Ayurveda at SWAN
Ayurveda is an integral part of our approach to holistic wellbeing. Our Ayurveda team brings together experienced practitioners and therapists who are deeply familiar with traditional Ayurvedic practice.
Our Ayurvedic doctor and the team of therapists work together to create a supportive and authentic experience for every guest. With knowledge passed down through traditional practice and years of hands-on experience, the team approaches Ayurveda with care, attention and respect for its classical principles.
From consultations and personalised treatments through to Panchakarma and therapeutic therapies, the team is committed to sharing the wisdom of Ayurveda in a peaceful, traditional setting.
Gyanmitra Saraswati
Co founder · Yoga · Yoga Philosophy · Yoga Nidra · Ayurveda
Gyanmitra Saraswati is the co founder of SWAN Foundation for Ayurveda and Yoga Research and co founder of SWAN Yoga Retreat in Goa, India.
For more than two decades, he has been involved in teaching Yoga, Yoga philosophy, meditation and Yoga Nidra, while also working to preserve and share traditional knowledge of Yoga and Ayurveda through residential programmes, courses, retreats and community initiatives.
His primary Yoga education was received at the Bihar School of Yoga, where he was initiated into Dashnami Sannyasa by his Guru, Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati, and immersed in the traditional study and practice of Yoga.
His education in Ayurveda includes formal training at Arsha Vidya Yoga Peetham in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, where he studied Ayurvedic treatment therapies and the principles and philosophy underlying their therapeutic application. This training in Ayurveda forms an important part of his work at SWAN.
At the retreat, Gyanmitra oversees the Ayurvedic therapies and treatments being provided to guests, working closely with the resident Ayurvedic physician and the team of therapists to ensure that the treatment process is properly supported and integrated with the wider residential programme.
He also teaches the Ayurveda Basic Course at SWAN, introducing students to the foundational principles of Ayurveda, its understanding of constitution, lifestyle, food and the traditional approach to wellbeing.
His role therefore bridges the two traditions at the heart of SWAN. Yoga provides the daily discipline. Ayurveda provides an individual approach to health and wellbeing. Together they create the foundation of the SWAN residential experience.
During the Yoga season from October to May, Gyanmitra lives and teaches at SWAN. During the remainder of the year, he travels internationally, conducting Yoga and Ayurveda retreats, workshops, seminars and courses in Europe and other destinations.
Teaches at SWAN
- Traditional Yoga and Hatha Yoga
- Yoga philosophy
- Yoga Nidra
- Meditation and yogic practices
- Ayurveda Basic Course
- Foundations of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic lifestyle
- Traditional approaches to Yoga and Ayurveda
At SWAN during the season from October to May. See the Ayurveda Basic Course.
Dr. Siddhesh Bandekar
Ayurvedic Physician
Dr. Siddhesh Bandekar is an experienced Ayurvedic physician with more than 15 years of clinical practice.
His work is centred on traditional Ayurveda, preventive healthcare and a personalised approach to wellbeing. At SWAN, he is responsible for the Ayurvedic consultation and for determining the appropriate course of treatment for each guest.
Every Ayurvedic programme begins with consultation. Dr. Bandekar considers the individual’s constitution, present condition, lifestyle, dietary habits and specific requirements before prescribing the appropriate therapies.
This is particularly important for Panchakarma and longer Ayurvedic programmes, where treatments cannot simply be selected from a standard menu.
The doctor determines the therapies, their sequence and their duration, and reviews the guest during the programme when adjustments are required.
He works closely with the SWAN Ayurveda therapists and the residential Yoga team so that the treatment programme is properly supported by appropriate food, Yoga, rest and daily routine.
Dr. Bandekar is also associated with Goa University and holds a degree in Alternative Medicine. His background in psychological counselling contributes to his broader understanding of the relationship between physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing and lifestyle.
He also travels to Europe for seminars and professional consultations, sharing his experience of Ayurveda and holistic healthcare with an international audience.
At SWAN, his role is particularly important in ensuring that Ayurveda remains individual, supervised and rooted in the principles of traditional Ayurvedic practice.
Areas of work at SWAN
- Ayurvedic consultation
- Personalised Ayurvedic treatment plans
- Panchakarma programmes
- Ayurvedic rejuvenation programmes
- Traditional Ayurvedic therapies
- Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle guidance
- Follow up and review during residential programmes
- Supervision of Ayurvedic treatments and therapies
Trained in Kerala and experienced in traditional Ayurvedic therapies.
The quality of an Ayurvedic treatment depends not only on the therapy prescribed, but also on how it is administered.
Our Ayurvedic therapists are trained in Kerala, a region internationally recognised for its long standing tradition of Ayurvedic practice and therapeutic treatments.
They bring practical experience in traditional Ayurvedic therapies and understand the importance of careful, attentive treatment.
At SWAN, therapies are not offered as a fixed spa menu. They are provided according to the Ayurvedic doctor’s prescription and form part of an individual treatment programme.
Treatments may include traditional Ayurvedic massage, Abhyanga and other therapies prescribed according to the guest’s requirements.
During Panchakarma, the role of the therapist becomes particularly important. The therapists work closely with the doctor and follow the prescribed procedures, while paying attention to the guest’s comfort and response throughout the treatment.
Treatments are carried out in dedicated treatment rooms on the SWAN campus using appropriate Ayurvedic oils and preparations.
The objective is simple: careful treatment, attentive hands and close coordination with the Ayurvedic doctor.
Speak to the doctor.
Every Ayurvedic programme begins with consultation. Send us your health history and what you would like to work on, and we will arrange it.