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ften referred to as a sister science to yoga and originating from India’s Vedic culture more than 3,000 years ago (many millennia before modern medicine provided scientific evidence of the mind-body connection), Ayurveda is much more than a mere system of remedying illnesses. It’s a way of life, a way of being, even a way of day-to-day living. First developed by the nation’s great sages, Ayurveda is an unequivocally holistic Indian tradition that reaches far beyond the realms of physical health, healing and the prevention of disease, and offers a body of wisdom designed to help us stay vibrant and healthy while better realising our full potential.
NO SHOES REQUIRED
The philosophy of Ayurveda is rooted in the idea that each of us is born with an individualised blueprint for optimum health. Think of it as your core constitution or your personal medical flip-chart! Ayurveda is a remarkably intimate healing system and places the focus firmly on you as an individual - a unique person. There are no routines, menus or “one size fits all” remedies in Ayurveda. In fact, it’s entirely the opposite. Ayurveda considers all the levels and influencing factors of an individual - including the spiritual, emotional, intellectual, behavioural, familial, social and environmental, as well as the physical (of course) - and heals from the rootcause of an illness rather than merely treating the symptoms. While Ayurveda is believed to be five thousand years old, today its principles remain as relevant as ever, and in the 21st century are increasingly being brought to the forefront of popular culture as individuals around the world incorporate its timeless wisdom into their day-to-day lives. Integrated into primary healthcare in India for decades, in recent years Ayurveda has become more celebrated in the West as an alternative medicinal system to be taken seriously. Hence, more discerning and cultured travellers - keen to escape their hectic everyday existences and experience an altogether healthier vacation - seek healing resorts and Ayurvedic-focused retreats to recalibrate and recharge their inner and outer selves. Needless to say, shoes are generally superfluous at these sanctuaries of calm. But where are the best places on the planet to reap the benefits of one of the world’s oldest and most personal healing systems? On the next few pages The Cultured Traveller reveals the most revered Ayurvedic escapes.