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Gita Ramesh, founder & managing director of the Kairali Ayurvedic Group, in the third talk with Zuzana Zwiebel, introducing her ayurvedic cookbook.
GITA RAMESH, Founder and Joint Managing Director of Kairali Ayurvedic Group. She holds Bachelor in Alternate Systems of Medicine & Surgery and Master degree in Biochemistry. Hailing from a family of acclaimed Vaidiyas , together with her husband Mr. K. V. Ramesh carried forward the legacy of ayurveda through Kairali brand. She launched the first "Kairali Ayurvedic Centre" in New Delhi in 1989 followed by an ayurveda resort and retreat "Kairali – The Ayurvedic Healing Village" opened in 1999. Today the company under its umbrella has over thirty centres spread in India and abroad and provides employment to over 700 employees in 35 locations across 10 countries. In 2017 during the 7th Annual Women Leaders Conference in India, she was awarded as "The Leading Women in Ayurveda".
She has authored two books “Ayurvedic Herbal Massages” and “The Ayurvedic Cookbook”.
I have published The Ayurvedic Cookbook, which is introducing a very similar diet offered in the Kairali – The Ayurveda Healing Village. It is a very simple purely vegetarian diet. Anyone can visit us, learn it during the stay in our resort and later implement all the cooking principles at home by himself or herself.
The diet is based on very easily digestible vegetarian dishes such as juices, salads, soups and main courses. All the ingrediencies, which we are using are local and prepared as fresh as possible. The food is served three times a day in a portions, as much as a body requires, not excess, not less. The prakriti of each person is kept in mind. Whether the person is a vata, pitta or a kapha prakriti, the food has to suit individually to each type. All these principles are very important during the ayurvedic diet.
Yes, anybody with absolutely no cooking skills can also follow these simple and quick recipes and eat fresh and warm food. We selected each dish by keeping in mind today’s trend of eating habits and taste.
The recipes are simple. They are focusing on usage of spices and ingrediencies such as garlics, ginger, turmeric or some cumin seeds. Also the quantity and type of an oil must be considered. These are the most important elements, which improve immunity and digestion. Knowing what, when and how much quantity should be added into each dish is a secret of ayurvedic diet. You can learn it in few days and also you can participate in cooking classes, which we are running in the resort.
THE AYURVEDIC COOKBOOK
Get Fit in Just Two Weeks
by GITA RAMESH
In the Ayurvedic Cookbook, Mrs. Gita Ramesh describes the deep knowledge of ayurvedic healing science in the form of ayurvedic recipes. These Ayurvedic food recipes help to maintain a perfect balance and harmony within the human body. This ayurvedic cookbook describes self-healing methods with respective to balancing the Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas using the herbs, spices, and vegetables. It is an Ayurvedic approach to food with scrumptious vegetarian cooking for a healthy life. Read more >>
Yes, our kitchen is also pharmacy. For every person we are preparing diet, which is prescribed by our doctor, who is cooperating with the kitchen on daily base. Each person is treated differently. The diet depend on one’s health problems and dosha prakriti.
The most of the food items, vegetables and fruits used in our kitchen are grown organically in our garden, which is situated right behind the property. I would say more than 90% of the vegetables we are cultivating by our self and the rest we are buying on local market from the village farmers. We pay the same attention to the food sa we do to our guests, who are staying with us.
It's all one. The diet must be holistic. One can not separate one from the other, you can not say one food is good for the body, one food is good for the mind and one good for the soul, it is always a union of all three. The minute you see food and say, "Oh, wow. It's so good." That's the food that your body requires. The food should look really appealing, should smell very good and looks tasty. Only after your appetite starts increasing as you eat. That's the food that would feed the body, mind and soul.
Absolutely! When you see the food and it attracts you to eat it, then it is kind of happiness. If you do not feel it, you will not eat it. We are not eating only to fill the stomach, in the moment a food creates positive feelings, it is a right food.
No. Ayurveda diet is not only vegetarian. That's the beauty of ayurveda. You can eat anything. Ayurveda doesn't tell you don't eat this or don't eat that, but it tells you what to eat, when to eat and who should be eating which food. That's very important about ayurveda. It never restricts you from anything. You can have non-vegetarian food if your body requires it. For example non vegetarian diet can be important for children, not to have bone or skin disorders when their body is evolving. Chicken or lamb soups can help to build up the body and enhance the muscles. Small portions of fish can also provide a lot of energy and anti-oxidants required for the body. But it is always necessary to consider the environment, the age and the prakriti of a person before we suggest the ayurvedic diet.
There are no restrictions as well, but again there is a question when, with whom and which quantity to have it. Enjoying a drink in a good company can bring you peacefulness, calmness and relaxation. Alcohol can become a medicine if you have it just in a right quantity. But one must learn how to tame the temptation to use it as the only medicine… (laughing).
Well, 10 years ago, when we have started ayurveda journey, it was not very easy time for us. We had to struggle very hard to reintroduce ayurveda. Although ayurveda is an antient Indian science, Indians themselves almost forgot what it was. It was quite bitter feeling to realise that people are not really proud of it and a tradition got almost lost. After that came the pungent part of the story, when after a lots of coaxing and persuading of people to try ayurveda treatment, they did not want to admit that the treatment helped them. They simply did not believe, that positive effects on their health were the results of ayurveda treatments. Another problem was, that people did not understand, that ayurveda healing requires a time. It was kind of sour feeling to hear them: "Let me try one treatment and let's see if I go for it." They did not understand, that you cannot see the results after only one treatment.
But when we had overcame the period of bitter, astringent, pungent and sour feelings, only then came salty and sweet moments. It was the period, when people have started to trust ayurveda and also believe in our treatment process. The first relieving tears after positive healing results were salty, but at the same time, seeing the fruits of our long term work, it was a very sweet moment. During the process we have learnt, that ayurveda is a science, which is going to staying here for future generations and it is one of the great monuments we gave to the world.
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Read next chapter of THE TALK WITH GITA RAMESH>>
She is heart and soul behind the Kairali Group since its inception. Her status as a pioneer in the health and travel industry is reflected in award "Best Woman Entrepreneur for Promoting Wellness, 2010".
Founder & Director of Ayurveda Trails, healing collection of (extra)ordinary people and their stories, whose experiences are transferred into various trails shared by travelers.
He asks, why is all the rum gone. He is searching the stillness in the flow of the water and finding out, that there is no dark side of the moon really. Matter of fact it's all dark!
Launched the first ayurvedic centre in New Delhi in 1989 followed by The Ayurvedic Healing Village at Palakkad, Kerala in 1999. Today the company under its umbrella has over thirty centres in India and abroad.
VISHU FESTIVAL
NEW YEAR IN KERALA
The Malayalam word kani literally means that which is seen first. The traditional belief is that one's future is a function of what one experiences, that the New Year will be better if one views auspicious joyful things as the first thing on Vishu.
10 REASONS WHY AYURVEDA TRAILS ARE DIFFERENT
Ayurveda trails is using the symbol of mudra as reminder, healing is in your hands. We are creating a small collection of highly specialised ayurveda resorts run by passionate ayurveda experts, who want to keep authentic healing knowledge for modern world.
What is ayurveda? How is this ancient medical system connected with yoga, meditation, healthy food, relaxation in nature and modern life style? Ayurveda Trails is dedicated to everyone, who would like to travel and search answers to these questions.
NAVARATRI
Festival of Nine Goddesses
Navaratri is a nine night festival that honors the Mother Goddess in all her manifestations. The worship, accompanied by fasting, takes place in the mornings. Evenings are for feasting and dancing. Each day has a different ritual associated with it.
ONAM
The Harvest Festival in Kerala
Onam is the most popular festival in Kerala. It can be traced to the primitive harvest festival and also to the myth regarding King Mahabali - the benevolent asura ruler who brought peace and prosperity to his country. It is celebrated in August and September.
The importance of the feast to the Kerala's Onam celebration culture is captured in the famous Malayalam proverb: Kaanam Vittum Onam Unnanam - which means: One must have the Onam lunch even by selling one's property, if need be.
MANALTHEERAM AYURVEDA BEACH VILLAGE
Manaltheeram Ayurveda Beach Village, gives you an opportunity to pamper yourself with a heavenly experience. Enter the world of holistic healing and let Ayurveda and meditation restore your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional equilibrium.
MANALTHEERAM
Dr. Hemalatha Manoj
In Manaltheeram, we believe, that Ayurveda is a divine science of life, our hands should be pure to treat a patient. Sometimes we are not able to cure every one but it is important not to make any mistakes from our hands. We pray to God.
Somatheeram, the world’s first Ayurveda hospital set in a resort ambiance to provide Ayurveda healing and treatments programmes. With its exotic tropical beauty and tranquil hospitality, this getaway is the perfect place for relaxation and rejuvenation.
The World’s First Ayurveda Tourist Resort: Baby Mathew, in 1985 together with his brother Dr.Pauly Mathew, has founded the world’s first ayurveda tourist resort Somatheeram in Kerala. How has this journey started?
Cliff View Ayurveda Retreat is built in the Bauhaus style, which aims to reunite fine art and functional design, creating practical objects with the soul of artworks. The resort embrace the philosophy of traditional Ayurveda in modern style.
HARIVIHAR HERITAGE
Dr. Sri Kumar
Harivihar, abode of the divine, is a 170 year old painstakingly restored royal heritage homestead located in Calicut. It offers unparalleled experience of staying in a heritage ambience and benefit from the goodness of Ayurveda and Yoga, two great contributions of India to mankind.
I hesitated for publishing this story quite late, but there’s a beauty in rewinding. Makes me appreciate how all those days have become of me. The clever fall of dominoes of life events that led me to still standing. A very happy new year to all!
SwaSwara means your inner voice, this is a place of natural harmony to release, refocus and recalibrate the self. Inspired by the first sound of creation, the resort in Gokarana on Aum Beach is a perfect setting to enable one to hear the voice of the inner self.
Green gram is a powerhouse of nutrition. It has high nutritive value and can be consumed by anyone for improving health. Hence, this superfood is one of the most vital detoxifying agent as well as an energiser that helps to enhance the immunity of the body.
KAIRALI - THE AYURVEDIC HEALING VILLAGE
There is no better place to get inside nature and rejuvenate with natural medicine than the sweet scented forests of Kerala's Pala trees. Time spent at this jungle paradise will allow you to experience the authentic healing practices of India.
