ROSEWOOD PHUKET
HIGHLIGHT
Taking wellness retreats beyond the established offerings, Asaya is the Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ integrated wellness concept that offers a holistic approach, one rooted in the belief of self-acceptance and self-discovery. The immersive programmes offer thoughtfully designed treatments that blend world-class products, indigenous resources and targeted therapies, paired with a variety of alternative treatments.
WELLNESS PHILOSOPHY
Situated along 600m of secluded beachfront at Emerald Bay, the 71-room Rosewood Phuket is the first Southeast Asian property for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. It features all the extravagances visitors have come to expect from the brand, and also embodies its A Sense of Place philosophy that seeks to reflect each location’s history, culture and sensibilities. Hence, the eight-month-old resort also celebrates the natural yet easily forgotten charms of the island. In contrast to Phuket’s typical mix of beachfront lodgings, chain hotels and the glaringly boisterous options in and around Patong, guests are quickly transported into a verdant tropical oasis, greeted by genuine Thai hospitality and a chorus of cicadas. It’s easy to appreciate its position as one of the few new luxury resorts on the famed island. But its investment in providing a comprehensive wellness programme reflects a growing interest among both seasoned and new visitors. Fact is, Phuket doesn’t need another spa. What it needs is the holistic approach that Rosewood’s Asaya concept embodies, a philosophy that runs through the resort’s design—from its grand yet inviting use of space that encourages guests to slow down and be in the moment, to its intuitive programmes. Many looking to escape the stresses of everyday life often go in search of first-class pampering. And while a luxe rub-down never hurts anyone, many looking to be pampered are inadvertently yearning for healing at a deeper level or a solution to a specific trouble that warm hands alone can’t give. It helps that one of the young masseuses here is also
a trained practitioner of traditional medicine. But having the right strategy is crucial. And if time isn’t on your side, consulting with Hollywood-approved resident wellness coach Steve Harvey is highly recommended. It starts with a conversation to ascertain your needs. Guests are never pressured into taking on a treatment, and the process helps Harvey recommend more effective treatments during your visit. He might even encourage a Stepping Stones session to explore a more mindful and long-term approach to achieving your wellness goals, depending on your length of stay. “The best way to rid a place of weeds is to plant more beautiful things,” said Harvey who believes the road to wellness is not about “fixing” someone but “acknowledging one’s wholeness”. My path required energy-balancing alternative therapies, which started with a session of Watsu—water therapy designed to provide a deeply nurturing and relaxing experience—that was followed by a bespoke aromatic massage, which helped my busy mind, tense body and troubled old knees ease into the programme. My personalised schedule also included mindfulness techniques and light fitness experiences, but there were days I wasn’t feeling up for a spot of yoga at sunrise or an hour of mat pilates. So I was prescribed a Chinese-thai massage treatment called chi nei tsang that had the congestion in my abdomen unblocked (the perils of a food editor!). This was followed by a brief session of sound therapy—using Tibetan singing bowls to fine-tune my energy fields and bring my brainwave frequency into an alpha state. I found myself drifting in and out of a daydream, and by the end of the treatment, I felt calm and deeply relaxed but not sleepy. Seldom is so much achieved lying down. I could have benefited from a longer retreat, but I did come away feeling like I had begun my journey to better health and not like I just finished bootcamp.