Erfurt, 21.2.2006
How this treatment came about for me? I’ve been practicing yoga since I was seventeen when I saw a documentary about Ayurveda. I was fascinated with one wish: I want to experience this myself! When I read an article in a health magazine about a daily routine and address from this resort a plan was made.
For two years I was laboring the thought of when, where and with what kind of money? How can I plan a trip to India so it would work out with my job and private life?
There was not a doubt about the necessity for a treatment. I am 42, have been a diabetic for 25 years with an insulin pump for the last 3 years. On top I am a single mum with two children and a job. Still, I don’t have remaining damages due to being a diabetic and feel considerably fine compared to other diabetics. Then again, I am more prone to sickness and not as energetic as I used to 10 years ago. Even though I learned a lot from treatments in Germany, there was never enough time for me. Besides, I was missing authentic, knowledgeable people giving me the bodily relaxation I was looking for. Since my field of work is in professional care for physically handicapped children where I move and relax them in a creative kind of way, I was looking for a wholesome and comprehensive way to relax myself.
After I knew I would go for six weeks to the hospital in Kochin, after packing, organizing and taking care of matters, suddenly I was getting second thoughts. I was going all by myself! I have never traveled without my kids or any male company. Outside of Europe on top it! What if my insulin pump would fail, my sugar level would drop and nobody would know what was wrong with me or what to do. In addition my dilettante knowledge of the English language. At night I would get all kinds of discomfort and had to realize all of it was of a psychosomatic nature, I was simply afraid. Me, afraid?! Afraid of traveling – ridiculous. It was true after all and I had to admit to it. But then, the grey and cold of January gave me the last push.
Off I went, on top of the clouds, literally speaking. On the plane I would listen to a mp3 player, ear to ear with my afghan neighbor, during stopover I was invited to eat with an Indian family – welcome to India! – and 5 am my 18 year old neighbor right next to me would excuse himself for being too tired to entertain me any longer.
Arriving in Kochin the driver was already waiting to take me to the hospital. He was amused by the local traffic and happy about the tropical temperatures. And yes, I was welcomed in India by an entirely different kind of hospital. The building was wonderfully located in midst of palmtrees , surrounded by a jungle atmosphere and its noises. The rooms were generous in size and clean. Five to ten people were being taken care of by a staff of 12 people. One would have a personal nurse, which would always bring your medication, would wash your head and massage your hands or feet. In the morning someone would wake you with tea by your bedside, 11am you’d get a glass of freshly squeezed fruit juices to your bedside. On top the marvelous 1,5 hour massages in the morning, done by two people, in the afternoon there was usually another one … I could have never dreamed of anything like it!
Given this kind of attentive, respectful and comprehensive care I would finally feel like an individual rather than mostly being subjected to an impersonal German medical system. At first I’d feel a little bit uncomfortable about being serviced this way. But then I realized it was exactly the same type of attention, feeding and comprehensive care I would give on a daily basis with my work. Now it was my turn.
Due to this relaxing, comprehensive care I was able to free my mind and deal with my blood sugar level, finally keep record again. This way I was much better able to level out changes. After one week I was completely happy. I had lost 3 kilos and needed only about half of my previous insulin intake. Though one wouldn’t discuss each individual value with the doctor, I was under the impression they would have the average western med school education anyway.
During the daily massages I had the feeling all negative experiences of my past and accumulated tensions got expelled from my body. I would substantiate this feeling with auto suggestive relaxing methods. On his visits, for four weeks, each time the doctor would ask me how I was doing, and each time I would say: I am happy and feel better each day. Last but not least because of daily yoga in the morning. Nothing would change when I started getting oily showers on my forehead, which seemed to have evoked unpleasant childhood memories with some of the other travelers accompanying me. Neither was I homesick, nor was I feeling any kind of lethargy, instead I was full of harmony and happily calm.
This kind of atmosphere would allow excursions with our driver and walks. This way, for instance, on the street, I was informed about a big yoga convention taking place in a neighboring stadium. I was accompanied to attend an informational meeting and at the convention, as guests of honor, we were seated on red velvet chairs. We got to experience Kerala dance, a vocal concert and the arrival of the head guru in a Mercedes covered with flowers. I was impressed by the calm and serenity of some 2000 people. Another time we would see dressed up elephants on the street. We were walking with the crowd and witnessed a temple ritual with praying and drumming ceremonies. Then I got to know “my Indian family”: Father, mother, 2 adult daughters and a 18 year old son. With them I experienced close up Indian tradition. Pudia meditation, for example, where an invited priest is singing for 3 hours without a break. The prayer was for the middle age daughter who would get married soon. The wedding is supposed to take place in May with some 700 guests. After meditation we ate with neighbors and members of the family traditional Kerala food served on a palm tree leaf. Later I was allowed to attend a meeting with the future husband of the other daughter. She was very nervous as he pulled up in a taxi with his parents, aunts and uncles. Also, we took a half day boat trip through the backwaters of Kochin and this way could watch life of people living on the river.
Next to me there were other Europeans, 2 Germans and 2 people from France. With our mutual meals on top of the roof, there ere plenty of conversations, sometimes interesting, sometimes funny and at times sad. I had the feeling of every spoken word to have twice as much meaning and weight than back home.
We left as changed people. More calm, satisfied, with more energy and more in depth. Now I would have one more week in order to adapt to time, adapt emotionally and my diet. I have to communicate the news to my loved ones. My routine to eat changed. Now its like my stomach is telling me what to eat, rather than my eyes. A usual coffee with a role seems much too fatty! All of my behavior is more introverted rather than, like before, extroverted. The very first jeans I bought prior to injecting insulin fits again. I wake up in the morning at 6am, am wide awake an do yoga, diligently eat my tablets and go to work. On my job I have the rare opportunity to talk a lot about my treatment. In ethnic classes I can show pictures, offer yoga at physical education classes and listen to mantras on a water bed. On Saturday night for my birthday there is Ayurveda food and meditation. But afterwards there’s also wine and conversations.
Simone M., Erfurt
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