Ayurveda & Yoga - Life-changing experience

Before I start telling my experiences about Ayurveda & Yoga treatment, let me confess myself.

Before starting treatment, I always neglected these kinds of treatment, specifically holistic treatments. Obviously, till that time, I was taking Allopathic treatment.

There are few reasons from my side to avoid Ayurveda treatment & Yoga.

First of all, Ayurvedic treatment is a slow process and I have been hasty by nature and was always looking for fast recovery. Secondly, lots of specifications in diet are involved in Yoga treatment, which I was scared to follow.

In Mumbai, I am staying next to KAIVALYADHAM institute and few of my friends use to attend classes over there. Those friends use to show me how they sculpted their body in different ways and shapes. After seeing their efforts, I convinced myself that, this is not my cup of tea and decided to ignore.

Till age of around early forties, I use to involve with little bit swimming only. Just forget of gym and other areas. In fact, to be precise, I had some kind of hatred feeling of doing exercises.

In early 2001, I started facing problem of hiccups and constipation. It was like storming attack. I couldn’t even get sleep at night, due to continuous hiccups. Top of it, it was constipation for 2 to 3 days minimum. I had lots of liquid diets, took some laxatives but nothing worked for me. Finally, decided to visit a doctor.

 That time, I was staying in Pinetown-South Africa. First of all, I was diagnosed with severe High Blood Pressure problem. So, Doctors advised me to go for bed rest with some tablets. But, again after few days, same problem arose and I got worried. 

Immediately, I rushed to visit doctor. That time doctor did Ultrasound. It revealed that my kidneys were damaged. So, they tested my blood accordingly and were shocked to see my kidney status. It was at terrible stage and immediately decided to go for operation. Since, I was staying alone; I decided to go back to Mumbai.

In Mumbai, immediately, I contacted specialist doctors and they too endorsed my kidney problem. So, I underwent dialysis treatment.

I had 3 cycles in 3 days. It was just terrible experience to carry this treatment but I had no option. Finally, when doctors saw some signs of improvement, decided to for C.T.Scan.

After one week, I did C.T.Scan and it revealed tumor behind kidney and that made kidney functions disaster. So, immediately, biopsy took place and biopsy diagnosed for malignant tumor. It was one of the shocking moments in my life. Since then my treatment was undertaken by Cancer Specialist. Naturally, I had to go for chemotherapy. I had 3 cycles of chemo and again went through C.T.Scan. This time, it didn’t show the improvement, what doctors were looking for. So, next step was to go for operation.

In August 2001, I went through operation successfully but still doctors advice me to go for rest 3 cycles of chemo, just to prevent any further complications. It was, in general turmoil experience and mind wrecking one too. After some time, I decided to come back to South Africa for job and I landed back again in June 2003.

After this treatment, my blood pressure problem though was not so serious but I started taking Enalapril 20mg tablet, once in a day. Those made me feel comfortable. But still, I never involved any exercises nor go for any food diets then.

In 2007, I shifted to Centurion for job. There I came across Dr. Sharduli Terwadkar, who is Ayurvedic Doctor & gives Yoga Therapy in medical point of view.

One day, very incidentally, I was at her place & very abruptly, I spoke to her about my problem of B.P. and kidney. Eventually, I took my medical reports with me & showed to her.

She immediately prepared my separate file, checked my present B.P.

Next thing, she did is, she chalked out a special diet routine for me and insisted to follow it very religiously. She started Ayurvedic Medications for Blood Pressure & kidney improvement.

She taught me some simple exercises & meditation.

I still feel wonder how, but I decided to follow it seriously. Please remember, till that time, I never turned to Holistic Treatments in my life.

Initially, naturally, it was extremely tough to follow this new routine. Some times, I ignored food diet or some times, I decided to skip Yoga!! But, after some days, I found myself in different state of mind.

My daily routine made me more cheerful and active. She also insisted to intake minimum 7 to 8 glasses of water in a day. Actually speaking, this part of the treatment, in initial days, I really followed on daily basis. Just because, there’s no any extra efforts involved!!

To get up early morning, was real tedious job for me. Here, since I am staying alone, everything, I am managing for myself. Cooking, washing vessels, clothes etc I have to do myself.

Some times, obviously, I used to feel tired & skipped all these yoga exercises.

But, surprisingly, I was so much used to that feeling of relaxation in daily schedule, if I used to skip the yoga, I felt terrible & tense.

Then, when next morning, once I used to finish these exercises, I found myself more relaxed.

I did Omkar, Meditation, just 5 Suryanamaskar & few simple Yoga postures. It also involved breathing exercises & this whole thing made my body flexible & relaxed.

Initially, as a High BP patient, I used to do all these exercises under my Doctor’s supervision.

For first few months, I took Ayurvedic Medication regularly. I used Enalapril occasionally if needed.

After some duration, I found that, my duration of taking B.P.tablets increased, means, previously I used to take one tablet, every early morning, at the time of tea or coffee.

Now, slowly but intentionally, I tried to manage my High Blood Pressure with Ayurvedic Medication & Yoga, although, I used to carry tablet with me in the office.

Due to daily yoga exercises, I found that my body became very much flexible. Previously, if I did some exertion, I used to have difficulty in breathing but slowly that problem reduced a lot. I was still taking recommended water intake.

After some weeks, Doctor advised me to increase the duration of exercise and also added some more exercises. Now, I was ready to take that challenge.

As I can visibly see the effects of proper diet, herbal medication & yoga, I am convinced now about benefits of it.

Now, I am doing this for last one year. Remember, I started all these activities, at the age of 49!! Of course, there is no age limit to start living healthy life.

The more, you feel interested in Yoga, the more benefits, you can gain. I won’t say that, due to yoga, I got back my young days. It can never happen but when you grow up, you need to keep your body more fit, to avoid any further complications like joint problems, muscle stiffness and especially blood pressure problem.

Now, I have skipped Enalapril completely. Obviously, I am just taking Ayurvedic medication.

I am so sure that I will manage my health with proper diet & exercise that I won’t have to be dependent on medicines anymore.

One thing you need to keep in mind that there is no shortcut to gain anything in life even health.

You must have enough patience and have faith on what you are doing.

Ayurveda & Yoga will surely give you positive results but in long term process. This is my self experience.

A person, who never followed any diet routine & any exercise till age of 49, is managing his health properly within period of one year. He is feeling more comfortable & confident to practice Yoga. My example, itself proves the quality and result oriented process of these ancient sciences. In older days, the problems like arthritis used to make life miserable. Due to dedicated Yoga exercises, these kinds of problem disappear totally. I think this should be enough to convince others to follow natural ways to live healthy life.

One more point, to have this treatment, you don’t have to carry any financial burden. In fact, just following proper diet management, you actually can reduce the financial burden. No Hospitals, No costly tests and most of all, no side effects!!

Now, considering all these aspects, I think, Ayurvedic treatment and yoga exercises are the model techniques of improving body and giving life a better shape.

So, why can’t you try this and get the wonderful experience and pleasure , most of all?

Please remember, age is not a barrier to start living with natural ways of health maintenance. You can start at any age. Obviously, if you are younger, naturally you can avail benefits for longer span of your life. 

Anil Govilkar

(Official in Mahindra, South Africa & a person dedicated to health management with natural sciences)