I started noticing how difficult it was for me to settle in such a peaceful environment.

My norm is trying to find inner peace in a hectic, busy life.  But my reality here was the total opposite.  I was at a resort dedicated to stress relief, health, tranquility and peace. The silence allowed me to hear quite clearly the blaring volume of swirling negative/non-self-loving inner thoughts that had tormented me like a crazy demon reflecting back at me in a mirror!

I was truly shocked to discover how hard and non-self-loving I was towards myself!

Add to that I was bringing recently revealed enmeshment struggles that I started working on with a psychologist. My plan with that was to try and work through some of what I’d learned so far with the therapist at the resort.

I suddenly felt broken.

Then panic because I only had a week at the resort.  What if it took me the entire week to settle?  What if when I started to feel the peaceful effects of the wellness resort, I’d have to leave?!!

As well, I felt the inner excitement – a pressure – to want to blog each day about my experiences.  The internet was very slow to upload pictures.  I felt frustrated because of that. With the slow internet, when would I have enough time to blog between a full day of scheduled healing treatments?

It was my husband Michael who calmed my panic and inner pressure down.  Using WhatsApp to communicate because he was back in Qatar – he helped me shift my mindset to not panicking that I have to leave India – to be excited to take home what I was learning at Carnoustie to incorporate into our lives!  As for the blogging – I’ll do that when I return.  I will immerse totally into the Carnoustie experience, then get to experience it again when I blog about it from home!

The only remaining struggle was how to deal with my negative self-talk and enmeshment issues I’d brought with me.  I brought my journal and a book on enmeshment to help me.  But when I started writing or reading  – I realized I just didn’t want to be facing them. Not to deny them… just to find another way to face them.

An answer came that day!!!!

I discovered that I could take my Reiki Master Teacher Level with yogi Dr. Raj – Carnoustie’s Reiki Master, Prana Healer and yoga professor.

Reiki would become my focus for the remainder of my stay! Reiki would be my tool to work on my negative self-talk and enmeshment issues!

I now had solutions for all that presented to me…..I could now relax into my Carnoustie experience……

I do love a plan……

My walk to early morning yoga!

Next to the restaurant for my morning detox tea and Pitta Vata Vegetarian breakfast:

Pictures during my walk to the pool:

My first treatment of the day was Reiki!  This was when I discovered I could take my Reiki Master Teacher Level! Again, I was still uncertain about taking pictures before my Reiki treatment started. The only picture I did take was the Spa Menu in reception and the yoga hall outside the Reiki room!

Back at my villa after my AMAZING Reiki session, an Indian Pond Heron looks for something to eat in the lily pond on the patio!

My next three treatments:

Abhyangam, Siroksheeradhara and Nasyam as described from the resort’s website:

Abhyangam – the greatest expression of self-love. It is believed that the effects of Abhyangam are similar to those received when one is saturated with love. Abhyanga is infusing the body with ‘prana’ or vital life force. When we infuse all our cells with love, they are revitalised and energised. It involves massaging of the body with warm oil infused with healing herbs and balancing essential oils. Abhyangam moves ‘Prana’ (vital life force energy)withinthebodytherebynourishingand revitalizingallbodyorgans.Itaidstheremoval of toxins and stimulates both arterial and lymphatic circulation. It boosts the ability of nutrients to reach starved cells and allows for the removal of stagnant waste.

Siroksheeradhara – involves pouring of warm medicated milk specifically on the forehead or on specific points on the body in a gentle uninterrupted stream and is often accompanied by a gentle massage. Pouring of medicated milk on the forehead is known to stimulate and soothe the hypothalamus, thereby regulating the functions of the pituitary gland and inducing sleep. It has a calming and cooling effect and relaxes the central nervous system. This therapy is highly beneficial for vata and pita disorders and is recommended in certain neurological conditions especially those accompanied by burning sensation and numbness, for stress reductions and for treating headaches, migraine, anxiety and insomnia. Besides its calming effect, the treatment nourishes the skin, aids proper blood circulation of the body, lubricates the joints, relieves pain and stiffness of the muscles and joints and is known to be useful for treating arthritis.

Nasyam – is a very effective treatment for illnesses in the head region. Medicated oil/ herbal juices/herbal powders/medicated milk are administered through the nose for a specific period of time as prescribed by the doctor. There are different kinds of Nasyams based on the difference in the type of medicines/oils used.The treatment removes excess humors accumulated in the different sinus cavities and throat and cleanses them thereby increasing oxygen supply to the brain. Nasyam is highly effective for treating migraine, anxiety disorder, chronic stress, hormonal imbalances, paralysis, epilepsy mental disorders, premature graying and falling of hair, loss of smell and taste and is often prescribed to improve voice clarity.

Completely relaxed, I was off to my Pitta Vada vegetarian lunch…..

Decorative wooden post and flowers in the restaurant!

Selfie before lunch! The brown spot on my third eye is Ayurvedic powder to prevent colds because I arrived at Carnoustie with a cough and recovering from a bad cold!

Pitta Vata Vegetarian lunch:

Next treatment was face massage & face pack!!!!  This was AMAZING!!!!  First was a papaya and medicated rice scrub.  Then a papaya, apple and banana mask!!!  All ingredients in the scrub and mask pure and natural!  My skin was as soft as silk and GLOWED with a radiant shine!!

I met a wonderful couple – Andrei and Alica from Moscow. Their hobby is traveling the world to scuba dive – Andrei is an accomplished photographer.  He noticed me with my new Canon EOS – and a friendship began!  Andrei suggested I see the butterflies in the gardens as a great place to take pictures!  Andrei is a Pitta Vata like me.  Both of us had our cameras with us at all times!  His wife, Alica is a Vata Pitta!  We hit it off right away and as well, a friendship began!

Here is my way to the garden to find butterflies!

Next, I walked to the Thiruvizha Beach and had fun watching the crabs try and get to the shore! In the fifth picture – all you can see are their eyes poking out above the water.  Look for 4 small black dots….

There were young boys fishing off the end of the rocky pier and had fun waving to me as I took their picture!

Next was advanced yoga by the beach, then to the restaurant to drink my afternoon detox tea.

Pictures after yoga and on my way to my villa to relax before dinner!

Before dinner there was a performance of Indian traditional dance.  That will have its own blog!

My Pitta Vata Vegetarian dinner:

My morning worries absolutely dissolved after a glorious day…..

S, <3 <3 <3