The proliferation of chemically induced, ‘over-promising’ therapies and products in the market have influenced a family to offer the 5000-year-old Ayurvedic forms of treatment that has worked on millions of people around the world
The Golden Kiwi Ayurvedic Centre, officially opened by Mt Roskill MP Phil Goff on February 9, 2013, is stated to be the only location in New Zealand offering the ‘genuine Ayurvedic therapies and treatments’ practiced in the South Indian State of Kerala.
Located at the 561 Mt Albert Road (at the corner of Hillsborough Road turnoff), this Centre is a part of the ‘Golden Kiwi Country Club and Ayurveda Resort Limited,’ (located at 520 Mt Albert Road) established in 1998 to provide accommodation and Kerala Ayurveda treatment.
Extensive package
The Centre offers wellness packages, comprising time-tested therapies of Kerala. These include Pizhichil, Thakra Dhara, Njavarakizhi, Njavarakkizhi, Podikkizhi, Abhyangam, Udwarthanam, Thala Pothichil, Sirovasthi, Kadi Vasthi and Shirodhara. Panchakarma Therapy, based on the five-fold cleaning method, is a speciality here.
Registered Ayurvedic Practitioner Dr Smitha said that the human body is vulnerable to various types of bacterial and other attacks and Ayurveda is the only time-tested treatment that does not have side effects.
Ayurveda classifies people based on body type rather than their country of origin.
“It is based on the ‘Five Element’ theory and ‘Tridosha’ theory. Ayurveda is for all humans, since all of them are a part of the Universe. Diseases are caused by imbalances in ‘tridoshas’ through wrong diet, lifestyle, pollution and even the five senses,” she said.
The causes
Stress can lead to fatigue, irritable bowels, and depression and wrong lifestyle can cause diabetes, cardiac problems and obesity, she added.
“Wrong diet can also result in skin allergies, digestive problems, deficiencies and degeneration. Degeneration of disc, back pain, cervical spondylitis and headache are often related to occupation. Dosha imbalances can lead to arthritis, frozen shoulder, joint pain, hormone imbalances, gynecological disorders and sinusitis,” she said.
With a bachelor degree in Ayurveda and Surgery from the Government Ayurveda College in Tripunithura (Kerala), she worked for 16 years in a number of institutions and organisations, before being appointed as the Chief Physician at the Naivedya Ayurveda Hospital owned by Catholic Church in Cochin.
Authentic therapies
Founder-Director Liza Johnson and that her Mission is to offer healing through authentic Ayurveda therapies to those suffering from illnesses of body and mind.
She said that Kerala is the destination for thousands of people from all over the world to experience and gain from Ayurvedic therapies and treatments.
“Kerala is famous for Ayurveda and is home to reputed Ayurveda Universities, Ayurveda Hospitals and Ayurveda medicine manufacturers. ‘Kalarippayattu,’ a traditional martial form of art in Kerala, uses special Ayurvedic massage techniques to give flexibility to body and treat injuries to muscles and ligaments,” she said.
Mrs Johnson said that new Centre provides guidelines to customers on ideal daily and seasonal routines, diet, behaviour and the proper use of our senses.
“We help them to understand the connection between our environment, body and mind.
Ayurveda therapies give a feeling of ‘rebirth,’ as the body is detoxified and rejuvenated.”
A graduate from the Narsee Monjee College of Commerce Mumbai and a postgraduate in Business Administration from the University of Michigan, US, she migrated to New Zealand with her family in 1998 and established ‘Golden Kiwi Country Club and Ayurveda Resort Ltd.’
Bright prospects
Her brother-in-law Mathew Paul is a former official of the Indian Navy and later worked at ‘Carnival Cruise Lines,’ a US based luxury liner.
“I believe in Ayurveda and chose New Zealand to establish the Centre, encouraged by relatives and friends,” he said.
“Ayurveda is the most ancient system of holistic medicine practiced in the world today, which prevents and cures illnesses. Customers get a treatment based on their body type, which will balance the ‘doshas’ or life energies,” he said.
The Golden Kiwi Ayurvedic Centre is open from Monday to Saturday from 830 am to 6 30 pm. Phone: (09) 6246611 Fax: (09) 6296343 Email: info@goldenkiwiholidays.co.nz
