Gemma's Diksha दीक्षा Diary
- GemmaAyurveda
- Nov 30, 2025
- 5 min read
When you meet an Ayurvedic practitioner or doctor, you will witness a passionate soul who does not only prescribe Ayurveda, they live and breathe this ancient science. With 13 years of experience in major UK hospitals, I can confidently say the same is not witnessed inside those walls. Living a balanced lifestyle and true health is not role-modelled in the allopathic system, with many members of staff on long-term sick leave, adapted work techniques due to illness, or increased stress due to colleague sickness.
I know I am generalising, and please don’t be offended by my words if you are a healthcare professional reading this. But this is the truth. Sometimes my body would wince walking through the atrium, observing the processed lunch of choice for many staff members. I would think to myself, “Are we not meant to be examples of health to our patients?”
I feel the meaning of “health” has been lost in our primary sites of care. Excellent in acute scenarios and advanced technology, yes, but what about the fundamental basics of health, like nourishing foods and sleep hygiene?
Just a thought to reflect on.
That said, in Ayurveda we aren’t immortal, but we take the steps toward longevity very seriously.
Which is why I want to share with you my current personal journey, filled with sarcasm, tears, love, strength, devotion and deep tradition … try not to take me too seriously, and find joy in my adventure of health.
All jokes aside, I have deep gratitude for this opportunity I am currently living.
Jai Guru Deva,
I write this from my grass mat in India, the same mat I’ve slept on for the last 37 nights. I’m unsure how I haven’t developed piles yet, yes, it’s that hard!
Have I been arrested? No! Although sometimes I think the food in prison might be better… (reference to the Kanji ONLY).
I am currently taking part in Diksha, a 41-day traditional initiation for self-purification to enable our healing capability and connection to Dhanvantari (Lord of Ayurveda), by following certain spiritual practices. Dhanteras, the day of Dhanvantari, marks the first day of Diwali, a festival to celebrate health and prosperity. During Dhanteras, we were blessed with a Tulsi Mala (beaded necklace) to wear for the duration, along side our personal mantra (seeds of the divine) shared vocally by Dr Raju.
We are to attend two daily pujas (act of worship) and follow certain lifestyle and dietary rules for the duration — no shoes, no mattress, washing all clothes by hand, showering multiple times per day, fresh clothes for every puja, one day of full silence per week, no music, movies, rice, wheat, sugar, caffeine, meat, cheese, eggs, or alcohol, minimal talking and celibacy goes without saying (plus more, I could write a separate blog on the rules alone).
We follow a strict daily routine (Dinacharya) which includes a variety of methods of oil application to the body, head and nose followed by meditation (…plus more, of course!). The majority of the day is then led with devotion, aiming to complete as many Japa (meditative repetition of a mantra) during that day (a target is set by the Vaidya (Ayurvedic Doctor)).
Mantra has the ability to activate on a cellular level. “We should chant with our whole heart; with love, with devotion and with dedication”(Sri Shakti Amma). The more we chant, the further inward the mantra can travel — healing ailments, changing our physiology, bringing benefits to our family, healing the previous three generations, and bringing benefits to the next seven.
& if that wasn’t enough …
During Diksha, I am also doing a 28-day Panchakarma (PK), which is the therapeutic side of Ayurveda. PK is not for the faint-hearted, but the results can be life-changing.
Many of today’s modern health trends stem from Ayurvedic therapies, such as Basti (enema), where medicated herbs are inserted into the rectum to purify and remove toxins from your system. Today you may see coffee enemas advertised on your social media feeds, but these methods of enema are extremely dangerous and should be avoided.
Preparing for Basti therapy has taken me five weeks, two weeks of a special diet prior to arriving and during, three weeks of pulse diagnosis with my Vaidya, daily treatments, and herbal remedies, ensuring the body is ready for purification. It doesn’t stop there. It is recommended that for the following 48 days you are very careful with what food and drink you consume, how it is prepared, and from where.
As well as physically cleansing all the channels in the body (honestly, it feels like every tissue has been jet-washed), PK can also stimulate the release of past traumatic impressions (samskara), bringing many emotions to the surface. Due to cultural differences, perceptions of mental health can vary significantly between the West and India or Sri Lanka. As a result, their approach may at times feel insensitive by our standards. Please don’t take it personally.
If this aspect concerns you, or if you already work with a therapist, I recommend scheduling a few therapy sessions during your PK to ensure you have the support you need.
I’ll also be writing a more detailed blog in the future on safe PK guidance.
PK and Diksha must be paused during menstruation. This is considered an additional time of purification for women, when all energy should support the natural downward flow of menstrual blood. I am blessed to be staying with the Raju family in South India, an internationally renowned lineage of Vaidyas with more than eleven generations of continuous practice. They offer a very unique treatment called ‘Banana Therapy,’ which is traditionally believed to rejuvenate the cells of the body, particularly the endocrine system, especially when taken during menstruation. It is said to strengthen the connection between the brain and uterus, supporting a mother’s physiology and the wellbeing of future generations. Read more here.
While writing this I still have one week remaining, its hard to express in words how I feel without reaching the end and integrating back into what I deem as ‘normal life’. But I can confidently say that something deep within my soul has been activated and I feel the power that we hold as humans to tap into a cosmic frequency through mantra and knowledge of the Vedas!
With appreciation for those who came before me and shaped the path I’m on, to all my teachers and guides who have preserved these ancient treasures…
With love,
Chikitsa Ayurveda -- Gemma X
Natural healing through Ayurveda
Ayurveda offers a different path. Rather than suppressing symptoms, it supports the body to restore balance and reconnects you with your natural rhythms. With this holistic approach, energy, sleep, digestion, and emotional balance are nourished. As Ayurveda gains popularity in the West, I feel it is our duty as practitioners to provide safe and authentic guidance.
Guided by myself, Ayurveda becomes your toolkit for transformation. It empowers you to become the best version of yourself. Book a discovery call today to find out more!
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