Kalaripayattu : The Original Martial Art

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Kalaripayattu : The Original Martial Art

What first comes to mind when you think of India?

Colorful festivals, spicy food, the Himalayan Mountains, the Ganges River, the Taj Mahal, Bollywood, cricket, Jaipur, tropical climate, Ayurveda, yoga, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Nirvana, Hinduism, Buddhism …. The list is endless.

And yet, one of India’s greatest marvels by far happens to be a form of intangible cultural heritage least known to the Western world: Kalaripayattu.

Its philosophy is best expressed in a definition by www.pitzee.com, paraphrased below:

Master your body to make strength, flexibility and endurance part of your nature; master speed to move faster than the enemy’s eyes can see; master the weapon to make it an extension of your own limbs. Work on yourself, not seeking victory, revenge, wealth or honor. Instead, see the path – the endless pursuit of self-perfection – as the goal, for this is Kalaripayattu.
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Seven Sides To Goa You Won’t Want To Miss…

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Seven Sides To Goa You Won’t Want To Miss…

HEALING JUNGLE SPRING

Head deep into the jungle and discover the spectacular Kesarval Spring Goa, nestled amidst foliage and betel nut palms in a deep gorge about 22km from Panaji. Reputed to have healing qualities, it’s a popular spot with tourists and locals alike – and whether or not it improves your health, you’ll definitely come out feeling energised – especially if you douse yourself under the waterfall that cascades into the spring.

 

Goa Carnaval

GOA CARNIVAL

On the cusp of Lent, with the prospect of 40 days of relative abstinence to look forward to, Goa’s Christians enjoy one last blow out with this colourful festival that sees elaborate floats and processions taking over the streets – the custom was introduced by the Portuguese and has grown to become Goa’s biggest, with bands, dances and parties every evening. Don’t miss King Momo – the king of Carnivals – on his float exhorting everyone to eat, drink and be merry.
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The Wellness Way: Introducing Karma Spa Ambassador And All Round Wellness Guru Judy Chapman

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The Wellness Way: Introducing Karma Spa Ambassador And All Round Wellness Guru Judy Chapman

Karma Spa Ambassador Judy Chapman is something of an oracle when it comes to Wellness – former editor of Spa Asia and author of numerous spa and wellness related publications, including her latest series The Chapman Guides, Judy has been instrumental in establishing Karma Spa as one of the most vibrant resort spa brands in the world…

When did you first become interested in the whole wellness realm and why? How has it impacted you on a personal level?

Growing up in the alternative town of Byron Bay in Australia, wellness was always part of our life. We had no electricity or TV and family vacations were trips to yoga ashrams in India, hiking in the Himalayas and sleeping under the stars on magical beaches. Our diet was mostly vegetarian and organic. Recently, I’ve been tuning into Ayurveda and did my first Panchakarma in 2017.
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Spa Treatments To Keep You Fit & Toned

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Spa Treatments To Keep You Fit & Toned

You don’t need to just go to the gym or spinning class to keep your body in top notch condition. Spa treatments also have the ability to keep us in great shape. In fact, the best wellness spas today no longer only offer luxury experiences but essential and practical was to keep our mind and body strong. Here are 3 spa treatments to integrate into your fitness routine…

FITNESS MASSAGE
We all know now that regular massage can lower our blood pressure, reduce stress and anxiety and improve our sleep. But did you know that massage can also keep us fit and toned? Massage increases blood flow to our muscles and joints that improves flexibility and mobility and inspires us to move more! Massage also improves the condition of our skin, our posture and body image so there’s the feel-good factor as well.
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A peaceful vacation for a champion fighter: Tyson Pedro at Karma Kandara

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A peaceful vacation for a champion fighter: Tyson Pedro at Karma Kandara

Tyson Pedro is a rising star in the Australian Mixed Martial Arts scene who competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He also happens to be a fan of Karma Group. Currently number 12 in the UFC’s official rankings, the 26-year-old Australian gladiator of Samoan heritage aspires to be one of the top five MMA fighters by 2020.

Becoming an official Karma Ambassador in 2018, Tyson Pedro was appointed for his upstanding character and champion qualities. With black belts in Jiu-Jitsu and Kempo Karate alone, this charismatic warrior is also quite the showman, co-hosting a martial-arts talk show, The Halfcast Podcast, with brother-in-law Tai Tuivasa, also a renowned UFC fighter. Not surprisingly, the show has been a hit since debuting in December.

We had the honor of hosting Australia’s coolest new tough guy and his lovely wife Rosie at multi-award-winning Karma Kandara in February, shortly before our hotel was voted Best Asia-Pacific Resort in the Perspective Magazine Awards 2018.
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