DV X Ananda

Namaskar!

Off season is very short in tennis players life, but I wanted to take a couple minutes now to share my experience at Ananda with you all. Flights, hotels, packing, unpacking, mostly eating at restaurants, and simply not having enough time to recover, are just some of the major themes we go through as players. Most of you don’t know, but I struggled with health problems this summer - this was the reason I was unable to return to my match in Cincinnati and had full body cramps during my first match at the US Open.

After the US swing I returned home for a short break from tournaments before Asia, I put myself to work, hoping with some more training I could get back to a baseline comfort level. I knew that despite this my mind and body were not aligned, I needed a break but I pushed myself to go to Asia to finish the year strong. Despite an incredibly frustrating 2nd half of the season, I was grateful and thankful for the support from my team - I wanted to get back into the top 20 and I am proud of myself for achieving this as well as winning a title.

I was fortunate to discover Ayurveda, an alternative indian medicine technique, last year and was immediately intrigued by the concept. As i’ve grown and matured on the tour, I have looked towards more of a holistic approach to my healing. Having said that, this method isn’t always conducive to generating a quick fixes during a heavily packed season. Wanting to dive more into this subject during the off season, Ananda came recommended to me though a friend who had an incredible experince at the resort. Now getting on another flight after an already long season seemed like a daunting task, but I knew if I wanted to address the issues I was having in a meaningful way I needed to make the journey into the mountains.

To try to describe this place with just words is something I cannot do justice, but I shall try. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, the tranquility in combination with wellness created an unforgettable experience. While it may be called “Ananda Spa’ it is far from that - to define this place in any singular fashion would simply be taking away from the power it holds. Ananda is a sanctuary of rejuvenation for the mind, body and soul. Upon arrival the infinity pool was the first to capture my eye (duh), it also happened to be the space I spent the most of my free time between treatments.

Offering numerous programs, your experince at Ananda begins with a consultation with an ayurvedic doctor. I subscribed to a 10 day detox program which both was what I wanted and came recommended to me by the doctor. As a result of this, the culinary staff prepared a specific diet and meal plan for my duration, giving me limited options daily from specific foods to choose from. To be honest, the first couple days I struggled - cranky hungry, and honestly bored, I wasn’t sure if I had come to the right place for my healing.

However, my goal from the start of the trip was the maximize my experince by being mindful and grateful - as the days continued on with yoga sessions and salt scrubs, I could metaphorically feel my stress and tension being released and replaced with a higher energy. While I struggled with yoga (pilates girl over here) and the meditation practice, I learned practicing the art of mindfulness is a lifelong journey, with no specific destination. While there were aspects that didn’t resonate with me specifically, practices like pranayama, a yogic practice that involves controlling your breathing, is something I will most definitely including in my daily routine.

To couple working on your mind, the spa treatments and Ayurvedic massages, had similar impacts on my physical body, releasing and easing tension throughout my body. Being a Vata body type, the massages I received were specific to me, using essential oils that helped promote my bodies healing. I had briefly mentioned above the specific meal plan I was on, but the food was by far one of the most unique experiences at Ananda. Utilizing the highest quality ingredients, the fresh, organic and light dishes were prepared in a manner that made me feel incredibly healthy (sorry mum, but I’m going to need you to get the recipes from the chefs for when I’m home).

This entire holistic approach to my well being left me with a profound sense of inner peace. Guidance from the experienced instructors in a serene environment, enchanted the transformative nature of my treatments - the staff has a genuine warmth, they want to see you get better. Throughout my stay, the staff exemplified the ideas of kindness and hospitality. The dedication to every single guest was truly remarkable.

As a lover of hikes, one of the group activities included was a trek to the Kanjapuri temple, a 6KM hike with 500M elevation - I can’t say I came to Ananda for the workouts, but I was happy to get my sweat on. Surprisingly as well, I didn’t come to Ananda expecting to to meet new people, but I connected with a few people who I can now happily call friends - I hope to meet them again somewhere in the world, if not at Ananda again.

After completing my 10 day stay, I can say from the bottom of my heart that I feel rested, recover and ready for any new challenges the 2024 szn might bring. If you’re looking for a place to get away from all the noise in the world, and experince something truly transformative as well as unforgettable, I would 100% recommend Ananda - a designation that not only pampers your body but also heals the mind. See you in a few short weeks in Australia.

Love,

D