Embracing holistic living

Lifestyle changes have become an order of the day. As awareness about physical wellness and mental health increases, a holistic lifestyle has taken centrestage in everyone’s life. Kanishka Ramchandani talks to experts in wellness, yoga and nutrition to understand how holistic wellbeing can be embraced and becomes a way of living rather than a lifestyle choice.

There are five dimensions to holistic well-being are mental, physical, spiritual, emotional and social.

Holistic well-being is not a destination but a journey, a way of life. I am not going to cite examples here of how the pandemic affected our lifestyles and brought forth the need for complete wellness.

Instead this article is going to focus on how to create holistic well-being for yourself, irrespective of the pandemic, and strike that much-needed balance across these five dimensions. You don’t have to eat nutritious food just because you are under a lockdown; you don’t have to exercise everyday just because there is a killer virus on the loose. You have to do all this because you owe it to yourself. The spa industry has been finding its feet in the new normal, invigorated by the renewed interest patrons are taking in wellness. However, there is so much more that the industry can offer its customers, and help create a better healthier society.

We speak to three experts to bring different aspects of holistic well-being to the forefront and understand the impact they can have on the wellness segment.

SPA & WELLNESSRELAXATION AND A SENSE OF WELLBEING ARE AT THE HEART OF THE SPA AND WELLNESS INDUSTRY.

As a wellness expert, what does holistic wellness mean to you?

Holistic wellness is the optimum state of health for a person. Wellness is when the physical, mental and spiritual states of a person are in harmony with each other and are perfectly balanced. It is an ongoing journey and one that, according to circumstances, will change and can change you.

Holistic means ‘of the whole’. It is not only about the physical health or mental health, but includes the health of all parts of the body. Holistic health is an approach to life. Rather than focusing on illness or specific parts of the body, this ancient approach to health considers the whole person and how he or she interacts with his or her environment. It emphasises the connection of mind, body and spirit.

Everything we do and every emotion we feel relates to our well-being. Feelings are hard for some to express. Being aware of what we are feeling can help direct our emotions into productive emotions. Achieving emotional balance lays the foundation for wellbeing. It is important to achieve optimal wellness in order to subdue stress, reduce the risk of illness and ensure positive interactions.

There are eight dimensions of wellness, which are interrelated. Wellness and efficiency go hand in hand. We should encourage individuals to focus on their key health behaviours such as increasing physical activity, improving eating habits, reducing stress, to live a healthy and happier life. The feeling after a trek in the woods, a day at the spa, a good night’s sleep -it’s easy to know when you experience that elusive sense of wellness.

The key to improving our wellness quotient lies in our attitude towards life. While life gets increasingly competitive, both at personal and professional fronts, it is imperative to maintain a positive approach. Wellness is a conscious, self-directed and evolving process, where one is aware of making sound choices towards achieving a healthy and fulfilling life. Both looking good and feeling good are essential for wellness as it gives you a sense of confidence and empowerment.

India has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last 25 years — in economic and social freedoms, in aspirations and opportunities, and wellness is an important aspect of this.

Relaxation and a sense of well-being are at the heart of the spa and wellness industry. Hence, it’s no wonder that hotels, resorts, and spas have begun to reorganise their operations around wellness. The benefits, in the form of a stronger bottom line and appeal to demand segments, extend not only to guests but to hoteliers and hospitality companies as well.

Traditional resort spas cater to relaxation through a variety of services including aesthetics, facials, and massage. Some also offer salon services for hair and nails. Wellness-focused resort spas cater to diet and nutrition, spiritual counselling, and naturopathic health-and prevention-oriented services that extend beyond the scope of a traditional spa.

Coupled with new tactics for aiding prevention, increasing happiness, and relieving stress, this new spa ‘type’ brings immediate benefits along with long-term opportunities for client engagement and retention. The millennial generation and its relatively younger, health savvy members are a prime demographic for the wellness-oriented hotel and travel space.

However, the baby boomer market still comes in strongly seeking longevity, anti-aging, and lifestyle services to improve overall quality of life.

Tell us about the elements of holistic wellness at Jiva Spa.

Jiva is the wellness brand of the Taj and Jiva at the iconic Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai spans over an expansive area of over 6,500 sq ft.

• Jiva offers a host of bespoke signature wellness therapies.

• The spa brings in a judicious blend of sheers, water and light to create the right ambiance and facilitate a holistic healing experience.

• Each treatment and experience has been carefully selected and curated to initiate physical, mental and spiritual equilibrium.

• The Jiva spa consists of the magnesium soak pod, a hammam, one couple massage suite with an opulent soak tub, five single treatment pool facing rooms with individual experiential showers and steam, along with a luxurious relaxation lounge, where guests can relax and unwind after the treatment, sipping on the signature vishuddhi chai and some wholesome snacks after their treatments.

• We have an Ayurveda pavilion overlooking the serene poolside, with lush foliage, exclusively for authentic Ayurveda treatments.

• Our fitness centre features a yoga studio and a complete range of the latest cardiovascular machines and weighttraining equipment from Technogym.

• Our poolside is one of the most serene, beautiful and scenic outdoor spaces in the hotel. It is an Olympic level pool, with temperature control manned by certified lifeguards.

In what ways does Jiva Spa stand for holistic wellness?

The ethos of our carefully recreated treatments is drawn on the rich and ancient wellness heritage of India, the fabled lifestyle and culture of Indian royalty and the healing therapies that embrace Indian spirituality. Our experiences are offered by trained experts, using exclusive natural products in a fresh and harmonious design setting. Jiva is home to India’s ancient science of inner well-being. To its secrets of healing, which are holistically intertwined in every therapy. Each treatment and experience has been carefully selected and curated to initiate physical, mental and spiritual equilibrium, with an aim to provide a differentiated experience of unplugged indulgence and relaxation to its guests.

What kind of collaborations can a spa consider while implementing the idea of holistic wellness?

We aim at implementing cultural and heritage conservation programmes designed in collaboration with local residents’ associations and NGOs, by employing local staff, training our employees in culturally appropriate behaviour, and sensitising our guests to local practices and customs.

The year 2020 has altered the tourism and hospitality landscape forever. The increased demand for health, hygiene and social distancing have had a significant impact on the hospitality industry. Being a leader, we have proactively taken steps to enhance business practices, particularly customer service significantly. We believe that sharing the economic benefits of our business is imperative for successful and sustainable operations. We make focused efforts to ensure that local communities share in the benefits of our presence by maximising local employment, providing business opportunities for suppliers, and training opportunities for youth and women. Offering opportunities to artisans to display and sell their arts, extending scholarships to students, and implementing food security programmes to communities are all part of our efforts to share economic benefits with the community.

Being a socially responsible organisation, our goal is to involve the community in as many of our operations as possible, in order to provide livelihood to the locals. in our strive to give back to the society, we undertaken the following :

• Sourcing ingredients such as turmeric, jaggery, and other herbs for our clays used in the spa treatments from the locals that are growing it for us organically.

• Involving the local pundits for the Divine Ganga Aarti ritual that takes place every evening at the banks of the river ganga. This is one of the most soulful experiences offered at the property.

• Involving the local sound healing specialists and musicians for our ‘sound healing sessions’ conducted during our wellness retreats as an immersive experience.

• Conducting drives to clean the areas around the hotel as well as the Ganga river. We do this every three months and there is active participation in these from the employees of the hotel.

YOGA AND SPAS GO HAND IN HAND.

How can yoga help bring holistic well-being in everyday life?

Like I said, yoga works on mind, body and spirit. A little practice or application of yoga goes a long way. Starting with a little physical practice of yoga that is asanas and pranayamas can be the beginning, moving on to kriyas or cleansing procedures and so on and so forth. One can start with even 20-30 mins going on to an hour or more.

Applying yogic concepts to life such as the five yamas (restraints) and five Niyamas (code of conduct) can really help with mental and spiritual well-being.

Share an experience in which yoga has proved to be instrumental in changing your vision about wellness.

I started yoga keeping in mind the fact that I am looking for a profession to earn. But when I started training people as a therapist, I realised the miracles that can happen with just the practice of this way of life. For example, I was training a lady for general fitness and soon found out that she’s been going for her sixth IVF treatment. I started her yoga training for infertility, telling her that we can try and work on the errors, and within three months she recovered and was pregnant in the fourth month of my training. That was indeed a miracle! I still remember she was teary eyed when we met for class and she thanked me and got me so many gifts for helping her.

I am counting my blessings today, as I take yoga not just as my profession but as my way of giving back positivity, hope, brightness and light to people.

What does holistic wellness mean to you?

The word holistic wellness is misused by many to gain traction and sell. To me, it’s a sacred practice to heal, nurture and bloom. It deals with the mind, body and spirit as a whole.

It’s a part of life. It’s something I do very mindfully, with all awareness.

Where does yoga fit into the larger picture of holistic wellness?

Holistic wellness starts with everything yoga and ends with everything yoga for me. Yoga is holistic wellness. It is what deals with the mind, body and spirit.

That is what yoga does.

Tell us the ways in which people’s perception towards wellness has changed in the new normal.

Earlier good health and happiness were very underrated. I think people now have a better understanding of what their mind and body needs. The lockdown certainly pushed them to take care of themselves certainly but that also brought a lot of awareness on what they are capable of. There’s still a little change of perspective required. People still work on themselves because they want to look good, and not feel good. They believe looking good is feeling good. Looks are just a part of results they achieve when they take the path to holistic wellness. The mind, the body and the spirit all rejuvenate themselves when you start practising!

How can the spa industry contribute in making yoga an integral part of what they offer to their clients?

Spas and wellness centres can include yoga therapy sessions in their menu along with massages. For instance, a Thai treatment can include stretches along with massage. They can include cleansing techniques, too.

How do spas stand to benefit from collaborations with yoga practitioners?

Yoga teachers can bring about more awareness for the spa industry. Spa treatments help relax and induce peace into your mind and body. Opening up sore muscles to unwind after a heavy day/weekend with a bit of external stimulation through a spa therapy is ideal today. That way yoga and spas go hand in hand. They are complementary to each other and can really help both the yoga and spa industries together. One can’t do without the other.

RIGHT NUTRITION KEEPS THE MIND BALANCED.

What does holistic wellness mean to you?

About 85 per cent of your fitness is decided by nutrition.

Nutrition does not mean just to lose fat. It addresses all health concerns such as migraines, sciatica issues, morning runny nose and many similar aspects.

How do you encourage your clients to follow a holistic routine?

Along with our nutrition plans, which we give our clients, we also share complimentary meditation and workout charts to enable them to incorporate the holistic aspects of fitness.

Which are the other aspects that we need to consider, apart from our food intake, in maintaining a healthy body?

Exercise and meditation

When clients approach you for weight loss, how do you evaluate their lifestyle during consultation?

We run a check on the history of the client for heredity problems and current schedule issues. If the diet doesn’t fit the client’s schedule and incorporate foods he likes, he is less likely to get results from it.

What are your recommendations for the overall wellbeing of working professionals, especially women?

By nature women are the sacrificing gender, always putting their family before them. For a working woman her mental and emotional health is essential to keep her delivering at a high level. Correct nutrition plays an important role in stabilising her emotional as well as physical well-being.

Can you suggest diet changes for salon professionals, considering they spend long hours standing and fulfilling other demands of their job?

Increase the intake of natural and compe carbs from fruits and vegetables and incorporate a decent quantity of dietary fat in your diet, which will give you slow release and sustained energy for long hours.

What is the one best piece of nutritional advice you can give for maintaining holistic wellness?

Manage time for this and you will have more than enough time for everything else that’s important in your life.

What are the common diet mistakes that people make, especially in the context of nutrition?

Consuming inadequate protein and/or starving themselves!

In today’s age of digitisation and high levels of stress, how can correct nutrition help in keeping the mind and body stable?

Right nutrition keeps the mind balanced by providing necessary nutrients for the smooth functioning of our body.

What’s your take on the following trends?

• No carbs, high protein diet: Never cut carbs, unless you are on keto. They are the body’s primary source of energy.

• Cutting down on sugar and salt: Cut sugar yes, salt no.

Sugar is a drug. Sodium and potassium found in salt are necessary for the body, especially in summers when the body is losing a lot of water in the heat.

• Nutritional deficiencies in vegetarians: Take supplements for B12 and D3

• Adding fluids to your diet: Four to six litres of water every day is very important

• Intermittent fasting: Best way to lose fat P BHJ