ayurvedic

One simple step you can take toward a healthier you is eating with the seasons and since last week kicked off the beginning of spring, the time is now!

Described as a deep massage on the mind, shirodhara relaxes the nervous system, calms imbalances in the mind and disturbances in emotions.

Eating with the seasons is not only practical, but it’s also good for our wellbeing. Start eating seasonally now with these five winter foods!

Keeping the mind alert and healthy is so important, especially in the overstimulated, hyper-informational environment we live in. Here are five good-for-the-brain spa and wellness therapies to help you find mental wellbeing.

Here are just a few of the many farm-to-table spa treatments out there that incorporate local ingredients, some of which are harvested right on the spa’s property.

On the west bank of the Chao Phraya, the major Thai river running through Bangkok and emptying into the Gulf of Thailand, lies the famed Peninsula Bangkok. This distinctive hotel and three-story ESPA location cinched the title of Best in Asia and Best in Thailand during our 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards. Take a sneak peek inside to find out why!

When we saw Travel + Leisure’s list of America’s Best Cities for Hipsters, we couldn’t help but think of the spas in these cities. So we took its top three, plus New York City and Los Angeles, two spa metropolises, and uncovered the best spas for hipsters.

Embracing the Ayurvedic concept as a whole, Nita Lake Lodge recently unveiled its “A Taste of Ayurveda” spa and dining package (on trend, we must say!), which we had a chance to check out this winter during ski season.

We’ve all heard of pre- and post-natal massage, as well as other treatments geared towards expectant moms, but what about a spa program that not only helps you conceive, but detoxes your body to ensure a healthy, toxin-free baby? The Raj, Maharishi Ayurveda Health Spa in Fairfield, Iowa, offers such an option – Purification Before […]

Part of Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, Shirodhara is the pouring of a thin, steady stream of warm, herb-infused oil onto the center of the forehead. You lie face up while the oil runs from a copper funnel that hangs overhead; the therapist may move the apparatus so the oil falls in small circles […]

Survivor and spiritual seeker, the dynamic Vaishali has harnessed her years of learning and well-earned wisdom to become an international health and wellness speaker. Here, Vaishali offers 4 simple Ayurvedic tips to improve digestion.

Shake off midwinter chill and banish the blahs with this extraordinary opportunity: Try four different Ayurvedic treatments for just $89. You’ll be soothed and energized by a 30-minute full-body Abhyanga massage with warm herbal oils, followed by a 20-minute head and facial massage, 20 minutes of hand and foot reflexology and 30 minutes of Shirodhara, a calming, centering therapy where warm herbal oil is gently poured onto your third eye.

Ananda in the Himalayas is a destination spa devoted to holistically healing the mind, body, and spirit through its philosophy of combining Ayurveda, Vedanta, and yoga. Nestled near the shores of the River Ganges, Ananda, once the residential palace of a maharajah, has created a spiritual oasis against the backdrop of the majestic Himalayas. Offering cuisine designed to rejuvenate, Ananda’s food concept incorporates the fundamental principles of Ayurveda and is created to suit each of the body constitution type —Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. The following is a popular recipe for the Vata dosha type, courtesy of the Ananda Kitchen.

Part of Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, Shirodhara is the pouring of a thin, steady stream of warm, herb-infused oil onto the center of the forehead. You lie face up while the oil runs from a copper funnel that hands overhead; the therapist may move the apparatus so that the oil falls in small circles or figure eights, and the oil runs off your forehead into your hair.

I booked two treatments, at FineLiving New York Ayurveda in New York City, (earning me 180 SpaFinder Rewards Points just for booking online!). The first treatment was a type of Ayurvedic massage called Abhayanga (ah-bh-yan-ga) and a traditional (but oh-so-strange-to-me) treatment called Shirodhara (shear-a-dara), an herbal hair and scalp treatment where a warm stream of oil is poured gently on the forehead, to create a state of meditation.

I was very impressed with Gwinganna Health Retreat in Australia. But there are always ways in which a spa can improve. Since I have been to many spas around the world and have garnered a certain amount of expertise, I have developed a sensitivity to what’s working and what’s not working. I always wrestle with […]

Continuing on with our theme regarding health care… You might want to check out this morning’s article in the New York Times entitled, “Surgeon General Sees 4-Year Term as Compromised”. Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona spoke to a Congressional panel, stating that during his four year term he had felt pressure to suppress public health […]

On our last morning in Shanghai before heading to the airport, Nicholas was up for one more spa experience as was I, so we decided to visit one of the large foot reflexology places which Geraldine Howard (Aromatherapy Associates) had recommended, telling us that we have to have an authentic Chinese pedicure where they”wield knives”. […]

After a scrumptious breakfast on the sun drenched dining porch of the Hillcrest mansion (with a view of Lake Ontario from every window) we headed to our next spa – Elemental Embrace. Stacey gave me some background about the property explaining to me that they are very much into ayruveda and that we would be […]

Luxury Spa Resort Will Open in Southern Utah Lapli Spa Opens at St. Lucia’s Discovery at Marigot Bay Maia Spa Opens in the Seychelles New York’s Turning Stone Resort and Casino Features New Spa Six Senses Spa Opens at PuntaCana Resort & Club, Dominican Republic Shangri-La Hotel Will Debut in Abu Dhabi in February Oceanfront […]