APSWC News | Study Tour

Study Tour: Nepal & Himalayan Healing Traditions

Submitted by Melinda Yon

The Nepal Spa and Wellness Association hosted a group 20 people from the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysian spa and wellness communities this month on a remarkable Indigenous Healing Tour of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Lead by National Geographic Expedition Leader, medical anthropologist, and Founder of Wild Earth, Carroll Dunham, the group was exposed to a treasure chest of wilderness healing practices. Culturally rich and traditionally awe inspiring, the three day study tour included visits to stupas, monasteries and temples, meeting Amchi's, Sadhuni priests, virgin goddesses, monks, healers, Chodpa practitioners and Buddhist gods and included blessings, healing rituals and demonstrations of Ayurvedic herbs, Sow Rigpa touch therapies and Vedic healing therapies. Highlights of the tour included visits to Mother Theresa's home for the aged led by Wild Earth and supported by Tranquility Spa; the group helped massage the delicate hands and fragile feet of some appreciative elderly men and women.

Just as touching and moving was the visit to the local orphanage where the group participated in Wild Earth's Ajimas (traditional midwife) demonstration of Newari (infant massage) on the babies and toddlers.

The study tour was an incredibly inspiring and rewarding experience and the APSWC would like to take this opportunity to thank the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), Nepal Airlines Corporation and the Spa & Wellness Association of Nepal for initiating the study tour and their support in making it possible. Given the interest generated from this year's event, the study tours are being considered as an annual APSWC calendar event. Please watch this space for more details.

"I went to Nepal looking for a spiritual experience. It is after all known as the Valley of the Gods and the birth place of Lord Buddha. I did get my spiritual experience. But it was not from visiting all those ancient temples of a thousand gods. Not from prostrating in front of the Kumari, the Living Goddess. And not even from receiving a blessing from Lama Wangdu Rinpoche, the greatest living chadpa practitioner.

My spiritual experience came from massaging an ancient woman staying at the old people's home founded by Mother Teresa. Her name, if I remember right was Vashmatti. She was probably over 80 years old. She was thin to the bones and she pointed to me several areas where she most probably experienced chronic pain. I sat on the pavement while I gave her a massage. She smiled to me a toothless smile that was the most appreciative expression I ever got from massaging someone. No words were exchanged. Only, simply human connection. And I found myself filled with unexplainable emotions and I was in tears.

Little did I know that my other travel companions were having the same euphoric experience. I am sure that like me, they have experienced the pure meaning of healing by touch". Jomar Fleras , Owner Sancturio Spa, Philippines

(Photo: Mother Theresa's elderly home - residents and APSWC study tour participants and Namari infant massage demonstrations by study tour group)