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Panchkarma Therapy

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A closer look at
Panchakarma Therapy

"A person undergoing Panchakarma attains longevity, memory, intellect, freedom from disease, youth, excellence of lustre, complexion and voice, excellent potential of the body and sense organs, power of the spoken word coming true and brilliance."

…FROM THE CHARAKA SAMHITA,
A 2500 YEAR OLD TEXT OF AYURVEDA

  What is Panchakarma?
Panchakarma is the oldest scientific system of cleansing and revitalization in the world today. Working in harmony with the body’s natural processes and rhythms, it recognizes the body’s capacity to heal itself given periodic rebalancing through cleansing. Panchakarma dates back to India’s Golden Age when these luxurious life-extending treatments were originally reserved for royalty.

Purification and rejuvenation are two sides of the same coin. An energetic, radiantly youthful body-mind results from a physiology that has been purified of toxic build-up. Tissues and cells must be relieved of their obstructions before nutrients can be fully assimilated and wastes properly eliminated. Once freed from impurities due to chemicals, overeating, air and water pollutants, dead cells, junk food, acid residues, fatty deposits and other biochemical waste that does not support a healthy human body, rejuvenation becomes a living reality. Enthusiasm, energy and youthfulness returns naturally as your regenerating cells finally receive powerful life force from the wholesome foods you eat and the health-giving lifestyle you lead.

   Who can receive Panchakarma?
Panchakarma is highly beneficial for anyone who recognizes symptoms of toxicity and imbalance such as fatigue; lack of concentration; insomnia; digestive problems; cravings; headaches and body pain; skin, sinus, back, or joint problems; overweight; sluggishness; allergies, cleansing after surgery; etc. Panchakarma is equally beneficial if you are already in excellent health and want to keep it that way. People who are in a transitional phase of life (rites of passage such as marriage, divorce, births, losses, birthdays, and times of spiritual renewal) also enjoy the experience of deep connectedness and wholeness Panchakarma provides.

   How do I begin?
Panchakarma begins with an initial consultation to evaluate your current state of health in order to develop a personalized program to serve your individual needs. At this time you are given a food, herbal and lifestyle regime to start your cleanse, along with scheduling your Panchakarma week.

   How long is the program and what happens?
Panchakarma is a series of treatments in which the benefits of detoxification increase with each daily session. A seven day program or longer is recommended for deep cleansing of the body’s seven tissues. Three days would be the minimum time to activate cleansing. A single Panchakarma treatment is valuable to totally unwind and restore, but will not activate a deep cleanse.

Daily treatments are nearly three hours long. Typically, every session includes the following:

• Warm herbal oil massage given in tandem by 2 therapists. (Snehana)
• Extensive massage of cranial area and oiling of ears. (Karna Purana)
• Anointing with rare and pure essential oils.
• Nasal therapy. (Nasya)
• Herbal Steam Therapy. (Swedana)
• Intestinal Cleansing and Nourishing. (Basti)
• Additional cleansing procedures (purgation and emesis therapy) are administered according to your specific needs.

  How will I feel?
How you feel depends on your current level of health. Many people experience increasing spirals of energy as the week progresses. However, as the body purifies and your nervous system relaxes more deeply, you may experience energy levels fluctuating from day to day. To optimize your special cleansing time, please reduce all external responsibilities so your body-mind can use its vital force for repair and regeneration.

   Finally…
It is an honor to facilitate this very profound and personal transformation with you. As such, your Panchakarma program is carried out in a private, quiet and loving atmosphere where respect, sensitivity and personalized attention is supported by many years of traditional knowledge and skill. Our intention is to create a sacred space in which your physical, mental and spiritual renewal can occur naturally and gracefully.

   Clients say:

"Ivy Amar’s work is deeply nurturing. She is a remarkable therapist with a strong gift for perceiving and offering what each client needs. I love the way she honors traditional Ayurveda while integrating it skillfully with other healing approaches such as aromatherapy and awareness. I especially appreciated her rejuvenative sessions with netra basti for the eyes. My whole being relaxed at a level it rarely touches. I highly recommend this work."

Amadea Morningstar, author and teacher, Santa Fe, NM,
THE AYURVEDIC COOKBOOK, THE AYURVEDIC COOKBOOK FOR WESTERNERS

"Life will never be the same. PK was a very high experience and from this clarity I felt residue - physical, emotional, psychic – move out of my body and out of my consciousness. Most wonderful is that the process of regeneration continues reflected in my aliveness, well-being and joyous peace beyond. My deepest appreciation to you Ivy for the level of skill, experience, sensitivity, and personal substance you offer."

Anata Black, musician, Jackson Hole,WY.

"For five years I have had lots of intestinal problems. The symptoms ranged from a constant burning tongue, to severe stomach pain throughout the night. Over the years I saw a variety of doctors from different disciplines. The only thing that helped and actually healed me was a 7 day Panchakarma cleansing program with Ivy Amar. I followed that up with making some important life style changes, mostly dietary, and am now a healthy person. I began with a little skepticism and finished as the greatest cheerleader for the Ayurvedic healing system."

Blaire Rice Bennett, artist, Santa Fe, NM.  

"My consciousness has undergone a major shift, a re-orientation of the self. The way I view myself, and the way I view the world has transformed. And it’s so wonderful that it could happen in a loving, nurturing way. I loved going through PK, getting the daily warm massages, eating a healthy yet yummy diet. I would have never believed that cleansing could feel so good. When I contrast this with some of the cleanses I have undergone in the past, I see that they all made me suffer in some way – intense fasting, physical hardship, emotional trauma, eating foods that were not satisfying, taking harsh cleansers, etc. In some way they defeated their own purpose in that they created new trauma even as the old layers were being removed. The Panchakarma approach makes more sense – increasing the love and good feeling in your life while removing the old accumulations that occurred due to insufficient loving in the first place."

Sharad Kelkar, engineer and therapist, Santa Fe, NM

"Ivy’s loving heart and skilled hands opened us to new levels, particularly in our relationship. We highly recommend Panchakarma for couples. Ivy is a master!"

Janae Weinhold, Ph.D. psychologist
Barry Weinhold, Ph.D. counselor
authors and couples therapists, Colorado Springs, CO.