Spa & wellness
People want to get away, but not to party or just be in a resort; what they want is something that fulfils their spirit, their mind and their body. That’s why they’ve been seeking out holistic well-being experiences and prioritising their mental health.”
Mahesh Natarajan, the chief operating officer at Ananda in the Himalayas, echoes this. “For the primary wellness traveller, recognising and prioritising mental health is now growing exponentially. Our guests have become extremely aware of the importance of mental health and how it must go hand in hand with physical health to achieve an overall sense of well-being. Having said that, our observation is that people need a lot of guidance as to how to how to embark on this journey.” Translating to ‘bliss’ from Sanskrit, Ananda is well-
equipped to provide this guidance, placing mindfulness at the core of its therapies, which include yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, Vedanta and, as of last year, emotional healing. The hotel employs a panel of resident therapists who specialise in clinical psychology, hypnotherapy and spiritual healing, “to help our guests understand themselves, their challenges and patterns from a deeper level to create a life of emotional balance”, says Natarajan. “They begin to explore emotional and energetic blockages to understand the root cause. These blocks show up in repeating patterns in our life, for example, the inability to control anger, repeating guilt, insecurity, low self- esteem; relationship disharmony; lack of clarity, stress, tension, overthinking; lack of creativity.” To address these issues, experts use a combination of techniques, including hypnosis and tailored neuro-linguistic programming, alongside traditional therapies of acupuncture and Kuu Nye massage that work on the energy meridians. Yoga and meditation are also key, “in order remove distractions from the mind”. “The idea is to integrate all these elements to
create a completely transformative journey towards positive mental and emotional health,” because, as Natarajan states, “integrated holistic practices enable guests to look inwards – and therein begins the true transformation”.
From the outside in Both Ananda and Chablé Yucutan draw on their respective surroundings in their therapies. Ananda is built overlooking the northern city of Rishikesh, where both yoga and Ayurveda are said to have originated more than 5,000 years ago. “The location lends an element of healing and spiritual awakening,” describes Natarajan. “Our guests have a sense of travelling back to the source of where ancient well-being began to experience the authenticity of these traditional practices here.” Chablé Yucatan’s spa is built around the San Ignacio cenote, a natural fresh-water sinkhole in a limestone
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cave, which was traditionally used as a site for spiritual rituals. “It has so much mysticism and energy,” Chapa says of the spa’s location. “For the Mayans – who are our ancestors – it was a place to connect to the underworld and it was a way they could cleanse their spirit.” As such, the spa naturally promotes emotional well-being above all else: even the physical-relaxation treatments, such as massages, involve a spiritual- healing element, with Tibetan bowls and Mayan instruments used to help guests channel inner peace. Other offerings include chakra therapy, reiki, sound- cleansing and spiritual guidance from local shamans. “We work on three planes: the mental, the spiritual and the physical to produce total relaxation and the detox of negative thoughts. It’s very important to understand that in our treatments and our rituals we are trying to focus on mental well-being and the spiritual – even through doing something physical. The main benefit of holistic therapy is you can focus on your inner self,” explains Chapa. Chablé Yucatan has also recently introduced a ‘Healing Heartache’ programme, designed for newly single individuals with a focus on boosting feelings of self-worth after the breakdown of a relationship. This involves talking sessions that encourage ideas of
Above: The spa’s massage treatments involve a spiritual healing element, with Tibetan bowls and Mayan instruments.
Below: The retreats surroundings inform the wellness therapies on offer.
Opposite page: Mindful activities, such as yoga, are becoming more of a priority for anxious or stressed travellers.
25% WHO
The rise in depression and anxiety across the globe since the start of the pandemic.
Ananda; Chablé Yucatan
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