A royal treatment indeed!

It is a friendship that dates back to a good ten years ago and is still going strong. This best describes the relation between Dr Issac Mathai and his wife Suja Issac of Soukya Holistic Health Centre and the royal family of the United Kingdom, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in particular.

Issac Mathai, chairman, managing and medical director of Soukya Holistic Health Centre in Whitefield, has been the consultant of the British royal family for several years now.
Camilla first came to the Centre in 2010 and after she experienced the treatment first hand, she returned in 2012.

 She was at the Centre from November 2 to 6. “This is her third visit and as her doctor, I will not divulge the mode of treatment and the specifics but I can say that she comes back here to enjoy the food, which is our own produce — grown and cooked organically — and she truly soaks in the ambience,” Issac Mathai tells Metrolife.

Issac has been promoting and popularising ayurveda and its many benefits through Soukya. His wife Suja assists him in his mission. “There are all kinds of people visiting our centre, right from the rich to the local villagers but what sets Camilla apart is her humility,” he states.

He recalls how Camilla spent a lot of time simply walking through the lush green space.
“Even ministers would want somebody to carry their umbrella, slippers, bags and tag along behind them but in Camilla’s case, although there is a retinue in wait, she carried her own umbrella, bag and mobile phone. It is her down-to-earth nature that bowled us over,” he adds.

Camilla was served a typical South Indian breakfast of idli and dosa. She was also given a taste of Kerala delicacies like appam and puttu.

“She loved the soups, dal and spinach sweet corn soup. A diet which is low salt, low
fat and low spice is what is served here and Camilla more than relished the
experience,” informs a source at the Centre.

Most people who come to the Centre go in for the hydro therapy, which involves the use of water and the anti-ageing therapy, which improves circulation and metabolic rate of the body.

It is learnt that Camilla too opted for similar treatments.

Issac shares that the food is cooked afresh by picking the fruits and vegetables that is grown in the farm.

“Everything is made then and there. Nothing is refrigerated and carried over for the next day. This is what makes the place and the food truly sattvic in taste and feel,”
he adds.

Suja is the co-founder and executive director of Soukya. She also takes care of the
dietary department and takes keen interest in chalking out the menu for those who
come to the centre, in keeping with the mode of treatment.

 She points out that Camilla ate everything that was a part of the normal course
and didn’t have any requirements in particular.