Meandering
through the swarming, sweaty streets of Old Delhi, it's hard to believe India
is the home of such life-affirming practices as yoga, meditation and ayurveda. As
you weave your way between the ramshackle buildings, narrowly avoiding being
run over by cows and countless rickshaws, the last thing on your mind is
relaxation and a holistic way of life. Yet just an hour north of Delhi by plane,
in the foothills of the Himalayas, there's the perfect place to do just that.
Ananda
Spa is in the grounds of Maharaja Tehri-Garhwal's picturesque palace, perched
high above the spiritual city and ‘world capital of yoga’ of Rishikesh. In the
late 1960s The Beatles came here to seek enlightenment, lean yoga, and meditate
- much of the White Album was written at an Ashram in Rishikesh.
The
award-winning Ananda opened its doors in 2000 with a mission to restore balance
and harmonise energy. And its location, surrounded by forest in the
high-altitude pristine air of the Himalayas makes it the perfect place to
start. In Sanskrit, the word Ananda means bliss and contentment, and, like most
spa resorts, it's certainly easy to feel that way here. What makes Ananda
different, however, is that it draws on India's various philosophies and
practices to help you chill out, slim down and clean up your body.
The
palatial former maharajan residence blends the traditional Indian wellness
regimes of Ayurveda, yoga and Vedanta (seeking a higher truth or knowledge
through meditation) to holistically treat the mind, body and soul, while the
peace and tranquility of Ananda is a real antidote to modern life.
I
visited in December to experience Ananda’s Stress Management package, which is
especially geared towards frazzled individuals. The vicissitudes of life as a corporate
lawyer rendered this the obvious choice, but there are over thirteen different
packages to choose from, including yogic detox, anti-ageing, Himalayan romance
and a ladies spa getaway – each one tailored to a guest’s personal preferences.
Each
package contains a unique combination of treatments and activities, but a full
body scrub is the inaugural treatment for all the packages. Luis Molina, newly
instated as the Spa Manager, explains that the scrub is at once
psychologically, as well as physically significant as the initial therapeutic
procedure – not only is it the most invigorating remedy after a long journey,
but the feeling of sheer spotlessness after having been scoured with essential
oil-infused sea salt results additionally in a feeling of mental clarity.
My
package included a Wellness Consultation with an Ayurvedic Doctor, which
involved a diagnosis of my bodily constitution, highlighting how diet and
changes in lifestyle could improve my overall quality of life. Ayurveda is a
holistic philosophy that matches foods to three different body types, or dosha.
I was declared to be ‘vata’ (my boyfriend by contrast was pronounced ‘pitta’).
Helpfully, the restaurant offers a menu with optimum suggestions for each of
the three body types, in addition to the regular a la carte options. The food,
by the way, is absolutely out of this world. Cast aside any preconceptions you
might hold about ‘spa food’ – at Ananda deprivation is not on the agenda.
Having said that, for those who are conscious of their weight, the good news is
that every item on the menu has a calorie count. As well as recommending the
foods you should be eating, the doctor will suggest a routine to help improve
your health and wellbeing.
Ayurvedic principles are
also a salient feature of the spa; the oils and lotions used in the treatments
will be specific to your particular dosha. A particular highlight of my host of
treatments, which included massages, private yoga classes and an insanely
sublime Indian head massage was Sirodhara, or "third
eye" - an ayurvedic treatment that involves a steady stream of oil being
poured on to the centre of your forehead. It is said to calm the mind, improve
the memory, help insomnia and ward off senile dementia. Well, if that's what it
did, I wanted it.
To begin with, I was given an
abhyanga treatment, which involves two therapists in a synchronised massage
using herbal oils. Then I was rolled onto my back and the pouring began. First,
the smell - sour and acrid: I wasn't convinced my nostrils could cope with this
for 45 minutes. The next thing I knew, I was being woken up - I had slept
through the entire shebang. Exactly the same thing happened the following day -
first the smell, then near-coma, much to the amusement of the therapists.
To enhance the sense of calm there
were breathing and relaxation classes, not to mention early-morning yoga in the
palace's music pavilion taken by Rishi (otherwise known as Dishy Rishi), the
best-looking yoga instructor on any side of the Himalayas.
Picking a package is the most
cost-effective way to visit Ananda, but it is also possible to create your own
agenda from the full range of ayurvedic treatments on offer, as well as the
usual spa fare from over 40 available treatments such as Thai or Swedish
massage, reflexology, body wraps and polishes, facials and pedicures. And
should you choose aromatherapy make sure you ask for Pummy, who gave me the
best aromatherapy massage that I have ever had.
There are a number of group
activities available to all guests – two consecutive early morning yoga
sessions for beginners and intermediates, a bi-weekly trek to a nearby temple,
twice-daily lectures on spiritual topics, a weekly cookery class and a delightful
dance show by children from a local orphanage. In fact, pretty much my only
grumble is that there were simply not enough hours in the day for me to
experience everything that I wanted to during my stay.
It could have been the altitude -
3,000 feet above sea-level in the foothills of the Himalayas; it might have
been the closeness of Hradwar and Rishikesh - sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites -
while the Ganges rushed down in the valley; but I have a niggling feeling that
my exaggerated sense of wellbeing was actually due to the glorious fusion of
massage, good food and daily yoga. I cannot recommend the Ananda experience
highly enough.
Ananda Executive Stress Management Package from $3270 for 5 nights (plus
12% government tax)
The Palace Estate
Narendra Nagar
Tehri - Garhwal
Uttaranchal - 249175
INDIA
Telephone: 91-1378-227500
Facsimile: 91-1378-227550
Email: reservation@anandaspa.com
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