After pregnancy, this spa will make you look good

By Vishakha Talreja
After pregnancy, this spa will make you look good
AFTER A PREGNANT PAUSE | Check in for some high-end post-natal therapy at the Ananda in the Himalyas

How a serene destination spa can help you get over the post pregnancy blues

Baby bump is the new black. It’s in fashion to flaunt it. But behind all that hoopla around baby showers, high tech delivery rooms and celebrations, there is the new-age woman trying to get back in shape post pregnancy and moreover deal with the post natal stress. While we are no experts, we have got you India’s top destination spa’s director to tell you how checking in at a destination spa for pre or post natal treatment is a good idea. Meet Colin Gary Hall, Spa Director of Ananda in the Himalayas. He tells you all that you ever wanted to know about such programmes.

PICTURE PERFECT | Music Pavilion at Ananda in the Himalayas.
PICTURE PERFECT | Music Pavilion at Ananda in the Himalayas

First a quick lowdown on the packages offered to pregnant women and for post-partum. According to Colin, The Ananda Renew package is the most ideal for pregnancy in both stages. The package ranges from one to three weeks and is customized depending on the stage of pregnancy and based on each individual’s body type. Colin says these packages are getting lapped up by Indian women especially during post natal stage.

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“Few of the techniques that we use at Ananda in the Post Natal Stage Burner or bath with Mogra and Bergamot essential oils for anxiety, bath with  Mogra, Lavender and Frankincense essential oils for depression,” says Colin.

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Though it’s still not an easy thing to handle the post-partum blues that Indian women face, they often come with a question in their heads. How the therapist or people at a spa will perceive me? But with the right kind of treatment, Colin and his team ensure that the woman gets all the pampering to feel good about herself again.

Colin tells us that aromatherapy is extremely effective for women who want to deal with the depression. “Few of the techniques that we use at Ananda in the Post-Natal Stage Burner or bath with Mogra and Bergamot essential oils for anxiety, bath with Mogra, Lavender and Frankincense essential oils for depression,” he says.

FALLING IN BLISS | Detox yourself in the lap of nature.
FALLING IN BLISS | Detox yourself in the lap of nature

With career being a top priority for many women today, pregnancy in thirties is a reality. Colin tells us that age does play an important factor in the kind of treatment or package that is offered. “The older the woman, the more sensitive the body, so the therapists have to be more careful with the abdomen area in pre-natal stage. Post natal—older the woman, the longer it takes to regain body elasticity, so at Ananda we would use more nourishing and nurturing oils like Jojoba in our massages,” he says.

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Best time to visit Ananda for wellness programs, especially those which are focused on Ayurveda is April to September.

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Ananda, the destination spa known for being a tranquil resort does not allow kids under the age of fourteen.  So we are curious to know if the women who come for post-natal treatments leave their new-borns behind?

Says Colin: “Well we recommend that women come to a destination spa like Ananda after five to six months of delivery. That way, the critical initial bonding stage with the baby is undisturbed. Post that, the mother would have to leave the child behind with their husband or parents and join the program at Ananda. This is the time for her to recoup and rejuvenate and take care of herself in a tranquil setting.” This luxury is good!

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Ananda offers serene and spiritual ambience and has expert therapists.

The gourmet cuisine offered at the destination resort is prepared using Ayurveda principles based on individual dosha or body types.

Ananda offers serene and spiritual ambience and has expert therapists.
Ananda offers serene and spiritual ambience and has expert therapists

Best time to visit Ananda for wellness programs, especially those which are focused on Ayurveda is April to September as the natural humidity in the air opens the pores of the skin and allows the oils to penetrate deep with maximum impact

There are two types of menus. For those who are on wellness programs, Ananda offers a dosha specific menu which changes every day. Doshas are determined for each guest by an Ayurvedic Doctor at the start of the program and each day the guest is presented with an Ayurvedic Menu (a la carte) which he selects as per the individual dosha or body type. Ananda’s expert chefs have mastered the art of preparing cuisines from across the world using Ayurveda principles so the food here is of the highest international fine dining standards. For those who are at Ananda more for a simple break in a fabulous setting to rest and rejuvenate, Ananda offers an international menu selection.