Health In Vogue: Pondicherry | 2016–2018
This summer, the prescription pad took me to this quaint part-French-part-Tamil port in South India. My notes were immersed (and continue to be) book-marked with the interesting health-culture that is Pondicherry.
The organic way ~
Most vegetable produce in Pondicherry comes from Auroville. Among other things, this community is known for its farming model that works on a “no pesticides, no chemicals” policy for fruit, vegetable and dried fruit harvests. The meals are wholesome and delicious, with pulpy fresh juices, farm-to-table salads, herby pastas and French cappuccino.
A culture of walking ~
Traffic is rare, even in concept. The good-old-walk-everywhere-bicycle-or-scooty (short for the two-wheeling scooter) lifestyle beckoned loudly!
(Also did consider “calorie burning, wind-in-the-hair, always-a-teen” adjectives for the previous sentence!)
Reflection, growth, spirituality ~
There was a distinct “find-your-own” personality to the self-reflection techniques here! Some were medicalised for the psychiatric component that most hold in the mind and body; others were growth-centric with minimised medical labels shared with the patient or the family.
Spirituality (of every group) and growth were mostly synonymous with impeccability, respect for nature, synchronicity with ones purpose and dignity for all.
Medical culture ~ in a very small nutshell!
:) Predictable but wonderfully (!!) low numbers in lifestyle disorders.
:) Complete surrender and trust in the body’s recovery mechanisms = high compliance in all groups.
:) A culture of volunteering = low health-care costs for the community in general.
~ Organically grown cocoa ~
~ My French-&-Tamil-speaking expert on cappuccino, Jyothi! ~
~ Notes to myself ~
~ The beautiful Park Guest House, French Colony ~
~ Tools on the path ~
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First published here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/420578448931387/?paipv=0&eav=AfZ8_yOLeS9kDxOzCKaOK18cj1mTGS6Tulky-RdtClwhWmJf5rCw9PFet8p3vtSO6tc
