While Integrated Wellness is not a new concept, it is finding favour with the newest generation of wellness seekers. Today’s aware client wants it all at once – physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual wellness. An integrated wellness centre aims to offer healing services for all these planes and help a client imbibe a wholesome lifestyle in the long run. The integrated wellness centre in Goa – Traya is already getting noticed for its bouquet of wellness services under a roof. We chat with Dr. Jayachandran Thampi, about his baby.
You come from an Ayurveda background. What prompted you to move to the spa industry during your Hyatt years?
My paternal family is working in various medical fields – from modern to traditional. After my studies I wanted to explore the industry and moved out of the family-run centre and served in many institutions in different capacities. Working in the Spa industry was another exploration to understand the health and wellness sector. It was interesting and did make me stay for a good decade, but given my need to explore, I decided to move out and establish a more focused centre with a more defined purpose!
That’s how the concept of Traya Wellness – an Integrated Medical Centre for Lifestyle Intervention was inspired.
What is integrated wellness? There are very few integrated wellness centers in India. Why?
Integrated wellness is neither a new idea nor a new system. This is a concept focusing on Health enhancement measures, thus improving quality of life. Disease management is a natural outcome of this concept, as when one’s health is enhanced, it automatically helps to reduce disease patterns in the body – mind complex.
In integrated wellness, both the person and his problem are addressed, unlike in the conventional method, where only the problem is addressed. Conventional medical care focuses on the morphological (Structural/ Physical) changes focusing on the disease alone. In traditional systems and other methods, the functional aspect is focused upon and health enhancement is addressed, rather than only disease care.
Integrated wellness is the judicious combination of care in the optimal way to create health patterns in a person’s life, ultimately improving quality of life!
At Traya, we are in the process of delivering this concept in-depth and do not oppose any medical care or system; we actually encourage every system. In fact, we will add specialties including conventional medicine too in the future.
It’s as simple as this – where police is needed, use them; where the military is needed, use them and where moral principles are needed, use them. OR create a judicious mix of them all!
The human body itself is the best example: we have various organs and systems meant for different purposes. One organ and system alone cannot manage this complex mechanism. Similarly, how can one system of care alone manage various needs and aspects of health care?
In India, there few centers implementing this concept as it is done overseas. Do you think the Indian wellness customer is ready to forsake traditional Allopathy for this format of treatment?
This concept is not about forsaking any system, but encouraging an all-encompassing view and approach. One need not always shy away from medicines. It is part of developing the right combinations of treatments. Take Kerala as an example: traditional treatments like Ayurveda and conventional medical care (modern medicine) both are equally accepted and respected, as proven by the quality of health care, medical and traditional centers available in the region. In other states and cities too, traditional hospitals are adding non-conventional treatment modalities .
I would even go to the extent of saying that all medical schools in India must follow the same basic curriculum for the under-graduate course and all other systems of care must be offered as Specialties for post graduate courses. This would ensure availability of more qualified people, better health care, a more holistic and wise approach to health management, which is more focused and better for the people at large.
What inspired you to launch Traya – an integrated wellness centre? What does ‘Traya’ mean? What is its mission?
Traya is inspired from the Sanskrit word “tri’” meaning “Three”. Our world (known) has three dimensions, Triune principles, and our actions too are three dimensional. At Traya, we use this basic concept of a triad – enrich, eliminate and balance.
Health care and treatment care (modern and traditional) use these three principles; you need to enrich a person if he has deficiency through medicines, nutrition, etc.; eliminate, if he has excess through surgery, and detoxify or re-balance the existing form through exercise and other measures.
Integration is a natural process gamucci electronic cigarette of growth and living, just like disintegration is death. Like in
food one item alone may not be always conducive; but when combined with other items, (like a combination of carb, protein and fat in a meal) it creates a resonance effect, and so does an integration of treatments. The multi faceted approach is ideal in treating health and disease.
Traya is a concept to enhance one’s life quality through all measures in a logical manner, developing health patterns in one’s life.
Traya is an inspiration to offer lifestyle programs to the discerning through this integrated approach. We intend to move ahead to a residential facility with a complete health and disease solution to the contemporary world.
Tell us something about the offerings at Traya. What can a guest expect from your treatments?
Traya offers Lifestyle programs through integrated wellness concepts. We integrate many healing and treatment modalities, choosing the right type of combination for the person (not the problem). Traya offers Naturopathy, Yoga Therapy, Ayurveda, Acupuncture and nutrition/diet based solutions. We also have a Psychological counselor as part of the team. Moving ahead, we would have Homeopathy, Modern medicine specialists and energy healers too as part of our team to help people for their varied needs. Education and information on how to be independent is what a guest could expect. They should be able to create a lifestyle of their own using all tools and techniques learnt at Traya. This would complement the assistance given by various medical modalities at Traya or elsewhere.
How has the response been so far?
We have not used any usual commercial gimmicks to spread the word; not even an official inauguration was done. The idea was to ensure a slow and steady process keeping the integrity of the concept as a non-commercial and genuine health care center. The response so far is very encouraging and it’s the word-of-mouth that we are relying on as the most valuable measurement.
What is the typical guest profile you are expecting at Traya?
This being a lifestyle intervention center, people who understand this concept and feel it as a need, will be our clients. They would typically be educated, refined, usually in the middle plus age group, and mostly female.
Elaborate upon your staff – tell us who all part of Traya’s healing team, and what do
they do?
We are, at present, a small team led by qualified practitioners of Ayurveda, Naturopathy & Yoga, and Acupuncture. The practitioners are hands-on and lead all Traya programs, and are assisted by trained staff members. For example, Yoga therapy, Acupuncture major Ayurvedic treatment procedures are done directly by doctors. Going ahead, we will have visiting consultants as well from other fields of health care like Energy healers, Homeopathy, and Conventional medicine.
What marketing and promotional efforts are you making to increase awareness about this newly-founded integrated wellness centre?
Currently we are focusing on an education-based informational series through print media. This is again focused more on the local market, as we believe it is important to have strong roots in the location as a primary driver for growth and development. Once we have our residential component ready, we will extend this in a phased manner, enlarging the circle of influence.
What are your plans for Traya in the future?
Certainly a residential facility- a unique and harmonious space with facilities for special care in a very natural set up. We intend to add other specialties as well staying within the concept of “Integrated Wellness”.
Why did you choose a ‘day spa’ format? Most integrated wellness centers offer long-term treatments and accommodation.
Certainly, a residential facility is the second phase of Traya. At this stage, it is an initiation -– a centre of education and information. Traya currently is focusing on this aspect.
Describe the Traya Centre.
– How large is it?
Traya is a 350 square meter independent space nestled in a residential colony. The concept is to have a residential ambience, where in people feet at home.
– How many treatment rooms does it have?
We have three treatment rooms, a Yoga hall, separate relaxation space, and three Hydrotherapy units. The idea is to be exclusive to the discerning, yet affordable to people at large.
– What kind of décor has been used?
A simple aesthetic concept is used, matching the ambience of a residence than a commercial space. Minimalistic in approach, importance is given to cleanliness and tidiness than being loud and pompous.
– Have any special materials used for construction?
No. We have converted a residence to ensure the feel and concept in all its corners and space.
Tags: Ayurveda, integrated wellness, lifestyle programs, Naturopathy & Yoga, Traya
