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last August. Before creating our concept, Michael Kear- ney, our chief executive [of T e Carlton Hotel Group], travelled to Kerala – an ayurvedic hub in India – to research and experience the prac- tice fi rst-hand. We also had an ayurvedic spa consultant to assist in the development of our spa from inception to opening. We’ve adapted ayurveda to suit the Irish
O
ur Ayur v eda C-Spa launched in Wesport, Ireland,
DR THOMAS PAMPACKEL
Resident ayurvedic doctor, Carlton Atlantic Coast, Westport, Ireland
At Ayurveda C-Spa we provide a variety
of professionally administered treatments using oils and herbal powders sourced from the evergreen rainforests of Kerala. My team and I strive to off er the exact same treatment we’ve observed and experienced in Kerala
spa industry. While we wanted to promote something traditional, we still wanted to attain our regular clients: so we run ayurveda alongside typical beauty services. Our team of two ayurvedic spa therapists and myself come from Kerala. We’ve grown up with its reme- dies and have a vast knowledge of this ancient practice. By hiring directly from India, we’ve brought authenticity to our off ering.
– including identifying the mind-body con- stitution and selecting products accordingly. Following the treatment, we will also off er advice on how to maintain the dosha balance and to lead a healthy life, which is another main aim of ayurveda. We even go so far as to source our equip-
ment directly from India. For instance, the wooden table used for our shirodhara and
“Our two ayurvedic experts and myself come from Kerala. We’ve grown up with its remedies and have a vast knowledge of this ancient practice which we’ve brought to the spa”
ing the traditional practice, but it is also creating aware- ness and enabling more people to experience it. T ere is room for both – those who seek very traditional off er- ings will fi nd the clinics, while those searching for a more luxurious experience, focusing on wellness, will hunt out the spas. More spa-goers are looking for less super-
O
fi cial wellness experiences and want proper health guidance and aſt ercare, which is at the heart of ayurveda. Ayurveda also supports the notion of inner wellbeing – meditation, visualisation – and the major opportunity for this practice is that it off ers the tools and techniques to live in balance. Unfortunately, many proprietors see
ayurveda as a USP, but don’t understand the concept. If the understanding doesn’t start at the top, it can’t be relayed to the rest of the team and a project is likely to fail. But if the system is in the right hands and evolved in a respectful manner, it can succeed. Commercial spa operators looking to off er
ayurveda would be best to work with a spe- cialist advisor/consultant. Trying to piece the jigsaw together alone can be cumbersome and
ff ering ayurveda in a commercial spa operation is dilut-
SUNITA PASSI
Founder and creative director, Tri-Dosha
many mistakes can be made. You may end up with something that looks and feels very disjointed and doesn’t portray the essence of what ayurveda is. T ere are many examples of this in the market today. There are certain things that need to
be changed, such as the oils. Traditional ayurvedic oils are made with a medicinal her- itage and are pungent in smell. T eir aim is to cure an ailment, not to support delivery of a pampering treatment. We have worked with traditional vaidyas (ayurvedic physicians) to create an authentic herbal infusion, and we’ve worked with a leading fragrance expert in the UK to create the aromas. As far as I know, we are the only company that has created ayurvedic oil blends to this level. At Tri-Dosha, we also alter the treatments to
suit a modern spa. Our consultation focuses on ‘vikruti’ – body types as they appear today and not ‘prakruti’ – body types as they are genetically, which is what an ayurvedic doc- tor in a medicinal venue would take the client
62 Read Spa Business online
spabusiness.com / digital
ayurveda
pizhichil treatments is made from medicinal wood from the Indian venga tree. Many spas worldwide
off er ayurvedic treatments but not all off er authentic therapies. Our ayurvedic
team have invested a lot of time to ensure our clients receive genuine treatments. T e ayurvedic approach is diff erent from con- ventional spa treatments as its main focus is on an individual’s holistic health rather than merely the physical body. T is is the most benefi cial aspect of ayurvedic medicine. While ayurvedic treatments usually last
longer than an hour, we off er a variety of experiences ranging from 40 minutes to three hours to suit all our client needs. Our research shows that people are going
back to nature for its curative properties and that ayurveda is a proven profi table busi- ness model and is a segment with a vastly untapped growth potential. We plan to campaign to raise the level of awareness of ayurveda in Ireland.
Ayurveda C-Spa is Ireland’s only dedicated ayurvedic health and wellbeing spa. Details:
www.carlton.ie/atlantic-coast
through. Also, training needs to be specifi c to west- ern therapists. Traditionally, the doctor gives the consul- tation, then tells the Indian therapist what to deliver. In which case, however, thera-
pist training focuses on understanding the characteristics of the seven doshas or body types and prescribing treatments according to imbalances or simply to bring harmony. In addition, the massages themselves need
to evolve. Traditionally, the procedures have no structure behind them, marma points are pressed hard but not necessarily within a fl owing routine. So, we’ve created treatments that harmonise classic Indian techniques, such as stimulating the marma points, but which also have a stronger focus on struc- ture and a professional delivery. Treatments are typically administered on
a droni: a wooden table designed to allow excess oil to drain away easily. But, modern spas use less oil than normal, so it’s possible to use a western treatment bed to give more comfort to the client.
Tri-Dosha has its own an ayurvedic product range, treatment programme and training courses. Details:
www.tri-dosha.co.uk
SPA BUSINESS 1 2011 ©Cybertrek 2011
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