EDITORIAL

AS I WRITE MY COLUMN, IT'S INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA.

It has been celebrated annually on June 21 since 2015, following its inception in the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice which originated in India. The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in his UN address in 2014, had suggested the date of June 21, as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares a special significance in many parts of the world. Yoga is a representation of what we call the harmony of mind, body and soul. Yoga isn ’t just a form of exercise, but a symbol of overall well-being. And to me wellness is not just about one day, it’ s almost like a lifestyle mandate that we all must practice. I mean who enjoys being unwell or sick? And today, I see more and more people embracing a balanced lifestyle and taking care of their physical as well as mental wellness. In this issue of the magazine, we have tried and touched upon the aspects of wellness that are important to us as individuals and as a community at large. Something that makes me extremely happy is the fact that Goa is one of the most emerging wellness destinations in India. Yes, parallel to the presumed notion of Goa being a place for beaches, booze, bikinis and parties, there is a segment of travellers that find solace in the serene beaches of Goa, who come not to drink, but to detox, who come not to party and connect with strangers, but to disconnect from everything else and connect with nature & their inner self. Our cover story this time is all about Goa as an epicentre of wellness. Discover some health benefits of yoga in our Food & Health Segment and try out some healthy recipes from the Incredible Kitchen. For our reviews section, we went all the way to Thailand this time, no I am kidding, but we went to the Banyan Tree at Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa, and it was nothing less than visiting the streets of Bangkok for a heavenly Thai food experience. Control your temptation as you scroll through the pages of the Goa Baking Company review, I am sure that looking at those cakes, donuts and all, your taste buds will start to tingle. And if you are looking at taking a small yet luxurious break, the daycation at Leela just might be your thing. And did you know a little alcohol can actually help keep you well, read more about it in my column and say cheers to Paul John in our Goan Spirits. Meet Saurabh Khanna, the GM of the Park Hotel and make way for some woman power with Chef Kimberly Pandey from Fisherman ’ s Wharf sharing her story to Gargi Lotlikar, a biochemist by profession who makes amazing chocolates and Yachika Chopra, who drew inspiration from her late mother ’ s pickle recipe journals and decided to turn into a business. This month’ s Vocal for Goacal is my personal favourite, yet another wonder woman who is a survivor and an inspiration to many women like her. The industry buzz will keep you buzzing with all the latest happenings, and I am sure you will enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Do let me know, will wait for your emails. Keep well!

ADITI MALHOTRA MANAGING EDITOR