10 Day Residential Panchakarma Detox Retreat
Healing from diet and lifestyle disorders in a stunningly beautiful countryside location in Dorset
Go through a personal journey of healing experiencing the power of Ayurveda in a fully catered mini-hospital environment
- Heal chronic illness and learn to manage life for better health and wellbeing
- Enjoy massages and cleansing rituals with nature as your accessory for healing
- Practice yoga, pranayama and meditation
- Learn principles of Ayurveda
- Eat the ayurvedic way: seasonal, local and organic healing foods
Next Session:
6-17th January 24 - Post Holiday Cleanse
What is Panchakarma?
The signature detox program of Ayurveda
Panchakarma procedures are indicated for two reasons: for those who want to recover from long standing chronic disease and those wanting to rejuvenate and boost health.
Ayurvedic practices aim at eradicating the diseases all together, not just managing them. However, if a condition cannot be cured, Ayurvedic healing will help improving the quality of life, at least. Particularly the conditions which require change of lifestyle and removal of bad habits are well addressed with panchakarma routines as clients go through an empowering learning journey that they can carry over to their lives at home.
Panchakarma has also been traditionally carried out preventatively at the change of seasons in order to avoid seasonal disorders and for rejuvenative purposes for higher stamina and resilience. The perfect moment is called rtusandhi, and there are three two week rtusandhis a year: spring, summer and autumn.
The detox journey starts with the enhancement of the digestive function and the elimination of gross toxins from the gut. This is done with small intermittent fasting routine and intake of herbs. At the same time the body is lubricated externally with medicated oils and internally with medicated ghee. This process is called snehana which helps toxins dislodge from the cells. Daily massages are followed by another detoxifying treatment called swedana, or sudation, which in our facility is done by staying inside an infrared sauna blanket.
When the body is ready, it will undergo a purge or a series of enemas. These procedures enhance from body’s own mechanics of elimination through the rectum. The panchakarma procedure might also include a nasal oiling called nasya and dry cupping.
With the intake of condition specific herbs, which can be either for boosting health or for healing from disease, the process consists of a rigorous monodiet set in a small intermittent fasting frame with strong emphasis of evening fasting. The last meal is usually taken around 5pm, sometimes earlier but this varies according to the fasting stamina and the client’s state of health.
Panchakarma culminates in a purge of different kind, either by taking purgative herbs orally or by an enema. This can be a process that extends from a day to seven days, depending on the state of health and levels of toxicity.
After the gut cleanse, the body is left without any or with very little digestive power which needs to be re-kindled with gradually increasing density of food. This process is as important as preparation and if not done correctly, can reverse the healing process back to toxicity.
What's Included?
A ten-day retreat journey is an intense program, however it is full of wonderful healing and health promoting activities. Relaxation is the main focus in order to promote self-regulation, the body’s own innate ability to heal itself. From morning until evening and overnight, all we do is create different experiences and learning opportunities to bring the body in a state of safety and comfort.
What’s included:
- Fully catered modern luxury lodge with modern amenities in an eighteenth century barns setting,
- Full health consultation
- Diet and lifestyle plan for the life after the retreat
- Daily massage treatments and herbal remedies
- Delicious Ayurvedic food
- 121 Diet and Lifestyle coaching
- Yoga, pranayama, yoga nidra and meditation classes
- Area of outstanding beauty
Add ons with no extra charge:
Visits to see farm animals, nature walks, farm activities such as hedge laying
Add ons with extra charge:
At request we can add services that make your stay even more comfortable such as…
How much does it cost?
£5,500
12 days
Payment plans available (see FAQ below)
A Typical Day
A typical day might consist of
- 6am wake up and morning routines (intake of water and herbal medication)
- Exercise (appropriate to the condition)
- 7am Massage therapies
- Personal hygiene routines
- 9am Light breakfast
- Classes, Walks, Self-Study
- 1pm Lunch (as per individual needs)
- Nap
- Afternoon activities (e.g. classes, yoga nidra, light movement, arts)
- 5pm Light supper
- Evening Yin Yoga, pranayama, meditation
- Lights off 10pm
Wraxall Yard
Wraxall Yard is a state of the art, beautifully renovated eighteenth-century dairy farm in the picturesque village of Lower Wraxall, Dorset
The space has been designed to cater for holiday makers in search for easily accessible luxury experiences within natural surrounding of the English countryside. With great attention to detail, its owners have designed a place which is not only functional in terms of accessibility but where the nature blends in with the interiors seen in custom made furniture and natural building materials and soft furnishing. Promoting sustainable, organic and local living, Wraxall Yard is a perfect match with Jivita Ayurveda’s ethos. We are proud to be collaborating with them, creating unique and authentic ayurvedic healing experiences, unparalleled to anywhere in the UK.
Wraxall Yard Website shows details of their estate, lodges and nature. It gives mores details of their mission to cater for those in need of relaxation and healing.
About Your Ayurvedic Practitioner
Anu Paavola (B.Sc. Hons) Ayurveda, MAPA
Trained in Clinical Ayurveda in UK and India, Anu has dedicated over a decade in promoting ayurvedic living from her London clinic and spa Jivita Ayurveda.
She is the founder of Jivita Academy of Ayurveda and the author of Ayurveda Detox: How To Cleanse, Balance and Revitalise Your Body where she focuses on daily and seasonal cleansing practices that are the key in keeping healthy especially before and after a panchakarma program.
Anu realised soon after starting her clinical practice that to get results with clients they needed first fundamental education on basic healthy living. Ayurveda is mainly about self-care and most of the times clients need help in understanding what is in their power to do and what has taken them to the current state of imbalance or ill health. She believes that healing needs to be a journey of self-discovery by insights that arise during programs such as panchakarma.
Anu has developed her approach to educate Ayurveda from a need to have a very easy and approachable entry to the most practical way to manage health and disease.
Her passion in education is also visible in client work. Anu loves being creative in finding ways to apply ancient wisdom of healing into modern context. She empowers her clients to take charge of their own health by increasing awareness in nutrition based on their individual needs. Incorporating her fifteen years of practice and teaching of yoga Anu’s approach to healing is almost unique to anywhere in London or the UK.
Anu has created a community of enthusiasts by teaching that health in its right form brings about joy in life. Healing and recovering in her opinion do not exclude fun and enjoyment but are an extension of balanced and abundant life.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a few options when you plan for your payments, which come with benefits the sooner you pay. Long term payment plans have an additional cost.
Deposit
To hold your reservation you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit of £500 unless you want to make a full payment immediately.
Full payment
Full payment needs to be paid 30 days before the start of the retreat.
Payment plans:
You can arrange a payment plan according to the time that is left between the first installment and the retreat. Full payment has to be made a month before the payment.
Other options: Longer term plans carrying over the retreat time e.g. for six months can be negotiated but will increase the full price with 10%
Our prices include VAT.
After booking in, you will receive a welcome email and request to fill in the consultations forms and a a meeting set-up in zoom for the initial consultation.
You should also read the terms and conditions on our website.
This program is designed to be a state-of-the-art experience of Ayurveda offered only by Jivita Ayurveda in the UK. The uniqueness of this program consists of an embodied and empowering experience of healing in Nature’s bosom with authentic clinical ayurvedic methods.
We design the program to match the exact needs of the client. We also have a conventional medicine doctor available for consultation to support the healing journey should clients already be on medication or undergoing treatments provided by NHS.
Added therapeutic services can be arranged at an extra fee.
The location, Wraxall Yard is custom made for wheelchair users with opportunities to enjoy many aspects of the English countryside classified as an area of outstanding beauty.
The cleansing body needs to feel relaxed, safe and comfortable. A nice lush resort can certainly provide that but there are a few things that need to be considered, factors that can put the body out of balance: travel, climate, bacterial exposure and jet lag. It is highly recommendable to reserve time for acclimatisation in the new location before and after the actual detox. Many clients return from overseas retreats only to see the benefits disappear soon. Detoxing and re-establishing a good routinely daily detoxing rhythm require stability. Travel and all its dimensions can be counterproductive for this purpose.
Detox carried out as close as possible to home environment is a better choice. The new diet and lifestyle habits learned during detox should be adopted for a long term and applied in life after detox. Aftercare of a strong detox program is as important as the detox itself. It should be a fortifying experience of building strength and resilience onto a new level. Traveling can seriously disrupt the recovery from panchakarma and opens the gate for toxicity to settle in again.
The initial assessment of toxicity and strength determines the ideal detox program and its location. If the choice is to go abroad for example to cure a chronic long-standing health issue, it is recommend booking at least a week off on both sides of the actual cleanse. A successful panchakarma increases vitality and tolerance levels and consequently the travel back home might not be a problem after all. There is, however, a clear risk if acclimatisation, preparation and aftercare are ignored.
Every detox program is uniquely designed and might already start before the actual residential stay starts. The clients will undergo a thorough assessment before the retreat and will be prepared to start on the first morning of the residence.
The arrival is on the preceding evening. We can arrange a pick up from the nearest train station such as Crewkerne from London arrivals.
Generally speaking, be prepared to eat simple yet delicious foods. For this reason, it would be good to avoid heavy evening meals towards the start of the arrival.
You will need comfortable season appropriate clothing for day and night, toiletries to cater for your most basic needs. Bring books to read with light content, unlikely to create upset or induce negative mindsets. Do not bring work with you and prepare to minimised online presence as much as possible. Bring a daily journal to write down your healing experiences.
The journey of healing is a full day activity. Come with an open and motivated mind, with an attitude of acceptance of what is and the potentials of when healing start manifesting. The program can bring up feelings and emotions that are lodged in the tissues and their release might be necessary for the recovery of the bodymind. The aim of our massage treatments is exactly that. Release the patterns that have set in the physical self so that energy flows, nutritions is received and toxins come out.
Wraxall Yard is located in a picturesque village of Lower Wraxall right in the heart of West Dorset.
Wraxall Yard, Lower Wraxall, Dorchester, DT2 0HL
The closest towns with train stations are Crewkerne, Dorchester and Weymouth.
We can arrange for the pick up (add price) from the station or you can drive there by car, with normal traffick about 3h drive from London. The best route from London is on M3 – M27 – A31 to Dorchester – A37 – A356 past Maiden Newton – Turn right to Cattistock.
Alternatively, you can take the western road A303 to Ilchester and further, come off the road A356 towards Crewkerne.
After ten days of healing diligently with diet, stress management, massage treatments, herbs and cleanses you can expect to be in a different place from when you came in. Having gone through a journey of learning through experience you should be able to carry the teachings with you to the life beyond the retreat with confidence. You are indeed learning a whole new way of managing your health and wellbeing. Our aim is to prepare your bodymind to be more resilient and adaptable in the varying life situations, not just be well in the retreat but to thrive in everyday life situations.
If treatment protocols have been followed to the letter you can expect more vitality and energy, good digestion, more focus and improved cognitive functions, confidence and competence in understanding what is good for you as an individual. You should be able understand how to take charge of your own health and not depend so much on others for advice.
Free On-Demand Workshop
Not quite ready to commit? Check out our free on-demand workshop where you learn to use food as a medicine.
Get the Ayurveda Detox book
How To Cleanse, Balance and Revitalise Your Body
Your practitioner Anu is the author of Ayurveda Detox: How To Cleanse, Balance and Revitalise Your Body, available from Amazon, Waterstones and Blackwell’s.
Her book will inspire you to try pace your daily and seasonal rhythms in a way that additional detox programs become almost redundant. Ayurvedic living is detoxifying per se and if you haven’t experienced it yet, learn from this book and create a new detox program for yourself that not only cleanses you but teaches you habits of a lifetime.
Find out more about Anu’s Ayurveda Detox book.
