Beauty
A Bounty of Farm-to-Table Spa Treatments
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.
Tag
ayurvedic
Ayurveda, meaning “knowledge of life,” made its debut in India more than 5,000 years ago and remains just as relevant to spa-goers today. At the center of this complex holistic medical system is the recognition and balancing of someone’s doshas, one of the three biological energies said to make up our mental and physical dispositions. Read more about ayurveda.
Spa 101
Spa Spotlight: Peninsula Bangkok
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!
Gallery
29 Best Spas for Hipsters in 5 Cities
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.
Editors' Picks
Whistler, BC: Northern Enlightenment on the Slopes and in the Spa
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.
Travel & Play
The Raj’s Purification Before Pregnancy: An Ayurvedic Program
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
Living Well
Spa 101: Introduction to Shirodhara
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
Nutrition
4 Ayurvedic Tips To Improve Digestion
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.
Travel & Play
NYC: $89 for Four Treatment Ayurvedic Package
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.
Recipes
Spa Recipes from Ananda in the Himalayas
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.
Beauty
Spa 101: Introducing Shirodhara
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.
Travel & Play
My Voyage into Ayurveda
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.
Living Well
Spa Suggestions – To Share Them or Not?
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