NAMASTE!

YOGA MEANS CONNECTION. BUT WHAT KIND OF CONNECTIONS YOU CAN EXPERIENCE I SWASWRARA? ZUZANA ASKS DR. FIROZ VARUN, AYURVEDA DOCTOR AT THE CGH EARTH SWASWARA...

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What is yoga? Yoga means union. It is actually every activity, you are doing with the presence of your mind and body. If it makes you happy, than you can call it yoga. 

At SwaSwara we offer classical Hatha Yoga and meditation sessions. It maintains that the basis for spiritual well-being lies in strengthening the body, which in turn benefits the mind. While food, yoga and art take care of the body and mind. We have included meditation to address the inner self and complete the unity. 

DR.FIROZ VARUN
Ayurveda Doctor of CGH Earth SwaSwara
WHAT ROLE DOES PLAY YOGA IN SWASWARA?

Well I would say, we must first ask: What is yoga? It means union it is actually every activity, which you are doing with the presence and union of your mind and body and if it makes you happy, than you can call it as yoga. 

In India we use to say, that the highest form of yoga is dance. For example, look at the body of the Bharatanatyam dancers. Even their dresses and placement of the jewelleries on the body is precisely planed to direct the flow of the energy in the body in the rhythm of the music, which is tuned with the mind of the dancer. This concentration and connection between mind and body is practised from the childhood. Only after, literally, the soul can dance.  

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE DANCE AND FEMALE ENERGY. TWO OTHER CGH AYURVEDA HOSPITALS ARE CALLED KALARI KOVILAKOM & KALARI RASAYANA. HOW DOES KALARI MARTIAL ART IS CONNECTED WITH SWASWARA TREATMENTS? 

Kalari Payattu is martial art and fighting system that originated in Kerala. It is considered by some to be the oldest one in existence and historically it is connected also with the medicine, because the warriors had to cure their injuries directly at the battlefields, so very interesting healing system based on Marma points was created. Until today some of the hospitals practice Marma massages, which in the past used to be done by the fighters themselves. But in SwaSwara we do not include them among the ayurveda treatments. 

HOW DO YOU CONNECT AYURVEDA TREATMENTS WITH YOGA IN SWASWARA? 

At SwaSwara we offer classical yoga and meditation sessions mediated by qualified practitioners. The yoga offered at SwaSwara is Hatha Yoga and it is a form that focuses on physical suppleness and flexibility. It maintains that the basis for spiritual well-being lies in strengthening the body, which in turn benefits the mind. While food, yoga and art take care of the body and mind. We have included meditation to address the inner self and complete the unity. The guided meditation practices at SwaSwara in still serenity and peace in you, which in turn makes it easy for the body and mind to converge in a spirit of harmony and total wellbeing.

HATHA YOGA

You can begin to deepen and strengthen their yogic practise through Hatha Yoga leading to an enriching experience. Hatha yoga is a traditional and ancient system of Yoga that aims to bring harmony in your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual state of being. Yoga taught and practiced here include Shatkriyas, Asanas and Pranayama. Shatkriya includes Yogic cleansing technique called Jala Neti and the Yogic purgation technique called Laghu Shankha Prakshalana. Please note that in order to practise Laghu Shankha prakshalana, one must stay for a minimum of 7 nights. Asanas is the physical postures to balance the body and mind, and Pranayama is the Yogic breathing technique to work on the overall energy of the body.

To cater for different levels of practice we offer parallel sessions. Level I is the gentle Yoga for beginners and guests booked on the Ayurveda focused programmes. Level 2 is the Intermediate yoga which is designed for people who have been practicing Yoga regularly. This is offered to those on the Swa Wellbeing programme. However, since we are neither an ashram nor a Yoga school, it needs to be borne in mind that the level of Yoga in any session is finally decided and determined after observing & taking into consideration the level of the entire group attending that particular session.

For guests who would like to have individual attention or wanting to learn in depth or for those looking at taking their practice to the next level, we also offer Private one on one Yoga sessions. These private sessions can be purchased at an added cost for guests on Swa Wellbeing and Ayurveda Rejuvenation programmes.
THERE ARE SOME RESTRICTION IN PRACTICING YOGA DURING THE TREATMENT PROCESS…

Yes, while undergoing some particular treatments, you have to avoid some extra activities because your body need complete rest. Specially during the Detox & Panchakarma programme we plan yoga sessions very carefully. On the other hand we have many guests with the problems related to muscular disorders and yoga poses can strengthen their body and improve flexibility of the muscles. But the most diseases are related with stress and main benefit of the yoga is calming effect and strengthening of the mind. All the changes in your mind are reflected on body itself, so we cannot separate it.  

DO YOU PRACTICE PERSONALLY ANY FORM OF YOGA?

Yes. Since my studies at the university I have a habite to do Suryana Namaskara everyday in the morning. 

PRANAYAMA

Prana is breath or the vital energy that pervades in the body and ayama means control, to control the breath. Pranayama is a part of Yoga that teaches you the technique of controlling your breath or life force, it teaches you the techniques of extending your breath in many different ways. In Yogic Meditation, we believe that breathing correctly is essential preparation for deep meditation. Your breath connects the body and the mind. Regulate your breath, and the body and mind will follow. When you learn the breathing techniques, it will positively affect your actions and thoughts. It teaches you to change the depth, rate and pattern of breathing. Practicing Pranayama everyday can assist in steady mind, strong will power and sound judgement. The Pranayama technique aides in reducing stress related disorders, some techniques helps in weight loss, lowering of blood pressure, helps in relieving symptoms of asthma, it helps purify the blood and the respiratory system and many more.
SWASWARA IS ONE OF THE FEW AYURVEDA RESORTS WHERE YOU HAVE ART CENTER…

We call it healing through creative expression. Art is also a path to healing and self-discovery. At SwaSwara you can take voyages of the imagination and the inner self through various art practices that enable you to find and lose yourself at the same time. We invite guests to experiment with a wide range of creative activities that include tribal painting, water colours on handmade paper, origami and clay work on a traditional potter’s wheel. 

YOGA NIDRA

Derived from the Tantras, this is a powerful technique in which you learn to relax consciously. In Yoga Nidra, sleep is not regarded as relaxation, true relaxation is actually an experience far beyond all this. For absolute relaxation you must remain aware, Yoga Nidra is the state of dynamic sleep. The term Yoga Nidra is derived from two Sanskrit words, Yoga meaning union or one-pointed awareness, and Nidra meaning sleep.

During the practice, one appears to be asleep, but the consciousness is functioning at a deeper level of awareness. For this reason, Yoga Nidra is often referred to as psychic sleep or deep relaxation with inner awareness. In this threshold state between sleep and wakefulness, contact with the subconscious and unconscious dimensions occurs spontaneously. In Yoga Nidra, the state of relaxation is reached by turning inwards, away from outer experiences. If the consciousness can be separated from external awareness and from sleep, it becomes very powerful and can be applied in many ways, for example, to develop the memory, increase knowledge and creativity, or transform one’s nature. In the Raja Yoga of Patanjali there is a state called Pratyahara where the mind and mental awareness are dissociated from the sensory channels. Yoga Nidra is one aspect of Pratyahara which leads to the higher states of Samadhi or concentration.
WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER MINI CHANDRAN I SPOKE ABOUT THE OPEN AND CREATIVE SPACE WHICH IS OFFERED BY SWASWARA. WE HAVE DISCUSSED VASTU SHASTRA AND ASTROLOGY. HOW DO THEY PLAY THE ROLE IN HEALING PROCESS?  

The space, which was created here is a very special. As we have discussed before, the town Gokarna and beach Aum , are the places with very unique energy and SwaSwara is the echo of your own voice.  Trust me, you can hear a lot of things here...(laughing). 

I am not expert for Vastu Shastra or astrology, so I cannot tell you much about the connections with SwaSwara. But during my studies of ayurveda, we were many times reminded about their effects on healing process. We do not practice astro-ayurveda in SwaSwara, but I believe, that sometimes, when the treatment is not showing any results, the reason behind it can be somewhere between the earth and sky… 


THE TALK WITH DR.FIROZ VARUN 05: DIET & FOOD FOR SOUL >>

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INTERVIEWED BY

ZUZANA ZWIEBEL

Founder & Director of Ayurveda Trails, healing collection of (extra)ordinary people and their stories, whose experiences are transferred into various trails shared by travelers.

AYURVEDA DOCTOR

DR.FIROZ VARUN

Ayurveda has many definitions as medical science. But the main idea of Ayurveda, not treating the diseases. We should see and take it as a part of our life and self-exploration. For me ayurveda means everything.

AYURVEDA RESORT

CGH EARTH

CGH Earth Hotels & Resorts create travel experiences that let you explore nature, community and culture intimately. These experiences are themed around you - your awareness and aspirations!

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