Satyam Ayurvedic Massage Centre
Therapeutic "Knowledge of life"
By Laura Salinger
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Owner Harsha Keister is there to meet clients and curious visitors with a smile and kind eyes. She is a licensed
massage therapist and ayurvedic specialist who offers massages and other services: body typing, nutritional
consultation, and oil treatments -- meant to contribute to better health. She does provide more common services
like Swedish Massage or hot stone massages, but her passion is Ayurveda.
Indian for "knowledge of life," Ayurveda is a 5,000 year-old Indian system of healing that uses diet, meditation,
gentle exercise, herbal remedies, and physical therapies (such as massage) to achieve physical, spiritual, and
mental health. According to Keister, Ayurveda is currently used to treat between 70-80% of India's population and
the practice is becoming increasingly popular outside of India./"Ayurveda is a complete way of life," Keister said. "It
is not only about treating sickness. It is also based on preventing disease and enhancing health, longevity, and
vitality. The goal of Ayurveda is to achieve harmony and balance."
Ayurveda works under the main principle that the universe is composed of five elements: earth, spirit, Vatta (air),
Pitta (acid), and Kapha (mucus.) If any one or more of these elements becomes unbalanced, a person becomes
sick. After evaluating a client, Keister can discover which of these elements (if any) are out of balance and use
Ayurvedic modalities to treat that imbalance. If the spirit is out of balance, meditation is in order. If Vatta, Pitta, or
Kapha is imbalanced; yoga, change of diet, massage, and herbal supplements are used to balance the body.
Keister mixes personalized oils and herbs that target the specific problems unique to each of her clients.
"The herbs which are used in the oil help to balance the body," she explained.
Ayurvedic treatments include anything from an Indian general body massage, which helps with arthritis, high
blood pressure, and allergies, to treatments more geared towards specific body parts. Shirodhara is a head
treatment that uses cool eye pads soaked in rose water and milk. Warm oil is used on the forehead and scalp to
restore clarity and peace of mind. Sirovasti entails the use of warm oil, specially blended herbs, and massage on
the scalp to stimulate balance and improve circulation in the nerves and pores. It is recommended for those
suffering from hair loss, premature graying, and facial paralysis. Dhara involves dripping hot oils on specific body
parts. It is recommended for those suffering from kidney problems, headaches, neurological disorders,
insomnia, depression, and heart conditions. Other treatments are geared towards weight loss, stroke symptoms,
neuromuscular conditions, and various other health ailments.
Keister's treatments aren't limited to adults. The very young can benefit from her specialized infant massage,
which works to strengthen a child's digestive and immune systems. Perhaps what new parents most want to
hear, however, is that this treatment also purports to help improve a baby's sleep patterns.
A native of India, Keister is well versed on the principles of Ayurveda. For her, it is not just about physical
treatment; it is a way of life. She was raised under the doctrines of Ayurveda. Her father, a retired professor of
politics and philosophy in India, and her mother, a homemaker, incorporated Ayurvedic principles in every aspect
of daily life. Keister's memories of childhood are filled with fondness.
"It was a wonderful childhood," she said. "Ayurveda means 'knowledge of life' and my family used that every day."
Keister recalled how every evening her family would go for a walk after dinner and then chant (a form of
meditation.) They would then talk about their day and brainstorm what they could have done differently to make
things go even better. Keister attributes much of the caring and generosity she experienced in her family life to
their strong connection to Ayurvedic beliefs. Her family life was harmonic and it this harmony that she hopes to
help her clients achieve.
While her childhood was idyllic, Keister faced her fair share of challenges as an adult. According to her, she was
the first woman in Bombay to file for divorce, an extremely taboo move in 1970's India. After enduring physical and
verbal abuse from her first husband, Keister courageously stood up for herself and made a bold statement for all
women enduring such abuse. She was highly criticized and ostracized in her community. She was known as
"that woman who sought a divorce." But her family remained constant by her side. "I cried a lot," Keister said. "But
when I came home I was always supported."
Keister received a bachelor's degree in Bombay and worked there for several years before moving to Houston,
Texas and eventually Madison. She started Satyam nine years ago. She is currently located at 6634 Mineral Point
Rd. and is now joined in her practice by her daughter Vipasha Keister. For more information about Satyam, visit
www.satyamayurvedic.com.
When you first walk into Satyam Ayurvedic Massage Centre, the subtle,
but distinct smell of fresh herbs and oils tickles your nose. The lighting
is dim and Indian décor, from paintings to tapestries, spans the room.
The calmness that permeates the room seems much less forced than it
is at some other area spas and massage centers. New age music
doesn't emanate from the speakers, and boxed waterfalls aren't
positioned strategically throughout the room. There are no marble floors
and faux stone walls. It is a modest, maybe even eclectic space, filled
with Indian jewelry, trinkets and oils.