6 Ancient Traditions From Kerala We Must All Follow

 
2. Ayurvedic oil massageAyurveda has a living history of 5000 years. People in Kerala kept the tradition alive (even when the British Raj tried to replace it with allopathic treatments) because they recognized its healing power. Thousands of people visit Kerala every year to gain benefits from the source of the ‘world’s oldest health care system’.During my stay at Rasa Gurukul, I experienced Ayurveda first hand. I was prescribed a Shirodhara session to balance my Vatta dosha which had suffered due to weeks of poor sleep and stress. As I lay curiously on a wooden table, a stream of warm herbal oil was gently and continuously swirled across my forehead from a bronze pot hanging above me with a hole in the bottom. The gentle pressure and vibration of the oil on the ‘Ajna Marma’, an area where nerves are highly concentrated, is known to soothe the nervous system and induce rest. The 30-minute treatment weaved a meditative spell and helped me rejuvenate and reclaim mental strength.Ayurveda advocates the practice of Abhyanga – massaging every part of your body with warm oil daily for 15 to 20 minutes to revitalize your nerves and activate your marma (energy) points. According to Charaka Samhita, one of the oldest texts on Ayurveda, Abhyanga or self-massage makes you strong, relieves exertion, keeps you youthful and prevents age-related ailments.
 3. Herbs that healKerala is renowned for its natural abundance of herbs. I visited a spice and herb plantation on my way to the Tea Mountains and was stunned to see the variety. There were herbs to cure every ailment.Back in Rasa Gurukul, we were served a pale warm drink with every meal instead of water. Pathimugam or the East Indian Rosewood is a medicinal tree who’s hard, heart wood is boiled with water to disinfect it. When added to water, Pathimugam turns it into a pale pink colour. This herbal water is an excellent thirst quencher and also acts a blood purifier. In South India, sipping warm water with medicinal stems, barks and roots along with your meals is customary. It is known to stimulate Agni or the digestive fire and allows the body to easily absorb the medicinal qualities of the herb.The colourful cuisine of Kerala features distinct flavours of curry leaves, nutmeg, ginger and the South Indian start spice black pepper, also known as the Malabar Pepper. Most historians agree that the biting hot black pepper was a rare spice which only grew on the Western Ghats of Kerala in ancient times. It was so much in demand around the world that it is believed to have costed more than gold! All these wonderful spices and herbs can not only transform your meal with their captivating flavour and aroma but they also aid digestion and strengthen your immunity. (Also read: 5 Ayurvedic Herbs We Must Have in Our Kitchen)
4. Free your mind with Yoga At sunrise, I was standing on one leg at Rasa Gurkul's enchanting open temple, with firm shoulders and wobbly arms stretched ahead my chest trying to maintain my balance. While I take a deep breath as instructed, a gentle breeze passes by with a chirpy flock of birds and I tip over. For the next few days, I learnt how to relax and the art of stability. Yoga is more than just a form of exercise. It can reduce stress, increase a sense of calm and induce a sense of freedom.Rasa Gurukul has yoga sessions every morning at 6 a.m. and it was a great way to relieve my tensed muscles. Invigorated, I decided to try a form of yoga unique to Kerala, which is a combination of Hatha yoga and an ancient martial art practice called Kalaripayattu. Kalari, also known as Warrior Yoga, enhances your physical and spiritual power and it comprises of several animal postures. By the end of few basic poses and self-defense techniques, my shoulders were loose, my mind at ease and my body felt powerful.(Also read: 10 Basic Yoga Poses to Get You Started)
5. Using our traditional utensils One of the best known traditional cooking utensils in Kerala is the Uruli which is made of brass or bell metal. It is a circular, wide-mouthed vessel with a polished surface. It is suitable for slow cooking and is capable of retaining the natural colour and flavour of ingredients when cooked while using less oil. I spotted it at the Rasa kitchen simmering a lovely Tapioca curry. “The sound of Uruli was like music in traditional cooking, also a very common sound in the temples of South India,” says Das and informs me that Rasa Gurukul has frequent workshops to make their own traditional utensils and a blacksmith who makes kitchen knives.Sadly, most of our traditional vessels have been replaced with stainless steel and aluminium products (cheaper price and quality). These new-age utensils may contain some amount of Chromium and Nickel which can be toxic and should be kept away from the kitchen. Traditional cookware will always have a coating of Tin to prevent any reactions with food and they are known to add to the nutritional value of your dish. There’s a reason why our grandmothers boiled and stored water in copper vessels and why you will still find traditional utensils like the Uruli in the kitchens of Kerala. Good cookware is an integral part of cooking and can have a far-reaching impact on your health. Choose wisely.(Also read: Why Aluminium is Bad For Your Health)
6. Coconut oil for cookingThe name Kerala has been derived from ‘Kera’, the local Malayali word for coconut. It is a wonderful natural resource prized for its flesh, water, milk, oil and even sugar. At Rasa Gurukul, fresh coconuts are collected and dried to make oil. The traditional way of extracting oil from coconuts involves the use of a ‘Chakku’ run by oxen. I also learnt how we can make coconut oil at home using coconut milk– the raw, virgin sort. The naturally obtained coconut oil was far more fragrant and flavourful. It is one of the healthiest cooking oils, especially for frying as it is less damaged and chemically altered on heating. In Ayurveda, it is often prescribed for oil pulling that helps in good digestion. So, it's definitely a healthier alternative to your industrially refined oils. It is always best (and healthy) to rely on indigenous varieties of cooking oil for daily use. I would be happier splashing some extra-virgin coconut oil over my salads than an imported variety of olive oil that could be a health impostor for all I know. 
 
The pace is more leisurely in Kerala. They don’t call it ‘God’s Own Country’ for nothing. It certainly felt far from modern life. You may be disconnected but never isolated. Rasa Gurukul is a place to rejuvenate your mind and body. Relax by the river, potter around the farm, spend time alone or have a conversation with the young, enthusiastic children they mentor. It will compel you to think about your life in new ways. You're likely to leave a transformed person.Where: Kovilakam Kadavu Road, Poolani, Meloor, Chalakudy, Kerala.
Contact: 092075 64524
How to Reach: Fly down to Cochin. Rasa Gurukul is a 40-minute drive from the airport.