When was the last time you walked into a spa and you were asked "Are you a Vata, Pitta or a Kapha?" Sure you are used to filling out questionnaires that will ask you about your allergies, high blood pressure, but what about your appetite (erratic?, unbearable at times?, slow but steady?) or your emotional temperament (unpredictable?, easily irritated?, tearful?). That is the difference that the Medical Spa of NOVA is bringing to Loudoun County with their new Ayurvedic Medicine which combines customized massages with personalized diets based on your Dosha (your mind and body type).

According to Wikipedia, Ayurveda is an ancient (520BC) Hindu system of health care that is "concerned with measures to protect "ayus", which includes healthy living along with therapeutic measures that relate to physical, mental, social and spiritual harmony." Ayurveda combines the body, sense organs, mind and soul, the factors responsible for preventing decay and death, which sustains the body over time, and guides the processes of rebirth.

With great anticipation, I arrived for my appointment with Gail Rush, who is the Director of Massage at the Medical Spa of Nova. She asked me to fill out both my Dosha analysis and medical questionnaires. After a quick analysis of my answers to the Dosha questionnaire, she turned to me and said "You are a Pitta (Fire & Water)." To my great amazement she continued to say "You must have been born in October, you like balance in your life and you cannot tolerate injustice" which are all correct. She also said that since my Dosha was already hot, I needed a soothing and calming treatment. Gail then took me to a softly lit massage room where I sat on a comfortable leather chair with my feet soaking in warm water mixed with custom ingredients, oils, sage grains and "Dead Sea" salts. After 10 minutes of sitting in the room and meditating alone, Gail came back to gently dry and massage my feet.

I then moved to the massage table where I was given a "Dry Exfoliation" with an Ayurvedic brush (you get to take it home). Everything about the entire 90- minute process is designed to make you relax. For example, for the exfoliation of the back of your legs or your body, you don’t have to get up. Gail gently lifts up your legs or your upper body and brushes off the dead skin for you. The Ayurvedic massage that followed was also customized based on my Pitta Dosha. There were 170 steps involved with specialized oils, gentle and broader movements that were designed to soothe, cool and calm my body, my mind. At the end of the massage, I had completely emptied out my mind of the e-mails that needed a response or the presentations that had to be prepared.

By mid-Fall, Medical Spa at NOVA will incorporate customized lunches that are designed to start healing you from inside out. As a Pitta, what can I expect to find on the menu? Asparagus, green beans, pears, figs, mango, shrimp, egg whites and more that are designed to bring tranquility to my body from the inside out. I promise to be back in time to review it for our readers.

21785 Filigree Court Suite 100
Ashburn, VA 20147
703.554.1130
www.novamedspa.com