AnandaA Destination for Bliss

p/p pI walked barefoot through the grass, feeling the frosty morning Himalayan mountain dew; stopped by to listen to many a gurgling stream; dipped my feet in ice cold water, basking in the warm sun; gazed at the rising moon, willingly allowing myself to drift into the milky way and floated back to earth. When I emerged refreshed, revitalised and totally rejuvenated after a weekandrsquo;s stay at Ananda in the Himalayas, it was a new me! Swirled in the sacred mists of time, nestled in the Himalayas is this world class Destination Spa, once the residence of the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal.br /br /Our ancestors always retreated to the peace and quiet of the hills for physical, mental and spiritual harmony and rejuvenation of the self. Based on this prescription, set amidst tranquil beauty, Ananda expertly blends ayurveda, yoga, and vedanta with contemporary international experiences,which result in the ultimate escape from the mundane to the spiritual. br /br /The moment I stepped into Ananda, the ever gracious staff and their winsome hospitality took over. My room had one of the best views, looking into the Rishikesh valley with the meandering Ganges glistening in the warm sun. The silence of the Shivalik Hills often echoed with the symphony of the chirping birds. Sometimes I would lie outdoors in a cosy bed in the lap of nature, get drenched in the morning dew under the trees, half asleep. My journey of wellness was steeped in luxury from day one: I had the most exotic massages during which, forgotten senses came gently back to life through the healing touch of hands./p pandnbsp;/p p style="text-align: center;"/p p style="text-align: center;"emA spa treatment amidst nature/em/p pbr /Each time the massage would invariably start with a small ritual of andlsquo;aartiandrsquo; followed by washing my feet over pebbles in warm water and patted dry ever so gently. This would make me feel special and cared for. Then a soft bell would be rung to commence the massage. The whole procedure, I often felt, is to regard the body like a temple and treat it with the utmost reverence that it deserves. The calming atmosphere and the mesmerising music would put me in a trance during the wellness therapies. My conversations with the masseuses / masseurs (during the brief lulls of pulling my muscles) would reveal interesting information about the ingredients used and their benefits. Ananda makes its own spa products from the purest sources: indigenous essential oils, muds, clays, gels and vegetable oils, all lovingly blended for their therapeutic energy, imparting wellness that begins from deep within, harmonising the inner and outer self./p pandnbsp;/p p style="text-align: center;"/p p style="text-align: center;"emMusic pavillion surrounded by water/em/p pbr /With therapies drawn from all over the world, like Ayurveda, Western, Oriental, Tibetan (each for their specific benefits),andnbsp; my well-designed programme comprised the sensuous aromatherapy, the deeply relaxing earth stone massage, the gentle healing touch of reiki, the pressure points and tension release work of reflexology etchelping me to revitalise and rejuvenate in a short time./p pandnbsp;/p pDuring the andlsquo;Grounding Salt Scrub, essential oils of rose, vetiver and sandalwood were infused into natural sea salt and rubbed into my skin, tostimulate and strengthen the skin and to calm and soothe the mind. In the andlsquo;Grounding Aroma Therapyandrsquo;, applying carefully blended essential oils in a nourishing vegetable base, the masseuse used lymphatic and pressure point massage techniques; adding stimulating oils to intensify the therapeutic effects of this age-old treatment.br /br /andlsquo;Traditional Thai Massageandrsquo; (also known as passive yoga), that lasted a full 90 minutes, demanded a lot of strength from my side to withstand its force. It combines gentle rocking and rhythmic compressions with targeted point pressure and assisted yoga stretches. Thai massage revitalises both body and mind and balances the energy flow within. But after all the hard work (from my side as well), I emerged energised, instead of feeling tired. br /br /Ananda Fusion, their signature massage (that lasts for 85 minutes) is a fusion of Thai, reflexology, aromatherapy, deep tissue, Tibetan and Swedish massage techniques. Blended essential oils, hot Tibetan poultices, ayurvedic dosha specific oils, peppermint foot lotions and sea salts infused with indigenous essential oils were selected by the therapist to match my requirements, to leave me with a lasting feel good factor. br /br /andlsquo;Rose Quartz Glowandrsquo; sounded quite exciting and the experience was equally gratifying. Energised in the Holy Ganges, the rose quartz crystals surrendered their soothing, nurturing vibrations, calming my most sensitive skin. I felt the the warm pink energy of the crystals as my face was gently cleansed, exfoliated and hydrated using pure blended essential oils of rose, aloe vera and sandalwood dust. For 75 minutes I felt embraced and was at peace as rose crystal wands glided across my skin. br /br /I was offered a unique massage experience called andlsquo;Sarga Bodyworkandrsquo; where the masseuse utilises bodyweight and gravity to deliver deep gliding and compression strokes with the bare feet. Developed by Jivatma (of Spanish- French descent, born and raised in Auriville), this distinctive bodywork was quite popular in Ananda, where Jivatma was a visiting master for this summer. I was apprehensive to be stepped and tramped all over but my fears melted away the moment she started her job. Fastening a piece of fabric (Sarga) to the massage table (for stability and support), she coaxed and kneaded every muscle in my body to relax and release the latent energy. At the end of it, I felt light and drifted into a slumber./p pandnbsp;/p p style="text-align: center;"/p p style="text-align: center;"emYoga on the terrace of Viceregal Palace/em/p pbr /Some of the lingering memories of Ananda are, having high tea at the magnificently restored palace sitting room under the Venetian crystal chandeliers, while being transported to the colonial times; climbing theandnbsp; grand staircase leading to the classy Viceregal Suite with breathtaking views of the Himalayas, Rishikesh valley and the Ganges; the scent of magnolias in the garden and the sight of strutting peacocks; the beautiful music pavillion reflected in the pools of water around, where monkeys would dive, make merry while barking deer ascertain their rights vociferously; the endless emerald green lawns, sunsets and moonrises. I was in a perpetual state of bliss. When I left, it was only with an unmatched blessedness which I would cherish forever./p pandnbsp;/p pstrongMore On andgt;andgt; a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.luxpresso.com/lifestyle/travel" target="_blank"Travel/a/strong/p

from Luxpresso http://www.luxpresso.com/news-lifestyle/review-ananda-spa-in-the-himalayas/16062133
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