Ayurveda on Madeira

The Experience

Immediately upon arrival, I was greeted at the hotel with a wonderful foot massage. Afterwards, it was time for lunch, which consisted of an Ayurvedic buffet to choose from. Ayurvedic food is vegetarian, so no meat or fish this week. No treatments are planned on the day of arrival, so I am free to relax in the garden and partake in a meditation class before dinner, looking out at the setting sun.

The next day starts with yoga. Whereas the morning yoga classes in Sri Lanka started at 6am, here in Madeira, they start at 7am. For me, this is an ideal time – I make sure I get to bed at a decent time in the evenings, so I naturally wake-up at 6.30. After the yoga class – whereby I witness the sun rising – and breakfast, I have my consultation with the friendly Doctor Gopal from India. He establishes my Ayurvedic constitution (Dosha) and draws up a plan of action for the week ahead. The plan consists of massages, massages and more massages, all with copious amounts of warm oil. The type of massage and the oils used are selected based entirely on my constitution. As the week progresses, I feel myself relaxing more and more each day. For each massage, I am warmly received by the sweet and extremely professional team at the treatment centre. An hour-and-a-half later, I saunter back to my room to enjoy my newfound sense of relaxation.

In addition to the massages, there are daily yoga and meditation sessions that also help re-establish a sense of balance. There are also a number of different workshops. What’s more, there is also an individual nutrition consultation with an equally friendly doctor, Doctor Subha. She too comes from India, and whilst I already knew a fair bit about an Ayurvedic diet suitable for my Dosha type, she teaches me the finer details of how to optimise my nutrition further still. For example, I knew which nuts best suit my constitution and how best to combine them, but I didn’t realise that soaking them overnight would make them even more suitable. I can apply these kinds of practical tips at home, too!

At the end of the week, I return home entirely refreshed, having learnt LOTS too.

How an Ayurveda retreat in Madeira compares to one in Sri Lanka.

Besides the fact that the yoga classes in Madeira start an hour later than in Sri Lanka, there are a few other differences to highlight: In Sri Lanka, everything is somewhat more intensive, whereas in Madeira, things are a little more geared around Ayurvedic ‘wellness’. In practice, what this means:

• Treatments: in Sri Lanka you get 2 treatments a day and are massaged by 4 hands; in Madeira, you get 1 treatment a day and are massaged by 2 hands (1 person).  
  
• Daily programme: because you receive fewer treatments in Madeira, you have more time to discover the surroundings. 
  
• Food: the venues in Sri Lanka are larger, so the buffets are also larger with more a wider selection. Coffee is not served in Sri Lanka and there are nutritionists present who can sometimes be pretty strict : ) In Madeira, you can choose what you fancy from the Ayurvedic buffet, and have the option of drinking coffee at breakfast.  
  
• In Sri Lanka, in addition to your (massage) treatments, you also get daily herbal medicines that support you in reaching your health goals. In Madeira you do not get these. 
  
• The weather: in Sri Lanka it’s always warm; in Madeira, it’s fresh in the winter, but then again, you can get there in less than a four-hour flight.

Either option is blissful. Choose whichever is the better fit for you!

Wellness, Spa & Health

Alpino Atlántico specialises in Ayurveda. The consultations and treatments are always conducted by professionally trained doctors and therapists and are held at the resort’s Ayurveda centre. This means that you can comfortably walk from your room to the treatment area in your bathrobe and slippers. There is a separate space where yoga and meditation classes are held.

The day after I arrive, the doctor establishes my constitution (Dosha) and creates a plan of action. The plan consists of massages, massages and more massages, all with copious amounts of warm oil. For each massage, I am warmly received by the sweet and extremely professional team at the treatment centre. An hour-and-a-half later, I saunter back to my room to enjoy my newfound sense of relaxation.

There are daily yoga and meditation sessions that also help re-establish a sense of balance. There are also a number of different workshops. I also have an individual nutrition consultation with Doctor Subha. She too comes from India, and whilst I already knew a fair bit about an Ayurvedic diet suitable for my Dosha type, she teaches me the finer details of how to optimise my nutrition further still. For example, I knew which nuts best suit my constitution and how best to combine them, but I didn’t realise that soaking them overnight would make them even more suitable. I can apply these kinds of practical tips at home, too!

What’s on the menu

If you are following an Ayurveda programme, you will eat special Ayurveda meals from the buffet, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bread, bread toppings and eggs are also available at breakfast in addition to the Ayurveda dishes. At lunch and dinner, the buffet includes hot dishes, including curries and other primarily vegetarian dishes (no meat or fish). You will receive dietary advice based on your initial consultation with the doctor who will determine your Dosha/constitution. This will help guide your choices from the buffet.

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