Glimpses of Mumbai: Ancient Wellness

As you may know, India is a very old country, with ancient traditions and forms of medicine that may seem very strange for those of us used to more modern drug-based form of healing. One of those forms of traditional healing is called Ayurveda, which stresses the use of plant-based medicines. One of the many aspects of Ayurveda involves massage as a form of wellness and healing. Having never had a massage in Mumbai, I decided to take the plunge and get a Kerala Ayurvedic massage.

Having had the massage, I honestly have very mixed feelings about the whole thing. Unlike the Swedish Relaxation massages I'm used to at home, this massage was very very very oily. They use heated herbal oils that have various medicinal properties, and they use A LOT OF IT. I was a little panicked that I was going to slide right off the table at one point. And because of the quantity of oil used, the massage table is literally a table, not the plush cushy things I'm used to! Its so oily in fact, that you literally HAVE to shower before you leave. All this together, and I was convinced I hated the massage. But now that its 4 hours later, I'm not so sure. Why, you ask? Well, for one, I feel amazing; rejuvenated and relaxed, and my skin is soft like a baby's bottom!!!!

Would I do this again? Honestly, I'm not sure. I didn't like all the oiliness and lack of plush comfort at all, but I do like the end result!

P.S. If you're interested in learning more about Ayurveda, the Agni Yoga Studio offers an Introductory workshop.

Mumbai Day 1

Here's a little feature that I will call: Things you will see in Mumbai that you probably won't see in Cleveland.

Exhibit 1: Ceiling Fans in the bathroom. I think this is an absolute genius idea, and granted, Clevelanders would only use it for 4 months out of the year, but it would be an awesome bathroom amenity for those 4 months.

Exhibit 2: Cows on the sidewalk. The term Holy Cow comes from India, and as a sacred being, the cow is allowed to roam pretty much undisturbed wherever she pleases.

Day 1 in Mumbai is typically my day of relaxation and jet-lag recovery. It usually involves a FABULOUS mani-pedi at a posh hotel spa for a whopping price of $30!! Of course this is a premium to the more normal, non-posh mani-pedi cost which is usually under $15 ("Maintenance" is so much more affordable in Mumbai!!!).  On the way to my appointment, I took a few pictures to give you a glimpse at the city...

If you lived in Mumbai, you would do shop for fruits and veggies at a series of stores like this:

Its monsoon season in Mumbai- ominous clouds rolling in over the Arabian Sea with part of the skyline in the distance. Its rained on and off in the past 18 or so hours that I've been here, but its usually a short sharp shower, followed by general cloudiness. It is however, VERY humid!!!! My fading Brazilian blowout is no match for this crazy humidity!!

Tonight I'm having quiet dinner at home with my parents and my grandma, and hopefully getting to sleep at a normal bedtime in an effort to erase my jet-lag induced dark circles and bags under my eyes!!!