Ep. 32 | Founder Surya Spa LA, Martha Soffer, on: bringing Ayurveda mainstream, why a seasonal detox (panchakarma) is critical, how Ayurveda's multi-modality approach creates optimum health

The Healthy Peaceful Podcast

Join me as I interview Martha Soffer, owner of Surya Spa (an Ayurvedic spa), located in Los Angeles. Martha is a graduate of Maharishi International University and a practitioner of Ayurveda for over 30 years. Her specialty is panchakarma, an Ayurvedic detoxification protocol designed to restore radiant health. She is also the creator of a line of Ayurvedic personal care products. We explore how Martha brings Ayurveda into our modern life.

Martha’s goal is to help individuals tune into how Ayurveda can enhance their daily lives. “’How am I feeling today?’ is the first question to ask when transitioning to an Ayurvedic lifestyle. Ayurveda can feel very foreign or inaccessible to Americans. Starting small is important. If you incorporate certain foods and align with how your body actually feels, your life will significantly improve.”

Ayurveda helps us cope with modern stress. For an overstressed nervous system, Martha recommends abhyanga (self-massage with oil) every day. "Oil massage calms vata dosha, which can become aggravated by stress and anxiety.” Martha also considers meditation a critical component. Martha learned Transcendental Meditation in 1988 and has been practicing every day since.

I ask Martha to describe panchakarma (detox) and how it helps the body/mind regain balance. Martha recommends panchakarma at the change of each season. “This is a time when our health is more delicate as the qualities of the previous season have accumulated in the body. Panchakarma enables the body/mind to release toxins.”

Martha compares Ayurveda to an umbrella. Its spokes (the ribs of an umbrella) are akin to the many modalities that Ayurveda offers. Martha decides on the appropriate treatments based on the ancient science of pulse diagnosis. Clients can do panchakarma at Surya Spa for 7, 14 or 28 days. She recommends at least 7 days because Ayurveda identifies 7 different tissues in the physiology. Home preparation is required before the client starts panchakarma.

Surya Spa’s ethos is “We love to heal.” "We know that love and attention accelerate healing. In panchakarma, there is an emotional component. Emotions are stored in the liver and when they start to release, anger or sadness can result. Letting go of these emotions will also take diseases away. Emotions are carried in the body’s tissues. Old traumas reside in the body. Panchakarma enables an emotional as well as physical release.”

Other modalities (like spokes or ribs of an umbrella) of Ayurveda include: yoga, jyotish (Vedic astrology), vastu (Vedic architecture), aromatherapy, and Gandharva Veda (coherent flow of sound). “Ganharva Veda, divine music, calms your nervous system.” “Vastu is architecture that complies with the Vedas. It is like feng shui.” Martha is building a retreat center in Kaui that adheres to the principles of vastu. She will also hold retreats in Bend, Oregon.

One of main principles in Ayurveda is “to eliminate the root cause.” I ask Martha to share the obstacles she encounters when working with clients on this aspect of Ayurveda. Essentially, she has learned to meet clients where they are and to nudge them into the direction of perfect health.

Website: www.suryaspa.com
Instagram: @suryaspaayurveda
Facebook: @suryaspaayurveda

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Noreen