Before Ananda, I struggled with a lot of physical health and mental health issues. All my doctors had told me that my conditions were permanent; all that could be done was manage the symptoms as best we could with medication and counselling. So when I went to Ananda, I came with the expectation that Ananda would be able to help a lot with my general health and well-being, but in the end, they...
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Before Ananda, I struggled with a lot of physical health and mental health issues. All my doctors had told me that my conditions were permanent; all that could be done was manage the symptoms as best we could with medication and counselling. So when I went to Ananda, I came with the expectation that Ananda would be able to help a lot with my general health and well-being, but in the end, they wouldn’t be able to do much about my diagnosed conditions. But what I gained at Ananda was beyond anything I could have imagined! The doctors at Ananda were able to not only help me vastly improve many of my symptoms, but they were also able to help me understand my body, how I’d ended up with the symptoms in the first place, and most importantly, what I could do to heal them. Over the course of my two-week stay at Ananda, many of the symptoms I’d struggled with since childhood went away; they were gone! Now, it’s not a magical cure; it’s tried and true alternative medicine whereby, if I continue to implement the lifestyle changes I learned at Ananda, these positive effects can be maintained and continue to improve. Furthermore, the staff at Ananda are absolutely superb! Everyone at Ananda (doctors, massage therapists, yoga instructors, personal trainers, chefs…) go over and above to support your healing and make you feel at home. In addition, the property is an absolute paradise! It’s so beautiful and the sights and sounds of nature all around are so peaceful and tranquil. And it’s not just the treatments and diet; you also get the opportunity to gain new insight into yourself and how to live your life through Vedanta philosophy, yoga, and so much more. I have gained so many valuable tools from Ananda for how to think about the world, live my life to the fullest, and help my body heal itself. Words cannot express how grateful I am for everything I’ve learned at Ananda. It truly was life-changing. I spent a lot of my life feeling hopeless and helpless about my health. But now I find myself feeling a sense of optimism and confidence I’ve never experienced before. I am forever grateful to Ananda, and I hope I can return soon to continue learning about my body, mind, and spirit and further my healing journey.

Bianca Verjee

Bianca Verjee

I came to rejuvenate and to lose weight with a wish to get rid of a few pains, some of which I have been dealing with for over 30 years. In short, I came to renew!! Dr. Sankar was my doctor. He listened to me, checked me, organized my activities and decided which food could assist me to loose some weight & what activities would help clear out my aches and pains. Every couple of days he would see...
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I came to rejuvenate and to lose weight with a wish to get rid of a few pains, some of which I have been dealing with for over 30 years. In short, I came to renew!! Dr. Sankar was my doctor. He listened to me, checked me, organized my activities and decided which food could assist me to loose some weight & what activities would help clear out my aches and pains. Every couple of days he would see me and adjust what was needed to make sure I got the best treatment. Dr. Sreelal Shankar is an Ayurvedic doctor who happens to be extremely knowledgeable, caring, professional. I felt his full committment to help me, in his holistic way, to maximize my benefit while in the program and beyond. The very experienced, learned Dr Ashwani, whose expertise is in reflexology, got rid of pains that I’ve had for over 30 years. He was the one that succeeded after many years of trying a variety of treatment. I enjoyed very much Gaurav Gurgute’s lectures, exploring life, living, self, reality, mental peace, and loads more. A great teacher, dedicated, knowledgeable and very valuable for my holistic learning experience. Blossom, an expert in emotional wellness, assisted me with very valuable tools to let go of what was not needed, embrace myself, and simply and wholly, keep walking my walk. I was lucky to also meet Roma, a vibrant, warm & fun expert in emotional wellness, with whom I shared some lovely laughs, meals & talks! I thank you for your expert Physio work and for your warm care Gaurav! Lakham, you are extremely special, you work with total commitment. Thank you for training and for guiding me. You looked at my abilities and at my liabilities, and gave me the right exercises for my needs and possibilities. Dear chefs, the meals you prepared for me, each one was delicious and very beautifully presented! I must add that I shared this wonderful experience with special people… guests that came for different reasons from India and from different continents… Young and old, we all immersed ourselves together in this wonderful experience with open hearts! To the beautiful people that I met I say, thank you for sharing this journey with me! I accomplished my goals, left with no pain and with enough information to, hopefully, continue to feel well, to live with no, or less pain, and with the dream of coming back soon!!!

Anabella Nachumow

Anabella Nachumow

Etched in my heart, body, mind, and soul lies the memory of my 21 day wellness at Ananda in the Himalayas. Going here was a wish 10 years ago but January 2025 was a time of alignment where possibility became reality. Unbeknownst to family and friends, I made the necessary reservations, purchased travel insurance, and advanced payment in full so there was no going backwards. Two months later, I...
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 Etched in my heart, body, mind, and soul lies the memory of my 21 day wellness at Ananda in the Himalayas. Going here was a wish 10 years ago but January 2025 was a time of alignment where possibility became reality. Unbeknownst to family and friends, I made the necessary reservations, purchased travel insurance, and advanced payment in full so there was no going backwards. Two months later, I announced that I would be going to India in June 2025. Initially, this was met with polite silence but soon the naysayers and fearmongers began planting seeds of doubt, warning of disease, air pollution, pickpockets and other forms of criminality, war, civil unrest, etc. To this, I thanked everyone for their concern and focused on preparing for the unknown. By the time June arrived, I was more than ready to leave home to explore ways to thrive in this life. At 77, I did not think I ‘d be traveling alone to a country whose language and culture were foreign to me. Yet, being a survivor of a car crash which left me with worsening residual injuries, motivated me to push onward. I looked to age gracefully. In the retirement community where I live currently, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, angina, gout, spinal stenosis, osteoporosis abound. Hip and knee replacements are the norm. Every day, someone dies or falls and is incapacitated. I was determined not to go down this road but, finding sound, effective allopathic and alternative care was challenging. I needed time-tested healthcare that was patient- centered i.e. responsive, respectful, comprehensive, integrated, holistic, and supportive. Ananda’s Wellness Program appeared to offer this approach. Its mission is clear. It can be a high end spa with unique amenities for those who wish to vacation or it can offer an extraordinary, cohesive program, with supportive structures for individuals who wish to do transformative work. Step by step, one can ultimately succeed in learning to thrive rather than be victimized by circumstance. In my case, intake began in Delhi with Dr. Gunjana Bhardwaj before my trip. She spent a good amount of ZOOM time going through my health history. Based on her assessment and the recommended program, Dr. Harilal set up a series of daily treatments, coordinated care with my team’s doctors and therapists, communicated with dining hall staff to ensure that my diet was consistent with my dosha, met with me every 2-3 days to monitor the appropriateness of my program and,to tweak it, when necessary. He assured me that the constant dry cough that plagued me for several years was not symptomatic of disease but of internal dryness. He was right. If I had gone to a pulmonologist, I would have been prescribed steroids and an inhaler. His perspective on emotional healing and its impact on digestion and elimination were spot on. When I adhere to my diet, the body is happy. On the other hand, it will give me immediate feedback when I deviate. But, how was I to explain my dietary/lifestyle changes to friends and family without being ostracized. My only approach was.....SLOOOOWLY! The acupuncture with Dr. Manashi completely cleared the longstanding cough which interfered with my sleep and left me feeling exhausted. She recommended a tune-up 7-8 weeks from the date of my return. In the very first session, physiotherapist, Dr. Sujata, released the tightness in my lower right jaw due to surgery on the right zygoma. I was then able to insert a dental plate into the lower teeth without pain. My Bihar Yoga teachers, each with unique gifts, left me with lessons that could be accessed on the internet, ensuring that I could be anywhere in the world yet still practice. Malati taught me ways to adjust and support the body while doing asana. She also emailed detailed instructions for alternate nostril breathing when I requested help. I continue to practice pranayama and to work on my sleep issues. I decided that breath work was the better approach because CPAP did not work in my favor. Emotional Healing was not on my radar when I first arrived. I did not realize that it was a critical part of my physical well being. Dr. Shalini Sangram provided a safe, protected space for me to unearth aspects of prior events and relationships that affect the present. Never intrusive but always supportive, she was a gentle, loving presence. Despite time differences and distance, I plan to continue sessions with her. Gautam Vazirani, our visiting Vedanta teacher, brought the rarified philosophy down to earth through his humor, storytelling, quotes from other masters, diagrams, etc. I have told him that he is funny without even trying. His methodology is insightful and helps the student see the practicality of Vedanta teachings in the life of “Everyman.” Now, I arrive at the most significant aspect of my Ananda experience which did not occur when I arrived home in June. In retrospect, seeds were planted and began germinating in July. It was not until August when I began to experience the power of the program to induce discipline and continuity. When I first returned to life in the fast lane where 80 miles on the freeway is not unusual, I was unprepared for the human drama that awaited. I was still casting about, trying to establish some semblance of the Ayurvedic lifestyle at Ananda. Inserting mantra, asana, breathwork, followed by Neti and dinacharya into my morning was a challenge. I missed the wonderful food and the impeccable service. I was no longer being cared for. I was on my own and feeling lost, despite Dr. Harilal’s handout for structuring my day and diet. Finding an Indian market with all the needed spices, having the proper cooking equipment, learning to cook Indian style made my head spin. Getting started...how to prioritize...how to explain myself and on and on. Interestingly, August swept in and, despite the mundane, I began connecting to Sri Anandamai Ma through the Gayatri. While at Ananda, I entertained a sense of curiosity as I knew nothing about her. I vaguely remember Yogananda speaking of her in his autobiography and seeing a photo of both in his book which I read many years ago. I asked Malati if we could have our yoga session in the room Ma occupied while living on the Palace grounds. I’m not sure what I expected but my brain was so focused on the lesson I felt nothing. I am still trying to make sense of disparate events happening many years apart — a decision that changed the trajectory of my life, leading to an almost tragic end, being given a second chance but not feeling at home in the world, discovering Yogananda’s book and years later unknowingly receiving darshan when gazing at his photo just before his transition. Then, I encounter Ma at Ananda and today, Sept. 4, 2025, I deepen my connection to this Blessed Soul. Ananda appears to be the garland that holds these blossoms together. Inexplicable, mystical...the journey continues to unfold. And so, I extend my gratitude to the founders of Ananda in the Himalayas, the administrative staff, the doctors and therapists, spa schedulers, gift shop ladies, the spa changing ladies, the dining hall chefs, hosts and hostesses, servers, groundskeepers, maintenance crew, laundry room staff, housekeeping, the cart drivers, all the unseen hands that made this endeavor possible for me. Namaskar!

Carolyn Ho

Carolyn Ho