Ayurveda specialist, Carla Paulo, director of YogaLounge, Yoga teacher and Yoga Therapist, is the one who directs the Intensive Ayurvedic Program of Deep Detoxification, Panchakarma at YogaLounge. YogaLounge is the only center in Lisbon that offers this personalised and intensive Ayurvedic plan called panchakarma.
Panchakarma what is it?
Panchakarma is a sanskrit word meaning “five actions” or “five treatments”. This is a process used to cleanse the body of toxins left over from illness and poor nutrition, both from food and emotions. That’s why it’s a treatment within Ayurvedic medicine. There are three doshas in Ayurveda that describe the dominant state of mind/body: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. While all three are present in everyone, Ayurveda states that each of us has a dominant dosha that is unshakable from birth and, ideally, an equal (though often fluctuating) balance between the other two. When the doshas are balanced, we are healthy; when they are unbalanced, we develop illnesses, which are usually manifested by skin problems, poor digestion, insomnia, irritability, anxiety, and others. Panchakarma is a profound Ayurvedic treatment. Learn more about Ayurveda.
The Panchakarma Detox YogaLounge Program
The complete Panchakarma program is a commitment to oneself: 3 to 28 days of practical treatment (four hours a day) are required, along with detoxifying teas and a strict and generally ascetic diet. It is a complete treatment that can be expensive, but YogaLounge has more solutions for those who want to do a less expensive detox (see this article below). But for those who do manage to do the show, committing to it, especially at changing seasons and on a regular basis, is an incredible healing.
Panchakarma Retreats
These panchakarma programs are part of detox retreats designed for a group or for an individual person. Along with the daily treatment, Carla has a program full of nourishing experiences such as sound baths, yoga, meditation, breathing and nature baths. The sequences of yoga positions recommended by Carla are personalised for healing, tuning all the panchakarma work.
Find out why you should do a panchakarma retreat and the best time to do it.
Preparing for Panchakarma
In the preparation of panchakarma, Carla has clients drink ghee for four consecutive days before starting panchakarma treatments (in increasing amounts: just a few teaspoons on the first day and up to a certain number of tablespoons on the fourth day). According to Ayurveda, Ghee binds to AMA, which is the toxic buildup in the body, and allows it to move through the gastrointestinal tract to be expelled later with a specific oil and basti (you can read more about this in the article at below).
Know the benefits of ghee and how to make ghee at home.
Balancing the Doshas and Elements
Ayurveda works with the balance of the five elements – air, fire, earth, water and ether – in the body. These elements also make up the three Ayurvedic body types, or doshas: Vata is shaped by ether and air, pitta by fire and water, and kapha by water and earth.
Whenever any of these elements are out of balance in the body, symptoms can manifest. For example, if someone’s elemental scale goes too far towards fire, the body will start to show more signs of heat such as rashes, heartburn and high blood pressure.
Deep Cleansing for Body and Mind
Carla diagnoses these elemental imbalances through touch. At the beginning of every panchakarma treatment, she reads the client’s pulse with three fingers. Depending on the quality of the heartbeat and where it feels in the fingertips determines the imbalance the client is experiencing. And then decide which treatments are most suitable for the person that day.
The panchakarma treatments used at the YogaLounge allow each person to enter into a deep cleansing of the body and mind, bringing rejuvenation and longevity to the body and soul.
Discover below the Ayurvedic treatments used to slow down the aging process and also introduce healthy habits that increase longevity.
Personalised Ayurvedic Treatments at Panchakarma
Carla combines the Panchakarma styles of South and North Índia. And as it is practiced in Portugal, it incorporates native herbs to replace what you cannot get from India.
Depending on what someone needs from their Panchakarma cleaning, which is personalized, here are some of the treatments Carla can offer.
Abhyanga
Carla starts Panchakarma with Abhyanga, a light pressure lymphatic massage. Specific techniques are applied with medicated oils on the skin and Ayurveda massage techniques are applied to the body. This massage is transcendent.
The oils used in Abhyanga are blended according to each person’s specific imbalances. In preparation for the treatment, the oils are prepared for the day, and sometimes for two or three days, depending on the treatments.
Discover the main benefits of ayurvedic abhyanga massage.
Udvartana
To energize the body, rejuvenate the skin and promote circulation and detoxification, Carla uses Udvartana, an exfoliation of herbs and other ingredients, in a specific and personalized preparation. It is especially good for people who have slow energy.
Pizhichil
For people struggling with anxiety, sleep problems or nervous disorders, Carla suggests Pizhichil. Over the course of two hours, warm oil is poured continuously over the body. It’s remarkably relaxing.
Netra tarpana
Netra Tarpana is Panchakarma’s answer to dry eyes. It involves herbal-infused ghee.
Basti
Basti, or enemas, are an essential part of panchakarma. After using ghee and a specific oil to remove AMA out of the digestive system, Basti helps eliminate what’s left. Depending on what conditions she is treating, Carla uses different enemas preparations according to the client.
Nasya
For the respiratory system, Carla prescribes Nasya: a deep, vigorous massage for the head, neck and shoulders. Herbal oils are applied and the skin is also worked on with fingers and special accessories.
In this treatment, an aromatic steam can be inhaled in a personalized therapeutic preparation, for example, to open the airways and clear the mind.
Shirodhara
Carla uses Shirodhara for almost every Panchakarma client who enters this YogaLounge deep cleansing program. During the treatment, the client is lying on a table while the oil is poured on the forehead. It is deeply meditative. Some people feel so open to treatment that they have out-of-body experiences.
Post Panchakarma
The first time you do Panchakarma you will see that it is an Ayurvedic intensive course for your well-being. It allows you to better understand your dosha, the elements and the lifestyle that is right for you. Carla can recommend a post-panchakarma protocol involving food, meditation, yoga and rest to help your body’s natural rhythms stay in balance.
In these panchakarma retreats, Carla uses ayurveda practices that promote a balanced life and longevity.
Other Detox, Fasting and Cleansing of the Body and Mind
When people cannot pursue panchakarma on a regular basis, due to time commitment and overall cost, Carla suggests a 4-day panchakarma retreat in Lisbon. For those who want to dive deeper at home, Carla suggests a 5-days Detox/Fasting program with personalized online coaching. You can also enjoy online virtual Ayurvedic consultations with Carla, in which she guides clients in personalized Ayurvedic cooking, herbal remedies and dosha balancing practices. Also find some ayurveda recipes in his book of “Ayurveda Food for a Healthy Lifestyle”.
Take advantage of the changing seasons and indulge in a deep cleansing program at YogaLounge. Register in the Panchakarma program.
