IF INDIA features in your vacation itinerary this year, then don't give the 'Soukya' a miss. You will not regret the 24km drive from Bangalore into the 30-acred residential sanctuary of calm and therapeutic harmony. Set up by Dr Issac Mathai, this is just the place to be in, if you wish to restore your depleted reserves of energy.
The last thing Dr Issac Mathai wants to impress with is his list of clients, even if that may include Sarah Ferguson, George Harrison, Tina Turner, Sting, and more recently Prince Charles. And, the last thing that he would want any one to do is to use the term 'holistic' loosely.
For the chairman/ managing director and medical director of 'Soukya', this haven of cure is the culmination of a dream that he saw through his years of prac-
tice as a holistic physician An MD from the Hahnemann Post-Graduate Institute of Homoeopathy in London, he worked as a physician for 10 years al Europe's first and largest
holistic health clinic, the Hale Clinic. During this time he also studied Chinese Pulse Diagnosis and Acupuncture at the WHO Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Nanjing, China, and participated in the Mind Body Medicine training programme at Harvard Medical School, USA.

Dr Mathai, a visiting consultant at several clinics worldwide, has a patient network of more than 10,000 patients across 30 countries. Besides, he also runs two charitable holistic clinics in Bangalore, and has set up a clinic at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited hospital. "The philosophy of 'holism' subscribes to the view that the body, mind and spirit are all inextricably inter-connected, disturbances on any one level will manifest on another, result- ing iii an imbalance within the body," informs Dr Mathai. "Soukya, an integrated medical facility, brings together various systems of medicine like the ayurveda, homoeoeopathv, and naturopathy, and uses their combined curative techniques, depending on the patient's needs."
Even as he convinces you about the far-reaching effects of the integrated forms of medicine, he does not negate the value of allopathic treatment, a reason why SOUKYA has modern medical facilities incorporated into its mechanism.
"I do not like to apply thee term 'alternative' that is increasingly being used for systems like the ayurveda, homoeopathy, or any other form different from allopathy. I'd rather call them an "integrated system" because that's what we do at the Soukya, we integrate

various curative techniques in order to effect the maximum benefit in our patients."
The first impression that one gets upon driving into SOUKYA is its timeless beauty. Nestled amidst a lush ambience, the eco-friendly holistic health spa mesmerises one's senses. Both the administrative and medical blocks rivet your attention with their hand-made roof tiles.
The exquisite mirror-work, skillfully handcrafted by the artisans from Gujarat, adorns the walls of the therapy centre and the yoga room, while traditional lamps in stone and brass from Kerala are picturesquely placed both outdoors and indoors. Yet, there are no compromises on comfort and hygiene, and the cleanliness of the place serve as constant reminders of the purpose of your visit to SOUKYA - cleansing yourself inside out!
Upon registering yourself, you are accosted into your room/suite or one of the cottages fitted with unique open-air baths. And, if you're not the type who can rest content within the confines of a room, then there's the gymnasium, swimming pool, walking and biking track, table tennis or badminton courts. However, fortify yourself for a strict vegetarian diet, albeit wholesome and tasty!

"At SOUKYA (meaning 'well-being') you learn to bring your mind, body and spirit into a state of harmony. You understand tile body's innate ability to heal and regenerate itself," says Dr Mathai.
His remark justifies the thorough evaluation that you are put through on your first day at the Centre. In keeping with the holistic approach, doctors gather all the information necessary including your medical history; your current state of health, both mental and physical; and the environment in which you live and work. After the intensive assessment, an individualised programme of healing is prescribed, usually for a period of 14 days.
A truly international (holistic health centre, therapeutic treatments from all over the world are available at Soukya. Acupuncture from China, Dead Sea mudpacks from Israel, Hoi Stone massage from the US and Swedish massage are a few of the packages that are offered, while rejuvenation and detoxification with Ayurvedic Panchakarma and naturopathic therapies are practiced.
Whether its weight or stress management that you're looking for, or a smoking habit you wish to kick, whether you suffer from cardiac hypertension or diabetes, or just in need of therapeutic skin care, SOUKYA offers a remedy. "Patients from all over the world are treated for a variety of ailments including allergic

conditions, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, autoimmune diseases, and oilier chronic What all of them seek is primarily some rejuvenation treatment, and we offer that at our Centre in London." Admitting that the world of holistic medicine couldn't have a better brand ambassador than Prince Charles, Dr Mathai adds, "Prince Charles's devotion lo holistic medicine is intense, and is also one of the reasons why it has received widespread acceptance in the UK. He has been the patron of the British Holistic Medical Association form 1984 onwards, and has plans to visit SOUKYA soon."
One of Dr Matliai's close associate is America's guru of integrated medicine, Dr Andrew Weil. "Both of us share the excitement of the future of integrated medicine, and what's even more wonderful is the fact that the world is ready for this excitement. Even allopathic doctors are convinced that the future of medicine lies in the direction that we're taking." A point that was also convincingly brought home to him during his visit to Dubai, when allopathic medical practitioners expressed a keen interest to know more about Dr Mathai's work and Soukva. "There is a lot of potential for such forms of treatment in Dubai and judging by the interest that has been generated. I'm confident I'll be able to contribute more concretely to the UAE health sector".

MASSAGE IS THE MEDIUM: A patient undergoes a hot stone massage at the centre.

conditions," informs Dr Mathai. On (he subject of his 'rich and
famous' clients, he says, "Personalities like Tina Turner and Sting do not need treatment on a regular basis. It's not as if they suffer from a health problem, its just they lead such highly stressed out lives, thev need to be maintained holisticallv, as thev cannot afford to have a 'tired' day, or go through a day feeling low.

Dr Mathai does not like talking about his Centre. "We're not into aggressive marketing, that's the last thing I want to do. My energies are concentrated in creating an awareness, and informing people that the rays of hope available with us. I am no looking at SOUKYA as a business proposition, it's an expression of my devotion, and commitment to life. This is also my small little contribution to India, when I could have continued to live in London, or the United States continued making money, and mingle with celebrity patients. I felt I needed to give something back to mv country and the time I took the decision to return proved right."
With his base in India, Dr Mathai
travels every third month to tend to hit patients in New York. London, and Paris. And, in all

RAY OF HOPE : Whether it's weight or stress management that you're looking for, or a smoking habit you wish to kick, Whether you suffer from cardiac hypertension or diabetes, or just in need of

therapeutic skin care, Soukya offers a remedy. Here, the incensing of hair in pregress.

those cities, he maintains a fleet of doctors to carry on the work even while lie is away.
The secretary general of the International Holistic Health Association (IH-HA), established in 1089, Dr Mathai is currently preoccupied with organising the Global Holistic Health Summit at Bangalore in January 2003, an event that will include special guest speakers like the Dalai Lama, Dr Deepak Chopra, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Dr Andrew Weil, and Dr Kazuhiko Atsumi.