In this YouTube interview, Salila Sukumaran speaks with fashion designer Kinari Sukumaran about her experience with Salila’s Panchakarma Ayurvedic cleanse undertaken before her brother’s wedding. Kinari explains her initial motivation—seeking a natural, non‑extreme method to look slimmer, improve skin and hair, and boost energy while reducing her heavy caffeine habit. She reports losing 5–6 kg, achieving brighter, tighter skin, and noticing reduced crow’s feet. The cleanse eliminated her tea and coffee cravings, removed afternoon slumps, and gave her sustained morning energy. A key component, the “gut bestie” drink, is highlighted as a miracle beverage that cleanses the gut, provides caffeine‑like vigor, and curbs cravings. Kinari praises Salila’s simple, root‑based approach, recalling childhood herbal remedies and the use of kitchen ingredients, and she emphasizes the profound, unexpected benefits. The conversation ends with Kinari’s strong endorsement, recommending Salila’s Panchakarma to friends, family, and other powerful women, aligning with Salila’s mission to support women’s longevity and impact.
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Kinari, please tell the world who you are.
Hi, my name is Kinari Sukumaran and I'm a fashion designer and I love my work. My mission in life is to promote hand embroidery so we can employ more Kari Kars and we make their children study.
Kinari, you're so service-minded. Social impact is such a big value for you. What made you decide that you wanted to do a cleanse?
Since Salila, I've been quite a fan of yours. I've always been seeing you on Instagram giving great tips. And all of them were so natural. And it was my brother's wedding and I really thought that instead of doing anything very crazy, let me do a Panchakarma, which you always spoke about. And that's when I felt, uh, I tried this method of body cleanse. And I also, you know, I was really tired with my work. What happens is because it's handwork, I'm always on people's timelines. So I used to get so tired. Even when clients used to come in, I would have a coffee. If I had to sit with Kanika, it would be chai. So I was on a caffeine spree and I would have crazy moments of spikes and low, spike and low. And also my cravings was at the highest peak. I had become that person who would have carbs and feel energized. And I would feel that carbs gives me brain energy. But I remember when I spoke about one of your stories and when you had even mentioned that it's all in the mind and if your body is cleansed, you won't need coffee. Without coffee, I didn't imagine my life. Without tea, I didn't imagine my life because I think at a point of time I would have like 5, 6 cups and I used to be like, what am I doing to myself? But the least I've had is 2 or 2 and a half. And after Panchakarma, not a day I have had in 2 months, a month and a half, I've not had any tea, any coffee. And I was surprised that the minute I had tea, which I used to really, really crave for tea, I didn't like the taste of tea.
You mentioned that you wanted to look great for your brother's wedding. You wanted to be slim and trim. So tell us a little bit about that. Your skin, your hair, your weight, was that of a concern before you came for the cleanse?
I can't tell you how amazing it is because I did not think what I got. Like, really, I think I lost 5 to 6 kilos. And I remember you, when I was around 57, I said, let's be a little more opportunistic here. And I told you 51, 52, and you said it'll be done. And I was like, really? Yeah, on 21 days, how am I going to lose? Like, I think even if I do a like I am lazy or anything, I will still need recovery time. Where will that 21 days help me to get 5 kilos down? And you said, don't worry about it. Just follow to that. My skin was really dull. My skin was extremely dull because of the overworking hours, the clients that we did. Also, I still remember I had started getting crow's feet. My skin color had also changed and I had no shine. Right now I have no makeup on, but I still get a little shine with the Panchakarma. So I feel my skin became something that I would have gone for a massive treatment, and which of course was so natural. And I think my skin became tighter, uh, it become— became more nourished. I was always having super dry skin, and I think I looked fab because what I had imagined, I could see it in myself in a vision that you made me Achievement. So can't be thankful enough. You look stunning.
You looked like a billion dollars, you know. You look like a movie star. You just were shining on your brother's wedding. You have access to anybody. You could have gone to any big retreat center. You are a very successful woman. What made you reach out to me?
Salila, I really like the way you go in roots. I remember when you were at your house in Kerala, You took the purple flowers and you explained if you put it in water for children, your concentration increases. And I remember back in the day, mom used to always give us Shankhpushpi and the ingredient was only that. But you went to the core of everything, becoming very simple instead of just having medications. So that's what I loved. And I think your panchakarma is the same. You told us to get the products and I had no idea that simple things in our kitchen are so powerful. So I really had seen most of your things to be as simple as it gets. When I tried it, the result of it had been more than 100%. So I think you are my go-to person.
What was the most surprising result of doing the Panchakarma for you that you did not expect?
Everything was surprising. First of all, I had no idea when you said that being Like any, like a particular product that you told us to eat, it was a missile to the body. And I never took it that easy. And sometimes with the rush, I had more of it and I realized the power. My feet and hand, I felt like I was a dragon and throwing fire. I think those ingredients were simple, but I think they were the most connected, the most efficient that I felt.
Amazing. Any positive benefits that you were like, wow, I had no idea this could happen too?
I promise you, I had no expectations out of this. I just thought that it is just, you know, it's something very simple. I'll lose just from 57, maybe I'll go to 56 kilos and my fat percentage dropped. My energy levels have risen and I don't have afternoon slump. My major concern was an afternoon slump because after eating I would be like, oh, you know what? I actually didn't keep work after lunch. And it had become a point of time I used to be really scared that should I have lunch? If I have lunch, I'll get drowsy. So my afternoon slump went, my coffee cravings went, my tea, coffee. When I woke up, I never woke up tired. I woke up with 100% energy. And the gut bestie you got us on to, oh my God, it is so good. It's a really a miracle drink because when I have the gut bestie, my gut gets cleaned. I have the energy as much as a caffeine drink, and I'm fuller. I don't get cravings as well. So I think all in all, it's like a total heaven on earth drink that I have now from you.
Somebody who is in a very powerful position as you because of the impact you have, because the business you do, because of the people whose lives you impact, to have those extra hours, to have that extra work, and to have that attention Also means that it'll translate into a more creative work for you, that you will have more hours to serve the world, and that would all translate into a greater impact on the world, right?
Absolutely. I really respect the way you think. You call all of us, all women are Durga Ji to you, and I really like how you, your mission in life is to have women to have more longevity. So I really appreciate how beautiful your mission is, and thank you for extending that knowledge to us.
It is such a pleasure to see that being recognized because that is ultimately how I want to serve. I want to take powerful women and help them stay longer on this planet so that they can keep serving because we are all little Shaktis of that great Shakti. Thank you for recognizing that.
Wow. What a mission. I'm so like amazed to hear something so precious.
Would you recommend me to your friends or family?
Only you. I'm sure your stories would have been full. My SMS is full. My WhatsApp is full. And I just went recommending for a week straight. Oh, what did she give you? And what? I'm like, listen, you have to go. It is a very person-on-person. And the meditations she does, like the meditations you used to give me. I think when you have a calmer mind, a cleaner gut, you evolve and you reach somewhere else for delivering something different and unique to you. And I think that is what you provided us by doing the Panch Karma. So I kept saying that the feeling with Salila Sukumaran, you have to do it with her. You can't do it without her.
