I work in the same business complex that Spa La'Vanya is located and it is like a little oasis with the duponti silk curtains. The owner specializes in the Ayurvedic way of living and offers massages based on your own individuality. She also offers other services that are more common to India than the US. I have never been to India but I hear that Ayurvedic Massages are all the rage. An Ayurvedic Massage consists of long, criss-cross strokes, using lots of oil. The entire body is massaged with pressure but no kneading or heavy manipulation. It is a way to drain the lymph system. Priya is very good at massage as well as facials. She also offers consultations on Ayurvedic practices and looks at massage more as a way to maintain optimal health the Ayurvedic way than just a way to pamper us over stressed, over achievers. There is a lot of pampering as well, however. read more

I had the good fortune of being in a seminar group with Geeta this week, minutes after experiencing an acute episode of food poisoning. The root and seed teas she prescribed soothed my digestive system so well that within an hour I was able to eat solid food, suffering no ill effects whatsoever the following day. Geeta's calming presence and her deep understanding of Ayurvedic medicine were a life-saver, enabling me to complete my seminar with ease. Geeta is truly a gifted Ayurvedic medicine practitioner. I am very grateful to her. read more

I haven't seen Geeta for a few years as I moved away 2 years ago. However, I still dream of going back. I first met her in graduate school circa 2011 and was having MAJOR skin issue. All of a sudden I developed insane acne and she was able to help me with it. We took a holistic approach which I loved. It wasn't just the products but understanding how seasons, stress, and foods were also impacting me. I became obsessed with the products while I was there and also enjoyed other treatments such as the Oil on the forehead/ Shirodhara (just don't make dinner plans after). Can't wait to move back in July and book a facial. read more

Geeta, is the best healer I've ever been to. Every time I see her I feel more relaxed and healthy. I always return home happier, and as a result I exercise more, eat cleaner, and get more work done. Geeta is a rare gem! read more

I am a big fan of Spa La'Vanya and have been going there regularly for over two and half years now. I love Gita's approach to the Ayurvedic way of living and was so happy to discover this place. Recently I finished my 3rd 5 day Panchakara treatment with Gita which has been each time an incredible detoxifying, purifying and healing journey. Gita has a wise,caring and intuitive touch that I find very beneficial. I especially love the way Gita does Marma points. I also like the products she formulates such as her Tumeric skin cream Whitney, Spa La'Vanya's latest addition, gives great abhyanga massages and I highly recommend her as well. I have had several massages from her. Gita and Whitney are skilled and full of heart so an oil massage or facial from either will leave you feeling really relaxed, pampered and beautiful. I can hardly wait for my next appointment on Friday! read more

Priya is awesome and has a wide range of modalities to make you look and feel beautiful, inside and out! She has great energy and is compassionate and reasonably priced too! read more

This is my first review here. I went to see Priya in 2010 for a PanchaKarma...and received the best treatment I possibly could in this area...She helped with a total mind and body rejunevation....and I was able to get on with a healthier lifestyle after...Wish I could give more than 5 stars! -M read more

I have a bone on bone situation with my right hip and was suffering quite a bit when I met Geeta. To back up just a bit, I am scheduled to get a hip replacement. The surgeon is well known and very busy, so my surgery date is 2 months away. Geeta saw me limping one day and asked if I was all right, and we struck up a conversation. She said she was an Ayurvedic practitioner and may be able to help me with the pain, so I went for a consultation, and was so impressed with her knowledge, intelligence, credentials, acute listening skills, generosity and deep compassion. The 15 minute free consultation turned into 1.5 hours, and I decided to take the journey of healing with her through a 7-day Panchakarma treatment. Having had 7 years of meditation training from the same spiritual center that Geeta got her Ayurveda training, I understood that this would be an authentic and deep treatment, possibly transformational, but I remained curious and went in with an open mind and the willingness to see what would unfold. The hot oil massages and steam tent to release toxins, the shirodhara treatment (dripping of water on your 3rd eye area), the many conversations that I shared whatever came up on the table, all helped me to deeply release physically, mentally and emotionally. I never had such an understanding of the connection between how the mind, our traumas and emotional issues are so intertwined with our body and disease (dis-ease)/pain. Geeta also put me on a cleansing/balancing diet. And all the while, supported me in the kindest, most caring and compassionate way, dispensing so much wisdom. After suffering with severe hip pains for a year, and looking for solutions through Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Physical Therapy, the Panchakarma treatment did the most good in helping my hip pain to lessen. There is so much to continue with after the treatment. Geeta helped me to set the intention of healing myself so that possibly, by the time my surgery date arrives, my pain may not be there anymore. Our journey together gave me that possibility, and even if I end up needing the surgery still, so much has shifted for me, that I can honestly say that I am in a totally different and much more peaceful, pure, grounded and clearer space than where I was when I started the treatment. Geeta is a very special woman of the highest integrity, with a commitment to help you heal yourself in a transformational way that you cannot imagine going in. It's hard to put this kind of "what you get" experience into words. You need to try it and see for yourself. She will take excellent care of you. read more

This was my worst facial ever. For the 1st time i went for a ayurvedic facial and I had a facial for Pitta skin type. There were no extractions of blackheads etc, when my face was so full of them. The steam was given from very far and not enough. The room was towards the colder side so i was not so comfortable. Priya massaged my face for not more than 5-7 minutes. There was nothing relaxing about my experience. The whole thing ended so soon, that i hardly felt like it happened and to top it all she kept asking me how i felt or feeling. How could i tell her i felt like shit!.. The only good part was she did the massage very delicately. I did not heal or look better however after the facial. My lifestyle includes Organic whole foods, no soda, late nights etc. , shopping only at whole foods supermarket etc, so my unhealthy living is not the problem. The facial itself was not up to the mark and that too after being so pricey. She had no helpers and she kept running out of the room to work on other things around the place i guess. Clearly she did not give the client any importance. read more

I want to describe my introduction to Ayurveda at the Spa Lavanya. I first had a one on one consultation with the owner. I found the spa lovely, relaxing and the owner very attentive and intuitive. She described my body type and various qualities of my personality. She listed a daily routine for me to optimize a daily balance. I need to start my day with various hygiene recommendations, drink warm water, eat breakfast before starting my work day, followed by eating a large lunch. The end of my day needs to include meditation or yoga, eat dinner by 7 and use the evening to reflect. Self massages with sesame oil once a week was recommended. A shirodhara treatment gave me the most deepest, relaxing experience I could never have imagined. She demonstrated and explained the importance of the Marma energy points. She demonstrated different nasal drops and I liked what they did for me. I had a herbal steam and really enjoyed that.I had a facial (best facial ever as I like deep tissue massage). I found that the Panchakarma program to be more relaxing then I could have imagined. I bought a lovely tea that she makes and her skin products feel and smell very nice! these products support the Ayurveda approach. their location is easy to get to and parking is always available. She has decorated this spa following Fung Shei (sp?) principles. I love the colors and music that she plays, this all leads to relaxation and peace of mind.I have even purchased 3 discs of similar music since I have grown to really like this music. I like how she posts her various recipes on her web site. I feel that I received everything that she describes in her mission statement and more! I have since taken my son for a skin consultation and facial. My mouth dropped when I saw him and the major differences after his session! Priya educated him on how to "calm " his face down to get redness and infection out of his facial area. He liked it very much. I had previously taken him to a local Cupertino Salon for the basic and acne facials but he prefers this because she doesn't poke your skin for extractions. I highly recommend that you take your teen for a facial here before any major family or photographic event. I am no longer going to the Cupertino salon (I have been a member for 17 years) because I am only supporting La'Vanya Ayurveda Spa! I think you will be completely satisfied with any treatment or purchase you make at this spa. Please call for an appointment as she wants to give each client her full attention. Trust me, this is quality service. read more

This is the first time I have had ayurvedic massage and therapy. I wanted a different experience and this is it! I had 2 different but complementary treatments: Abhyanga -the herbal oil massage and Shirodhara the Oil on your third eye or forehead. Geeta the practicioner was welcoming and very centered. Her techniques were relaxing and totally different from anything I had ever had....the Shiridhara the pouring oil over the 3rd eye on your forehead is a 5,000 year old treatment. Warm fragrant almond oil is used for the long stroked lymphatic massage. The treatments were spectacular and oh so relaxing. I wish I lived closer (I am in Maine) as this would become part of my self-care regimen. Thank you Geeta for such a magnificent experience and the sharing of yourself. read more

This testimonial is not just for Spa'Lavanya, its also a testimonial to the powers of simple oil and herb based healing methodologies of Ayurveda. I met Geeta (the owner of Spa'Lavanya) at a point in my life when things had pretty much come to a dead end for me. My body was a royal mess, I was totally angry and confused, and my life was very stagnant. I went in for a trial treatment ( I did Marma therapy the first time), after which I did an ayurvedic consult, followed by a 9 week intensive treatment. I don't want to write too much about the treatments - that would take pages and also I would rather have you experience it all - but I must say that I never thought Ayurveda could bring about such a profound change in my life. Though Indian, I was never exposed to Ayurveda; in my family, conventional medicine is the way to go. At the end of the 9 weeks with Geeta, i feel liberated, and that too is an understatement. Geeta is a very simple, unassuming person, and Ayurveda is her life, her service. She understands the core of your issues, and prescribes simple remedies to counter them. She understands your personality and body type, and offers tips and tricks to bring the best out of you without asking for any major overhauls in your life. For a complete inside-out healing to happen, she urges us to work on our mind while she works on the energy centers of our body. For her treatments to be really effective, its very crucial that you surrender to what she wants of you and the magic will happen on its own. What I received from her is a complete package of mind/body therapy. Her commitment to her clients is exceptional and even more exceptional is her commitment to this ancient healing system. I personally think everyone should visit this place atleast once even if it is for a rejuvenating oil massage. read more

I never write reviews on Yelp, or any other site, but I think that Priya is worth a review. She is absolutely amazing and I wish I could take her with me after I graduate from school and move to another city. I used to get my threading done in NY, and thought that was as "good as it gets". I moved to CA for school and had two horrible experiences at other threading salons. I finally found La'Vanya in yelp, and decided to give it a try. I was very nervous the first time, however Priya knew how to handle me. I was able to trust her from the moment she placed the thread on my eyebrows - she just knows what she is doing. She knows EXACTLY how to shape, her spa is impeccably clean, and she has the most incredible client skills. She takes really good care of her customers, and has stayed late several times to accommodate to my schedule. My eyebrows have never looked better. I have also done waxing and facials with her, and they are all great. She has her line of products, which I have also tried out, and I am pretty happy with all of them. If you need to get your eyebrows done, a waxing appointment, or a facial, go to La'Vanya! I TRULY recommend it!!! read more

If you are looking for a healing, renewing experience, look no further than Spa La'Vanya! This day spa bases all of their treatments on the ancient practice of Ayurveda which is an ancient Indian holistic system of healing. They offer a wide variety of pampering services which are personalized to your specific needs and body type, and the products they use are all natural, high quality, and they smell incredible! I recently had a facial there (as my skin was breaking out due to stress), and not only did I feel totally relaxed and pampered during the service, but when I walked out of there, my skin was glowing! I was so excited I immediately purchased the products that were used on me and I can definitely see an improvement in my skin. You really must try it out! Check out their website for more info: www.spalavanya.com read more

Having really stretched myself at work for a few years, I was feeling the sluggishness effects of having worked late nights and untimely meals as a software engineer and very typical of software engineers as such. She could diagnose that I was having lowered agni and suggested diet plan to improve it. I was following almost the right diet but eating in a timely fashion according to one's dosha is extremely important. I lost about 18 pounds in 6 months by eating according to my dosha. Not only that, I feel more energetic and rejuvenated after her ksheerodhara. According to my dosha, one feels literally the energy to move mountains when in balance . Not only mine, any dosha can be brought about in balance by the right diet. What is good for one dosha can be poison to another. My son has been suffering from eczema due to pitta aggravation. She helped me follow a plan which has helped improve the condition in 2 weeks. One of my friends also felt a lot of difference in her acne after a couple of weeks of modified diet plan.We are all a combination of pitta , vata and kapha doshas. There are attributes of doshas to the daily time and seasons too. This will help in seasonal adaptation as well. Ayurveda says " WITH RIGHT FOOD, you do not need any medicine". If you do not have the right food, no amount of medicine can cure anything. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT and more significantly YOU ARE WHAT YOU ASSIMILATE as well. Abyangam, ksheerodhara work on marma points and enhance the life energy. The price is reasonable. Of course, it is very relaxing and luxurious but the therepative effects go beyond just a spa experience. It really work on lymphatic nodes and the knowledge is based on charaka samhitas etc. When you visit her, you will see the vast compilation of books by ancient ayurvedic physicians. Geeta has excellent knowledge on marma points and nutrition. Almost every other person I have come across could sense the difference and wanted to know the secrets. While some tips are in general, every person is different and should have a tailored diet plan. I definitely would recommend a diet consulation which will help and prevent any condition and enhance life energy. Ayurvedic concepts and lifestyle helps achieve optimal health, energy and vitality . read more

When I met with Geeta I asked about nutrition tips and maybe if she had any input about eczema. She was like, "Sure! We can talk about whatever you want. Like what your purpose is on this planet." Cool. I was happy with life in general-great job, husband, family and life- meditated daily for a year but still could not shake the feeling that there could be more. But I didn't know what else I could do. Geeta gave me some wonderful concrete suggestions to improve my daily routine, food, even relationships all based on my individual assessment. She was very knowledgeable and I felt that she really cared about me. I've been following her tips for a month now and have just moved forward so much in life. Allergies and eczema are almost gone except those days where I get stressed out and then I know I need to take a step back and slow down. I'm more present and confident in my relationships. Most profound, I wake up excited to start each day which I have not often felt since childhood. Greta helped me gain some clarity and direction and I'm sure she can do the same for you. read more

I, like another commenter, never give Yelp reviews. However, I have become so dependent upon Priya that I felt I had to let others know. I don't go to Priya for ayurveda, so I can't speak to that, but I can say she is the best eyebrow threader I have ever had. I had been going elsewhere in Palo Alto for threading, and my eyebrows got too thin and uneven. Priya has been helping shape them as they grow back in, and she just has the best sense of shaping. I have since moved out of state; I visit Palo Alto about once a month for work, and I refuse to let anyone else touch my eyebrows in between. I have been threading for years, and Priya is really the best. As for the one negative comment on here--that the spa wasn't open--I think Priya generally requires people to have appointments. She has a family and other responsibilities, so it may not be fair to fault her for not being available for walk-ins. If you are interested in threading, Priya is the best in the area. read more

had a great time getting a facial with my bff here last month. the facials were great and it was a very relaxing and informative experience overall. priya is really cool and took time to explain some ayurvedic concepts to us. she did not push her products to us but did recommended one of her facial cleansers for my rosacea. it was modestly priced and it worked great! we both intend to go back for an ayurvedic consultation some time soon. read more