Detox & de-stress: health retreats
Rebecca Hollingsworth suggests checking into one of these healthy retreats in Asia and beyond, to give your body and mind a boost!
Chiva-Som is a luxury beachfront health resort located in the royal city of Hua Hin on the Gulf of Thailand, 185 kilometres south of Bangkok. Frequented by celebrities such as Kate Moss, it's the place to address diet, exercise, rest and relaxation, physical ailments, emotional issues and your inner self.
WHY GO Rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.
TO DO With a minimum three night stay, most guests check in for 10 days to ensure they can achieve their goals. If you've overindulged or are feeling stressed the Detox Retreat - clearing toxins through a diet of light fruit, vegetable juice, herbs and vitamins - is ideal. The De-Stress Retreat uses holistic methods to address the mind and body, applying techniques such as Physical Analysis, Reiki, meditation and Craniosacral Therapy. If you want to change the way you look and feel, try the Fitness or Weight Management Retreats. Other retreats include Yoga, Physical Renewal and Spa Pampering. Whether consciously detoxing or not, your body will definitely feel cleansed thanks to the guidance of experienced naturopathic practitioners and holistic medical staff.
EAT Chiva-Som chefs create innovative menus daily, with a wide range of dishes to suit a healthy lifestyle and satisfy your appetite!
STAY With 57 stylish rooms, the Thai Pavilions offer privacy with traditional charm, while the Ocean View rooms and suites provide spectacular views of the Gulf of Thailand. 73/4 Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin, Thailand. Tel: +66 3253 6536, www.chivasom.com, Email: reserve@chivasom.com.
GETTING THERE Fly direct with AirAsia (www.airasia.com), Qantas (www.qantas.com), Tiger Airways (www.tigerairways.com) or Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com) on a daily basis.
The Farm is an award-winning medical and wellness resort located 80 kilometres from Manila, situated on a former coconut and coffee plantation at the foothills of Mount Malarayat.
WHY GO Prevention, recovery and wellbeing.
TO DO Choose from five, seven, 10, 14 or 21 day Prevention, Recovery or Wellness programmes, each individually designed to meet your specific goals. The Prevention programme focuses on eliminating toxins through colon hydrotherapy and fasting, relying on vegetable juices and super-food supplements for nutrition. The Recovery programme addresses a range of medical conditions - such as cancer, addictions and blood pressure -and focuses on detoxification treatments. The Wellness programme offers a range of treatments to support your natural balance and healing abilities. You can also experience A Day at The Farm and enjoy four to five hours of pampering while hubby's off playing golf nearby at the Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club or Summit Point Golf and Country Club.
EAT The Farm's award-winning Alive! restaurant serves organic vegan cuisine, composed primarily of uncooked fruits, vegetables, germinated grains, nuts and seeds. Get ready for a diet of plant-based, "live" foods!
STAY Draw inspiration from the natural surroundings and retreat to your suite or villa with spacious gardens, offering the perfect sanctuary after a hard day of pampering! Tel: +63 2 696 3795, www.thefarm.com.ph, Email: info@thefarm.com.ph.
GETTING THERE Fly direct to Manila with AirAsia (www.airasia.com), Silk Air (www.silkair.com), Tiger Airways (www.tigerairways.com) or Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com) daily.
COMO Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri is a 15-minute drive from Ubud and one hour away from Denpasar Airport. This retreat will help you find a sense of peace through learning and rebalancing, aided by the environment, healing therapies and the holistic knowledge of experienced therapists.
WHY GO Make life changes to achieve better health.
TO DO You'll feel comfortable at this retreat alone or with friends. Fixed activities run daily, with group sessions such as morning yoga, Pilates, tai chi, morning walks, guided hikes, meditation, cooking demonstrations and specialist learning seminars. Your remaining time is then scheduled according to your personal programme which can run for three, five or seven nights. Choose from Detox, Ayurvedic, Anti-Ageing or Stress Management, each focusing on activities, therapies and nutritional changes to achieve your personal goals.
EAT Don't expect calorie-counting or deprivation! Rather, you'll eat delicious foods based on a Personal Eating Plan created by the resident Nutritionist. Local organic produce - including meat, fish and vegetables - is featured on the menu, with all dishes low in fat, sugar and salt. You'll also enjoy an extensive menu of fruit, vegetable and herb juices.
STAY Accommodation consists of five residences - each with four or five suites and a large swimming pool - in addition to five stand-alone villas with assorted living spaces and private pools. Begawan Giri, Ubud Bali. www.cse.comoshambhala.bz, Email: res@cse.comoshambhala.bz.
GETTING THERE Jetstar (www.jetstar.com) and Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com) fly direct daily.
Located just 30 minutes from Surfers Paradise is The Golden Door Health Retreat Queensland, situated in the Gold Coast hinterland. It's the perfect place for exercise, relaxation, wholesome cuisine and offers a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
TO DO For optimal results, a seven-day stay is recommended, with five-day stays also available. Take part in activities such as tai chi, yoga, Feldenkrais (an educational system centred on movement), hiking, Pilates and self-defence. Daily seminars cover topics such as Nutrition, Stress Management and Food for Life - enabling you to learn more about your overall health and well-being. The treatment menu offers facial and body treatments, plus an extensive range of massages including Kahuna Lomi Lomi, Swedish, Thai, Shiatsu and both corrective and remedial options.
EAT Discover healthy eating can be exciting with a variety of low-fat vegetarian menus, made using local produce. Special cooking demonstrations show you how to recreate simple, low-fat meals when you return home.
STAY Choose from single, twin and double-share accommodation in loft, studio, Rainforest Chalet or Hilltop Cottage styles. On-site facilities include two heated pools, a sauna, steam room and tennis courts. 400 Ruffles Road, Willow Vale Queensland. Tel: +61 7 5540 6100, www.goldendoor.com.au/qld, Email: info@goldendoor.com.au.
GETTING THERE The Golden Door Health Retreat Queensland is just a 45-minute drive south of Brisbane. Qantas (www.qantas.com.au) and Emirates (www.emirates.com) fly direct to Brisbane daily, while Jetstar (www.jetstar.com) flies via Darwin.
Uma Paro is perched proudly on the beautiful Himalayan mountainside of Bhutan, flanked by thick pine forest. It is an ideal place to practice yoga in an inspiring environment and the retreat caters to both beginners and the more experienced.
WHY GO Uncurl your body with different yoga poses, in the fresh mountain air.
TO DO In this Buddhist kingdom, yoga and meditation is a part of daily life. Yoga practice takes place in a studio looking over the Paro Valley and Uma Paro hosts week-long, guided healing retreats - featuring world-renowned yoga teachers and alternative health specialists. Be involved with the group as much or as little as you want, opt for an Ayurvedic Consultation, or be pampered with massage, face, body and nail treatments.
EAT The Bukhari restaurant offers traditional Bhutanese food which is modern, light and respectful of local nuances. Those wanting an even healthier option will enjoy the COMO Shambhala menu, featuring raw and organic foods, low in sugar, salt and fat.
STAY Choose from Superior rooms surrounded by pine trees, spacious Deluxe rooms and Como Suites - with separate dining, sitting and study areas, as well as a kitchenette. Or splash out with a one-bedroom Villa or the two-bedroom Como Villa offering panoramic views of the Paro Valley, an outdoor hot stone bathtub, a private spa treatment area and an open-air courtyard complete with fire pit. All villas offer personal butler services. www.uma.como.bz/paro, Email: info.paro@uma.como.bz
GETTING THERE Druk Air (www.drukair.com.bt) flies from New Delhi, Kolkata, Bangkok and Dhaka to Paro, near Bhutan's capital - Thimpu.
More retreats & spas
Australia Camp Eden Health Retreats (www.campeden.com.au); Gaia Retreat & Spa (www.gaiaretreat.com.au) and The Golden Door Health Retreat - Elysia (www.goldendoor.com.au).
Himalayas Ananda Spa (www.anandaspa.com).
Indonesia Banyan Tree, Bintan (www.banyantree.com) and Javana Spa, Jakarta (www.javanaspa.co.id).
Malaysia Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa (www.penang-hotels.com/rasasayang/index.htm) and Four Seasons Resort, Langkawi (www.fourseasons.com/langkawi).
Singapore Spa Botannica (www.spabotanica.com); The Retreat at Changi Village (www.theretreat.com.sg) and Aramsa Spa (www.aramsaspas.com).
Thailand Banyan Tree, Phuket (www.banyantree.com) and Kamalaya, Koh Samui (www.kamalaya.com).
Posted April 2009
