Brighton , Ontario : A single giant leaf on the signboard tells me I’m there ….at Elemental Embrace, a wellness spa retreat located just 90 minutes east of Toronto . Could this be a symbol of something special? I couldn’t wait to find out.

The spotless white buildings with rust red roofs sparkled in the morning sunshine, in brilliant contrast to the surrounding 30 acres of mostly evergreens.

I am here to reap the benefits of Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old practice that has defined India ’s “Science of Life” to westerners.

Elemental Embrace is the 2003 creation of the Teja family, a mother and her two sons who recognized the increasing popularity of the once unconventional therapy. “It took three-and-a-half years of planning,” says Jazir Teja, the marketing expert. “I like the challenge of something new. This is the beginning of something new.” His theory is that authentic Ayurveda is the solution to the high-paced lifestyle of city dwellers and with this in mind selected a location within proximity of southern Ontario ( Toronto , Ottawa and Kingston ) as well as upstate New York . His look-a-like brother, Muqit, handles financial matters, while mom, Begum (who looks more like their sister) is an experienced Ayurvedic therapist.

The centuries-old healing tradition of Ayurveda practiced here is a rare find in Canada as Jazir Teja intends it to be. His travels to India in search of Ayurvedic physicians or Vaidyas turned into a challenge to select the best of 65 qualified applicants. Not just one, but two Vaidyas are on staff, Neelesh Taware and his wife, Ameeta.

An hour-long consultation with Dr. Neelesh Taware reveals a lot about me. I answer his queries on health, diet, routine, sleep patterns, likes and dislikes. He tells me I like spicy food. I know, but eating it is another matter! Also I should wait 45 minutes after meals to drink water so I am still working on that one. It seems I get enough sleep and my water intake is adequate. Fine, but I am amazed when he says I have many friends, but I allow them to “get only so close” (because this is true.) Finally he checks my pulse and then determines my dosha judging by my individual constitution in relation to the five universal elements - space, air, water, earth and fire (the latter two are most dominant in me.)

Those elements make up three vital energies or doshas: vata (air and ether), pitta (fire and water) and kapha (water and earth) which are said to be responsible for all the physiological and psychological processes in one’s body and mind. Ayurvedic teachings are based on the principle that every person’s unique make up is the foundation on which their health is preserved. The doshas need to work in harmony so that they remain healthy to enjoy long and happy lives.

It seems my “earth” influence (kapha) makes me grounded and dependable, but there is enough “fire” (pitta) to indicate I can be a passionate trailblazer. I have always joked about having a sign on my forehead that says, “Tell me your life story” confirming one of my kapha traits (because I often find myself becoming confidante to both friends and strangers.) The pitta side of me tends to be inspirational and encouraging, but there is a tendency to overdo it.

It’s time to take one step at a time to unite the body, mind and spirit through guidance and application according to my special needs. My first treatment is with the other Vaidya, Dr. Ameeta Taware, who is even more soft-spoken than her husband, but it is nice to be placed in gentle hands.

Stretched out on a wooden table, with my eyes covered, I know this is one of the most powerful Ayurvedic treatments called Shirodhara, “the massage of the third eye.” A suspended copper vessel releases warm sesame oil on my forehead, cascading over my temple, swirling across my hairline, second by second. I slip into a sweet slumber (sometimes referred to as “a heavenly state of mind”) and time comes to a standstill. Eventually the oil is slowly massaged through my scalp, over my forehead and down towards my neck, bringing me back to reality.

Equally intriguing is the Abhyanga Mardana, an Ayurvedic synchronized massage by both Vaidyas. Imagine being anointed with warm oil, infused with herbs, on bare skin. On a large, sturdy neem and teak table they massage every inch of my body with unbelievable precision. I am mesmerized by the sweeping mirror strokes as they look into each other’s eyes as if performing a four-handed dance up and down, from ankle to armpit and even between my toes. I am raised to a sitting position and the dance of strokes continues with the soothing oil penetrating my neck, back, shoulders and hands.

Oil drenched and slippery as I am, I remain cradled between the Vaidyas as they effortlessly (or so it seems) keep up the momentum. The result? I am totally re-vitalized. And by the way, to address any safety concerns, the special table from India is designed to contain any oil runoff (so you won’t fall off the table) in built-in troughs and it is also anti-bacterial.

The finale to this ritual fit for royalty is an herbal steam bath. Enclosed in a large box-like container up to my shoulder, a steady steam laced with herbs compatible to my dosha envelops my body. As the sweat streams down my face, it feels far more intense than a sauna, but relief is never far away as the attending Vaidyas cool my forehead with a cold compress. After 15 minutes I take a shower and emerge feeling totally exalted.

As Jazir Teja says, “You need at least at couple of days here. With the lifestyle we lead right now, it’s hard to relax.” Of course it is, and that is why there are only 14 guestrooms at the 20,000-square-foot spa retreat.

The individual décor in each room is expressed in muted colors to echo the classic elegance of a country estate. But there’s yet another ingenuous streak in the comfort zone that sets the Tejas apart as innovative hosts. The mattresses on the beds are custom made in India from coconut husk, something new to me, despite many unique experiences around the world. “The mattresses are hard to begin with, but they will soften with the heat and weight of the body,” says Jazir Teja. He also maintains that they provide optimal chiropractic support.

Even the personal hygiene products are all-natural from India . Medimix Ayurvedic soap is hand made and contains 18 different herbs in a base of coconut and natural oils. The toothpaste is made with the pure extract of the Meswak plant, known for its health benefits.

Another “luxury” at Elemental Embrace is that the chef is free to indulge guests in the dining room, and he is a whiz at taste temptations whether he serves seafood, poultry, meat or vegetarian cuisine. Forget menus here, just prepare for the biggest culinary buzz you can imagine.

An excellent introduction to Indian food is a lunchtime treat called thali. This consists of individual servings of beef marsala, chicken samosa, curried cabbage, basmati rice, dahl, roti and papadum (crispy lentil type of bread) in little, round, stainless steel bowls, carefully arranged on a tray. The drink is mango lassi and dessert is kir, similar to cream of wheat porridge and jamboo, milk dumplings in a syrup. Another chef creation includes salmon papiette, cream of asparagus, turkey schnitzel, Portobello mushrooms, broccoli and brown rice. Wow!

Dinner rivals lunch with sautéed scallop and shrimp with orange lobster sauce, avocado cauliflower, tilapia with pineapple salsa, asparagus and wild rice. There’s also spinach salad, tomato cabbage, duck with raspberry orange sauce and whipped, caramelized onion apple potatoes.

Between treatments, it’s easy to find solitude indoors. Quite often I am the only one around the indoor pool, hot tub, sauna or the gym. The lounge nearest the accommodation is an ideal place to curl up with a good book. After dinner, guests can watch movies or attend Ayurvedic presentations in the conference room (equipped for business meetings.)

On bright, sunny days, the deck (adjacent to the dining room) is another inviting spot to relax, meet other guests or enjoy afternoon tea. Sometimes I would follow the woodland trails, ride a bicycle or meditate at the labyrinth.

An impromptu bike ride along Georgina Street turns into a self-challenge I won’t ever forget. Turning left outside the gate it’s a smooth ride until I encounter a series of small hills and valleys. Afterwards I head in the other direction, only to wage a steep uphill battle most of the way, but with my pitta determination I just wouldn’t give up!

A simple explanation of the labyrinth is “an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness.” It is where we go to find ourselves through meditation. Everyone travels on his or her own journey in life and by following the path of the labyrinth I am able to look inwards and try to understand who I really am.

Besides oil therapies used in Ayurveda to treat the three dosha types and ailments, mud is also applied as an herbal mask for Murttika Snan. Other unique treatments include Njavarakizhi (Pinda Sweda), suitable for stressed-out individuals. The body is saturated with herbal oils, followed by a sweat-inducing massage using bags of cooked rice and herbal decoction. The Padanghata is a martial arts massage recommended for athletes. The male Vaidya uses his feet to perform this treatment while suspended from a rope on the ceiling.

One of the most sought after treatments at Elemental Embrace is colon hydrotherapy since there are very few machines to be found in this region. New Yorkers face a three-month wait for what is readily available here.

Begum Teja says it’s a taboo subject for many, but colon hydrotherapy is vital for our well-being. Constipation, headaches, fatigue, skin blemishes and other related ailments are symptoms of toxic waste (impacted feces, parasites and dead tissue.)

Once I am reassured that I could stop the treatment at any time she begins by gently inserting a tube in the rectum. I am told to relax and take deep breaths, and the process begins with a simple, “ready, set, go” – filtered water is channeled into the colon over and over again, gradually releasing toxic waste via the tube connected to the machine.

The therapist massages my abdomen and checks the water pressure and temperature as it courses through my colon, helping to relieve cramps. It takes between 20 and 35 gallons of filtered water to cleanse the colon which is two inches in diameter and about five feet long. There are no embarrassing odors or soiling, but meals should be eaten at least two hours before the cleansing begins.

Besides holistic therapy you can spoil yourself silly with more familiar spa treatments such as herbal facials, algae and mud body wraps, hot stone and aromatherapy massages and reflexology.

The bio lift facial created by Laboratoire Dr. Renaud is a great ally in the battle to restore that special glow that is lost to dehydration, sun exposure and of course, aging. I would also like to try the collagen veil. The Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage works the muscles and puts the mind at ease, and this is best enjoyed in the grotto like space lit only by candles.

And do try to start days off with the morning yoga and meditation classes; they really inspire us to take care of ourselves.