Last evening we met with the resident doctor of ayurvedic, Dr. Baji. He's a pleasant man, around 40 years of age. He gave each of us individually a medical examination, which later included a blood test. The questions were largely the same as what you would find in a routine Western medicine evaluation, focused on lifestyle, ailments, and family history. His teachings were definitely more on the holistic side, something that I find attractive.
His instructions focused mainly on lifestyle, and how we all need to treat our bodies with respect if we're to get the most out of them. He discussed diet and how important it is to our bodies, and why at Zamorins they focus not on how much you eat, but what you eat. Everything is vegetable and fruit focused, and it's all naturally grown. Most of it is raw, though some is steamed. The 
food has a distinctive Indian taste, but after my mother had issues with the spiciness, they toned down her meal for her. In general, the medical side of the experience was great because it was an actual conversation with the doctor, not a 3 minute interlude before getting a prescription. We sat for around 45 minutes over the past two days discussing what a healthy lifestyle is, why it helps, and what the results will be. He doesn't encourage radical changes, though since it is a controlled environment here at Zamorins, it is more restrictive than would be expected in every day life. But the main teaching remains the same here as well as afterwards, to have a healthy balance in life you must treat your body well and feed it well. Basic message, but often I've found I don't take the time to follow it. Nice to have a completely dedicated experience to ingrain that in my mind.
food has a distinctive Indian taste, but after my mother had issues with the spiciness, they toned down her meal for her. In general, the medical side of the experience was great because it was an actual conversation with the doctor, not a 3 minute interlude before getting a prescription. We sat for around 45 minutes over the past two days discussing what a healthy lifestyle is, why it helps, and what the results will be. He doesn't encourage radical changes, though since it is a controlled environment here at Zamorins, it is more restrictive than would be expected in every day life. But the main teaching remains the same here as well as afterwards, to have a healthy balance in life you must treat your body well and feed it well. Basic message, but often I've found I don't take the time to follow it. Nice to have a completely dedicated experience to ingrain that in my mind.My health in general is good, but that I could stand to lose 10kg to hit my optimum height/weight. My prescription was to walk an hour a day, certain herbs included in my diet, my 2x/daily massages, and proper vegetable/fruit diet. He felt that even within two weeks I should start to see results of losing a couple kg without even noticing it. We'll see at the end if it's true. Regardless of the scale, I'm optimistic that by the end I will feel as well as I ever have health wise.
Jet lag showed its face when I woke up at 3am ready for the day to start. Fortunately, the Internet here works fairly well, so I used the time before sunrise to catch up with my wife Rae. 21st century is amazing, we were able to videochat while she was at work and I'm sitting 10,000 miles away.
Once the sun was starting to brighten the horizon, I decided I would get my hour walk over with early in the day. I proceeded to head out on the road, being incredibly careful to note where I walked (good lord, being lost in India sounds dreadful). I headed down the asphalt path until I hit a larger road (1 1/2 cars could fit on it). I continued down that path, walking by houses and people on their way to work. I was obviously not from these parts, but no one seemed to pay me any mind other than to stare a little longer than normal. I passed by the Hindu temple I've heard chanting early in the morning and in the evening, a service/ceremony was about to begin. After getting through a town area, I reached a clearing that was beautiful. The clearing appeared to be for 
some power lines, but regardless of that it was an amazing view of the cross-section of what I would call jungle or rainforest. I continued along for another 15 minutes before turning around. I completed my walk by running into Amelia, the 40 yr old Austrian psychologist who is also staying at Zamorins. After 30 seconds of strolling, she commented that I do walk fast. I realized if there was ever a time in my life for me to slow down, now was it :)
some power lines, but regardless of that it was an amazing view of the cross-section of what I would call jungle or rainforest. I continued along for another 15 minutes before turning around. I completed my walk by running into Amelia, the 40 yr old Austrian psychologist who is also staying at Zamorins. After 30 seconds of strolling, she commented that I do walk fast. I realized if there was ever a time in my life for me to slow down, now was it :)The massages today were a little different. During the first, they utilized heated and hardened sacks of herbs after the oil application. It was a pounding effect all over my body, meant to strengthen my body's muscles and joints. In the second, they applied herbs based on the doctors evaluation as to what would best fit my constitution. It's grey area beyond that level of description, but it basically felt like an exfoliant they applied to my body so that it would absorb it. Both felt great, though the second one was a bit abrasive on my skin.
My mother is also blogging about her experience if you want to check it out: 
http//:drpeggyf.blogspot.com.
http//:drpeggyf.blogspot.com.Tonight should be fairly chill. I will likely go to bed early after chatting with Rae about her day. Not a bad life going here :)
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