Shilpa Sankaran
KOSA Spa Owner
Discover the art of living in BALANCE.
By creating KOSA, Shilpa has cultivated a space that contains multitudes. What began as a spa space, quickly grew with a mind of its own. This business goes beyond a physical space, it has become a community, a collective rooted in following your holistic intuition. Those drawn to the space come to educate, learn, release and indulge. It is clear Shilpa leads with her soul, infusing her heart into every offering.
She provides opportunities to share ancient wisdom to her community, from hosting a community cleanse, offering spa services, healing food recipes, day workshops, herb education and rituals. An Aqua Soul caretaking of our internal foundations, the mind, body and spirit. A strong member in her community that looks to uplift and highlight others’s gifts and takes it a step further by cultivating a physical space to support others.
About Shilpa
Shilpa’s journey to wellness springs from her belief that all people are connected to each other and the world around us. This means we have a responsibility to create and maintain balance and health – whether for a sustainable planet, harmony among our communities, or within our bodies.
Shilpa was born in India and immigrated to the U.S.A. as a toddler. As a child, in her home, healing spice aromas filled the kitchen, while personal care rituals and mindfulness were a normal part of everyday life.
Over the years, she noticed friends and loved ones were burdened with health issues – from allergies and skin problems, to digestive disorders and cancer, to anxiety and depression. Most of these were managed with medicine, and addressed the disease rather than enabling people to maintain their wellness for the long-term. Shilpa realized, the solutions were available all along, embedded into her cultural roots with Ayurveda.
Shilpa and her husband dreamed of creating a place of healing where people can proactively address their health concerns, while providing a space to cultivate happiness. They envisioned a space for quiet retreat and community, where one can find their inner voice and reconnect with others who share in this journey.
A sustainability leader and social entrepreneur working across the globe, 25 years later, Shilpa has returned to her home town of Madison. Here, the stars aligned at Garver, and she can share these values with the community through Kosa.
You are invited to join Shilpa on this journey of wellness, to learn about your true nature, and once reconnected, to learn how to tend to your needs with Ayurveda as a guide.
About KOSA Spa
KOSA (pronounced Kosha) is a layer or a sheath of the self. In yoga philosophy there are 5 kosas: the physical (earth), energetic (water), mental (fire), intellectual (air), and soul or heart (ether). Each layer is a dimension of the self, ultimately leading to true nature, where we find inner bliss and delight of existence.
KOSA was founded by Shilpa Sankaran, an Indian-born, Madison native who wanted to serve the needs of modern-day society by offering an authentic, accessible, nurturing environment that is rare to find in our busy, digitally-saturated lives. She and her husband created KOSA as an invitation to find their true nature, connect with each other, and connect with the world around us. And in doing so, we can feel better and live happier lives.
A unique fusion of East meets West, Kosa blends the timeless and universal Indian tradition of Ayurveda (ayur=life; veda=wisdom) with products made by local artisans and NGOs in India.
Each season, we carefully select and source fresh, organic ingredients that are in balance with Mother Nature. Guests experience these on the inside and outside, in everything from the aromatherapy, teas and foods from Kosa Kitchen, oils and skin care products, and herbal remedies.
Guests are invited to visit the 4,500 square foot space to experience our Ayurvedic offerings, ranging from massages and facials, to personal retreats, couples treatments, and wellness consultations. Each degree of engagement, over time, can be transformative.
As Madison's only destination spa, we have 7 treatment spaces, a large Sanctuary Lounge with daily crafted organic infusions and snacks, meditation space, onsite kitchen with Ayurvedic nourishment, hot stone sauna, cold plunge shower and hydrotherapy, aromatherapy steam room, and private bath.
The essence of KOSA is our people and our space. Take the time to learn more, orient yourself with our offerings, and carve out time for self-care and retreat with us.
KOSA Products
KOSA has amazing, hand-crafted products for mind, body and soul:
