Stress is an inexorable fallout of today's fast paced life style and has become an integral part of our lives. We cannot wish it away. Acknowledging its presence and then finding ways and means to control and ultimately eradicate it, would be a more practical approach. Chronic stress can take a heavy toll on our health and well-being and hence cannot be ignored. The Healing Program at Carnoustie is a unique amalgamation of the best therapeutic practices of Ayurveda with Yoga asanas (body postures), Meditation and Pranayama, Kundalini Yoga, Pranic Healing and Reiki. This integrative approach to stress management heals both physically and emotionally/mentally and helps the guest to exercise greater control over his/her mind and body. It trains the mind to stay composed, positive and stress free despite external disrupting forces.

The name Thalapothichil is derived from two Malayalam words- 'thala' or the head and 'pothichil 'which means cover. In this treatment, a thick herbal paste is applied to the scalp after a light massage with medicated oil. The paste is applied in a thick layer of about 0.5 to 1 centimetre, leavingasmallcentralportionemptywhichisfilledwith medicatedoil.Thepasteisthencovered with leaves (plantain or lotus leaf) and cloth leaving the central groove filled with oil open. At the end of the procedure the paste is removed and the patent is given a gentle relaxing head massage. Thistraditionaltreatmentisveryeffectiveintreatingvariouspsychosomaticdisorders.Itis used to treat migraines, headaches, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, chronic stress, epilepsy, hypertension, sinusitis and problems related to the head and neck regions.

Stress is known to be the primary cause for weight gain and erratic eating patterns. Shirodhara is an effective stress buster aiming to calm the mind. The term 'Shirodhara' is derived from the two Sanskrit words: 'shiro', meaning head, and 'dhara', meaning to flow. It involves the warm and steady flow of medicated oils on the forehead, more specifically on the "third eye." The Vedas describe the third eye chakra or 'Ajna' as the gateway to higher consciousness and enlightenment having deep spiritual and psychosomatic significance. The calming medicated oils flow in a continuous stream transporting the self to a calmer place thawing all negative emotions. It is said to have a balancing effect on the deepest recesses of the brain, while stimulating the endocrine system's pituitary and pineal glands.

Ksheeradhara involves pouring of warm medicated milk specifically on the forehead or on specific points on the body in a gentle uninterrupted stream and is often accompanied by a gentle massage. Pouring of medicated milk on the forehead is known to stimulate and soothe the hypothalamus, thereby regulating the functions of the pituitary gland and inducing sleep. It has a calming and cooling effect and relaxes the central nervous system. This therapy is highly beneficial for vata and pita disorders and is recommended in certain neurological conditions especially those accompanied by burning sensation and numbness, for stress reductions and for treating headaches, migraine, anxiety and insomnia. Besides its calming effect, the treatment nourishes the skin, aids proper blood circulation of the body, lubricates the joints, relieves pain and stiffness of the muscles and joints and is known to be useful for treating arthritis.

Kati Vasti is an effective ayurvedic treatment for relieving lower back pain, one of the biggest health disorders of modern times often triggered by stress and anxiety. The waist area of the body is known as ‘kati’ in Sanskrit and this treatment involves the holding of warm ayurvedic oils over the lower back and spine region for a specific period of time. The patient is asked to lie face down on a wooden plank and 200-300ml of medicated warm herbal oil is poured into a reservoir made on the lumbosacral area using black gram dough. The oil is kept in the region for 30 to 40 minutes, followed by gentle massage of the area and steaming for 15 minutes for better absorption of the medicinal oil into the body. This treatment relieves numbness due to Sciatic nerve compression, strengthens the back muscles, reduces inflammation and alleviates lower back pain.

In this treatment medicated lukewarm herbal oils are poured into a cap fitted on the head and retained for 15 to 60 minutes per day basis the patient’s prescription. The selection of the medicinal concoction and oil for the procedure is based on the patient’s condition, the Rogi bala (strength of the patient) and Roga Bala (severity of the disease). This treatment is known to nourish the brain cells and has a calming effect on the brain. It is highly effective for facial paralysis, insomnia, severe headaches and other vata-originated diseases and nervous disorders.

Yoga's calmative and restorative poses along with controlled breathing activate the parasympathetic nervous system, bringing the mind and body to a calm and relaxed state thereby reducing and eliminating stress. By reducing perceived stress and anxiety, Yoga also appears to modulate stress response systems. This in turn, decreases physiological arousal - for example, reducing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure and easing respiration. Studies show that the most effective ways in which yoga targets stress is by stimulating increased mindfulness and by increasing self-compassion. This helps the practitioner of Yoga to exercise greater control over his/her mind and body and to stay composed and positive despite external disrupting forces.

Kundalini Yoga - "the yoga of awareness", is a dynamic blend of physical postures, breathing, movement, stretching, meditation, mantra and relaxation; the combination of which activates the glandular system, strengthens the nervous system, expands the lung capacity and purifies the bloodstream. It brings balance to the body, mind and soul, and can be practiced by almost anyone, regardless of age and fitness. A Kundalini class can be a good workout, the only difference being, that both its teachers and students (often wearing white turbans) participate in each kriya with a quiet reverence more akin to being in a temple than a gym. If coalescing physical exercise with spiritualenlightenmentexcitesyou, KundaliniYogamightbeaperfectfitforyou.

Pranic healing is a simple yet powerful and effective system of ‘no-touch’' energy healing. Pranic Healing is based on the concept that emotions are nothing but energy forms. In Sanskrit, it’s called ‘prana’ or life force. This invisible bio-energy or vital energy keeps the body alive and maintains a state of good health. Pranic healing at Carnoustie focuses on cleansing and energizing. Cleansing means removal of the diseased energy from the health aura and energizing means adding ‘prana’ or life energy to the affected area. It is based on the fundamental principle that the body is a self-repairing living entity that possesses the ability to heal itself and that the healing process is accelerated by increasing this life force that is readily available from the sun, air and ground within the recipient's body to address physical and emotional imbalances. Our experts focus on cleansing the ‘aura’ or the energy around a person to achieve inner tranquility and calm.

Reiki is a healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch to activate the natural healing processes of the patient's body and restore physical and emotional well-being. One of the greatest healing health benefits of this therapy is stress reduction and relaxation. The process aids in the repair of body tissues, removes toxins and impurities and restores balance and health by cleansing the body. Reiki is a specific type of subtle energy process in which healing is performed by the touch of the hands, allowing the flow of the energy from a limitless source (God Force) to the patient via the Reiki practitioner. It is extremely powerful, wherein energy can be channeled by intention alone. Reiki is excellent for healing any physical, mental, emotional and spiritual issues of any kind.