ONE BREATH AT A TIME

Wellness at Ananda in the Himalayas is not about quick fixes but about learning to breathe deeper, live slower and to let the body and mind find harmony once again

- MRUDUL PATHAK KUNDU

How does your body react to no coffee for five days? Mine rebelled on day two with a stubborn headache, but eventually surrendered. I can lead a disciplined life with respect to exercise and my eating habits. But keeping still and relaxing has never been easy for me. But a short stay at Ananda in the Himalayas introduced me to Ayurveda and allied paths to wellness, almost like gentle reminders that wellbeing is as much mental as it is physical.

As I drove up to the Himalayan foothills of India's northern region, I passed through a mishmash of shops and styles - the sundry clutter of everyday life - leaving me uninspired. But within half an hour, the road began to climb and twist, offering fleeting glimpses of what soon unfolded into an experience | wanted to save as an image on my permanent hard drive.