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Spa Sessions
Spa sessions chami jotisalikorn, author of thai spa book, reveals what’s hot in the world of wellness
WHAT’S NEW
Urban drama queens will love the scene at the fi rst Peninsula Spa by ESPA debuting at e Peninsula Hong Kong (Salisbury Road, Kowloon, tel +852 2920-2888, www.peninsula.com). e brand new luxurious sanctuary covers two floors, with sweeping views of Victoria Harbour, and features Asian and Western therapies.
Meanwhile, deep in the gentle Laotian hills, e SPA at La Résidence Phou Vao in Luang Prabang (tel +856 (0)71 212530, www.pansea.com) offers organic herbal body treats by Ytsara in quaint and cosy, ethnic-inspired spa cottages.
Across the border in ailand, the brand new Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle (Chiang Rai, tel +66 (0)53 910200, www.fourseasons.com) has two open-air salas featuring double treatment rooms, comfortable spa beds and an outdoor bath, of course. Rustic design and use of natural materials allow spa-goers to be one with nature.
In the frenetic city of Bangkok, there are two new homey retreats at DVN Spa (8 Sukhumvit Soi 35, tel +66 (0)2 261-4818, www.dvn-wellbeing.com), located in an old colonial mansion; and e Baan ai Wellness Retreat (7 Soi 32, Sukhumvit Road, tel +66 (0) 2258-5403, www.thebaanthai.com), set in lovely traditional ai wooden houses.
TOP TREATMENTS
The SPA at La Résidence Phou Vao in Luang Prabang boasts two exclusive new types of herbal hot compress – uniquely Laotian treatments by Ytsara based on local healing therapies that have been used for centuries.
Mohom is an ancient healing art body ritual of Hmong shamans featuring a steamed compress made from the native indigo plant; while Piu Nuan is the “Lao secret of sensual skin” and uses a steamed poultice of sticky rice and black sesame seeds, soaked in coconut milk, to smooth and so< en the skin.
Or get stoned on Koh Samui in a totally legal way. e absolutely heavenly Elemis Aroma Stone erapy Massage at Anantara Resort & Spa Samui (99/9 Bo Phut, tel +66 (0)77 428300-9, www.anantara.com) is guaranteed to loosen stiff and sore muscles using heated volcanic stones on key energy points.
SPA REVIEW
To tear yourself away from the gorgeous black waterfall edge pool by the beach at the super chic boutique SALA Resort & Spa Samui (10/9 Moo 5, Choeng Mon Beach, tel +66 (0)77 245888, www.salasamui.com), the bait must be truly enticing – and the wonderfully soothing Mandara Four Hands Massage at the resort’s cosy Mandara Spa is such.
Following a refreshing foot bath, two highly skilled therapists do double duty using a truly amazing synchronised massage technique with aromatic oil.
A< erwards, you can rinse off in the outdoor bathroom with a sunken terrazzo tub. And if you still can’t be tempted to leave the pool, then there are also four open-air salas dedicated to sea-breeze massages here too.
HOLISTIC HAPPENINGS
Look deeper and reach higher! Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa on Koh Samui (102/9 Moo 3 Laem Set Road, tel +66 (0)77 429800, www.kamalaya.com) is the place to head for spiritual learning in May and June.
e Spiritual Teachings of Yoga (11-14 May) spreads the holistic message of yoga in a course that provides the teachings of legendary yoga guru, T Krishnamacharya, taught by his son, TKV Desikachar, who is an internationally-acclaimed yoga teacher, therapist and author.
Or join Spiritual Enlightenment expert, Brugh Joy, at her three workshops in June and learn how to deal with body energy fi elds, healing techniques employing the use of energy transferred through the hands, and embark on a journey of self-discovery.
WELLNESS BUZZ: MEDICAL SPAS
It is no surprise at all that thailand, renowned as Asia’s top spa destination and medical tourism destination, should come up with the hybrid “Medical Spa” to give wellness seekers the best of both worlds.
The hot newcomer on the scene is the glamorous and luxurious S Medical Spa in Bangkok (2/2 Phakdi Building, Wireless Road, tel +66 (0)2 253-1010, www.smedspa.com), which joins the well-established St Carlos Medical Spa (5/84 Moo 2, Tivanon Road, tel +66 (0)2 975-6700, www.stcarlos.com).
Even the renowned health resort Chiva Som in Hua Hin (73/4 Petchkasem Road, tel +66 (0)32 536536, www.chivasom. com) has jumped on the trend and now offers dermatology services at its Niranlada Medi-Spa facility, providing medical cosmetic treatments like laser skin rejuvenation and laser hair removal and botox injections.
SPA SPEAK
Medical Spa menus will present you with a whole new dimension of wellness options to add to the usual massages and scrubs. Here are some hints on a few medi-goodies you might fi nd on the list and how they boost your body systems.
Chromo-Hydro Massage therapy – immersion in bathwater that is colour-illuminated to balance the mind, while hydro jets provide a body-relaxing massage underwater.
Laser Dermatology – non-invasive laser treatments to improve the texture and elasticity of the skin by using photo rejuvenation to stimulate cell growth from within.
Carboxy erapy – a non-surgical method that injects carbon dioxide into the subcutaneous tissues of the skin to remove the appearance of cellulite on the face, chin and neck.
PRESCRIPTION PAMPERING
What are medical spas and how can they help you? Deceptively youthful and infectiously vivacious Dr Pakpilai Tavisin, founder of Bangkok’s glossy S Medical Spa explains the what’s and why’s of the wellness world’s latest trend.
What is a medical spa exactly?
It’s like a one-stop shop for physical and spa treatments which provides rejuvenation through healthcare that integrates holistic and medical therapy in a relaxing spa environment instead of a cold hospital environment.
At S Medical Spa, we combine both western medical technology like lasers and hydrotherapy machines with eastern holistic therapies such as acupuncture and herbal therapy.
How medical is it?
Medical spas are more like a combined spa and clinic than a regular hospital. They offer non-invasive treatments like laser dermatology treatment, but not plastic surgery.
For example, we offer mesotherapy, but not liposuction. There are also medically supervised diet, nutrition, fi tness programmes and, of course, the full range of relaxing and beautifying spa body and facial treatments.
Why the need?
People want more than massages and relaxation – they want rejuvenation with more effective results. People go to hospitals when they are already ill, so they need medical spas to maintain optimum health and prevent themselves from falling ill in the fi rst place. Medical spas are good for people who are already healthy and want to stay that way.
What are the most popular treatments?
Laser dermatology is great for those who want to beautify their complexion; also body contouring through Carboxy therapy to reduce cellulite. Our Body Purifi cation Detox Program is very popular, which is a three- to six-hour programme of steam, colon cleansing, body scrub and lymphatic drainage massage to remove toxins. We also have three-day programmes for serious detox.
Interestingly, middle-aged men like our Vitality Program, which provides a physical check-up with lifestyle and energy analysis by several specialists.
We prescribe a personalised programme including diet, exercise, acupuncture and massage to rebalance the system, as well as some hormone replacement therapy.
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