Why Vana is our top wellness retreat in Asia for 2021
Because we all deserve a holistic slice of paradise after this year
Text: Lynda Williams
If there’s one place you need to get on your 2021 travel bucket list for a spiritual reset and to heal from this year’s total carnage, it’s a wellness retreat in Asia. Our top choice? Vana, in Northern India. I was lucky enough to visit for a blissful retreat in February. Unfortunately, Covid reared its head on the last day of my escape, so the zen didn’t last long post-stay, but anyway. The sleep tips, mindfulness and breath work I learnt during my nine days there did at least set me up for the eight months that followed.
Credit: Vana
The ultimate holistic holiday
Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to stay at many of Asia’s top wellness retreats, but my all-time favourite for an unparalleled physical, emotional and mental state change is this 21-acre holistic retreat in the forested foothills of the lower Himalayas.
Everything about the design at Vana insinuates stillness and calm — no detail is overlooked. And if you’ve just watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix, you’ll be pleased to hear that phones are strictly banned in public areas, as are taking photos.
Design features include humongous high ceilings, reflection pools, palettes of white, beige, cream and green and uber-soft fabrics. Burning diffusers of sandalwood, glowing lamps and original artwork of Buddha’s are around every corner. Vana is designed to bring your adrenal and cortisol-pumped body down into a state of peaceful equilibrium.
The spacious ‘Kila’ where guests lounge includes a library with books on everything from Buddhist for Beginners to Hollywood films. The rooms are modern, with Vana-made bathroom products and a wardrobe full of kurtas (white pyjamas) and bright scarves to wear during your stay. This is all you can wear during your visit, which makes for an instantly all-equal environment, and prevents any misinformed judgements about others from day one. (It also stops you having to make any wardrobe decisions, which did prepare me well for circuit breaker).
All suites overlook lush forest or gardens and are lovely. In the basement of one of accommodation blocks there’s even a private underground Buddhist meditation cave, where I enjoyed some serious quiet time. The expansive grounds include an open-air yoga sala, and a swimming pool with steam and infrared sauna. There’s also a smaller, heated indoor pool which is great in the chillier winter months.
Credit: Vana
Healing in the Himalayan hills
The three wellness centres at Vana are pretty huge and dedicated to Ayurveda, Tibetan Medicine and Natural Healing. Dr Dimple in the latter centre is the best acupuncturist I’ve ever met. During every visit she takes time to listen to my health issues with care and attention, and sorts my digestive and sleep problems in quick sticks.
My favourite treatments are always in the Sowa Rigpa centre, which focuses on Tibetan Medicine. The unique healing massages begin with a quiet chant taken from ancient scripts, and the inhalation of divine state-changing essential oils. Heated poultices of carefully selected local herbs, known for their healing properties, are dipped in warm oil. Depending on the treatment, they’re either pummelled or placed on pressure points throughout your body. The burning of sandalwood, coupled with a heated bed ensures that you are placed into deep physical and mental state of relaxation (so much so, you can barely get off the bed after a 90-minute seeing to).
The weekly schedule of activities offers different forms of yoga, meditation, breathwork, fitness, body moment and outdoor activities. Excursions to spiritual rituals at the Ganges and stunning walks in the Himalayan hills are also nearby, and well worth it if you’re staying more than a week (and can tear yourself away from this slice of paradise).
Credit: Vana
Stress dissipates
There’s zero-pressure at Vana and you’re advised not to pack everything into a tight schedule. Listen to your body and do what feels right—avoid packing your days with back-to-back classes and treatments. This is not the place for a packed diary. If you need to sleep for twelve hours upon arrival, do it. Let yourself just be.
Food is a very big part of life here, and being a big foodie I look forward to every meal time. Everything on the menu is prepared fresh onsite focusing heavily on seasonal, local and organic produce with plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans. Many dishes include gentle Indian herbs and spices such as turmeric, ginger and cardamon that make dishes so delicious. The topic of whether we will gain weight comes up at least twice during each of my stays, yet despite hoovering up everything at breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea (and inhaling all the on-the-road car snacks), I’ve lost several kilos on both visits.
Classes on nutrition and cooking are available daily and you can leave with five recipes — choose carefully. My favourites include the spiced tomato soup, paneer saag, yellow dhal and other vegetable curries. During your initial consultation, if there any dietary concerns, meals will be catered to your own personal constitution. My stress-induced sluggish digestive system was sped up by pre-meal medicinal peppercorn pastes.
The point of Vana is to be at one with yourself and nature and ultimately to seek balance. Finding peace is as simple as listening to what your body needs — in your own way and on your own agenda. At the end of my stay, tension and stress had dissipated, I felt renewed with energy and ready to tackle the outside world with vim and vigour. Get it ;)
There is a minimum stay at Vana of three nights, but do yourself a favour if you can and book a week (or more). Prices start from SGD 475 per person, per night and include all meals, one wellness weight a day and all wellness activities. It doesn’t get more zen than that.
Check out their comprehensive wellness experiences here
