The Wellness Retreats

India and the Himalayas have always been associated with wellness and peace of mind. It is not a new phenomenon that people flock to the Himalayas for well being and seeking peace and rejuvenation from the daily humdrum of life. These retreats, which are a fairly newer trend have thus cashed in on this need. Don’t misread this to mean that these are all just money minting set ups. On the contrary these wellness resorts often tend to cost a little extra because they really invest in an all organic setup, often growing their own supply of herbs and vegetables, completely depending on eco friendly products and maintenance and thus being a little heavy on the pockets.

They also offer a multitude of nutrition and wellness programmes to suit every individual need. From yoga sessions, to massage therapy to diet control, they create a wholesome programme suited to the individuals need. Often, a person goes away from them, only to return next year. Most wellness resorts have a steady flow of return customers. The beauty of these retreats lies in the fact that these retreats meet the need of an exclusive way of living.

In India, many people flock to Himalayas to attend wellness programs. What can be better than a relaxing, peaceful and serene ambience in the heart of pristine nature? One of the renowned and effective nutrition and wellness programs run in the Himalayas is in the Windamere Hotel, Darjeeling. It’s a retreat where activities like yoga, core strength and balancing, short hikes and excursions and learning sessions about your body and its ever-changing nutrition requirements are a part of its programmes. It is also a wonderful peek into the life and wellbeing in Himalayas.

Another wellness retreat that runs equally wonderful programmes in the path of peace and well being in the Himalayas is the ‘Satvik Sadan” located in the tranquil Himalayan foothills, enroute to Nainital in a place called Bhimtal. Satvik meaning purity concentrates on cleansing the soul thorugh yoga, meditation and many other packages specific to your need. Overlooking the serene lake which gives Bhimtal, the nearest town its name, it is a nature’s paradise as you soak in the stillness. Mudthatched cottages and terrace farming for organic healthy food as well as flower patches to grow their own aroma therapy oils speckle this resort. Built on part of the legendary ashram of Chyawan Rishi (who is known for his  Ayurvedic jelly “Chywanprash”), the Retreat has  a panoramic view of the mountains of Karkotak in the North, the ancient Gargi River in the south, and mount Haidakhand Kailash in  the east.

Whichever wellness retreat it is- the bottom line is that these retreats have become the new age resorts of finding internal peace and happiness without having to compromise completely on the modern lifestyle that we are so accustomed to.

Wellness Retreats

Before I begin my write-up let’s face it – today we compete against time. 24 hours seem to be less and at the end of the day we wish we had 30 hours in a day instead of 24! In the midst of the race against time, keeping deadlines, worrying about job, mortgage, kids’ education and all the stress will leave us feeling out of control. And it’s not that kind of stress, which you can deal with a cup of herbal tea or an hour relaxing massage. This kind of stress needs treatment.

Yes, you hear me right- treatment to alleviate and minimize stress. Well, it’s becoming quite a common thing for those who lead a busy life to flock to wellness retreats. You will find that most of these retreats are tucked away in nature; some are in the woods, surrounded by trees, brush, and wildflowers, or are surrounded by waters or mountains and meadows. In most of the retreats, besides relaxing, eating healthy diet and pampering yourself, one also understands the path to total wellness.

There are workshops held on nutrition and wellness in most of the wellness retreats which attempt to make you understand how your spirit, body and mind are integrated. You will also get an insight on how stress affects your body and you will learn the ways how to manage it. The workshops will help you identify the lifestyle changes you can make to stay healthy.

In India, you will find numerous wellness retreats, but, the secluded ones –where each day is a good day-are nestled in the Himalayas. It is the place where weary souls come to relax, destress and connect to inner self. It’s the right place to where you can empty the content of your mind, stop worrying and be one with the nature. You get to participate in all kinds of healthy and rejuvenating activities – like hiking, trekking, attending yoga sessions, treat yourself to unique spa treatment, cycling and much more.

One of the unique spa treatments in the Himalayas is ‘itati’- and you can experience it at Windamere, Darjeeling. ‘Itati’ is an explanation of “what gives meaning to life; about how human life can be enhanced and enriched. It is a path to well being, inner contentment, wisdom and personal fulfillment… Fundamental to Itati healing is the concept that matter transforms into energy, and that energy influences and transforms matter. By regulating the flow of energy within the human body, by reconciling and harmonizing conflicting energy impulses, itati brings the inner being into equilibrium, and relieves physical and mental stress.”

Ananda is another wellness retreat nestled in the Himalayas. Close to Haridwar and Rishikesh, surrounded by graceful Sal forests, overlooking the river Ganga, Ananda assists in redefining lifestyles to include the combination of age old traditional Indian wellness regimes of Ayurveda, Yoga and Vedanta and the best of wellness experiences from abroad to bring about the complete wholeness- the union of mind, body and soul.

McCann Truth Central presents The Top Ten Wellness Trends for 2013, a product of our Truth about Wellness study.
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