“On the first evening of the SHARAN 21-day Health Retreat, Dr Nandita Shah gathered all the participants and facilitators in the SwaSwara library. We sat around in a circle, each taking turns to express our reasons for being there.
I sat between my mother and maasi (mother’s sister), shifting uncomfortably in my cushy armchair as people listed various ailments, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and hypothyroid. When they asked me why I was here, I looked at my mother and said, “well… my mother went to a ‘Peas vs Pills’ seminar. And she thought this would be a good idea.”
On the sixth evening, as I was stroking Yogi and Veda, the hotel dogs, I told my mother “Mom, every single person here is sincere and genuine and they actually want to turn vegan. But I don’t want to be vegan; I dreamt about paneer paratha last night!”
By the 17th day, I experienced a shift. I think I was actually the very last person in the retreat to experience this shift. There were different triggers, of course. For me, it was learning about the cruel treatment of cows, calves, hens, and chicks in the dairy and egg industries. For some, it was the movie nights in the library. For others, it was seeing blood sugars go down and medicines reduce.
On the 21st day, the changes in each person’s physicality and consciousness were undeniable. Perhaps you’ll be quietly reluctant at first, like I was, but day by day, as you experience everything the retreat offers, you will become ever more emphatically eager. I could feel myself improving with each lecture, with each walk, with each meal. With each entry in my gratitude journal I grew more aware of how lucky I am and how little I appreciate my life and myself. By recording my goals and efforts and expectations in the ‘Healthy Habits Now’ journal, I was able to recognize the aspects of the program that most benefited me. I released stress, kilograms and inches, received an abundance of energy, and through it all, side by side, had one of the most rewarding holidays of my life.
I saw dolphins dance during the Prakruthi walk, enjoyed Mayavi’s incredible vegan ice cream and Nandini’s mind blowing mango mousse, huffed and puffed my way to Gokarna 10 km away, coaxed my body into surya namaskars in daily yoga (although daily may be an exaggeration in my case), fed stray dogs and explored a library in the Goan wilderness with Reshma, and enjoyed art therapy in the beautiful art studio. I even swam 60 lengths in one sitting while I was there – my personal best – and helped cook an Indo-Chinese dinner without hurting myself (or anyone else)!
At the very least, attend the SHARAN 21-Day Retreat for pakodas by the poolside, aquarobics with Captain Joseph, beach walks with Yogi and Veda, remarkable recipes, and magical massages. At the most, go to discover what everyone is searching for – happiness and health.” – Sanjana Thakur
