Getting to Rasayana was straightforward thanks to the clear directions on the clinic's website. The clinic itself is welcoming and light with beautiful paintings on the walls.

 

I had a consultation and Abhyanga massage with Jamie at Chelsea Natural Health Clinic. If you never had an Ayurvedic treatment before, be prepared to answer a questionnaire on your lifestyle, health, personality and mental attitude. The indepth questionnaire lasts almost an hour and helps the practitioner devise the right treatment and after care plan that's specific to your needs.

 

The lifestyle consultation is based on the analysis of three doshas or main components of one's body: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Each dosha is related to organs, personality and general preferences.

 

To summarise, Vata is movement and refers to circulation and the nervous system. Pitta is heat, metabolism and digestion. Kapha is related to the body's physical structure and fluid balance.

 

Do you like spicy foods? You are probably a fiery Pitta and the recommendation would be to favour mild cooling foods. 

 

You end up learning so much about yourself and at the end of the consultation you are given nutritional and lifestyle recommendations to achieve balance and better health. 

 

With early documented Ayurvedic principles originating in 1500 BC, this type of Eastern philosophy is very popular in Asia. In marked contrast, there are only a few places in London that offer Ayurvedic treatments.

 

An Abhyanga Ayurvedic body massage is soothing yet energising and is performed using warm spiced oil. There are three types of oils to choose from and the right one is selected on the basis of the consultation.

 

For example, people like me who are Kapha dominant - prone to weight gain - need an uplifting oil infused with ginger and other stimulating spices.

 

The massage strokes are fluid and continuous and very nurturing. You fall into an almost hypnotic state and you simply focus on the present moment. At the beginning of the treatment I reques