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MINI CHANDRAN, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE CGH EARTH SWASWARA, IN HER FIRST TALK WITH ZUZANA ZWIEBEL, UNRAVEL THE MEANING OF 'SWASWARA', THE AYURVEDA RESORT, SITUATED ON SACRED BEACH 'AUM', WHERE YOU CAN LISTEN TO YOURSELF...
I think it was my inner calling, maybe it was karma or it was meant to be...
I remember coming to SwaSwara just after it was opened, almost 12 years ago, a time when India was opening up for ayurveda. I was a travel agent at that point in time. I loved the place! I remember telling thetomanager, "I'd love to work here." It was just a casual conversation, but in a few years down the linean year SwaSwara become part of my ownjourney and my home.
MINI CHANDRAN
General Manager of CGH Earth SwaSwara
SwaSwara is the echo of its name. In Sanskrit - Swa means ‘myself’ and Swara means ‘sound’. SwaSwara is about listening to your self and about finding yourself. I think to find yourself in today's world is quite difficult. There's a combination of factors. We put too heavy burden on the back, we are too busy and physically exhausted which leads to mental exhaustion. We're not eating right. We're not eating right. But SwaSwara is athe place which helps you to calm down enough to be able to go within and begin to understand your Self. People laugh when I talk about SwaSwara and say there's a certain healing energy in this place, but I think that's what people feel when they come here.
Yes. It comes, when you learn to crest the wave. It comes at a certain time in your life. When I came here I was free, my own children were grown. I could really invest myself in this place and now I think, I'm reaping the rewards. I feel much calmer, understanding my relations with people and accepting all what life brings to me. SwaSwara has transformed me.
That's what we need to do in life. Including the members of the staff who come here. I have observed them how they change and become more opened for new things in their life. But definitely although SwaSwara does not come across as is not everybody's cup of tea, it is a space which easily becomes your perfect cuppa after the first sip! We have to be very clear about it. That's the biggest message you get in SwaSwara. I think like you find SwaSwara, SwaSwara finds you.
Mr. Jose Dominic described SwaSwara as a pilgrimage to the self. A lot of people didn't understand what that meant, but traditionally in the past you went on a pilgrimage during which you had time to spend with yourself and listen to yourself. That's exactly what happens here. You don't come on a holiday - holiday, where you go back home exhausted. That's what this place is all about – refocusing so as to be able to recalibrate oneself.
SwaSwara is ayurveda resort, but we're not a hospital. SwaSwara is more about trying to get you to find out what suits to yourself. We're not judgmental in that sense that you have to do ayurveda or yoga or you have to eat right. We do get guests who say, "We are not sweating it out." But we try to explain them, that it is not the goal and they do not have to compete with anyone. Each person's Swara is different. It's totally accepted. If you are afraid to go through full ayurveda treatment, then you can ‘test the waters’ with our wellbeing Swa programme.
Well, it might be an imagination or the game of almighties. Gokarna means Cow's Ear. It is believed that Lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow here. That cow was Prithvi, the Mother Earth herself. Hindu mythology also says that when Lord Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu created Kerala, it was done by throwing his axe from Gokarna.
When I spoke with Mr. Jaigopal, architect who designed SwaSwara, he did not mention Vastu Sastra (Indian Feng Shui) system. What he did say is that ground plan of SwaSwara just naturally flowed from his drawing board.
I believe, that this free flow of energy, you can be still felt in the resort. The space is open, you do not have to follow the straight lines and you feel the connection with nature around you. Once you are here, you understand that you don't have to box yourself in, which is what the most of us are doing, because either we're trying to live up to someone’s expectations or our own expectations.
I think it's just like I said, SwaSwara, as the place, gets to you and starts molding you whether you like it or not. I think that must have happened with the architect (laugh).
We had invited Swami Yogaratna, of Bihar School of Yoga to come and assist us in setting up the yoga schedule and offerings and she's written quite a bit about where the energies are. Surprisingly, it's in all the places which we use now for yoga and editation. I don't know, if it was done unknowingly or consciously. I like to believe that it was meant to be.
We have to handhold most of the guests. We're not here to judge what guest say, we're here to listen and help them get over the mental hurdles, they have brought along with them. Sometimes when someone listens to you it can help enormously itself which is of great importanceas in today's world, nobody has the inclination to invest in talking or listening to anybody else. SwaSwara creates and sustains its own community. We can see, that our Christmas and New Year Eve’s tables keep growing bigger every year with more and more SwaSwara friends arranging to come here to be together - like the old family gatherings we grew up with.
Founder & Director of Ayurveda Trails, healing collection of (extra)ordinary people and their stories, whose experiences are transferred into various trails shared by travelers.
In SwaSwara you evolve along with the place. There's so much openness, that you yourself, start opening up. You see things in a new light and a better perspective. That's what happens in SwaSwara.
CGH Earth Hotels & Resorts create travel experiences that let you explore nature, community and culture intimately. These experiences are themed around you - your awareness and aspirations!
VISHU FESTIVAL
NEW YEAR IN KERALA
The Malayalam word kani literally means that which is seen first. The traditional belief is that one's future is a function of what one experiences, that the New Year will be better if one views auspicious joyful things as the first thing on Vishu.
10 REASONS WHY AYURVEDA TRAILS ARE DIFFERENT
Ayurveda trails is using the symbol of mudra as reminder, healing is in your hands. We are creating a small collection of highly specialised ayurveda resorts run by passionate ayurveda experts, who want to keep authentic healing knowledge for modern world.
What is ayurveda? How is this ancient medical system connected with yoga, meditation, healthy food, relaxation in nature and modern life style? Ayurveda Trails is dedicated to everyone, who would like to travel and search answers to these questions.
NAVARATRI
Festival of Nine Goddesses
Navaratri is a nine night festival that honors the Mother Goddess in all her manifestations. The worship, accompanied by fasting, takes place in the mornings. Evenings are for feasting and dancing. Each day has a different ritual associated with it.
ONAM
The Harvest Festival in Kerala
Onam is the most popular festival in Kerala. It can be traced to the primitive harvest festival and also to the myth regarding King Mahabali - the benevolent asura ruler who brought peace and prosperity to his country. It is celebrated in August and September.
The importance of the feast to the Kerala's Onam celebration culture is captured in the famous Malayalam proverb: Kaanam Vittum Onam Unnanam - which means: One must have the Onam lunch even by selling one's property, if need be.
MANALTHEERAM AYURVEDA BEACH VILLAGE
Manaltheeram Ayurveda Beach Village, gives you an opportunity to pamper yourself with a heavenly experience. Enter the world of holistic healing and let Ayurveda and meditation restore your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional equilibrium.
MANALTHEERAM
Dr. Hemalatha Manoj
In Manaltheeram, we believe, that Ayurveda is a divine science of life, our hands should be pure to treat a patient. Sometimes we are not able to cure every one but it is important not to make any mistakes from our hands. We pray to God.
Somatheeram, the world’s first Ayurveda hospital set in a resort ambiance to provide Ayurveda healing and treatments programmes. With its exotic tropical beauty and tranquil hospitality, this getaway is the perfect place for relaxation and rejuvenation.
The World’s First Ayurveda Tourist Resort: Baby Mathew, in 1985 together with his brother Dr.Pauly Mathew, has founded the world’s first ayurveda tourist resort Somatheeram in Kerala. How has this journey started?
Cliff View Ayurveda Retreat is built in the Bauhaus style, which aims to reunite fine art and functional design, creating practical objects with the soul of artworks. The resort embrace the philosophy of traditional Ayurveda in modern style.
HARIVIHAR HERITAGE
Dr. Sri Kumar
Harivihar, abode of the divine, is a 170 year old painstakingly restored royal heritage homestead located in Calicut. It offers unparalleled experience of staying in a heritage ambience and benefit from the goodness of Ayurveda and Yoga, two great contributions of India to mankind.
I hesitated for publishing this story quite late, but there’s a beauty in rewinding. Makes me appreciate how all those days have become of me. The clever fall of dominoes of life events that led me to still standing. A very happy new year to all!
SwaSwara means your inner voice, this is a place of natural harmony to release, refocus and recalibrate the self. Inspired by the first sound of creation, the resort in Gokarana on Aum Beach is a perfect setting to enable one to hear the voice of the inner self.
Green gram is a powerhouse of nutrition. It has high nutritive value and can be consumed by anyone for improving health. Hence, this superfood is one of the most vital detoxifying agent as well as an energiser that helps to enhance the immunity of the body.
KAIRALI - THE AYURVEDIC HEALING VILLAGE
There is no better place to get inside nature and rejuvenate with natural medicine than the sweet scented forests of Kerala's Pala trees. Time spent at this jungle paradise will allow you to experience the authentic healing practices of India.
