SEA and swimming in the sea

Sometimes one hears that in Ayurveda swimming is not good or even prohibited "because of the pores". Hence the following information: it is true that the pores should be kept open. The reason being that this way the medicine and oils with its substances can penetrate the blood and nerve system more easily. This is also the reason why in Ayurveda no cold drinks are served and why air-conditioning is not allowed in the rooms!

Medicine and oils should not be washed off directly after a treatment finished, but left on for around another two hours, whereby after some treatments, it is even better to leave it on for longer than two hours (sometimes even over night, which our physicians would tell you during a consultation). Two hours after the last treatment one can go swimming without any concern. However, as with everything, there is an exception to the rule: with illnesses and treatments, where a dip in the water, seen from a medical point of view, is strictly forbidden, in which case one would be informed separately by the physicians. Because the seawater and the swimming pool water usually have a temperature of 30'C or sometimes even more, exists "if one keeps to the two hours" therefore no danger that the pores could be closed. It would be much "worse" if the temperature of the surroundings were too cold. Hence, one has less success with Ayurvedic treatments "up in the mountains" or in cold countries than in warm ones.

Sea, Rocks, Sharks

The beach in front of the Lotus-Villa is a pure sand beach, therefore there are (some say unfortunately) neither rocks, corals, alga nor animals in the water. For that reason, snorkelling is not very interesting for "pros". The island falls very flat into the sea and the water only gets really deep after 8 kilometres (km), where it is also clean enough for sharks as no sand is swirled up there. Hence if you want to go swimming and are afraid of sharks, we recommend that after 8km you return to the beach.

Signal flags at the beach

Lifeguards are employed "in case of accidents", you can recognise them by the white t-shirts with "Lifeguard". If you want to they even show and train some grabs with you. These lifeguards also look after our signal flags:

• The yellow flag means the lifeguard approves the swimming conditions.
  
• The red flag means that going swimming is entirely at ones "own risks" and can be dangerous for the inexperienced.

Despite the lifeguards an additional thought: please remember that there is no dry land between Sri Lanka and the south pole (!) and hence some very high waves can unexpectedly hit the shores here, days after far away sea tremors. Therefore it is appropriate to ALWAYS be cautious! If you feel even slightly unsure or even slightly fearful, do not play the "hero", one should not feel weak or shameful that one did not hold out. But please in this instance, get out of the sea immediately. Please also do not mistake the Indian ocean because of its warm waters with the from all sides enclosed Mediterranean sea or even with a bath in a bath tub.