What is not to love about EverVeda, the new Ayurvedic spa in Oyster Bay, NY?
I was feeling weak, and had a lot of stress in my life and wanted to experience panchakarma without traveling to India, as I have done in the past. Panchakarma is the ultimate mind-body healing experience for detoxifying the body, strengthening the immune system, and restoring balance and well-being. It is one the most effective healing modalities in Ayurvedic Medicine.
I called the owner of EverVeda and asked her if she could give me a true panchakarma experience right here in Long Island. Jill Talve, who owns the spa, has a deep level of experience studying and practicing ayurveda. She has studied with one of the "rock stars" of ayurveda, Dr. Vasant Lad, traveling to India with him for an extended period of time to shadow him at his hospital in Pune, India, along with being a graduate at the California College of Ayurveda. Jill is so presentl, bringing a level of wisdom and compassion to the treatments that is hard to find here in the United States.
I arrived the night before my treatments were to begin. The first impression of EverVeda is simply peaceful and beautiful. The smells of incense, herbs, and spices permeated the air as I walked in the front door. Kindness and smiles greeted me from the staff and I was immediately made to feel at home, and that the focus would be on me (much needed for me, as my focus is rarely on myself, and I needed to pay attention to my own health).
After being served a meal of kichari, the standard meal during panchakarma treatments, I enjoyed some conversation and retired to my lovely room that had a bouquet of fresh sunflowers and a basket of sample products from an ayurvedic line that was for sale in the "shop". The little touches made me smile and feel like I was at a place that was very thoughtful about every detail.
After a restful night's sleep, I had a delicious simple breakfast of homemade cream of rice cereal spiced with cinnamon and cardamom, and topped with dates. After breakfast, my first treatment was abhyanga (an ayurvedic massage performed with two experienced practitioners, moving in synchronicity together using warm herbal oil all over the body). As I described earlier, the little touches, such as a charming little bowl filled with aromatic flowers was placed underneath the cradle of the massage table, where I could inhale the sweet smells while I was on my stomach for the first half of the massage. This treatment was followed with a steam tent being placed over my body, while one of the specialists massaged my face using a technique called marma. I was completely blissed out at the end of this treatment. Jill's assistants, Noelle and Keshari, are very well-trained ayurvedic specialists and they go out of their way to give amazing treatments and cook delicious food!
An outdoor shower came next, near the beautiful salt water pool. The gardens are filled with herbs and flowers that are used in the medicines, homemade right in the spa. The groundskeeper took me on a tour of the different plants, herbs, shrubs and trees... all part of the whole experience.
A delicious, simple lunch followed.
After some quiet time, my second treatment was shirodhara, which is warm oil poured slowly on the forehead for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. This experience is like going into a deep state of meditation, and the result is ultimate relaxation. I feel stress melting away just thinking back on this experience.
Dinner was a simple, but delicious, dish of kichari with aromatically cooked vegetables.
I spent three wonderful days at EverVeda, and only wish I could've stayed longer. The thoughtfulness throughout my stay was what impressed me the most. From a glass of coconut water being handed to me as I relaxed out by the saltwater pool, to a small sample of facial cleanser appearing in my bathroom in the morning with a little note, to an artistic array of dates on top of my morning cooked cereal, it all meant so much to someone who typically serves others and does not give herself enough self-care.
A true desire to help heal others, and promote the wisdom of ayurveda is present amongst the staff at EverVeda. It's an experience not to be missed. read more