US physician reveals plans for Ayurveda-based wellness retreat in Himalayas
Spa Opportunities can exclusively reveal plans for an ambitious US$3m (€2.22, £1.84m) wellness retreat in the foothills of India’s Himalayan mountains, combining ancient Ayurvedic methods and integrative medicine with modern healthcare to tackle chronic disorders such as heart disease.
Under the working title ‘Total Health Centre’, the project is the brainchild of Dr Robert Schneider, a leading physician and researcher into the science behind Ayurvedic methods and author of Total Heart Health – a book that promotes the potential of the Maharishi Ayurveda health system to prevent and reverse heart disease.
Across a 30-year career, Schneider has investigated mind-body methods – including the effectiveness of Ayurveda integrated with natural medicine against heart conditions. These findings received support from the American Heart Association for recognising the benefits of Transcendental Meditation for cardiovascular health.
It was these principles that inspired him, through the company Integrative Health Partners of which he is a founding member, to develop a results-focused wellness retreat in the birthplace of Ayurveda: the Himalayas.
“Medical tourism to India is on the rise and there are several Ayurveda centers there already, but none currently provide western standards of luxury facilities, service, spiritual surroundings and science-based integrative health care,” says Schneider.
“We want to offer the best of all worlds, providing integrated diagnosis and treatment (for chronic conditions such as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases) centered around the Ayurveda system. This will be complemented by other systems of traditional and natural medicine where useful, such as homeopathy and manipulative therapies, with modern medicine available as a back-up if required.”
Schneider expects to hire between 50-75 staff, with the focal point being the panel of interdisciplinary medical experts representing modern medicine, Ayurveda, and the other systems of natural medicine - who will assess clients from a range of perspectives recommending short and long-term therapeutic programs to treat and prevent chronic disorders.
“We gathered evidence on the effectiveness of meditation and are now looking at other areas of traditional medicine. A lot of spas embrace these methods superficially to encourage relaxation, but we’re geared towards restoring the body’s self-repair system to provide tangible, evidence-based results.”
Designs drawn up by Swiss-based architects Raja Builders AG feature a 100,000sq ft (9,290sq m) spa and integrative health centre, comprised of luxury private rooms and villas and an as-yet-undecided number of treatment rooms focusing on detox, panchakarma, mind-body medicine, five senses therapies and lifestyle education.
The spa - which is to be owned and operated by Integrative Health Partners - will be built on the principles of healthy architecture (Vastu), using non-toxic building materials. Guests will be able to visit for one to four weeks, with initial estimates of $400 (€296, £245) per day for the full programme, including consultations, treatments, lodging and meals.
Schneider is targeting the over-45s market - particularly those at premature risk of cardiovascular diseases and cognitive decline - and expects to attract guests from across the globe, but particularly from Europe and the US.
Some of the project’s finance is already in place, but developers are still seeking additional private investment, with plans to roll-out several sites worldwide after the Himalayan launch in late 2015.
For more information on the project, email: [email protected]
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