COSMIC COLLECTIVE
Is the surge of wellness retreats and spiritual communities in recent times worth the hype? Li Ying Lim investigates.
Eyes closed. Fingers spread. Sand in between your toes. The waves from the sea, pulling back and pushing forth. Wind in your hair. The whispers of the watery tide in your ears. Eyes open. You are lying on your back, staring up at a ceiling, listening to a lulling voice at the front of the room that is telling you that you can slowly gather yourself, bring your consciousness back to this very space, and sit up from your mat, whenever you are ready. From sound baths, to crystal showers, and one-week escapades to isolated islands, a heightened awareness of personal wellness has led to an increasing demand for programmes, “fixes”, and detoxes that go way beyond the latest HIIT workout or a doctor’s prescription medicine. But are they truly necessary?
RETURN TO NATURE
This awakening is no coincidence. In a world where information is out in the open as long as we are willing to simply Google it, it has become easier to understand our own health. The world has become so heavily medicated, with a host of prescriptions on offer, and yet there are a shocking number of people who are succumbing to the stress, resulting in heart attacks, insomnia, adrenal fatigue, and so forth. Obviously, something is amiss.
“Unfortunately, the new trends in technology are leading us to isolation, exposure to radiation that can affect the brain, eyes, and other organs, as well as the lack of exercise and contact with nature. These are some of main causes to an increased rate of chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart problems,” agrees Dr Paolo Fernandes, a health coach certified by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York.
From ancient herbs and rituals to holistic connections with the body using earth-bound techniques and tools, the good news is that there’s a whole new set of holistic parameters to consider that dates back to thousands of years, indicating a huge push to overturn the current state. “Curiously, one of the simplest and more powerful ways to disconnect and effectively eliminate radiation in our bodies is to walk barefoot and stay in contact with the earth and the ocean,” says Dr Fernandes.
TRANSFORMATIONAL TRAVEL
Enter, the boom of healing and detox programmes that begin far from home—and in many cases, in the heart of nature. This has seen resorts and getaway spas taking on new initiatives; from Six Senses to the Niyama resorts, programmes are devised uniquely along with wellness experts to restore balance to health, vitality, and even beauty through multiple prongs of beliefs and techniques.
A typical retreat would include a doctor on the panel, a nutritionist, as well as a spiritual guru. Niyama Maldives hosts a wellness retreat with a stellar cast of practitioners that includes Dr Fernandes and spiritual healer David Zenon, while Six Senses is throwing open the doors to a new retreat in Bhutan later this year— another addition to meet the demands for wellness itineraries and holiday packages that focus on treatments, meditations, and beyond.