Wellness or holistic health has been a traditional practice in India since ancient times. It is therefore no wonder that the rising number of global travelers seeking health and wellness treatments and retreats consider the subcontinent as one of their target destinations.
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Yoga and Meditation
As the birthplace of yoga, India has an abundance of yoga centers teaching disciplines such as Hatha, Bikram, Pranayama, Iyengar, Siddha, Kundalini, Tantra and more. Meditation practices include Vedanta, Vipassana and Tibetan Buddhist and are generally taught at an ashram. Some of the more popular concentrations of practitioners are in Rishikesh, Pune, Mysore, Kerala and Goa. The style of teaching is likely different than in Western countries and the quality of both facility and teacher will vary greatly. It is therefore advisable to search for a center that accommodates your belief system and ask lots of questions before committing with cash down.
Ayurveda
This traditional Indian medical practice, born about five thousand years ago, is an integrated approach to health based on holistic healing. It continues to be a part of everyday life for Indians. Kerala is a well-known region for Ayurvedic courses, and training colleges are found throughout India.
Medical Treatments
Due to rising costs of health care in the West, medical tourism (traveling to receive medical treatment) has become more accepted in recent years. India is one of the leaders of this new phenomenon, catering to foreign tourists in need of hip replacements, knee surgery, dental work, chemotherapy and stem cell treatments. An embryonic stem cell clinic in Delhi uses patent-pending technology unavailable elsewhere, either due to government restrictions or pressure from health-care industry in the developed world. Procedures can cost from a tenth to half of the cost in Western countries including airfare and accommodations. Ask for referrals from former patients and do extensive research into a clinic’s background before agreeing to any procedure.
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Ayurvedic Massage: Kerala Tourism