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SPA-lNG IN HELSINKI WHISTLER'S PAMPERING HAVENS WORLDWIDE WELLNESS

January/February 2015

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40 41January/February 2015 AsiaSpaAsiaSpa January/February 2015

VitalSigns

Parisian Poise French luxury fragrance house diptyque has extended and renovated its IFC mall boutique to bring the warmth and elegance of its original boutique at 34 Boulevard Saint Germain in Paris to Hong Kong. Adorned with brass and warm wood accents as well as a trunk-like wall made from 400 candles, the new store is a space of sophistication that reflects the brand’s ethos. One of the new features is the olfactory discovery ritual, which showcases diptyque’s eaux de toilette and eaux de parfum collections. The shop also offers free personalised advice to regular customers and those who are keen on exploring new territories in the fragrance world. www.diptyqueparis.com

Ultimate Rejuvenation The latest winner of the ‘Medi-Spa Treatment of the Year’ at the AsiaSpa Awards 2014, Cocoon Medical Spa is launching a new package that promises the results of a surgical facelift but without the surgery, pain and downtime. This powerful treatment combines three advanced technologies: it begins with an Ultherapy using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) to achieve lifting and tightening by involving deeper tissues of the face, followed by Fractional RF Microneedling, which utilises insulated microneedles to simulate elastin and collagen production, and ends with an LED Light Therapy to help heal the skin and improve skin tone and clarity. www.cocoonmedicalspa.com

Happy Feet Our feet carry us everywhere, but they rarely receive the attention and care they deserve. This is part of why international foot virtuoso Bastien Gonzalez is launching the revolutionary BGA InSoles globally this February at The Oriental Spa at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong. Developed to bring comfort, reduce skin problems and prevent foot deformities, the BGA InSoles are tailor-made for each client and have a unique B-shape design that can distribute the pressure precisely on the sole. They can also be adapted for heels and sport shoes respectively – the Elegant Insoles are created for everyday comfort, whereas the Sport Insoles are designed to keep the feet in place and transform movements during sports to reduce impact shock. www.mandarinoriental.com

Beachside Haven Located on the beautiful Laem Nan Beach in Koh Samui, Thailand, Silavadee Pool Spa Resort is home to a tranquil sanctuary – the Silavadee Wellness Spa. Guests can now enjoy a range of pampering treatments performed by professional therapists, including the signature Silavadee Journey, which marries the best of Hawaiian and Ayurvedic massages and an Indian Ayurvedic warm oil scalp treatment to induce complete relaxation. If you wish to recover your skin’s natural radiance, opt for the Black Sand Body Scrub Ritual with Aromatic Massage or the Hydrating Pink Kaolin Clay Body Envelopment designed to recondition dehydrated or sun-damaged skin. www.silavadeeresort.com

Nail It One of Hong Kong’s most recognised nail spas, The Nail Library has partnered with The Upper House to provide hotel guests with pampering in-house treatments in the comfort of their own rooms. In addition to a range of basic nail treatments, the menu features soft gel, shellac manicure and pedicure, as well as hand and foot spa treatments. Guests can choose from a large selection of colours by high-quality brands such as Kure Bazaar. These indulgent services are available every day from 10am to 10pm.www.upperhouse.com; www.thenaillibrary.com

HappeningWhat’sFitness Boost After the successful launch of its first international studio in Dubai, Physique 57 is opening another barre studio in Bangkok this January. The new studio is located at the Erawan Building on Ploenchit Road, offering the company’s dynamic, challenging and empowering workout to clients who aim to boost their personal wellness and achieve rapid results. Originated in New York City, this innovative workout method has garnered a celebrity clientele, including Erin Andrews, Emmy Rossum and Chrissy Teigen. The signature full body barre-based workout combines intervals of cardio, strength training, stretching and recovery to sculpt arms, thighs, seat and abs while building and toning body muscles. www.physique57.com

Dream Retreat Just opened last year, the Night Spa at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru is nestled in a private jungle clearing on the island, offering unique open-air ritual experiences in a serene setting. For those seeking deep relaxation, the Spa has created its first Om Supti Ritual to help guests achieve refreshing slumber. Beginning at 10pm, the ritual opens with the Moondrop Therapy, which uses seven pure essential oil blends along the spine to restore inner harmony. The Vishuddha Facial Therapy follows to soothe the mind and stimulate the immune system, while the Inner Peace bath concludes the ritual, leaving you feeling relaxed and stress-free. www.fourseasons.com

I raveJUestinatJon

We travel the world to find some of the best retreats to rejuvenate your body and soul Writer Karen Fong

rrave/ Destination

The world is your oyster, so why l imit

yourself when it comes to finding a

retreat that rejuvenates the soul and

the senses? From Europe to Asia the many

options out there cater to those looking for a

cleanse- body or mind, or something more

spi ritual. Sample indigenous treatments

from cultures around the world or discover

the healing properties of silence. W hatever

you're looking fo r, there's something out

there for everyone.

SHA WELLNESS CLINIC, SPAIN Located on the mountainside part of the

Sierra Helada Natural Park, overlooking the

Mediterranean Sea, SHA Wellness Clinic

is famous as one of Europe's top wel lness

destinations. I ts location is as much a

destination as the state-of-the-art faci I ity,

the climate is mild all year around, and it

has been recognised by the World Health

Organisation as having one of the world's

best cl imates, a good environment to escape

to improve your health. SHA is well-known

for fusing nutrition and natural therapies

(known as the SHA Method), Healthy-Ageing

and non-invasive Aesthetic Medicine. The

SHA Method combines modern macrobiotic

nutrition with natural therapies from the SHA

Academy for a persona lised educational

programme to balance body, mind and

50 AsiaSpa january/February 2015

spiri t. The idea is to foster the power to

cure oneself and combines treatments,

including acupuncture, shia tsu, tai chi,

moxibustion and reiki amongst others. Stays

are recommended for a minimum of seven

days to best reba lance the soul.

www.shawellnesscl inic.com

FOUR SEASONS RESORT

MALDIVES AT LANDAA GIRAAVARU, THE MALDIVES Luxuriate in the Maldives while balancing

body and mind through Ayurvedic practices

at the Four Seasons Landaa Gi raavaru,

where two Ayurvedic physicians and

expert therapists oversee the treatments and

longer immersions. Besides the traditional

one-off treatments, such as Shirodhara and

Elakkizhi, guests can take part in seven- to

21-day Ayurvedic immersions that take them

on their own tailored transformational path

to wel l ness. This is accompanied by dosha­

specific selections in al l the restaurants.

Guests can also sample the three Siddha

Tantric rituals designed for men, women

and couples while at the resort. These

90-minute rituals include a tantric massage,

herbal steam and bath and are designed to

nurture and awaken the body. The spa also

offers a Chakra Blessing ritual w here the

body's seven main chakras are cleansed

THIS PAGE: Experience tradit ional treatments at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru. OPPOSITE PAGE: SHA Well ness Clinic overlooks the Mediterranean Sea; relax by the indoor pool at SHA Well ness Clinic

and balanced in order to improve the flow

of emotional and spi ritual energy. Using

products made by ila, these treatments

range from two to three hours to completely rejuvenate the being.

www.fourseasons.com

MAGNIFY YOUR LIGHT RETREATS BALI AND INDIA ,

For a chance to experience someth ing new

in Asia, join Anastasia Wi lliams, Asia's first

certified Naam Yoga instructor on a series

of retreats throughout the year in Bali and

India. Naam Yoga combines breathing

te chn iques, vocal v ibrations, yogic

movements, mudra (hand postures) therapy

and Kabbalah wisdom into a yoga practice

that encourages natural healing and mental

Travel Destination

clarity. A rejuvenating practice, it balances

the body's internal systems and boosts

overall confidence for an ultimatel y more positive mindset. Each retreat addresses total

well-being through yoga and meditation,

workshops and treatments to help release negativity and attitudes or habits that ho ld

one back. Retreats generally last seven days,

designed around the mystical and healing power of the number, wh ich can shift

consciousness physically, emotionally and spiritually. Participants arrive a day before

and leave a day after so as not to rush the

process. Magnify Your Light plans to hold three retreats this year in Bali and India, and

prices include luxury accommodation and healthy meals throughout the stay.

www.magnifyyourlightretreats.com

O PPOSITE PAGE: Magnify Your Light offers Naam

Yoga retreats in Bali and India. THIS PAGE: Ayurvedic physicians at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa

Giraavaru help guests to restore the balance to their body and mind; Nuala Retreats is the perfect place to detox

NUALA RETREATS, BALI Si tuated in Bali , Nuala Retreats offers

an in novative pH Balance Cleansing

programme, which is a cleansing and

detoxification process. Also known as an active cleanse, it aims to get the body

moving to speed up metabolism and improve blood circul ation. It is both an

idea l way to jump-start the body or to

rej uvenate oneself for a more long-term healthy lifestyle. The programme includes

a juice menu packed with super- foods and enzyme-rich juices as well as liver­

cleansing tonics that are beneficial to your

health and support detoxes and weight-loss. Activities during these three-day to two­

week cleanses include daily yoga, as well as afternoon cardio, daily massages, detox

baths and body brushing, which is known

to improve circulation. Guided meditation

and deep relaxation sessions also give your

mind just as much a chance to relax and rej uvenate as your body. Resul ts include

better complexion, a cleaner colon and an

uncluttered mind. www.nualaretreats.com

BRENNERS PARK-HOTEL & SPA, GERMANY Located in the hotsprings haven of Baden-

Baden, Brenners Park in Germany is the

leading medical spa in the region. Brenners

Spa offers spa breaks and medical care, including programmes such as the Brenners

Vital i ty Detox, which features a seven-day

personalised menu and detox treatments,

including personal training sessions and

mud w raps to cleanse the skin. Th eir more intense Medical Detox includes

colonies and medical lymphatic drainage

techniques. The hotel has recently opened

Vil la Stephanie, 5,000 sq m of space purely

devoted to spa and wellness, covering five floors with sauna, p lunge pool, private

gym and hammam. Villa Stephanie can be

completely disconnected from electronics

in order to minimise electronic noise during heal ing, for a true tech-detox. www.brenners.com

BELMOND SANCTUARY LODGE, PERU Experience the spi ritua l side of South

American heal ing by taking part in the

Pachamama Tribute ceremony with a

shaman at the ancient site of Machu Picchu.

At Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, this cleansing

and purifying ceremony is designed to bring you closer to the earth, hence the name

january/February 2015 AsiaSoa 153

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154

as 'Pachamama' means Mother Earth. An

Andean shaman will gu ide you through

the ritual and make dedicated offerings of

cereals, grain, fruit and cocoa leaves. The

only hotel located adjacent to the ancient

site of Machu Picchu, it is the perfect place

to connect and ground oneself through the

earth with a dedicated relaxation area for

yoga and meditation or to sample authentic

Inca treatments alfresco in the garden facing

Huayna Picchu. Guests can also experience

Cocoa Leaf Reading, an ancient ceremony

conducted by an Andean priest A prayer

is said to the mountain spir its, after which three leaves are raised and blown on in the

di rection of the mountains and a handful of

leaves are dropped over a coloured cloth.

According to their position, the priest wi ll

determine what lies ahead.

www.belmond.com

YOBABA LOUNGE, FRANCE A chic retreat in the foothills of the French

Pyrenees mountains held in the medieval

village of Chalabre, Yobaba Lou nge is a

little bohemian sanctuary centred in the

Vi llage Chateau, featuring a walled garden, surrounded by stillness and replete with

locally sourced, delicious gourmet food that focuses on mostly raw, no grain, no

dairy and sugar-free offerings to quickly

rebalance the body. The five- to seven-day

OPPOSITE PAGE: Unwind by the pool at the Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa. THIS PAGE: Healthful raw food served

at Yobaba Lounge

As iaSpa January/February 2015 January/February 201 5 As iaSpa 155

retreats focus on restoration and include the

aforementioned gourmet meals, as wel l as

yoga and meditation classes taught on the

top floor of the chateau, overlooking the

surrounding ancient rooftops. At sunrise,

it offers a sense of earthly calm. Only ten

guests are accepted into programmes at a

time in order to ensure everyone can get

personal attention from the owner and

chef Gertrud and retreat teacher Mangalo,

a retired motorcycle road racer. A li ttle

quirky and very hip, the sanctuary was

restored using only non-toxic and traditional

mater ials, many of them reclaimed from

other areas nearby and using only loca l

labour. Water at the retreat is from A let­

les-Bains, a source known since Roman

times for its benefits to the digestive season.

Retreats include opti onal excursions to

give guests an opportunity to experience

the area's fascinating history (it was a sight

for the ancient Crusades) and to w itness its

stunning beauty. www.yobabalounge.com

SHREYAS YOGA RETREAT, INDIA Located in Banga lore, India, Shreyas Yoga

Retreat offers a seven-day si lent retreat

known for its abi li ty to resolve deep seated

emotiona l or intel lectual and spiritual

issues. Before each retreat begins, guests

undergo a detailed wellness consultation

to go over hea lth issues, food preferences

and dai ly routi nes and requ irements . A

structu red agenda al lows one to fu l ly

concentrate on internal development and

can include activi ties li ke yoga, nature

fa rming, spa treatments and reading, with

a suggested list of books provided. A tour

of the resort takes place on the fi rst day

and guests are given a 'Shhh hhreyas'

badge to indicate their request for silence,

as wel l as a notebook to wri te clown their

thoughts and emotions. The next four days

are spent in contemplati ve silence which

can be broken if guests need to ask staff

for someth ing, though this should be kept

to a minimal. Staff at the resort pay close

attention to guests partic ipating in the

silent retreat to ensure their activi ties and

diet stay balanced. Day six marks the end

of the mouna (s ilence) and is fo l lowed

by an interactive session wi th well ness

consu ltants to discuss any questions and

share the experience. Days six and seven

are when guests can relax at the resort and

take part in any other activi ties offered.

www.shreyasretreat.com ,~

O PPOSITE PAGE: Get pampered at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. THIS PAGE: Shreyas Yoga Retreat offers a tranquil space for contemplation; at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge you can meditate surrounded by nature

January/February 2015 As iaSpa 157