My relationship with Indian philosophy and culture began in my teens, eventually leading me to live in India in the early 1980s. I first encountered Ayurveda, when I traveled and lived in Maharashtra, India for a couple of years. I undertook formal study and after almost ten years of clinical practice and teaching Ayurveda for women in the West, I came to the Indian state of Kerala for my own session of Ayurvedic rejuvenation.

Kerala is the sweet spot of India–the birthplace of Ayurveda, and Trivandrum especially continues to resonate with the life pace of ancient times. I simply fell in love, and stayed on to look for any opportunity to establish a women’s Ayurvedic healing centre. I’d dreamed of creating a place to honor each woman’s power to heal her body, her mind, and even transform her life, especially in times of critical transition. A place where eastern and western women learn from and support each other. A place promoting conservation of native medicinal plants, sustainable resource use and healthy traditional lifestyle and diet practices.

My teenage son joined me, getting to know Kerala in his own way. We enjoyed relationships with the loving people in our Trivandrum neighborhood. I forged especially close ties with Sanjeev Kumar (Sanju) and his family. Sanju was a skilled and caring Siddha therapist with more than 20 years experience treating patients from all over the world. Over time, Sanju became a true uncle to my son, and my heart’s adopted brother.

Sanju has an unmistakenly positive on the patients he gave therapies to, and even on those he simply spoke with. He and I shared many early conversations about the true essence of healing and the value of happiness–enjoyment, juice, rasa–in life and health. He’d say to me, “Chechi” (chechi means sister)—”The patient herself is 40% of all healing. Without a good mind state in the patient, we can give so many therapies and powerful medicines, but if the patient is unhappy, how can they have their effect?”

His respect for the divinity inherent in every body shone through his work and words. He explained to me, “Chechi,  what we do as therapists simply removes the rust. Our treatments cleanse off impurities and highlight the goodness of the body. We are not adding anything to the patient that is not already there itself. When the patient admits these treatments with 100 percent of mind, the results are outstanding.” I was delighted to find this person who shared my conviction in the patient’s innate wholeness, no matter the imbalance causing suffering.

I became even more focused on establishing a healing center,talking with people and looking into locations, but I couldn’t seem to find the right situation. I returned to my practice in the U.S., teaching and practicing Ayurveda as ‘A Language of Life. 

Five months later I made what I thought would be on last trip to India,  to a nice visit with my Malayalee family, pack up my Kerala home, and let go of my dream for a while. This time, though, Grace flooded each day! Everything magically fell into place. First, Sanju’s employer moved out of town and accepted his resignation. In addition to being a great therapist and medicine maker, he was also an experienced clinic manager. I knew he would be an enormous help to establishing the women’s healing center, and he agree to work with me. Next, a perfect location became available right in my Thittamangalam neighborhood. Local supporters came forward to help with the myriad challenges before me. Clearly, the unseen force–the MayaShakti–was behind all the unfolding.

I feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to bring benefit to so many who came for healing, for learning and to contribute their skills and energies to create a truly restorative environment. I learned so much from these years – from my clients, patients, students, staff and community – as the founder and director of Rasa Ayurveda. Through the deep knowledge distilled over generations, we were all steeped in Ayurveda–hearing, smelling, tasting and being touched by Mother Nature’s forces and qualities. Mother Nature–our ultimate healer, source and home.

It is with much gratitude that I continue to carry timeless natural wisdom forward to revive and re-invigorate people and palces, for the good of us all.