The Path to Happiness and Peace
Aman puts together a specially created wellness retreat at four of its most serene retreats in Indochina to help you rest and reset
Aman puts together a wellness retreat at four of its most serene resorts to help you rest and reset
The concept of peace and contentment has unfortunately become fleeting for most, given our constant state of busyness. Juggling a career, social life, and relationships, all while keeping up with social media is bound to take its toll at some point, manifesting in a variety of ways: Introversion, cynicism, and even mental health burnouts.
But when a weekend getaway or a digital detox simply won’t do, perhaps Aman’s Journey to Peace retreat will help get you back on track. The enlightening six-night escape, which launches on 24 October and runs until 28 November 2019, will help pave the path to peace and will be led by renowned Buddhist monk and mindfulness coach, Geshe Yongdong.
The retreats will be held in four Aman properties in Indochina, with the first at Amanoi on the coast of Vietnam, followed by Amanpuri in Phuket, Amansara in Siem Reap, and finally at Amantaka in the UNESCOprotected Buddhist centre of Luang Prabang. Plenty of contemplation and connection are on the agenda, as well as ancient lessons of the Bon Tibetan Tradition, which will enable participants to find the serenity of mind and spirit they seek.
However, it’s important to know that this is a not a one-size-fits-all experience. Participants who are at different stages in life, with varying levels of expectations, are sure to have varying results at the end of the retreat. To help manage this, we spoke to Yuki Kiyono, Group Director of Spa at Aman, to find out more.
Can you share more about the type of person Aman’s Journey of Peace was created for? Would you say it is a programme that will be more rewarding for someone going through
a difficult time or will it be as beneficial for someone who is a bit more content in life?
The retreat is intended for any individual desiring a coping method for anxiety, fear, or worry through slowing down and focusing the mind, as well as for those seeking a happier, healthier life and greater inner peace. Geshe Yongdong will ensure that the retreat provides every individual with the tools to achieve greater peace and happiness regardless of your current state of contentment or the forward journey you look for. Therefore, the retreat aims to help anyone and everyone and should be beneficial to all.
In order to get the most out of the experience, how would you suggest participants to prepare for it?
As the retreat follows a personal journey which has been curated by Geshe Yongdong, we don’t believe participants need to prepare for it as each day follows a carefully constructed itinerary to achieve the enlightened state of being, which means that the preparation is looked after for you. We do encourage our guests to open their heart and mind to new experiences as they embark on their journey.
Managing expectations is important on a trip like this, because results vary from each individual – some might have an easier time with the programme, but some might not. What advice do you have for those who might have a harder time?
The Journey to Peace retreat is geared towards teaching individuals wellness habits that they can adopt in their dayto-day life, once they have returned home. Results are therefore not
immediate or instantaneous; rather, they can be seen over a prolonged period of time, should the individuals incorporate the learnings into their everyday lives. In addition, after each retreat, Geshe Yongdong will stay on as a specialist in residence for two days, offering guests further opportunity to draw on his wisdom in private one-onone sessions. Therefore, if an individual feels that they have not achieved their desired state of internal consciousness post retreat, they are welcome to seek advice and expert guidance from Geshe Yongdong afterwards.
What is it about the four selected Aman properties that make them the perfect location for Journey of Peace?
The four Aman resorts hosting Journey to Peace each have their own appeal, and add something new to the retreat, whether it’s Luang Prabang’s aura of living spirituality, the deeply affecting temples of Angkor or the healing power of nature and the ocean in Vietnam and Thailand. Each country’s distinctive culture and cuisine will also play a part in assuring a unique experience of the retreat in every destination.
Aman’s vision across all properties is to build a collection of intimate retreats with the unassuming and warm hospitality of a gracious private home. Each hotel and resort fosters a private environment connected to the surrounding nature, in which repose and respite is easily achieved. Therefore, the Journey to Peace retreat will likely be hosted in further Aman properties in the future.