When Isaac Mathai studied homeopathy in Kottayam, Kerala, it was merely to assist his mother who was a practicing homeopath in Wayanad. Little did he know that Fate had other plans in store for him-to escalate his career from that of a small town homeopath to a jet setting healing gugu with international status. Coming from a family with a tradition of homeopathic practice spanning four decades, Dr. Mathai graduated from the ANSS Medical

College, Kerala and took his MD in homeopathy from the Hahnemann post Graduate Institute of Homeopathy, London, following it up with a ARCH (London). Spurred on by the belief that will-ness had to come from within, and not merely by administration of drugs which generated unwelcome side-effects, Mathai worked as a physician for 10 years at Europe's first and largest holistic health clinic - the Hale Clinic. He studied Chinese Pulse Diagnosis and Acupuncture at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Nanking, China, At Harvard Medical School, U.S, Isaac Mathai trained in the Mind-Body Medicine Programme

It was Mathai's mother who told him that the body has a healing power which has to be recognized and encouraged, Due to abuse through bad habits. An unstructured lifestyle, poor eating habits, stress, a lack of exercise and a frenetic pace of life, the body falls into a diseased state. Having studied a number of therapies, Dr Mathai realized that the multi-system of healing works best rather than focusing on one programme of healing provided time and effort are taken to assess a patient's condition accurately and a case study recorded. Preventive measures taken at the appropriate time, timely in tervention and assuming responsibility for one's health are guaranteed to help one enjoy one's life to the fullest. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity". Total mind balance can only we achieved by harmonizing the physio, psycho, socio, emotional nutritional, ecological, and environmental aspects of a person, according to Dr. Mathai.

His dreams of establishing a holistic healing centre in keeping with international standards for the mind-body-soul programme, fructified recently in "Soukya", and showcases world-class facilities that apply traditional skills of healing. Positioned in a beautiful 30 acre orchard farm at Whitefield, 24 km from Bangalore the breathtaking ambience of "Soukya" is the first step towards a feeling of peace and being one with Nature. In fact, the word "Soukya" is derived from Sanskrit which means "Well being". Sprinklers made the verdant green lawns come alive; the sparkling droplets dancing in the sunlight like millions of little diamonds enhancing the vigorously colorful flowerbeds and carefully nurtured trees and shrubs. Using natural building material for both the inside and outside of the "five star centre". The gray stone units are topped with pagoda like sloping roofs covered with red clay tiles in the kerala style.

The flooring, in muted earth coloured Athangudi tiles, completes the quaint old-world look keeping the aesthetics of the centre fine-tuned to the traditional philosophy of healing,

Complementing his work and in total sync with his ideas is Suja Isaac Mathai, Dr. Mathai's charming and efficient wife who looks after the administration and the smooth running of the institution. Armed with an M.Phil in Food and Nutrition, Suja supervises the diet modules of patients and is its executive director. Dr Mathai is the chairman and medical director. Mathai's team comprises consultants and doctors both from modern and traditional systems of medicine and therapists, "Soukya's" international advisory board is headed by neurosurgeon Dr. R.M Varma and attended by visiting national and international specialists.

Dr. Mathai, 42 is visiting consultant at several clinics worldwide and his patient network spreads across 30 countries.

Apart from the six branches of integrated medicine. "soukya" offers complementary therapies ranging from acupressure, acupuncture. Aroma and auriculotherapy pranichealing, yoga therapy and zero balancing."Soukya" is the only one of its kind in the world offering under one roof a combination of therapies ranging from Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Allopathy, Siddha and Unani. The Uzhichil, Pizhichil and Dhara in Ayurveda are sought after therapies with no side-effects.

Naturopathy harnesss the natural elements such as air (breathing techniques) water (hydrotherapy) and earth (mud therapy) in its various programmes.

Vegetable and fruit packs nadpacked from "Soukya" own organic farm are offered to rejuvenate a tired body. The mud packs comprise local mud and mud imported from the Dead Sea, Clay, moor mud from Europe or the Turkish Rusool.

"We offer many kind of herbal tea and soups," says Suja, showing us her herbal garden. "Here, coffee, alcohol and tobacco are taboo. Salads and soups dominate the diet along with organically grown rice, Whole Wheat and curried legumes."

The décor is kept minimalistic and essentially traditional and entirely designed by the creative young women.

Among Dr. Mathai's celebrity list of patients are the Duchess of York (Sarah Ferguson) rock star Tina Turner and George Harrison, Sting Courtney Rose and the band Deep Purple. Prince Charles is purported to be greatly interested in holistic and integrated medicine and is patron of the British Holistic Medical Association and founder of the Foundation for integrated Medicine, U.K.

THE WORD soukya, in Sanskrit, means well being, happiness, and a harmonious state of the mind, body, and spirit'. The place, soukya, aims to provide that - at a cost. But for the patrons of this high end holistic health clinic that's the last of their worries. Money may not be able to buy wellbeing, but it seems it can make looking for it a lot easier. Where else can you find therapists and healers from all the possible fields to help your body, mind, and soul strike the right balance. SOUKYA is the dream project of 42-years Isaac Mathai has a client list that reads like a who's who, with names like Tina Turner, String, and Sarah Ferguson on it.
After getting his homoeopathy degree from his native Kerala, Dr, Mathai did his MD from the Hahnemann Post-Graduate Institute of Homoeopathy in London. He then practiced in Europe's largest holistic clinic, the Hale Clinic, for 10 years. It was here that he built his reputation and envious client list. He also studied Chinese pulse diagnosis and acupuncture.

The health centre will host the Global Holistic Health Summit sponsored by the National Foundation for Alternative Medicine, USA, from January 12 to 17, Guest speakers will include the Dalai Lama and new Age guru Deepak Chopra.

"The holistic approach lays emphasis on health promotion, prevention of illness, and early intervention. It is not like you get up one morning at 40 and have a major illness. The illness has been building up for maybe a decade. It's just that you don't know." Says, Dr.Mathai. He points out that people today suffer illnesses in their parents' generation. This is due to high stress levels, irregular sleep patterns, and dietary imbalances.Dr. Mathai, who calls himself a health

manager, says: "we are here to calm the mindand balance the body, The power to heal is within a person, just waiting to be tapped, We just initiate some changes and you carry them back to your life."
The concept of rejuvenation has been practiced in India since ancient times. A very visible form is a seasonal tradition among the well-to-do of Kerala. During the monsoon month of Karkadakam, they would undergo an indigenous rejuvenation and detox programme, they would be massaged with medicated oils, take medicated portions, and follow a Spartan diet. The results showed in their glowing skin and healthy bodies.
At Dr.Mathai's health centre, clients are introduced to life changes that lead to healthier living and can be easily followed once they return home. A special exercise routine is devised that fits in with the individual's lifestyle. Keeping in view the busy schedule of clients, a 15-minute yoga routine thrice a week has been devised.
For the rest of the week, clients can play an outdoor sport, and take a day off, "I tell my patients its okay to miss a day of exercise and they should not be stressed out about it. They must learn to relax."

The arcadian ambience goes a long way in starting the rejuvenation process. Situated at Whitefield, SOUKYA is spread over 30 acres of lush greenery comprising fruit orchards and organic vegetable farms. The building, with its tiled roof, is good looking, while stones and gurgling water bodies keep the natural element string. A huge hall with a thatched roof and black flooring is the place for doing yoga.
Dr, Mathai says that all things at SOUKYA have a purpose like cobbled walkways connecting places (increases concentration), and (black absorbs bad

vibes).
The centre is designed to be a health haven for the haves offering time-tested healing techniques combined wit modern medicine, after checking in; clients undergo a through medical evaluation to create an individualized holistic treatment programme.
The integrated medicines used are drawn from ayurveda, allopathy, homoepathy, and naturopathy with consultants from the unani and siddha system too.
Then there are complementary therapies such as acupressure acupuncture, aromatherapy, yoga colon irrigation, reflexology, and so on.
The array of therapeutic massages and water therapies for pampering the body includes the circular shower, vinchy (shower where horizontal hot and cold water jets help alleviate stress and tones up the body). Turkish bath, Dead Sea mudpack, and underwater massage, under water, the muscles are more relaxed and resistances also lower, so massage is more effective. In fact, the swimming pool here is only four feet deep so that clients exercise in it. There is a pebbled walkway with running water too.
Most people come here for either rejuvenation. Ir after they have had an episode of illness or surgery.

The health packages offered are stress management, weight management, detoxification, rejuvenation, and the therapeutic skincare,
Doctors study each individual's history and then prescribe specific treatments. "You just can't do a thing because everyone is doing it. We choose temperament over fashion, "says Dr, Mathai. The diet includes vegetables, milk, and eggs. The centre is a smoke-free zone though guests are free to smoke and eat meat outside the premises.

"Whatever is forbidden becomes more attractive and people find ways to access it. Besides, we have seen that most people prefer out food, and smoking too comes down, "explains Dr. Mathai.

Soukya, he hopes, will be a model of different systems working together for the world to see and maybe emulate. People from universities, health centers, and hospitals can come here and study its ways.

"Foreigners are interested in ayurveda and other Indian nature cures. But most places they visit don't ever meet with their basic cleanliness standards and that puts them off," says the doctor, Also with almost 70per cent of the patrons coming from the IS, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, international standards have to be maintained.
The rooms have handcrafted four-poster beds and private garden space. And with touches like open-air bathrooms (along with regular closed ones) really fascinate the foreign clients.

To keep up a model that appeals to the international client is an expensive proposition, But Dr. Mathai hopes that one day he can have a more affordable version of his holistic health centre.

In this day of specialisation when doctors look at you as a heart, a pair of eyes, or a malnourished fibula, it should be comforting to be viewed not only as a whole body, complete with an aura and soul.

SOUKYA can be contacted at 7945001/3. Check out their website www.soukya.com

When people of different disciples come together expressing concern over the health of the individual. He was confident something positive would emerge, the Dalai Lama said.

Inaugurating the first International Conference on Holistic Health and Medicine here today. He said that he did not know much about holistic health and medicine, but when people with great enthusiasm and determination came together it was for good of the humanity.

The Governor, Mr. P. Venkatasubbaiah, who presided said a synthesis of different systems was needed in the approach to health. He hoped the conference would be a global trend-setter in

evolving an integrated approach to health problems.
Swami Satchidananda, the spiritual head of yogaville, U.S. said the ancient rishis and sages had realised

that nothing could be attained without perfect health.
Dr. Pauloose Mar Gregoris, the patron of the conference said that since health was the first casualty of modern civilisation,

in addition to the individuals body and mind, his relation to the physical environment, social environment and life force environment had to be considered in an integrated fashion.

will it become a collaborative center for research activities for the world health organisation (WHO) as it is intended to be? will it be a model health center as the WHO wants to be? A money making machine for the promoters or it will bring in more tourists and boost the trade? These and a host of other questions will be answered only when the proposed International Holistic Health Center at the Whitefield near Bangalore takes shape.

To be located 5Km away from the Singapore technology park (STP) . This 40 crore facility

spread over 75 acres of land promises to be a fancy place for the rich and the famous from across the globe. Complete with spa services - where one can experience the pleasures of jacussi, mud bath, oil massage, water therapy, sunas to name a few - to shake off the stress and tension and bounce back rejuvenated. the place will house a medical centre that will have all systems of medicine practiced under one roof.

"In America and Europe there are only Spas. Here the attraction will be a medical center, and the week long stay

will refresh the guest and work out cheaper for him compared to what he is paying there." claims Issac Mathai, the perspective Medical Director of the centre. A clientele sure exists for such a place as otherwise this would not have been planned.

The concept of the center to provide treatment, train professionals and conduct research, was born following the first International Conference on Holistic Health and Medicine that was held in 1989 in the city. Soon the management was formed with Dr. R. M. Varma, former director

of NIMHANS as the chairman.

The project is being established with the collaboration of renowned health centres in the U.S. and Europe. The center is affiliated to the International Holistic Health Association.

The WHO representative, who is the chief of planning for the retrieval of health policy in the 21st century. Ms. Roberta Ritson expects the center to be a model for the rest of the world. She has shown interest in using the facilities at this center for collaborative research activities.