At the heart of Surya’s practice is Martha's modern offering of Panchakarma, the ancient Ayurvedic practice of seasonal cleansing with gentle procedures that renew our bodies systems and eliminate naturally accumulated toxins. While the immersive program at Surya is unparalleled, it’s limited to those who can visit Surya, and as such, there are frequent requests for an at-home version, where the transformative power of Panchakarma can be experienced wherever you are.    

In this remote and guided 7-day retreat, participants embark as a group, including 5 days of At-Home Preparation. Participants gather for morning check-ins, as well as evening experiences of meditation, yoga, workshops and sound ceremonies, working together to help you reconnect and rebalance for maximum health and well-being. You’ll also enjoy a special focus on easy, Ayurvedic self-care skills to help establish daily and seasonal rituals for the most balanced, healthy, and joyful life.

At-Home Panchakarma involves a series of herbal treatments, self-administered massages, and diet designed to eliminate toxins and balance your body's natural energy. The word Panchakarma, in the ancient language of Sanskrit, means "five actions,” referring to the five steps that make up the practice, including snehana (oil application) and swedana (sweating), all working together to detoxify, nourish, and rejuvenate.

Your series starts with a private consultation with Martha, either in person or remotely. With her personalized care and expert guidance, she’ll custom-design a selection of oils, herbs, treatments, and products for your cleanse. Everything you need will be sent to you, including links to special instructional how-to videos, as well as yoga, meditation, and inspirational videos. The At-Home Program is an opportunity to make your home a retreat, and Surya will provide you with all the tools and knowledge you need.

During your retreat, and for 5 days before and a few days after, you’ll eat nourishing, vegetarian food — whole grains, organic vegetables and fruits, mung bean dhal and kitchari, and even grain-free breads like Surya’s Almond Flour Spa Breads. You’ll also receive special teas, and a full list of foods recommended for your particular needs. You’ll avoid animal products, caffeine, added sugars, and alcohol. Everything you eat will be nutritious, easy to digest, and satisfying.  

Most importantly, Surya’s dedicated team of Panchkarma experts will help you every step of the way, in group sessions and individually. And when you’ve completed the cleanse, you’ll check in privately with Martha, once more, so she can guide you to easily continue the benefits you’ve received.  

Benefits of At-Home Panchakarma start with transformation — physically, mentally, and even, if you’re so inclined, spiritually.  Transformation is the most commonly used word guests use to describe the newness and well-being the feel at the end of Panchakarma.  Guests report increased energy levels, better digestion, better sleep, reduced stress, increased immunity and resilience, ameliorated health concerns, an increased sense of joy, and often, the feeling of a new lease on life. 

Panchakarma is an ancient practice originating with the Siddha Yogis of Southern India, 10,000 years ago. Their goal was a long life, and a vital life, filled with energy, peace, and happiness.  By following Surya’s guidance, anyone can experience the transformative power of this time-tested healing practice, now from the comfort of their home.

It is recommended to do Panchakarma 4 times a year, at the start of each season.  In this way, our bodies most smoothly transition with the changing environment, keeping us balanced and healthy throughout the year.

This at-home cleanse begins with a private consultation with Martha, either in person or remotely. With her personalized care and expert guidance, she’ll custom-design a selection of oils, herbs, treatments, and products for your cleanse to be mailed to you prior to the beginning of the cleanse. You will also receive special teas, and a full list of foods recommended for your particular needs.

Five days before we gather as a group, you will complete the essential at-home preparation, which includes Snehana (taking morning ghee to loosen impurities) and Virechana (castor oil flush to clear out the digestive tract). During this time, and for the entirety of the retreat, you will eat nourishing, vegetarian food — whole grains, organic vegetables and fruits, mung bean dhal and kitchari, and even grain-free breads like Surya’s Almond Flour Spa Breads. In order to allow the digestive system to reset completely, you will also avoid animal products, caffeine, added sugars, and alcohol for the entirety of the cleanse.

On the first day of gathering as a group, we will meet for a full 4 hour afternoon of connection and instruction to get you started on the self-administered treatments outlined in your treatment plan. Each day for the rest of the week, we will meet in the morning for 1-1.5 for check-ins and instruction, and each each evening for 30-60 min for meditation, yoga, workshops and sound ceremonies. Our final meeting after completing 7 days of treatment will be focused on integration or how we can weave these practices into the rhythms of our daily lives to maintain a state of balance and connection.

Throughout the process, Surya’s dedicated team of Panchakarma experts will help you every step of the way. When you’ve completed the cleanse, you’ll check in privately with Martha once more, so she can guide you to continue the benefits you’ve received.

What self-administered treatments will we learn? The main treatments we will focus on learning and practicing will be Abhyanga, Udvartana, Garshana/Dry Brushing, Nasya, Swedana, Basti and Picchu. Depending on the group and each person’s health goals we may also supplement additional treatments when possible.

Abhyanga: oily self-massage using customized oils to activate the lymphatic system, encourage detoxification, lubricate the joints and muscles, deliver herbal remedies to the tissues, activate the circulatory system

Udvartana: herbal scrub aimed at moving toxicity out of the tissues, improving circulation, breaking up stagnancy

Garshana/Dry Brushing: gentle lymphatic activation to improve skin, circulation and elimination of toxins

Nasya: treatment for the head, neck and shoulders, we will learn a modified version of the massage, eucalyptus steam and herbalized nose oil application

Swedana: sweating to remove impurities, we will learn several methods for different Dosha types and different at-home capacities

Basti: gentle Ayurvedic oil and water-based enemas to hydrate and clean the colon, access the mind/gut channel, deliver herbal remedies directly to the blood through the intestines

Picchu: to address the nervous system, in place of a Shirodhara (warm oil on the forehead), we will learn how to apply a warm herbal oil paste to the forhead to access the pineal gland and bring a state of deep rest to the nervous system

What if I am in a different time zone? No worries! All meetings will be recorded and shared with the group as soon as possible so you can participate when it is convenient for you and revisit lessons as needed.

How involved will Martha be? The whole process will begin and end with consultations with Martha. After your first consultation, Martha will work with our Panchakarma team to design a PK program for you including customized herbal and oil remedies.

What supplies will I receive? You will receive customized herbal oils, ingredients for the treatments listed above, a temperature controlled pot for steaming, face oils and creams, tools for Nasya, Garsha/dry brushing and Basti, and anything else Martha thinks you need. You will also receive food ingredients for your at home diet preparation, including dhal, rice, ghee, teas and cooking spices. Depending on where you live, you will also be charged for shipping once it is calculated.

The impetus for an At-Home Panchakarma was to bring the benefits of Surya’s Panchakarma to a wider group than those with the time and resources to travel to Surya’s flagship location in Santa Monica. 

Following that desire, the same At-Home Panchakarma is offered in three pricing tiers: 1) at cost; 2) at cost plus a bit more to spread the program; and 3) at cost plus a small scholarship fund contribution which makes the program more available to those in need.

If you feel that the scholarship program might be right for you, apply here.