Travel

Inside Engel Ayurpura Ayurvedic Resort: “The results were remarkable”

Holly Treacy-West reports back after a restorative five-day Rasayana detox programme at Engel Ayurpura in the Dolomites.

There are relaxing hotels, and then there’s Engel Ayurpura. This intimate resort features just 15 light and airy rooms, spacious communal spa areas, and a serene atmosphere that often makes it feel as though you have the entire place to yourself. Here, you’ll find space to pause, breathe, and, most importantly, reconnect with your soul.

It’s impossible to resist the awe-inspiring views that surround the resort. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to flood into every room, while the wraparound scenic balcony offers a breathtaking panorama of the forest-lined, mountainous Dolomites. If you could dream up the perfect wellbeing escape, this would be it.

But Engel Ayurpura isn’t just about style; there’s substance here, too.

Inside Engel Ayurpura Ayurvedic Resort

Steeped in traditional Indian healing, it is South Tyrol’s first ayurvedic resort, with a focus on rebalancing the three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha. Although ayurveda may be new to some, the practice itself dates back 5,000 years.

The doshas are fundamental principles that govern our physical and mental health. There are three primary doshas, each with different qualities that can influence our health and tendencies. Each of us will have all three doshas, but in different proportions. Here’s a quick look at the different combinations:

Vata: individuals with a predominant vata energy tend to be creative, energetic, quick learners, and adaptable. When imbalanced, they may experience anxiety, insomnia, dry skin, and digestive issues like bloating or constipation.
Pitta: if you’re pitta-dominant, like me, you’re likely strong-willed, ambitious, focused, and have a sharp intellect. Imbalances may manifest as anger, irritability, inflammation, acidity, or skin issues like rashes.
Kapha: these types of people are calm, grounded, compassionate, and often have a strong build. When out of balance, they might struggle with lethargy, weight gain, congestion, or depression.

The philosophy is simple: when one dosha is out of balance, it affects the others. To determine my dominant dosha, an initial consultation with Dr. Parth takes place on the first day.

I had always thought I was pitta-dominant, but after a thorough pulse diagnosis, Dr. Parth revealed a more nuanced picture: my prakruti (the dosha combination we’re born with) is pitta-vata.

Why does this matter? Because it shapes your personalised treatment and nutrition plan for the rest of your stay. The Rayasana – Fountain of Youth programme is recommended for a shorter stay, like mine, and includes the following:

Consultation and pulse diagnosis (after which treatments are prescribed accordingly)
2 Abhyanga – ayurvedic full body oil massages
1 Vishesh – energy massage
1 Udvartana – special abdominal massage
1 Mukabhyanga – ayurvedic head and face massage
2 Padabhyanga – ayurvedic foot massage
1 Shirodhara – forehead oil pouring
1 Pristabhyangam – back massage
1 Udvartana – herbal powder massage
1 Marmabhyangam (energy points massage)
2 herbal stamp massages

The diagnosis

It’s understandable to be a bit sceptical about what your pulse can reveal, but the results were remarkably accurate. Dr. Parth began by asking if my hair had been falling out recently. Startled, I asked how he could possibly know that – it had been, with strands shedding everywhere in the weeks leading up to my trip. He simply nodded and made a note on his form before taking my wrist again, listening intently.

As he continued, the questions became even more specific, and each time, I found myself answering “yes.” Did I experience intense mood swings? Yes, I have PMDD. Was I constantly bloated? Yup. Did either of my parents suffer from asthma or skin conditions? Yes and yes. Did I have varicose veins? Right again. While my physical health seemed largely on track, Dr. Parth pointed out that my racing mind could pose more serious problems in the future.

The prescription? A five-day Fountain of Youth programme. The aim? To delay ageing and strengthen the immune system, using medicinal oils to promote a clear complexion, skin suppleness, and overall body resilience. Dr. Parth explained that I had an imbalance of the element air and needed both oil and love to regulate my body and mind. So, over the next few days, an array of oily massages, 25ml of ghee taken orally, and even an oily enema were scheduled.

Eat the ayurvedic way

In ayurveda, agni, or digestive fire, is a vital concept. When agni is strong, we can digest not just food, but also life experiences in a healthy way.

At Engel Ayurpura, the aim is to activate agni by blending traditional ayurvedic spices with local produce. The medical team collaborates closely with the chefs to create a personalised nutrition plan tailored to your dosha type. The meals were light, vibrant, and balanced. Though portions were controlled, I never felt ravenous, and fresh apples or rice cakes were always available if a snack was needed.

Mealtimes typically featured ayurvedic consommés and cooked vegetables such as fennel with citrus. I especially enjoyed dishes such as idli with spinach, coconut chutney, curry, and lime, as well as ermes rice with vegetable ragù, followed by a golden milk turmeric latte. Other guests even remarked on how healthy I looked after just a few days – my bloated stomach had disappeared, and my mood? I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this good. Whether it was the diet (Engel Ayurpura is entirely free from alcohol and sugar), the daily massages, the relaxation, or the natural surroundings, but I felt well – truly well.

At the end of my stay, Dr. Parth recommended a range of dietary changes to complement my dosha, including warm, nourishing foods such as rice, quinoa, oats; sweet potatoes, carrots, and cooked spinach; bananas, apples, and pears; lentils, almonds, and eggs. The reason? These foods provide the light, cooling, and grounding energy needed for vata and are essential for pitta.

Foods to avoid were spicy, cold, and raw ones. Goodbye, carrot batons and spicy hummus dip!

The treatments

If you come to Engel Ayurpura expecting something akin to a sports massage, you’re in for a surprise. Ayurvedic massage employs different techniques, often more vigorous than simply working out tight knots. One of the most traditional treatments, Abhyanga, uses friction-based strokes combined with warm, dosha-specific oils.

My favourite treatment was the Shirodhara massage – a tranquil practice where warm oil is gently poured over the forehead and onto the third eye chakra. This treatment aims to calm the nervous system, and I felt utterly blissed out afterward.

The aim with all treatments for pitta-vata doshas like mine, are to cool and nourish the body. So, later Dr. Parth suggested applying coconut oil to my abdomen at night and placing two drops of oil in my belly button to help reduce air imbalance in the body. He also recommended taking magnesium with a vitamin B complex for three months to improve digestion and reduce hair fall, along with ayurvedic herbs like shatavari twice a day for optimal uterine health.

Calming the mind

“Have you ever tried to stop your mind from thinking?” Dr. Parth asked me. “If you have, you’ll know it’s a little like trying to stop a river with your bare hands. The harder you try, the more impossible it seems. The mind has a way of running wild, especially when we don’t want it to. It’s like telling someone not to think of a pink elephant, and suddenly, that’s all they can picture.”

The aim of Engel Ayurpura is to create an environment where your mind can find comfort in stillness.

“Think about a time when you were watching something incredible, like a stunning sunrise,” Dr. Parth continued. “For those few moments, your mind stops buzzing because something bigger is happening. That silence, even if it’s brief, is pure joy. Why? Because your mind steps aside for once, and you get a glimpse of what life feels like without constant thinking. Those moments are usually the best parts of our lives because, for once, our thoughts aren’t the main event.”

The good news is that connecting with this deeper part of yourself isn’t rocket science. Dr. Parth is confident you don’t need a manual or years of practice – you just need to pay attention. And that is what Engel Ayurpura offers: space to attend to all your needs – physical, mental, and spiritual.

The details

Holly Treacy was a guest of Engel Ayurpura in Nova Levante – the only authentic Ayurveda retreat in the Sud Tirol. Double rooms from €230 per person per night.

Fly to Bolzano (30-minute transfer) with SkyAlps from London Gatwick;Prices start from €184. The Rasayana – Fountain of Youth programmes (5- and 7- days at €1400 and €1925 per person respectively).