Welcome to the world of Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old Indian wellness system that is designed to create health, harmony, and total wellness, and the crown jewel of Ayurveda is Panchakarma (“five actions”), a deep rejuvenation protocol of spa treatments performed in an atmosphere of total serenity, bliss, and calm.
All of this can be found at The Raj. Nestled in the heartlands of Fairfield, Iowa, The Raj is the only facility outside of India that is designed to offer traditional Panchakarma treatments in their sanctuary of health and healing. Located on 100 acres of rolling meadows and woodlands, the Raj is all about slowing down, enjoying the surrounding beauty of nature, and benefiting from the most powerful rejuvenating and healing treatments you can find anywhere. In addition, The Raj is the only kosher-certified Ayurvedic center in the world. Their grounds exude an aura of tranquility and calm, and by accepting only a limited number of guests at a time, they are able to maintain their high quality of individualized service and attention.
Guests are not subjected to needle sticks or any other uncomfortable procedures, just luxurious oil massages, yoga, meditation, and a healthy, organic, vegan diet that leaves you glowing with vibrance and health. Ayurveda is even known to aid in the healing of serious maladies and can provide an all-around feeling of wellness, positivity, and good health. The result is a unique experience of nurturing attention and care. For 25 years, The Raj has led the field in Ayurvedic treatments, and now, for the first time ever, The Raj can accommodate the discerning kosher guest in a serene and blissful environment.
One customer turned Ayurveda-aficionado is Sabena Basch Dukes, who used the system to transform her own life to powerful results. Indeed, the first thing that strikes you about Sabena Basch Dukes is her undeniable zest for life. Charming and congenial, warm and witty, she is blessed with the ability to make you feel as though you’ve been friends forever just minutes after meeting. Chances are, you may have heard of her. In addition to authoring three best-selling books, Sabena is a successful and savvy entrepreneur who, as co-founder and CEO of Li’l Stars Modeling Agency, placed thousands of adults, children, and babies in commercials, major pictures, print advertisements, and even on Broadway. She has appeared on Oprah, Geraldo, Regis, Good Morning America, and CNN, and many more talk shows. And as an active member of the Orthodox Jewish community, Sabena has balanced work and family life since the tender age of eighteen. And she did it all without missing a beat, which is precisely why she didn’t have the time to deal with the chronic pain that was plaguing her.
“For years, I suffered from multiple health issues, including cancer, digestive problems, high blood pressure, chronic joint pain, difficulty sleeping, and weight gain,” she said. “I was on medication and running from doctor to doctor, but nothing seemed to help.” Debilitated from the excruciating pain and frustrated by the doctors’ inability to find a panacea for her health issues through conventional medicine, Sabena decided to explore other healing options.
“I Googled ‘juice retreats,’ thinking that was what I needed, but what I came up with instead was The Raj, an Ayurvedic Health Center for a full-life transformation. I clicked on the website and began reading all about it. Intrigued by what I saw, I was interested in what they had to offer, so I called them for more information, then I booked a reservation for eight days. From the moment I arrived, it was a complete life-changing experience. It was so healing and helpful that I ended up staying for three weeks.”
Sabena’s stay began with an initial appointment with a highly trained expert who assessed her health, her habits, and her medical history and any emotional issues. He then took her pulse by placing three fingers on her wrist and listening to her pulse with his fingertips. Central to Ayurvedic medicine, the pulse diagnosis allows a trained expert to feel the level of imbalance in the body so they can recommend individualized meals that the chef prepares as well as massage treatments that two masseuses provide using a four-hand method.
Each guest is provided with a customized schedule, which included purification treatments called Panchakarma. Most treatments begin with a full-body herb and warm oil body massage performed by two massage technicians to loosen impurities in the tissues and soothe and nourish the skin. After this rejuvenating procedure, the guest is treated to a delicious vegan lunch and dinner, followed by a class where the guest learns how to eat and exercise properly for their body type. “I gained a great deal of self-knowledge while staying at The Raj,” Sabena noted. “The herb and oil treatments are like being enveloped in liquid silk.” Gallons of warm sesame oil are poured all over one’s body, which is then treated to a full massage by two female technicians, followed by a special head and neck massage and a dose of aromatherapy.
Prepared on premises, all meals at The Raj are vegetarian and kosher-certified and served in the dining room to encourage the guests to socialize. “Every meal is customized to each guest’s regimen and prepared minutes prior to being served,” she explained.
While at The Raj, Sabena began to see and feel a pronounced physical improvement, and at the end of the three weeks, she had lost twelve pounds, her blood pressure dropped considerably, the level of pain in her joints diminished, she slept better, and her skin was radiant and glowing. Since returning home, she no longer requires medication to lower her blood pressure, nor is joint shoulder replacement surgery mandated. For Sabena, the results were so dramatic that she decided to share her discovery with the frum community. In fact, she so believed in the efficacy of the treatments that she approached the CEO, Candace Badgett, and suggested they hire a mashgiach so they can market The Raj to the Orthodox Jewish community.
“As it turned out, since we already served only organic vegan food, it was an easy transition to become a kosher health spa,” said Candace. “We have set times for kosher retreats, but for those guests who wish to come outside of those set times, we have a mashgiach who can provide guidance to them and to The Raj staff on how best they can accommodate their religious and dietary needs.
“Another aspect of our services that is important to our Jewish guests is that we use only female masseuses for female guests and male masseuses for male guests. In addition, we have separate floors for men and women. In addition, our programs naturally target the health concerns of the Orthodox Jewish community. At The Raj, we tackle the root cause of chronic disorders which are so often tied to poor digestion as well as to fatigue and emotional stress. Our traditional approach of prevention and addressing chronic disorders will no doubt be appreciated by our Orthodox Jewish guests. With our esteemed staff-physician, Dr. Robert Schneider, MD, overseeing all our programs, and with our Ayurvedic expert, Mark Toomey, who holds a PhD in Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, and under the guidance of a council of preeminent traditional Ayurvedic doctors, The Raj is uniquely qualified to help our guests reach their health goals.”
Ayurveda is the world’s oldest continually practiced health system. Developed in India over 6,000 years ago, Ayurveda (which means “knowledge of life”) is a natural approach to creating balance and strengthening the body’s natural healing ability. Ayurveda is acknowledged by the World Health Organization and is growing in its global use as one of the most effective systems of natural health. According to Ayurveda, disorders are primarily the result of impurities and toxins that accumulate in the body over time. The programs at The Raj are designed to address the root cause of disorders, instead of simply focusing on the relief of specific symptoms. The Raj’s Ayurvedic purification treatments help to dislodge impurities from the cells and tissues and flush them out of the body. In addition to removing years of accumulated blockages, The Raj’s therapies help improve metabolism and enliven the inner intelligence of the body, stimulating the body’s remarkable capacity for self-repair.
The Ayurvedic experts at The Raj will design a specialized treatment just for you, including customized oils and herbs for your spa therapies that best restore balance and vitality. Candace’s message to our community is warm and heartfelt: “We welcome you with open arms and hearts! Upholding the purity of an ancient tradition, and committing to practice its deepest principles, is something we share. And we all know that without good health, it is very hard to enjoy all the other blessings we have received in this life. We are thrilled to honor your traditions and laws and to welcome you to our sanctuary of health and healing.”
For Sabena, her stay at The Raj was a transformative experience. “I want to make our frum community aware of what a magical place The Raj is with its multitude of services. Take care of your body and your body will take care of you.”
For reservations and more information regarding The Raj, please contact Sabena Basch at 347-722-5679 or email at Sabena18@gmail.com or WhatsApp at 1-347-722-5679. n
Rochelle Maruch Miller is a contributing editor for the Five Towns Jewish Times. She is a journalist, creative media consultant, lecturer, educator, and writes for magazines, newspapers, websites, and private clients. She welcomes your comments at RochelleMiller04@aol.com. Read more of Rochelle Maruch Miller’s articles at 5TJT.com.
