Falling in Love with Ayurveda

The rain beats on the tin roof, a rhythm not unlike the one being drummed onto my body by the two ayurvedic therapists. The table is hard, fibreglass, with no padding. I am naked, except for a thong. This is the second day of a healing retreat at Sreedhari Ayurvedic Resort, on the Peechi River, in Kerala, India. Except for the occassional interjections to turn over, I am allowing myself to drift, the therapists' gentle chatter washing over me, like the rain up above. I am receiving a treatment called Dhaniya Kizhi - dry, heated herbal poutices are being tapped/pounded, simultaneously by two therapists, from head to knees., all four sides of my body in rotation. A third therapist is in charge of heating the poultices in a well-used pan, over a kerosene burner. In a practiced cadence, the cool are switched for the warm, each time they reach my knees. After my initial surprise at the feeling, I have surrendered and am fully enjoying the sensations of warm heat moving downwards, of the aroma coming from the herbs, of the pounding contact with muscle and bone, the rain on the roof... In fact, this is lulling my into somnolence, not asleep, not awake, my mind is drifting. My mind, not able to keep track of all the sensations, too much information to process, lets go its' control, and I am relaxing more than I thought possible given the hard table, my nakedness and the chatter.
I will this experiene to go on longer, and, it does! Front, turn, left side, turn, back, turn, right side, turn, and back to the front once more, where they repeat. Bliss. But wait, there is even more! My lower legs have not yet been done. There is a momentary pause, the pounding stops, as has the rain. A small clatter, and I become aware of a new sensation on my shins: warm oil is being laddled in waves, from my knees to my toes. Again, both legs simultaneously. Wave after wave after wave. I breathe deeply. I sigh. I relax even more, my lips curving into a contented smile. I look inside for words to describe the experience. The best I can manage is a visual image of warm syrup sliding over hot pancakes. I leave the search for descriptive words and free float once more until the directive comes to turn comes once more and the same, sweet laddling of warm, medicated oil is administered to on my calves. Ekangadhara. This just could be my new favorite ayurvedice treatment.
After every session, I am led to the shower where a bucket of heated water awaits. A fresh paste is made from ground lentils or peas, I'm not sure which, and the therapist washes my back with it. I am then directed to wash the rest of me, and do, scrubbing all over with the gritty mixture. No soap, no shampoo, is the advisory for the duration of the treatment program. The oils and herbs are meant to penetrate. The paste takes away the excess. I am slooshed with the warm water, rinsed clean. After towelling dry, a powder, Rasnathi Choornam, is rubbed over my crown chakra, to ward off colds and flu.
Completed, I am sent back to my room for rest and relaxation. Time to let the treatment set.