Jindal Naturecare Institute is a wellness spot in Bangalore, India where people go to treat minor ailments with the help of naturopathy. It is
spread over 100 acres of land and is like a smallish township where you have
everything that you will need including a small shop and salon(!!) while you
stay there taking care of your health. We chose to go for 13 days to detox and
learn new ways to live a healthier lifestyle. It was a one-of-a-kind experience
that will stay with me forever. Considering the fact that 90% of the people we
met there were there for the nth time, who knows, we might go again!
The campus has three types of accommodation – Economy,
Executive and Deluxe. The facilities – doctors, therapy centre, eating place,
kriya area, etc – are separate for Economy and Executive & Deluxe for the
ease of operations. Whichever accommodation you choose, be assured that you will never feel lonely as everyone there has a smile on their face and is willing to
make a friend. Also, you CAN use your gadgets in the room and your mobile phone in certain public areas. You are here to detox so they tell you not to, but it is not a jail!
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| Our cottage on the ground floor - this was a mid range accomodation - extremely spacious, clean and centrally located! |
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| Yoga and laughter area |
Your day starts at 5.30 in the morning with yogic kriyas
followed by meditation, laughter and yoga. At first, I found laughter session
extremely weird, but that changed when one morning I was feeling extremely low which
changed after a few stupid forced laughs. Post that, it became one of my favourite
sessions to attend.
After the morning session, you get to enjoy your first drink
at 7.45 a.m. It can be anything from Jaggery water with ginger, to bhindi water!
Plus, you get a handful of sprouts as well.
From 8 a.m. you start to attend what your doctor has
recommended for you. On the very first day we met four doctors – Naturopath,
Yoga instructor, Acupuncturist and Physiotherapist. The gave us a list of
things that would suit our ailment. You are suppose to meet your Naturopath
every day to discuss your current state and plan for the next day.
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| The lake side path |
We normally started with cold mud pack on the abdomen in our
room which is very good for digestion. Post that I tried to see my doctor and
finish that off! You are scheduled two therapies per day in the therapy centre
which can be an awesome massage, cleansing colon hydrotherapy, water therapy or wax/mustard/castor oil packs to sooth aches and pains. One therapy is scheduled in the first half,
and the other in the next.
The other juices (green smoothie, wholesome juice, aloe vera, coconut, soya milk, etc) are given to you at 8.45 am, 2 p.m., 3.45 p.m.
and 8.15 pm. Lunch and Dinner is at 10.45 a.m. and 5.45 p.m. respectively. With
so many meals and activities you hardly ever feel hungry. As for what they put on your plate, well that depends on what your doctor has recommended for you. It could be a full meal consisting of soup, chapati/khichadi, vegetables, fruit and buttermilk. Or, it can be a raw diet - soup, steamed vegetables and fruit. Third, just soup or juice, also known as liquid diet fasting. Whatever it is, you will not be forced into it by your doctor unless you are reluctant to try new things. Or maybe not even then.
We filled the gaps in between with optional things - acupuncture, physiotherapy, walks in
the path and reflexology. There were multiple yoga sessions for various diseases,
and we attended a few. We even took a nap every day after our lunch – otherwise
the day became very tiring. Considering how big the facility is, I was taking 13 - 14000 steps without even going to the walking path!
Every evening there was some 'entertainment' session organised in the common
hall which ranged from a cooking session, diet tips, antakshari night, housie,
carom tournament and a movie night. I can't comment on them because I didn't attend any because I was busy talking to people!! Evenings were meant to socialise and meet
several people from various walks of life. We met and spoke to many, many
people. There was comfort in knowing that everyone was going through something
or the other and they were there to fight it. Also, conversations helped us
discuss common problems and take advice, most of which has been very fruitful.
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| Water shed in the walking path |
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| The central meeting spot! |
There must be more than 200 guests in the campus (mostly from Mumbai and Gujarat) and more
than 200 staff members to take care of them. Even though you are not suppose to tip them, every
attendant was smiling and helpful. I can say each one of them was like a nurse who was
there to take care of you whenever you needed.
There is so much more I can say about the place. Initially,
like all others, I felt slight nausea and found the whole thing very challenging - both emotionally and physically.
But as days progressed, I began to love the experience. I realised how much I,
and almost everyone I know, needs to be there atleast once to understand so
many things about their body.
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| Peacocks along the walking path! |
It is definitely a beautiful place with healing powers if
you embrace the experience completely. I plan to follow what I have learnt to
the T and go back when I feel I am failing in my attempts, for this is exactly
what this place does – brings you closer to your health goals and remind you
how you need to take care of the one gift that God gave you – your body.