LuxeBook September 2022

Kalari Kovilakom, CGH Earth Ayurveda Kalari Kovilakom, CGH Earth Ayurveda led people to seek holistic approaches to health in the post-pandemic era. The transient nature of life has allowed people to think beyond vacations, divulging into a holistic approach to treatment that involves boosting mental, spiritual, and physical health.” But it wasn’t just the Covid scare, Jose said that CGH Earth has always promoted and stressed on the importance of wellness travel instead of a leisure vacation, which benefits the individual in a more wholesome manner. She added, “...we tell India to invest in a health sabbatical with CGH Earth. If you can spend the time and money every year for a foreign holiday, why not consider one year to be your healing journey that is beneficial and transformative for the self – body, mind and spirit.” Travelling in itself is extremely beneficial for one’s health, add to this the aspect of holistic travel, and you have a remedy for the ailments of the mind as well. Holistic travel focuses on the tools you need to live a more balanced lifestyle over the long term, which may be restorative for your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. People usually tend to become so engrossed in their everyday routines that could occasionally cause more harm to themselves. And so, taking a “health sabbatical”, a wellness trip or a holistic getaway is sometimes best way to cater to one’s own needs. Pristine locations Look up any holistic destination, and the first thing you notice is the beautiful surroundings -- lush greenery, hills, mountains, and occasionally a pristine water body. The beautiful surroundings, our experts believe, aren’t a coincidence but rather an important part of the holistic treatment. “We believe in staying close to nature because of the philosophy that the negative ions available in nature also aid in one’s healing process. And so, when you are in these kinds of environments, it helps in the healing journey. A happy space of mind is important in your healing process,” Jose added. Each of CGH’S properties are carefully located in some of the most breathtaking destinations. For CGH Earth Wellness, areas surrounded by undisturbed and pristine naturescapes were chosen to enhance the environment and also harness the concentration of negative ions present in such locations to aid the healing process. The Leela’s Aujasya by Leela offerings are present at each of their lush properties, giving each guest the opportunity to choose their own private sanctuary for a wellness break. As do the properties at Taj Hotels which include locations like sacred temples and religious pilgrimages to yoga ashrams and more. “Usually, the people who are in dire need of a holistic retreat are the ones working the 9 to 5 schedule. And the kind of break they are looking for can only be found in close to nature. With specially curated holiday itineraries by Taj Holidays, one can journey through India and explore the vibrant cultures and pristine natural wonders it has to offer, giving visitors the opportunity to experience spirituality, healing, wellness, and the chance to forge a deeper connection with their inner self,” said Sharma. Holistic diet Just like location, diet is another very important aspect of holistic travel, and in some places, it has only recently begun being sincerely incorporated in wellness packages. When one imagines a diet on a wellness program, they instantly jump to the conclusion that it might just be bland, boring food. However, experts associated with the Aujasya by Leela programme assure a meal plan that is far from boring. “Healthy food can look good too,” said Anuraag Bhatnagar. “One of the primary areas of focus for us while developing the Aujasya by Leela programme was to balance great taste and presentation with nutritional value, breaking the myth around healthy food.” The menu included in the Aujasya by The Leela program was leveraged in, in collaboration with nutritionist and food consultant Dr Ankita Jalori, which was combined with the creativity of expert chefs — Executive Chef Simran Singh Thapar at The Leela Palace Udaipur and Chef Rishabh Anand at The Leela Palace New Delhi, to balance taste and health. Diet plays an important role in the treatment process and overall healing journey. At CGH Earth Ayurveda’s centres- Kalari Kovilakom and Kalari Rasayana, the doctors will prescribe a sattvic diet based on each person’s Doshas or bio-energies and the specific medical conditions they suffer from. Using both the Ahara principles of Ayurveda and Sattvic cooking practices, the centre integrates a culinary experience which focuses on healing. Similarly, at Prakriti Shakti, where the treatment is naturopathy based, the doctor prescribes the diet which is executed in its plant based, raw food kitchen 28| L U X E B O O K | S E P T E MB E R 2 0 2 2 S E P T E MB E R 2 0 2 2 | L U X E B O O K | 29