A spiritual retreat

The temple of well-being you create in a personal retreat is not only the physical space that encloses your body, but your body itself. Your personal temple Lakes shape from the inside out. You might, for example, spend a few moments just breathing. Exhale the ten­sions that have built within you,

allowing a cooler, calmer air to enter your lungs. The flame of a candle may help to focus your thought- or allow those thoughts to drift away - while a centering fragrance such as sandalwood may create just enough of a veil to separate you, if only for a brief period, from the rest of the world outside. True tranquility comes from a serene inner core, of course, but burning pachouli, vetiver or clove oils in your bedroom will create an atmosphere thick with calm. The scents themselves may affect you physically. That's the theory behind aromatherapy; it suggests that the limbic system – the most primal area of the brain responds to scent in a reflexive way. With a whiff of an invigorating scent such as ginger or peppermint, the brain releases endorphins to energize the body. With a calming scent such as vetiver or sandalwood, it releases serotonin, which tells the nervous system to slow down. It is no coincidence that sweet-smelling incense and flowers are abundant in places of worship, where you come to sit quietly and look inward.

But let's return to your- own personal temple. “To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul. To do this you need to experience solitude,” says Deepak Chopra. While you're in the solitary place you have created, why not try chanting? A chant is a form of vocal meditation, a focused combi­nation of sound and breath that resonates in your chest and expands outward through your body, creating a vibrational ripple that extends into the universe. The simplest and most powerful chant is "Om", the metaphorical sound of the universe. Take a deep breath. On your exhalation, let sound and breath come together: You might say the word in three seamless syllables: ahhh from deep within in your chest, oooo as it rises into your throat, and mmmmmm

as the sound exits your mouth and your lips come together: Hold the chant for as long as breath and sound can comfortably travel together (You'll find that the more you chant, the deeper and longer you are able to do so.)

Those who chant regularly will tell you that sound stimulates the cakras, the energy vor­texes that exist in the body. The higher cakras — those in the chest, throat, forehead and crown — are particularly affected by the vibration of sound and breath. Another secret, then, is that new experiences offer different paths to relaxation.

Yoga is another such path. The benefits of its gentle twists and stretches are effective before, during or after your spa session. If you practice the classic Salutation to the Sun, a series of standing and bending asanas, or poses, you'll loosen your body in preparation for a soak or scrub. If you're feeling lethargic from a heat treatment, a bit of stretching will energize you. Conversely, if you find you're not as relaxed as you'd like to be during your spa session, mindful movement will help release tension. With the pliable muscles of a relaxed body you'll find it easier to extend into stretches that are normally difficult. If you're new to yoga, your spa-loose limbs will allow you to experiment with the poses more freely.

You will likely come away from even a few moments of chanting or stretchin^g with a fuller heart, a clearer head, and a body pleasantly free of tension. So cleansed, you may feel that a Honey-Cucumber Mask for your face or a Kemiri Nut Scrub for your feet is beside the point. But remember rupasampat wahya bhiantara. Why not complement the inner glow of meditation with the outer glow of exfoliation? It is easy enough to organize in your own home.