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The Indian scriptures advocate a life of balance, your body is a temple and your mind is its shrine, a life of moderation and balance; of spirituality beyond idols, and of soul journeys of self-discovery instead of blind faith. Wellness as a path to well-being has been encoded in our traditions, our practices; from music to dance, from prayer to action, from yoga to meditation, and finally, to self-realization.
Embark upon your own body, mind and soul journeys across India, with Travel Scope's wellness experiences. Meditate upon long walks, practice yoga, indulge in traditional massages and spas, retreat from the bustle of everyday life and perhaps, you can find balance in timeless traditions, and connect with your inner self and inner voice!
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Yoga, comprises of techniques that lead to harmony between the inner self and the eternal environment, between thought and action, between the individual and the world. While the practice has spread far and wide, yoga in India would be an enriching experience for all age groups.
Travel Scope offers personalized yoga sessions to guide you through various postures, breathing techniques and their philosophical essence. Learn yoga in a private home in Delhi, or along the banks of the sacred Ganges in Varanasi or Rishikesh, or deep in the bamboo forests of Coorg, or to the sound of waves along Bekal's coast - and attune your body's energies to that of the elements.
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For long, Kerala has been known for its age-old Ayurveda secrets - and numerous spas and therapy centres have emerged along the backwaters and coasts to cater to wellness of body, mind and soul. With Travel Scope, one can experience the wisdom Ayurveda in a variety of ways: full-body therapeutic massages, holistic nutrition, ailment-specific therapies or learn more about each through week-long sessions.
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Kaya Kalp, Himachal Pradesh
Start your journey towards wellness and well-being nestled amidst the snowclad Dhauladhar mountains and its forested valleys. For a no-frills spiritual sojourn, Kaya Kalp centre offers the best of alternate healing therapies. The word 'kaya' means body, and 'kalp' means transformation, a goal that can only be met by balancing the body with the mind and soul. Kaya Kalp strives to do that by tapping into the ancient wisdom of ayurveda, panchakarma, naturopathy, meditation, and marrying it with the science of physiotherapy, magnetotherapy, hydrotherapy, among others.
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Journeys for the Mind
Ever wondered why spiritual destinations are often those with great panoramas? There is something serene and beautiful about pristine mountainscapes and still waters - and walking through such landscapes offer something for the body, mind and soul. Visit Ladakh's monasteries and find peace in the sound of brass gongs and monastic chants amidst the flutter of colorful prayer flags. The Kumaon region in the mid-Himalayas also offers tranquil vistas of jagged peaks against blue skies, of lush mountainsides and tiny hamlets - and our walking trails offer a truly meditative experience.
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As the role of women in society evolves from home and hearth to professional working spaces - the need for physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing is imperative. India's collective psyche is peopled with strong feminine role models from deities like goddess Shakti embodying strength, to epic-poem characters like Sita and Draupadi setting milestones for following one's karma, or saint Mirabai achieving spiritual bliss through devotion. Reconnecting with ancient wisdom through storytelling, along with yoga and meditation, would be a great way to achieve a holistic balance between body, mind and soul. Participate in our Women and Wellness workshops conducted by two women; an internationally acclaimed yoga teacher and a gender studies specialist for practical guidance on how to juggle priorities and responsibilities in a fast-paced, ever-changing world.
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Shreyas Retreat, a boutique property situated a little away from the urban hubbub of Bangalore, is dedicated to the tradition of yoga and vedanta. Shreyas Retreat offers a balance of the body and mind, and many spiritual scriptures document the value of 'giving back' as a part of that journey. Following the tradition of 'giving back', Shreyas offers a chance to interact with the local community - guests can pick vegetables grown organically on the premises, help cook wholesome food in the kitchens, and serve it to children in a nearby school or orphanage. One can also interact with the children through songs, games or by teaching them a new skill - and gain an insight into the humble folk across the country. This experience helps one connect to village communities, while contributing something worthwhile during one's travels.
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Art workshops at Andretta Pottery
Set against a backdrop of the Dhauladhar range in the lower Himalayas, Andretta village is not yet on tourism maps. Its English-sounding name echoes a colourful history of Norah Richards, an Irish writer, dramatist and a follower of Tolstoy, who settled down here after the death of her husband. Her colonial-style cottage was bequeathed to the Patiala University, where she taught drama - and it soon welcomed artists from different walks of life. After the death of Norah, the cultural activities at the centre slowed down. Yet like all art movements, Andretta is in its renaissance phase now, and can impart the skills of pottery through workshops. Participate in their pottery workshops conducted by Mansimran Singh, who learned the craft from his father in Lahore, and has improvised upon it ever since.
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Pottery Residence at Purkal Youth Development Society
The Purkal Youth Development Society in Dehradun, Uttaranchal is an endeavor to provide quality education for children from less privileged backgrounds, from the grassroot levels into their professional lives. Travel Scope has been supporting this initiative for a long time - and today, we're happy to learn from the community. The students at Purkal are enthusiastic about pottery and ceramic crafts, and one can learn the skills from them during a stay in Dehradun. This experience would also be ideal for families with children, and would be a time for creative learning and interaction.
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Patchwork worshops at Purkal Stree Shakti
For women in India, well-being is achieved by having a sense of purpose and financial independence - and the Purkal Stree Shakti is aimed at just that. It has helped train women in the local patchwork technique and forge autonomous self-help groups, providing them with long-term employment and stability. Patchwork workshops would not just be a great way to learn skills from these micro-entrepreneurs but also a provide a great insight into the lives and labours of the womenfolk in India's rural settlements.
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Image Credits: Swaswara - Gokarna, Shreyas Retreat, pangalactic gargleblaster (Flickr: CC-BY-NC-SA), Purkal Stree Shakti, Dehradun
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