“Don’t seek, don’t search, don’t ask, don’t knock, don’t demand. Relax. If you relax, it comes.”
That’s great advice for achieving zen from Indian spiritual guru Osho. But it’s far easier said than done amid Amsterdam’s pathways teeming with sightseers.
Yet not impossible. In fact, tucked behind the capital’s 16th-and 17th-century canal houses, you’ll find one portal to inner peace: the lush grachtentuinen (canal gardens), many privately owned, each offering a quiet sanctum.
Start your day in the city’s largest private canal garden, conveniently growing behind Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, alongside one of Amsterdam’s most well-know canals, Herengracht.
There, within its blossom-bordered emerald lawns and gently burbling fountains, guests can find respite from the hustle and bustle.
It’s no wonder this serene setting hosts the hotel’s Wellbeing Experience: Mindfulness in the Garden, which includes a welcoming retreat to the garden’s Baroque Tea House, a calming cup of tea and a guided meditation session.
The wellness service was developed with Headspace, an app created by Andy Puddicombe and Rich Pierson, that offers a variety of meditation sessions and mindfulness training. It’s offered exclusively for Diamond and Gold Hilton Honors members.
After a nourishing nibble (berries, anyone?), with mindfulness and balance restored, you’ll be ready to take on the Rembrandts in the Rijksmuseum—and everything else Holland has to offer.
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Contact your Personal Concierge to arrange your Mindfulness in the Garden Experience and discover more exclusive experiences to enhance your travels during your next Waldorf Astoria visit.
