your current age and health condition. ☐

Oneworld Ayurveda is regarded as South East Asia’s leading Panchakarma center and now has two retreat locations in Bali. Discover more here: www.oneworldayurveda.com

Judy Chapman is an International Spa Designer and consults for hotel, spa and wellness brands around the world including Menla Mountain Retreat in the USA. Judy also develops white label skincare products for spas and individuals. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Spa Asia magazine and author of several books on wellness and spas. Judy is currently based in Bali, Indonesia.
www.judychapman.com.au