In September 2008, Light and Bryan Miller led a fourteen day workshop at a beautiful private home perched along the Pend Oreille River, in Washington. The workshop was organized by Michelle Scandalis, senior disciple of Light Miller, and founder of BhuTea Ayurvedic Botanicals.

Studying Panchakarma along the Pend Oreille River

Ever since my first Panchakarma training with Light Miller and Bryan Miller in the spring of 2007, I had longed to immerse myself once again. After the initial ten day workshop, I experienced a huge increase in my self-care skills, which empowered me to explore what Ayurveda means to me – from within the practical framework of my own life and body.

I felt the need to continue where we left off, in Mexico – and to deepen my ability to produce the herbal recipes, oils, and foods needed during Panchakarma therapy, as well as to hone my skills performing the spectrum of Panchakarma therapeutic treatments.

One thing for sure, I knew I wanted to fully understand the techniques of Abhyanga and Marma massage, so I could begin to incorporate Ayurvedic massage and Marma massage into my therapeutic bodywork repertoire.

A Gathering of Talent and Spirit

The group which gathered for the Panchakarma training was an exciting mix. This gathering had a high number of participants who had studied Ayurveda in India, or lived in the Himalayas and other areas of India. I felt that due to this degree of maturity, we could ascend the peaks of Panchakarma together, and bond with one another at the deepest levels.

Our wonderful group of Ayurvedic students and practitioners gathers with Light and Bryan Miller

Keesha Ewers and Ajayan Borys of Fern Life Center near Seattle, as well as several Fern Life Center Staff Members arrived, bringing their many combined years of experience to the group.

There was a delightful family feeling in the air, and a tangible sense of love and compassion pervaded us all. One of the most unique aspects of this particular training was the presence of several wonderful children who’s energy and sparkling personalities brought us all joy.

Practice Generates Siddhi

The great thing about “round two” of my Panchakarma training was that I could immerse myself directly in the things that mean the most to me – healing and spirituality.

I had spent a good amount of time with herbs, and I really appreciated our Ayurvedic Apothecary, which included a wide variety of organic Ayurvedic herbs, and many super high-quality essential oils. These precious medicinal materials which were available to us at the workshop had been partly contributed by BhuTea Ayurvedic Botanicals, and partly by Light Miller. Just so you know, BhuTea has a variety of specialty Churnas which are delightful and very unique in the Ayurvedic world.

As I mentioned above, one of the main things I had come to study and refine, was my skill performing Abhyanga and Marma Massage, a subject very near and dear to my heart.

Myself, happily chanting mantras and mixing Ayurvedic herbs!

This brilliant therapeutic modality addresses both physical and spiritual anatomy, using synchronized massage strokes which are performed on the client by two practitioners simultaneously. In fact, there are very few massage methods which so completely purify and tonify the body, mind, and spirit in one session as Abhyanga.

In the technique I have learned from Light Miller, Marma massage is also included in the Abhyanga, and this aspect elevates the therapeutic value of the massage tremendously. Light Miller’s approach to Marma massage is very spiritually oriented, and softens the frequently academic and clinical treatment of marma.

In addition to Marma massage, Light integrates Chakra Anointment which she learned from her Panchabhai Chotai, and also Tarpana (Ayurvedic Therapeutic Release), which her husband Bryan developed, based on the idea that emotional toxins and somatic toxins should be released together to promote a deeper and more enduring therapeutic effect.

Light Miller and her senior student Revati demonstrate Ayurvedic Massage on Yours Truly... Ahh.. that feels good!

The beautiful nectar of medicated Ayurvedic oil used in Shirobasti flows like the Ganga!

No Greater Gathering

There is something magical and incredibly powerful about a gathering of Ayurvedic practitioners. Each person, in effect, becomes a living thread in the tapestry of the five elements, and the Samkhya, in all its glory manifests.

Our hands reach out to gather together the shaktis of Divine Mother. Our own faces begin to reflect the compassion of Dhanvantari. Our hearts find the fountain of humility.

This is Ayurveda...

This is Panchakarma...

The force of life flows from the hands of the practitioners, with the blessings of spiritual healing.