Looking for tranquillity, away from the maddening crowds? Nestled in the coastline of Maharashtra is a gem that is still hidden from prying eyes – Dapoli. Bestowed with long spans of untouched, immaculate beaches and surrounded by lush greenery, Dapoli is the perfect place to unwind. Known for its fabulous sunsets, away from the hustle-bustle, this is where you should be headed next to laze and relax. 

And while you are at that, let us introduce you to the beautiful holistic healthcare centre – Shrishail Ayurveda. A must-visit, whether for the wellness that it so subtly integrates with a retreat-like feel or for the plain, happy quotient that the idyllic surroundings provide. 

At Shrishail Ayurveda, there is a lot to do even if you are there for just a holiday. Neat and clean rooms give a homestay vibe with the old-world charm, the sounds of the birdsong coming from the foliage aid in instant relaxation of the mind; all of these are experiences provided by the caretakers of the place. 
The culture of Ayurveda is steeped in the place where the educators turned practitioners have a personal interest in bringing ancient wisdom and practice to benefit mankind. Healing has been given special importance here with specially curated treatments based on Ayurveda, yoga, panchakarma, sattvic diets, meditation and alternative therapies like music for instance.

Ayurveda stands on four strong pillars:

1. Nutrition – Sattvic food is the base of nutrition since the evolution of Ayurveda. This emphasises the basic nature of how one should eat. Light, fresh and healthy food which is plant based and seasonal and has had no artificial interference with nature by mankind. This diet includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains and legumes. Sattvic food is made at Shrishail with the intent to increase energy, happiness and mental clarity while still being pleasing to the palate.
2. Exercise – While there are many types of exercises, Shrishail advocates yoga, the age-old practice that is world famous in different forms now. Although here, it is taught by a practitioner who has trained with the best teacher, Patanjali and brings those poses to the forefront to heal different parts of the body. The specialty is based on the two basic principles of yoga: “Purusha” which literally means the male energy or pure consciousness and “Prakriti” which means nature or female energy. It is as simple as yin and yang and brought together in synchronicity, the results are mind-boggling. 
3. Relaxation – The foundation of everything that happens or that we can do and have the stamina for is “relaxation”. Shrishail offers relaxation in the pure form; starting with the property to the therapies and food that all aid in increasing our blood flow and give us more energy. It is a proven fact that a break from life means relaxation, leaving all the worries behind and that always helps one come back with a clearer mind that is positive and better concentration. It is also a memory booster and enhances our decision making powers.
4. Sleep – While the world thrives on this aspect and God and nature have intended for it to be so, the world as it stands today faces the biggest problem – insomnia, sleep deprivation because for many reasons. The quantum of this problem branches into many other areas of life and has diverse effects. At Shrishail, special attention is given to providing subliminal ways that aid in a good night’s sleep.

Therapies

Some of the main therapies offered at Shrishail include:

• Ayurveda cancer treatment: Cancer at any given stage can be slowed down and made painless with Ayurveda. While there is no reversal recorded by Ayurveda of the same, the quality of life which gets reduced with aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can be optimised. Dr. Dongare is not only a specialist with this form of treatment, he is an educator as well. Ayurveda cancer treatment is armed with extensive knowledge of herbs and an analytical approach that has been backed by old wisdom and experience. 
• Ayurvedic Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment: Arthritis in any form, cannot be reversed similar to cancer. But the inflammation of the joints and pain can be lessened with a specially devised module of treatment for Amavata, the ayurvedic word for rheumatoid arthritis.  The package crafted for each stage is different from the other due to the different stages of the disease, but has a baseline of ayurvedic supplements, yoga and dietary changes. 
• Alternative therapies for skin diseases: Our skin is one of the most important organs of our body, making it an important factor in our body’s health and well-being. More often than not, an eruption on the skin or a change in colour indicates a deeper problem inside the body. Our skin is reflective of internal equilibrium imbalances. Most diseases besides genetic reasons are because by bad lifestyles and wrong eating habits and times. Nature has prescribed ways to keep the vitality flowing but in the current times, people ignore it and thus, ruin their health. From the perspective of Ayurveda, Dr. Dongare analyses and prescribes treatments to restore the balance of the doshas.  A daily regimen that involves a healthy diet and lifestyle with appropriate sattvic food, yoga, herbal concoctions, meditation and daily routines that all work together harmoniously is recommended to bring relief to the patients.

Closing note:

Even if you don’t have any ailments, Shrishail is a must-visit to come face-to-face with the true Ayurveda culture. Once you have had the experience of internal cleanse and external relaxation coupled with the different types of chikitsa at hand, you will be left wanting more. Panchakarma in particular has such effects on people that they are converted and keep coming back for more. It is the detoxification process that tops the charts worldwide. Closing with the reminder that we as a whole are akin to life, action and breathing with consciousness.

As long as we are not living in harmony with nature and our constitution, we cannot expect ourselves to be really healed. Ayurveda gives us the means.

David Frawley