Just about an hour-long drive from the capital gets you to an oasis in the city of Sonipat. The lush, green three-acre campus of Naad Wellness, a unique wellness centre that combines Ayurveda, naturopathy and yoga, awaits the harried traveller.
As soon as you walk in through its doors, a variety of plants, trees and flora surround you.The gentle sound of water flowing from an artificially created waterfall greets you at the reception. But it’s the sheer silence that stays with you, helping calm your frayed nerves.
“Naad is the primordial sound that echoes through the universe, the vibration that is believed to have originated with its creation and has been reverberating through our very being ever since. It resonates with the awakening of our spiritual growth, our kundalini and the time when we truly begin to find ourselves,” explains Naad’s Co-Founder, Manoj Khaitan. Aligned with this age-old philosophy, Naad Wellness believes that our bodies are like musical instruments, which when tuned regularly produce beautiful melodies.
Inspired by those seeking alternatives to conventional medical practices, and the growth of the wellness and holistic health industry, Naad was built in 2018. With 39 rooms and suites in 5 different categories,it offers several experiential packages, such as The Naad Experience, Punarnava, De-Stress at Naad, Detox at Naad, The India Experience – An Ayurvedic Journey, Nikhaar by Naad, Niramaya by Naad and Work from Naad, customized to suit each individual body type.
Apart from these, Naad also offers medical packages that address issues such as weight management, arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, PCOS, respiratory diseases, migraine, spine care and sports injuries.
Naad’s clientele includes persons between the age of 13 and 90 years from across the country. “We find that packages for managing weight, diabetes, stress and PCOS are most popular among people. Apart from that, several older people also come to correct their joint pains and issues of insomnia,” informs Dr Sreelakshmi, Senior Ayurvedic Consultant at Naad.
Some of the Ayurvedic and naturopathy therapies include Abhiyangam and therapeutic massages, using triphala, eladi and dhanwantharam as well as other essential oils. “Some of the unique features of Naad are our Turkish hammam, the Himalayan Salt Cave and various techniques of hand and foot reflexology,” adds Pradeep Rawat, Naad’s room division manager.
Meals at Naad are an experience in themselves. The centre follows three varieties of diets: therapeutic, regular and person-controlled. Most of the food is free of gluten and dairy products. It is cooked using ghee or cold-pressed oil, andno tea or coffee is served throughout one’s stay. Needless to say, Naad is an alcohol and tobacco free centre. One gets to eatsattvik vegetarian food that is cooked extremely well. Most of the vegetables are grown in the in-house kitchen garden.
Served at Ahara, the in-house restaurant, meals usually consist of juices, salads, soups, buttermilk and seasonal vegetables. Further, the evening refreshment is made up of items such as puffed rice, fresh fruit and herbal tea. Even the occasional dessert is healthy, such as a sesame seed laddoo with coconut and jaggery.“Our philosophy is that one’s food is one’s medicine. Once the physicians study the guest’s body type, we devise their menus based on that accordingly,” explains Chef Sahajan.
Further, Naad follows the therapeutic and traditional forms of the Bihar school of yoga, and there is a daily session of yoga and meditation for guests.There is also a reflexology walking track, which guests must use every day.Guests are also encouraged to restrict their use of phones and other gadgets during their stay. It is for this reason that there are no TVs in any room. Other means of recreation at the centre include a swimming pool, tennis and badminton courts, gymnasium, mini golf, billiards table and library, which in-house guests can use during their stay.
Overall, a stay at Naad is like undergoing an essential detox for one’s mind, body and soul.Khaitan believes that wellness has become somewhat of a lifestyle and buzzword post Covid, and people have become more conscious about their health. This is probably the reason why there are many repeat guestswho visit Naad frequently. “The focus has shifted more towards a natural and holistic way of living,”concludes Khaitan.
