How I begin my clinic at Ratna podiatry.

As you are all aware, I have been qualified some 20 plus year, mainly working in the NHS setting (St Mary’s hospital). However, in the last 5 years, I have dipped my toe into the world of the private podiatry, providing biomechanical assessments, bespoke orthoses with individual exercise rehabilitation as well as regular podiatry treatments in the patients’ home environment. 

My main source of referral was from the consultants I work with, but late last year, the health care professionals I worked with, felt it would be better to think about renting a clinical space. 

I traipsed up and down Praed Street but either the room was too small, or they wanted an exorbitant amount of money as the commission. I knew the ideal place would be either in the hospital’s private rooms or this pharmacy (Apek Pharmacy), just opposite the St Mary’s arch gates. The pharmacist was very surprised when I announced my intention as he had been looking to advertise a room in the basement and wondered how I knew. I think someone up there was looking out for me. 

I took a few months to decide how I was going to kit the room up. I also knew I had a few patients on my caseload but not enough to fill the diary over two days of a week over the year. I had to think of marketing my services, advertising to the locals living in Paddington as well as the local businesses such as the Chiropractor and Optician, Hairdresser and to the nearby catchment areas too. I also knew I needed some capital to do this and by having some time before I started, gave me this opportunity. In my mind I had set up a start date in February 2020.

This was a new venture! It was exciting as well as nerve racking. So I searched internally how to best start this new beginning for me. I am a spiritual person and come from a strong Hindu religious background. I also wanted to create an environment where every patient who came in for treatment, felt at complete ease and harmonious. 

I remember my mum’s voice echoing in the background to invite Lord Ganesh whenever you are starting some new, a new car, a new house or new business, basically anything new. I looked at the Hindu calendar and noted that the 30thJanuary was an auspicious day.

Why Lord Ganesh?

Lord Ganesh's elephant head makes him easy to identify. He is honoured and worshipped as the lord of beginnings and as the lord of removing obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, and the god of intellect and wisdom. This idolof the lord is associated with calmness. This resonated well with me as I needed all the help I could get!

How did I do this?

In order to invite the Lord Ganesh’s idol in the clinic, the room is cleansed initially. A copper pot is filled with water and a coconut is placed on top of it and decorated with betel leaves. The Ganesh idol is then placed next to copper pot. The coconut and the idol are adorned with sacred thread and sandalwood paste tilak on the forehead and garlands. A ghee lamp is lit as well as an incense stick. The incense stick signifies a purified state of mind. Flowers and sweets are offered to the Lord, followed by prayers and finally an aarti is performed to close the ceremony.

What is Aarti?

Aarti is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a part of puja, in which light (usually from a flame) is offered to Lord Ganesh or other deities in a spirit of humility and gratitude. Aarati also refers to the songs sung in praise of the deity, when the light is being offered. 

My daily routine before I begin my clinic.

You have already read how I initially started the clinic by invoking Lord Ganesh to make my clinic successful (the aim was not financial) but, more that I was able to give the best treatment for my patients – that I used my instinct and professionalism to provide this outcome every single time someone walked in through the door. But I wanted to remind myself of this every time I started clinic by creating a calming and tranquil environment.

As a child living in Kenya, I was influenced by my parents’ and grandmothers’ early Morning Prayer rituals. I never questioned it but without fail, as soon I was woke up it has been drummed into me that I needed to shower, prayer, then have breakfast and continue with my day – whether it was school or not. What I said in those prayers was probably irrelevant – more like asking for the latest Barbie doll or a new bicycle. However, if it was close to exam time, then it was most obvious –‘dear God, please make sure I can answers the questions and pass to make it to the new year and I will do whatever you want me too’. I was not the most academic during my primary school years!

As I become mature, I questioned why I prayer and wondered how I felt. I soon realised after doing some yoga that I found it very soothing. I realised that I could meditate while I was praying. I also remembered that if I went to my dad’s warehouse, he would never sell anything (even if he had a queue of customers) until he had lit an incense stick, lit a ghee lamp and bowed down to the various deities. I always wondered why but again I was of the generation that never questioned parents. I do remember asking him in his elderly days why he did this and why the tradition has carried on with my brother who took over his business. He humbly reminded me that I am what I am because I was placed on this earth by the lord almighty. I should always remember the Lord before I begin anything new. I realised that I needed to adapt this practice too.

As soon as I reach clinic, I wash my hands and light an incense stick, light a ghee lamp asking Lord Ganesh to bless this new day in clinic. To me, this is a way to remind me of my late father (an ode to my father) and his rituals but with a difference – I understand why I am doing this. It has been shown that scents, aromas, fragrances can be used to trigger specific responses. For me lighting of the incense stick is a twofold, relax the mind, to stop worrying and racing from one thing to another, both for the patients and myself. But, spiritually, it also deepens my attentions and heightens my senses thereby providing the best care possible But remember I stated I was worried that I would not be able to fill in my diary, I now also offer a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi – she is the personification of prosperity, good health, righteous living, and everything positive and desirable in life

Hindus believe that anybody who worships Lakshmi sincerely, and not in greed, will be blessed with fortune and success. It is said that Lakshmi resides in places of hard work, virtue and bravery, but leaves whenever these qualities are not apparent any more.

Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped in almost every Hindu household and workplaces to bring success and prosperity. Ganesh is considered the God of wisdom and Laxmi the Goddess of wealth. Ganesh pooja along with Laxmi pooja is done to get wisdom along with wealth. Because without wisdom, wealth can't stay longer with you.

For this reason, if you ever come into clinic as my first patient, you now know why there is a fragrant incense of jasmine or sandalwood and there is a small ghee lamp lit in the corner of my desk.