Break for instant bliss: Yoga retreats you need to check out (and into)
ANANDA – IN THE HIMALAYAS, UTTARAKHAND No list of hotels or spas in India is complete without this one circling the top. Sprawled across a cool 100 acres in Uttarakhand’s Narendra Nagar, it’s surrounded by sal forests, overlooks the Ganges, and throws in breathtaking views of the Himalayas everywhere you look. The splendour of the outdoors is beautifully complemented by the decadence inside the property — a restored palace. Ananda is famous for its spa, which endorses Ayurvedic practices and the healing powers of yoga and meditation. Check into a room, suite or private villa for a 7, 14 or 21-day stay and let the good folk here plan everything for you — treatments, daily activities and Dosha-specific meals. They’ve got Oprah Winfrey, Bill and Melinda Gates, Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, Prince of Wales and Camilla and more, all vouching for them in the guestbook — who are we to argue? Treatments include: Hatha yogic cleansing techniques (Shatkriya), pranayama, lib- eration of toxins through Sneha Vastis (enemas with medicated oils), meditation, Ayurvedic and western massages. Price: Rs 21,000/night upwards; book online at www. anandaspa.com WILDFLOWER HALL, SHIMLA Okay, Wildflower Hall isn’t strictly a yoga retreat, but we’ve never met a misty mountain top at 8,000 ft that didn’t immediately relax our minds. Far enough from the busy hill station of Shimla for guests to be enveloped in absolute peace and quiet here, this lavish hotel offers an extensive yoga menu that your surroundings urge you to ex- plore in great detail. We suspect half your work will be done just sitting back in one of their “outdoor whirlpools” as you take in staggering views of cedar forests and the Himalayas like it’s some divine intervention itself, but if you can drag yourself out of there, there’s private yoga sessions to be had at different outdoor and indoor spots across the property. Which you should probably follow up with a wild strawberry trail. Before retiring for the evening at the ridiculously indulgent spa. Instant bliss? Yes, we think so. Treatments offered: Yoga, meditation, special baths (neem tea, milk + rose, Himalayan cedar bath), and Ayurvedic Abhyanga, Shiroabhyanga and Padabhyanga treatments. Price: Rs 32,500/night with a complimentary morning yoga session; visit www. oberoihotels.com SHREYAS’ YOGA RETREAT, BANGALORE It’s a relief to discover that even big cities have their hidden corners. Shreyas’ is the city’s quietest secret, sitting pretty over 25 acres amidst flowering frangi- pani, coconut and chickoo trees. Serious about their vegetarianism and no drinking/smoking policy as a nod to authentic yoga principles, this retreat is like a posh ashram (we suggest the poolside cottage) where guests have all the space and help they need to find some inner peace. Whether you’re a reluctant novice or an experienced yoga practitioner, the therapists and staff are happy to guide you through a process of healing and strengthening mind, body and soul. Yoga and guided meditation are practiced in open-air classrooms, community service is encouraged, and all meals served follow Ayurvedic principles. When you think you’ve done enough work yourself, the Rejuvenation Spa is a great place to surrender and let the experts take over. Treatments include: Hatha and Ashtanga yoga, meditation, pranayama, chanting classes, kriyas and Ayurvedic massages. Price: Rs 18,000/night upwards; for yoga packages and programmes, visit www.shreyasretreat.com SWASWARA, KONKAN COAST Somewhere along the Konkan Coast, a little away from the village of Gokarna (and enough-away from the wilder temptations of Goa), SwaSwara is the best kind of hideaway: on the beach! But don’t be fooled by what that sounds like — far from being a bum, your stay here could well be one of the most intense experiences you’ll ever have. An adults-only retreat, they insist they’re “not a spa, nor an ashram, but a sanctuary”. Guests can check into one of their earthy palm-fringed ocean-facing villas for 7, 10, 14 or 21 days for a spiritual journey into the deeper self with a yoga guru to guide you through the experience, should you need it. Big on karma yoga, guests are encouraged to spend time helping out at their organic farms, or clearing the beach, or even serving the staff a meal at their mess. Together with the artist in residence, your yoga practice will include art (water colours, clay) and mu- sic as well. While you’ll have to give up your shot of coffee, hard liquor (you’ll be offered fruit wines), meat and refined food while you’re here, you can prep for at least a mini transformation with meals that come straight from their own organic vegetable farm, and are cooked with little or no oil at all. Treatments include: Yoga nidra, meditation, chanting, naturopathy, customised clinical cleansing, Abhyanga Ayurvedic massages, and yoga sessions involving art and music. Price: A seven day package includes unlimited herbal teas and cookies; sign up for their special programmes (Shanti, Prana or Swastha) through www.swaswara.com LUXURY YOGA AND MEDITATION RETREATS BY SHIVA SHAKTI YOGA, BIJOLAI PALACE, JODHPUR, RAJASTHAN How can the idea of a yoga holiday be complete without adding a royal flavour to it? The luxury yoga and meditation retreat in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, organised by Shiva Shakti Yoga, is the perfect setting for a lavish getaway for yoga buffs. Guests here are promised nothing short of regal treat- ment, put up as they are at the Bijolai Palace, a royal property that dates back to the 19th century. And that’s not all. There’s also the charm of the surroundings, the quiet ambiance of the place, that add to one’s overall experience. Encompassing the royal palace is a private lake, effectively acting as a moat, while the venue itself is backdropped with the scenic Aravali hills. But do not let the surrounding luxury make you slothful. The seven days you spend here include a regimen of daily yoga classes, with two such sessions a day (it’s up to you, though, if you want to attend both or just one). Experienced yogis are of course welcome to sign up for this retreat, but those new to yoga will find much to learn here with a memorable experience to boot. Treatments offered: Hatha yoga, tantra meditation, pranayam, reiki, and crystal healing Price: 60,000 for a couple for six nights and seven days, which includes three meals a day plus accommodation (starts 1 September 2015 – 31 March 2016), visit www.shivashaktiyoga.org