Healing Arts on the Indian Ocean

How Ayurveda at Kayaam House can heal the body and mind: Premium Quarterly author Kimmy Fischer traveled to Sri Lanka to realign her nervous system using various tools according to Ayurveda, in a new and healthier way.

It's Friday and humid. The sun is shining through the slightly dirty window of the Toyota and my tired eyes only reluctantly open. I've often been tired since I arrived in Sri Lanka about two and a half weeks ago.

Too tired for my liking and for my mind that is actually so alert and eager for experiences. Too tired for all the things I've put on my bucket list. Nevertheless, I don't let go of it, set my alarm early every morning so that I can run away from time, but hopefully not let it outrun me.

Arriving at the Kayaam House

After a bumpy, long drive, I finally reach the Kayaam House, an exclusive boutique resort on the south coast of Sri Lanka, near Tangalle. It is set amidst tropical gardens and offers direct access to a mile-long golden sandy beach.

Due to its remote location, the beach seems almost completely untouched, making it a perfect retreat for guests – but above all, it provides the necessary mental space for what the Kayaam House is known for: the healing art of Ayurveda .

The beach seems almost completely untouched, making it a perfect retreat for guests.

The reception is pleasantly unagitated. No loud hustle, no hectic check-in - just a brief hello from the friendly hotel manager himself and a cool welcome drink that not only makes the heat more bearable but also quiets the mind.

"Intimacy that is not intrusive," immediately comes to mind, and as an exemplary journalist, I immediately note this thought in my notes app. After following my suitcase to the room, I do what I always do when I arrive at new places: take mental photos.

Leaving the phone in the room and soaking up the first impressions with all senses. This allows me to not only visually explore a place but also helps me actually perceive the energy and ambiance.

The furniture is simple and has a clear, modern aesthetic.

The architecture: Simplicity meets light

The architecture of Kayaam House is a remarkable expression of tranquility and elegance – a skillful combination of colonial charm and modern accents. The building itself is constructed in a traditional style, with high ceilings and expansive verandas that harmoniously blend into the tropical landscape.

Every corner of the house seems well thought out, almost as if it were designed to reflect the natural beauty of the surroundings. Large windows and open space concepts allow the space to breathe while constantly offering a view of the lush jungle or the vast ocean. Particularly fascinating is how the architecture uses the play of light and shadow, bathing the rooms in a deep gold at certain times of the day.

The furniture and details inside are also simple but imbued with a clear, modern aesthetic. Materials like wood, stone, and linen are used to create a calming, almost meditative atmosphere. Every element – from the stylish wooden floor to the artistic, handcrafted furniture pieces – is chosen to further embed the space into the natural context.

Ayurvedic cuisine is about the art of balance.

The kitchen: the heart of Kayaam House

After looking around and resting, my grumbling stomach reminds me that it's time for dinner. The open restaurant area is not only inviting but also the heart of the Kayaam House. It is the place where guests gather three times a day to indulge in the diverse and colorful cuisine of Sri Lanka.

The place where reading, reflecting, and writing are allowed. Conversations take place here between guests, but also with the staff. There are no boundaries, only open doors - with thresholds that are only crossed if an invitation occurs. Everyone respects each other's privacy without being strangers. Because of the small size of only nine rooms, you keep meeting each other here.

I first opt for a fresh fish soup. I'm particularly excited because I know that the kitchen follows the Ayurvedic basic principles. Cooking is done according to guidelines and not solely according to the artistic freedom of the chef.

The Ayurveda Principle

In the Ayurvedic cuisine it's not about spectacular, overloaded dishes, but about the art of balance. Every dish is thought out, every spice has its task to nourish both body and mind equally. Turmeric, ginger, and cumin, for example, stimulate our digestive fire and thus ensure the necessary balance.

The chosen ingredients are not only fresh and seasonal but also tell of the region from which they come. Everything aims to highlight the natural flavors and make the best use of them for individual and holistic health.

The symbiosis of the five flavors

In addition to the ingredients, great importance is placed on the balance of the five flavors: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy. Each taste has a specific effect on the body and mind. Thus, bitter and tart flavors calm the heat of the Pitta dosha, while sweet and salty notes can balance the Kapha type.

Well-being requires that we nourish both our body and mind holistically.

Wellness: Unwind, Relax, Rejuvenate

Since I am particularly interested in the wellness offerings at the Kayaam House, but unfortunately my stay is not long enough for a full Ayurveda cure , I decide to get advice from the in-house doctor the next day. I tell her about my physical ailments, my depleted energy reserves, and my mind full of thoughts that never wants to be quiet.

With few but the right words, she recommends “Shirodhara” – an oil head massage where warm, healing oil is poured in a steady stream onto the forehead, specifically on the point between the eyebrows (the so-called "third eye"), using a kind of pendulum.

This practice is said to have a calming effect, reduce stress, and promote mental well-being. The pendulum is used to keep the oil stream constant, which has a deeply relaxing effect on the body and mind and is also supposed to bring the different doshas into balance.

This practice is said to have a calming effect, reduce stress, and promote mental well-being.

At first, I'm a bit skeptical about the idea of lying under a jug filled with warm oil with my eyes covered. I ask several times if the temperature is definitely not too hot. I am assured that the oil is heated to about 37 to 40 degrees Celsius, which is pretty much exactly the same as body temperature.

This ensures that the oil has a gentle and soothing effect on the scalp without causing discomfort. And indeed: the steady flow of the oil is almost meditative. After a few minutes, I feel my body relax and the pressure in my head as well as the constant thoughts disappear.

After the treatment, I feel remarkably clear – as if the filter in my brain is working again, only letting through what is really important. So, especially for overthinkers like me, it's an absolute game-changer and suitable for anyone who tends to get lost in thoughts and worries.

A spiritual hideaway surrounded by lush jungle.

Soft yoga with a view

Since my arrival, I've been wanting to participate in the morning yoga at the so-called Yoga Shala. An open, nature-connected space on wooden pillars with an artistic ceiling that offers an unobstructed view of the golden beach and the vegetation.

On my last morning at Kayaam House, I finally manage not to hit the snooze button on the ringing alarm clock at 6:00 a.m. and am on the (yoga) mat punctually at 6:30 – literally. The sun tickles the last sleep out of my eyes and no later than when the teacher guides us into the first asanas, I am incredibly glad to have overcome my inner laziness.

The more I get into the movement, the more I feel the energy that has been sorely missing in recent weeks returning to me. Later in Shavasana (the resting phase after yoga), I am grateful not only for practicing yoga but, above all, for realizing that holistic well-being is indispensable for our health and well-being.

The spacious rooms are furnished in warm colors.

Holistic on all levels

With this new knowledge and a calmer nervous system, I leave the Kayaam House four hours later. Well-being requires that we nourish both our body and mind holistically. It's no use just eating healthily if we don't also give our body the necessary movement to transfer the newly absorbed energy.

Nothing changes if we only think about things, absorb knowledge, understand teachings but don't internalize them. The things that often sound so easy must also be lived for change to happen. First within ourselves and later in our world.

Just before my taxi turns the corner, I look in the rearview mirror one last time and promise myself at that moment to take the holistic approach that Kayaam House exemplified with me home.

In cooperation with Healing Travel