Shanti Ananda at the Mauritius Island, an Ayurvedic spa destination
Are you dreaming of an entirely «spa» destination where you will be completely taken care for holistic wellness? A place where your body is given special care, a place for nutritional wellbeing, but psychological and spiritual wellbeing as well? Luxe-magazine has tested Shanti Ananda for you, a top level Ashram, in the wild south of the Mauritius Island where we learn to do nothing and to discover ourselves. A real wellness philosophy based on ancestral Ayurvedic medicine that has been practiced in India for over 5000 years.
Basins, water and serenity
To reach this haven of wellness, head in the direction of Mauritius Island. In the South, the scenery is most often vast stretches of sugar cane plantations, rustling and swaying in the wind, wild mountains in the distance and tropical forests. When you arrive at your hotel, you will be received like in India with a necklace of grains called « Rudraksha » which brings serenity and takes away stress. A perfect remedy for our overloaded and tired, urban souls!
A multitude of basins surrounding the different pavilions with wooden tiled roofs created by the architect Jean-Marc Reynaud, housing the reception, restaurants and lounge. Already, the murmur and the flow of water already calm our senses. The tone is set. Everything is only murmur, peace and tranquillity.
Concerning the 55 pretty suites and villas, nestled in the tropical garden, they are accessible by wooden bridges, overlooking a little river or exotic vegetation.
Contemporary rooms and wild sea
In the contemporary rooms provided with gigantic bathrooms, there is space galore. Everything is covered with marble, perhaps giving a bit of an impersonal note.
We prefer the villas with a living room, bedroom, small outside sala where you can meditate or have a small snack, and a pretty overflow swimming pool. Everywhere wood, volcanic and slate stones blend harmoniously.
The view overlooking the nearby coral reef and the immaculate beach where volcanic stones are just above the water, gives the sensation of being at the edge of the world.
Above all, an Ayurvedic spa concept
At Shanti Ananda, which means «peace » and « bliss » in Sanskrit, everything revolves around wellness and health: a spa of nearly 5000 m², 25 massage rooms, all of them embellished with basins, streaming fountains and outside pavilions; 30 therapists, most of whom are Indians, are available for you. All of the treatments are Western and Oriental treatment techniques based on the principles of Ayurveda, aromatherapy and thalassotherapy.
You will wake up with tea with ginger, then go on to yoga sessions, meditation, stretching, Vedanta reading, spa cooking classes, Ayurvedic menus and treatments, elaborated depending on your dosha, complete your program.
Your dosha* is determined by the famous doctor Pramod Mane, who has come from the Himalaya foothills. You will have a consultation with him and he will determine the type of treatment and care that you will receive during your stay.
A fine spa cuisine rounds off your program and reconciles you with the pleasure of eating.
All of this takes place in a calm environment where you can make a total break from your everyday schedule and city life. It is recommended that you wear a white tunic during your entire stay. This is a holistic approach in all the sense of this term for a complete break from civilisation and the rediscovery of oneself.
Décembre 2008
By Katya PELLEGRINO
