My name is: Dr. Robert Svoboda. 

I'm known for: Being the first Westerner ever to graduate from a college of Ayurveda and be licensed to practice Ayurveda in India.  

I’m hosting a retreat called: The Concept of Time.

It’s located at: The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort, New Chandigarh, India; February 11th-14th, 2020. 

I was drawn to this spot because: The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort, New Chandigarh is located in the foothills of the Himalayas, nestled against 8,000 acres of the Siswan Forest Range.

This retreat is special because: It offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with your inner rhythms in an environment that is permeated by the natural rhythms of the surrounding forest.

One thing you can’t miss is: Enjoying as many treatments as possible at The Oberoi Spa. Also, as part of the experience, the spa team will be taking guests for a forest bathing session, followed by yoga. It’s all about connecting to nature. In that secluded spot in the woods, you allow your senses to absorb your surroundings—through your ears, nose, mouth, hands and feet. The forest bathing is surely a treatment that you can’t miss.

My favorite secret detail is: The serenely peaceful yoga and meditation forest clearing that is an easy walk from the property.  

Your body will thank you because: Your body will be reminded of how it is supposed to feel. 

I never retreat without bringing: My trusty old alarm clock, which I do not set as an alarm, but peek at periodically to remind me of how precious each moment of the retreat is and how essential it is not to compromise those moments of retreat by looking at the clock. 

Retreating should be part of your process because: Attending retreats allow you to gain perspective on just how fast and superficial our modern lives have become—and how we can choose to live differently.

 Photographs courtesy of Nareg Taimoorian and Oberoi Hotels & Resorts