The Shathayu retreat in Bengaluru. / Dr. Arun S Anand

Udit Aggarwal from Dubai had little expectation. He came to Shathayu because it was easy. The pick up and drop from Bengaluru airport made the experience a complete door to door one. All treatments were included (massage, physiotherapy, acupuncture diet yoga meditation, nature walks, cooking classes, temple sightseeing and laundry of two pieces per day) in one all-inclusive price. “A 10 day package, which by the way is the minimum amount of time you need to get results,” he said, “cost me 2 lakh Indian rupees.” He could have  reduced it to 1.5 lakh per head if he had brought a buddy along on a twin sharing basis. “It would have been nice to have someone to hang out with in the evening. How much Netflix can you watch,” he said.

The rooms are spacious. From the balcony of his room he could see the lake, the lovely lush gardens strewn with veils of flowers and a pink lotus pond.

He had little expectations from the experience. It was a hail Mary choice. His neck was stiff and shoulders jammed. “If I had to turn my head while driving it was game over for me. Between the physio, massages, acupuncture and what not, the range of motion returned to his neck in ten days.

“And I lost five kilos!!”

“I am very pleased with the results. The staff is excellent. Results are guaranteed if you are committed to following the program. Some people don’t follow the diet or don’t take the medication. You get what you put into it.”

Sumit from Zuk in Switzerland is a trader. It was his first day at the retreat. He too threw a dart and picked Shathayu. He had looked at top retreats in India and found most were in Kerala. Shathayu was the most appealing. Its proximity to the Bangalore airport, gave him the flexibility to fly to Delhi and spend time with his family before flying back to Switzerland. “In the case of all the other retreats, I would have to drive 4 to 5 hours from the airport to get to them and back. This also had a 4.5 star rating on Google.”

The trader from Switzerland wanted to reset his rhythm and move away from the evils of a sedentary lifestyle. He wanted to get his body engine on a healthy track. “Sometimes you just need that little nudge to flip a switch. This is the first time in my life. I have made myself a priority. These will be the first 10 days I have devoted only to myself and my well-being.”

Udit Aggarwal / Udit Aggarwal

Medical treatments that are holistic

We get a lot of patients who come for treatment for specific diseases, shared Dr. Arun Anand. A couple comes every six months from Mumbai. The wife and husband both suffer from Parkinson’s disease. They have improved enough that they can go to the restroom to relieve themselves.  Before they came here they were wearing a diaper all the time. Now they have to wear one only at night.

Each person is different and the treatment is individualized.

“A number of our patients come here for rehabilitation after having a stroke,” said the doctor who visits from the RT Nagar center. Shathayu has centers all over Bengaluru in addition to their retreat in Devanahalli.

Diabetes reversal has been done for many patients

They help with plain management, rheumatoid arthritis, and de-addiction to substance abuse etc “ Treatment for de-addiction requires a minimum stay of 21 days,” said Dr Anand.

The forefathers of Shathayu were vaidyas who cured infertility in both men and women 

Historically, vaidyas were known for treating infertility in both men and women, using classical Ayurvedic formulations, panchakarma therapies, and lifestyle corrections.

Dr Mritunjaya Swami, the Chairman and Managing Director of Shathayu Ayurveda is a fifth-generation Ayurvedic physician, continuing his family’s legacy. His approach blends classical Ayurvedic wisdom with modern diagnostics and emphasizes preventive healthcare.

“I have seen a number of young couples come here for fertility treatment, " said a patient, Dr Nilima, who lives in Bengaluru and was undergoing treatment for pain in her knees. Accompanying her was her daughter who was undergoing treatment for PCOS among other things. PCOS affects women's reproductive health.

Pictures of the retreat. / Dr. Arun S Anand

PCOS, a top public health priority issue that needs a holistic approach

There is a growing prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) among young women in India. A 2024 study in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) found that 17.4% of college-aged women (18–25 years) had PCOS. This is more than double the pooled national average from similar studies conducted between 2010 and 2024.

Many health experts and publications estimate that as many as one in five young Indian women are affected by PCOS, a rate substantially higher than the global average.

A study of adolescent females (13-17) in Northern California (2012-2018) reported that among adolescents with obesity, the prevalence of clinical diagnosis of PCOS was 7.8% in South Asian girls.

In a larger data set (U.S. patients aged 16-40 years), the incidence (documented new diagnoses) of PCOS among Asians was about 4.0% in that age group.  In a publication in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology The researchers wrote, “Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, yet U.S. incidence estimates do not exist, and prevalence estimates vary widely.”

In Prevalence of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, published in the Cureus Medical journal researchers wrote,

“In the 21st century, reproductive health remains a top public health priority issue that needs a holistic approach to address it.”

Ayurveda provides a holistic cure, said Dr Arun Anand of Shathayu.

Ayurveda views polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as a hormonal and metabolic disorder resulting from an imbalance of the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). The primary goal of Ayurvedic treatment is to correct the root cause by restoring this balance through diet, herbal remedies, lifestyle changes, and detoxification therapies.

“Patients have seen their hormonal levels restored and gone on to have happy children after the infertility treatments,” said Dr. Anand.  

What is causing an increasing number of NRIs to seek medical treatment in India? 

“My doctor in Dubai suggested the only cure for my chronic stiff neck was surgery,” said Aggarwal. Where allopathy fails to provide an answer, the promise of cure by painless, noninvasive, gentle Ayurvedic medicine beckons.

There is comfort with traditional medicine served in familiar surroundings.

“At the retreat the food is amazing. I could eat this all the time,” said Aggarwal.

Comfort food is a draw

Dr. Chandana Devegowda, a naturopath, advocates food as medicine.” The body heals itself given the right environment,” she said. Dr. Chandana has many dos and don’ts for the self healing body. “Raw and cooked foods should not be mixed. Fruits should be eaten singly and not as a fruit salad bowl. The meal should start with a fruit and not end with it. Citrus fruits should not be mixed with other fruits. Warm or room temperature water is better for drinking than one that is ice cold.“

At Shathayu meal times are not a punishment. The food is not only palatable but inviting. The cooking class that teaches the residents how to cook the same dishes is well attended. The resident balled a ball of warm raagi dough and rolled a warm roti served up with a splash of ghee. Mouths were watering.

“We learnt on our last visit and have since switched out coconut chutney with a bottle gourd one,” said Dr. Neelima.

“If you make a checklist Shathayu checks all the boxes: great food, staff, doctors, setting amidst the mountains, lake and forests ,” said a patient waiting his turn for the therapist. He had been there for 15 days.

“Hey listen, a hotel room in Bengaluru would cost 10,000 rupees a night. Here INR 18000 a night, for two, includes the entire treatment and food in a resort.”

“The challenge is to continue the change in behavior that Sthayu has put in motion,” said Aggarwal. .

“Just come back for another 15 days to stay on track,” said Dr Nilima. “ That’s what I do. This is my third visit.”

A young couple immersed in themselves walked by. The wife had a little belly.

 

Dr Chandana Devegowda / Dr Chandana Devegowda