It was an unforgettable experience for the Brazilians Anna Andrade, Maria Amelia, the British Paula Gadd, Raquel Miranda, and the Japanese Hintomi Kawamura, who recently visited Kerala.
Being doctors, midwives, therapists and cosmetologists their mission was not just sight seeing or shopping in ‘Gods Own Country’. These women were a few among the foreigners who have been visiting Kerala to learn ayurveda for a short period.
“We have been conducting short-term ayurveda awareness classes for the last two years. It is not a curriculum-based study. The majority of them approaching us are therapists, beauticians, pharmacists, naturopaths and health educators.
The awareness class will boost their career in their homeland”, says Dr K Anil Kumar, executive director, Kerala Ayurveda Ltd (KAL), Aluva.
After learning the basics, these professionals carry ayurvedic drugs and herbs to their home countries. “The courses are of 10-18 days, one month, and two month duration. There are theoretical and practical sessions. It is enough for them to get basics of ayurveda as the majority come from therapy background. They attend lecture classes and undergo ‘pancha karma’ (five fold purification therapy) treatment,” he adds. Pancha karma includes ‘vamana’ (vomiting), ‘virechena’ (purgation), ‘kashaya vasti’ (decoction enema), ‘nasya’ (nasal medication) and ‘sneha/shiro vasti (oil enema). There are also yoga classes.
