08 May,2011 11:05 AM IST | | Aviva Dharmaraj
The city's latest wellness destination offers you a bite, retail therapy, a workout and peace of mind under one tranquil roof
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The Yoga House is for the health surfer: someone who is curious about ways in which he or she could incorporate healthy living into an otherwise stressful lifestyle. And which privileged person isn't? Besides, if recent estimates by the World Health Organisation are to be believed, by 2050, there will be two billions of us over the age of 60. So, it's a good idea to get a head start on the rest by getting more nutrients, vitamins and (certainly) more antioxidants (fewer wrinkles) to course through our toxic bloodstreams.
Though, you can do more than that at Bandra's latest wellness destination, The Yoga House, which is home not just to a health caf ufffd, but to a clothes and health food store, and also a yoga room. "The idea was to create a space that is practical for working people," says Maud Chuffart, co-proprietor.
Leave your footwear outside
To be part of the holistic health experience, you must start by leaving your footwear at the entrance to this tranquil bungalow inside Chimbai village in Bandra. It's clean and bright, so you shouldn't mind too much.
The walls are painted blue, and the patio-like white furniture has been sourced from Jodhpur by Maud and her boyfriend, co-proprietor Ajit Singh Tapaswi.
Quinoa Millet Burger with Hummus includes a shallow fried patty
served on rye bread with tomato slices, salad greens, and a
sprinkling of Alfalfa sprouts. PICS/ Satyajit Desai
Water and food are served in handmade copper and tin or kansa vessels, said to provide the body with required minerals. The menu is limited, but they're working on expanding it soon. The French Salad with Honey and Mustard Dressing (Rs 220) has green apple, carrot strands, walnuts and raisins. The dressing is served on the side, so you don't have to worry about gloppy dressing clinging to less-than-fresh veggies.
They also do a Veggie Burger that works, and is a far cry from the staple deep-fried Aloo Tikki stuffed inside white bread. The Quinoa (an imported grain, grown in Bolivia) Millet Burger with Hummus (Rs 220) is served open-faced on rye bread, with tomato slices, salad greens, and a sprinkling of Alfalfa sprouts. You know the saying that goes 'if it tastes good, it's bad for you'? This could be the exception.
The shop sells organic honey and garments made from natural
fabricu00a0 for men and women
Maud and Ajit practice what they preach. While Maud has been learning and practicing yoga for a decade, Ajit regularly works out at the gym, and starts his day with breathing exercises. Both of them are vegetarians and don't smoke or consume alcohol.
Label of love
They also design their own clothes under The Yoga House label. Clothes for women range from Rs 900 to Rs 1,500, and the men's line is priced between Rs 900 and Rs 2,200. For now, the colour palette is primarily white, but they plan to soon incorporate more earthy shades, including light brown and beige into the range. Rose water, spring water, organic honey, grains, pulses, and natural face packs are among the other items that can be purchased at the store.
The Yoga House is housed in a bungalow in Chimbai
village, Bandra
Open for yoga
They offer walk-in, hour-long yoga sessions, starting from 8 am to 12 pm, with the evening session scheduled from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm (except on Tuesdays and Sundays). But you could always put in a request for a different time slot. Because at The Yoga House, it's all about being flexible. Wander through rooms, shop while you wait for your meal, poke your head into the kitchen, and even pop in for a shower post a sweaty workout. It's certainly worth stopping by, if for nothing else, to get a a peek into the lifestyles of the fit and fabulous.
At: The Yoga House, 153, Chimbai House, opposite St Andrew's church, Bandra (W).
Call 65545001
