by Dr. Rethi Shamundeeswary Suppiah

I had an interest in Ayurvedic massage and was searching and asking around everywhere about it. My mum was the only person who always encouraged me to take up an Ayurveda course. So, I started searching on Google to find the best centre where I could learn Ayurvedic massage. I found that MAYI Yoga Academy was at the top of the list, and I decided to enrol there.

On my first day of class, I began learning massage techniques through hands-on practice. I was astonished right from day one, and as the days passed, I learnt a lot about herbs, oils, and their benefits. I also learnt about the doshas and how to maintain a well-balanced lifestyle to support overall well-being.

For example, I am a gastric and asthma patient. I practised balancing the Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas, and I noticed significant improvements in my health. I felt much healthier and avoided stressing myself, making sure to have a more wholesome and nutritious diet. At times, I also opted for steamed or baked food. As a result, my gastric pain and heartburn have reduced significantly.

The Ayurveda course is well-structured and designed with plenty of hands-on practice and workshops, making it easy to follow. I have performed many types of massage on people who have requested them as well as on my family members, particularly those suffering from joint pain and body aches. It has already been two years since I began practising massage therapy, and I continue to do so. Among the treatments I love are Shiro Abhyanga, Soundarya Vardhini, Abhyanga Snanam, the three types of Vasti, and Podi Kizhi. Feedback from the people whom I performed the Ayurveda massages on have been very positive—they have experienced significant relief from their pain compared to before.

Although I am a medical doctor, I have also managed to incorporate massage therapy into my practice by visiting patients at their homes. They have provided positive reviews in return. I always advise my patients and clients to practise balancing the doshas once they understand their individual body types and conditions.