HERE’S MY TRUE CONFESSION: I do not choose to relax. I like to
imagine what it would be like to live a life of leisure, lounging by the
pool, sipping on cucumber-infused water, biding my time until my
next spa appointment. I admire the people who can do it. But in truth,
that’s not me.
No, I like to work. I like long hours and extreme effort and as much
tension as I can possibly build up. I may like to think about relaxing, but
given the option to actually do it, I’d rather sit in front of my computer
for hours on end, spinning away on whatever project I happen to have
on hand (they all feel, to me, utterly urgent).
Even my vacations tend to be effort-oriented, if you can call them
vacations at all. For one thing, I don’t take many, and
they’re usually short. And for another, they always happen
for a reason: to further my career (think story research, job
interviews); or to better my body (yoga conferences, detox
intensives). Work, in other words, must be getting done.
And so it was, a few years ago, that I found myself at the
Chopra Center at Southern California’s Omni La Costa
Resort & Spa. At the time, I was the editor of a magazine
dedicated to the merits of leading a healthy, balanced life.
Ironically, I had been working 12-hour days for months.
My staff was begging me to take a few days off; my boss
kindly, then rather firmly, suggested that I do so.
I decided that at Chopra I could work on my yoga, do
a little detox, log some meditation hours, and maybe even get a future
story out of the mix (et voilà!). What’s more, I would deepen the typi-
cal spa experience by getting treatments based in the ancient Indian
healing art of Ayurveda. I would take a little vacation, yes, but I would
not waste my time. I’d sign up for a crash course in the Perfect Health
program (normally a five-day program; I would do it in three), then get
back on the job—informed, rejuvenated, and acceptably refreshed.DOSHA DIAGNOSIS
Situated in Carlsbad, California, just north of San Diego, Omni La
Costa Resort & Spa is breathtaking and luxurious. Surrounded by glow-
ing, clearly affluent families in their matching golf attire, I had neverfelt so out of place. But when I
set foot through the door of the
Chopra Center, I knew I was at home. It was slightly
darker and a little funkier... still lovely, but with the
signs and symbols of yoga all around. There was
Ganesha smiling down on me. It would be OK—I
could apply effort here; I could have ease.
The yoga, meditation, and cooking classes
offered at the center confirmed this hunch. It was
during one of these group sessions that I had an
“Aha!” moment that would change my attitude
toward relaxation—if not forever, at least for the
course of this particular vacation. We’d all just
had our dosha makeup diagnosed and now knewFor a spa experience that’s truly rejuvenating,
surrender to treatments tailored just for you.PHOTOS: DAVID MARTINEZ; MODEL: JOHANNA EPPS; STYLIST: LYN HEINEKEN; HAIR/MAKEUP: BETTEN CHASTONWHAT’S YOUR SPA
TYPE? To get the most
out of your spa experience,
start by understanding
your dosha (this is your
constitution, according to
Ayur vedic tradition). Learn
the basics by taking the
quiz at yogajournal.com/
ayurveda, then try the
treatments recommended
for your type.Pa m p e r i n g
with Purpose
100 YOGAJOURNAL.COM YOGA TODAYself-care by Hillari Dowdle