Dr Sudhi Suresh has ayurveda deep in his DNA. His grandfather and father were ayurvedic physicians and watching them as he grew up in Kerala, he developed his own passion for this extraordinary wellness philosophy.
In 2007, after graduating from a six-year degree course in ayurvedic medicine, he took his first post at Taj Hotels. Stints at Four Seasons and Shangri-La followed where he learned how to make the subtleties of this 5,000-year-old ethos relevant to modern-day guests. At the same time, he became increasingly aware of the parallels between ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine and began to experiment with fusing the two ancient systems to create unique results-driven treatments.
By 2016, he had the perfect showcase for his theories when he moved to the Indian Ocean to set up the Iridium Spa at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort [pictured above]. “The Maldives has 99% the same climate and landscape as Kerala but is surrounded by amazing oceans. It is ideal for wellness,” says Dr Sudhi.
At Vommuli, he established one of the archipelago’s first acupuncture centres and launched his signature treatment, Acu-Marma Therapy, a fusion of Indian and Chinese techniques. Ayurveda has 107 marma points around the body that affect the flow of energy, similar to Chinese medicine's meridian points and lines. Blocked points cause ill health and need to be released. Traditional Chinese Medicine addresses these blockages through acupuncture and acupressure.
“When we ‘puncture’ acu points with a needle, it’s acupuncture,” explains Dr Sudhi. “When we apply varying levels of pressure that’s acupressure. Acupuncture goes deeper and gives faster results, while acupressure is an alternative for those who don’t like needles.”
Dr Sudhi Suresh
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
“A guest who arrived weighing 125kg left a fortnight later 14kg lighter. After working together for six months, the guest tipped the scales at just 88kg. ”
His Acu-Marma Therapy combines marma points and Chinese acupressure techniques. “It’s beneficial for physical and mental balance because each meridian represents a different organ that we can stimulate with pressure,” he adds. But the correlations are not obvious. “For example, for physical shoulder pain, we need to treat the lung meridian. For emotional issues with anger, we would treat points on the liver meridian.”
As an expert with vast knowledge of anatomy, Dr Sudhi can identify the exact acu points on a meridian line and the appropriate pressure to deliver optimum results. As his priority is always his patient, unusually, he’s happy to share this information, giving the details of the precise points he has worked to guests as reference for other practitioners.
He emphasises that acupuncture and acupressure are mainly seen as tools to tackle pain management, but they are excellent for relieving stress and sleep regulation – and acupressure can be practiced on oneself. It can also have considerable influence on weight loss. Dr Sudhi cites a guest who arrived at Vommuli weighing 125kg and left a fortnight later 14kg lighter. After working together for six months, the guest tipped the scales at just 88kg.
For significant medical changes, Sudhi recommends a retreat of at least seven nights but even a three-night stay can achieve good levels of relaxation, particularly if the guest enrols in another Sudhi unique speciality: chakra yoga. The seven chakras are explored on consecutive days through asanas, singing bowl therapy and meditation. “It is authentic but not classical yoga. Guests love it,” he adds.
He particularly enjoys witnessing sceptical guests change their minds. “I can tell a lot about a person from reading their pulse. Sometimes they’ll be so impressed, they’ll ask me things like if they should get married,” he laughs. “I tell them I’m an ayurvedic doctor, I’m not a fortune teller.”
Read more
