THE Wellness ABODE
Thailand’s distinctive gentle healing art has evolved over millennia, including both practical and philosophical therapeutic elements. Indulge and pamper yourself in a refreshingly liberating humanistic approach to wellness and open up to new possibilitie
Wellness is deeply rooted in Thailand's culture, which makes it a major expectation of all the travellers visiting the country. Massage therapies have been passed down for generations and have been used through the decades for curing many ailments. With a strong connection to healing through touch, treatments have since broadened to a selection of worldwide offerings including western massages such as Swedish and Aromatherapy, and advanced beauty facials, as well as regional offerings such as Balinese massage, Shiatsu and Ayurvedic options.
Famous for holistic wellness spas where everything from diet to mental state and exercise are taken into consideration over and above spa therapies, everything is delivered with class, and panache. Every part of Thailand offers holistic treatment or wellness resorts. Destinations like Chiang Mai have a high wellness quotient with a concentration
of wellness-driven resorts. Some resorts are destination spas in themselves like RarinJinda Wellness Spa Resort, Four Seasons Resort and The Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai, Chiva-Som, Hyatt Regency (The Barai Spa) and Evason in Hua Hin, Absolute Santuary and Kamalaya in Koh Samui, Anantara Mai Khao and JW Marriott, in Phuket etc.
Surrounded by indigenous forests and rugged rock formations, nestled within the inner lagoon of Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is a spectacular destination spa. This contemporary split-level masterpiece comprises three traditional Thai pavilions offering 11 luxurious treatment rooms, private spa suites and relaxation pavilion. A range of relaxing holistic treatments and natural spa products, a wellness studio for meditation and Yoga and spa cuisine using organically grown fresh fruit, herbs and vegetables can be enjoyed at this retreat. Treatment rituals inspired by traditional techniques and using indigenous ingredients and practices set this sanctuary apart. The holistic energy balancing ritual uses hot volcanic stones to concentrate on the seven chakras of the body; Thai Herbal infusion ritual uses traditional Thai poultices to warm the muscles and local Prai oil to nourish the skin.
Various spa resorts offer different signature services of their own and travellers can meet health consultants to select the course of therapies that suits them which may include spa, meals, Yoga sessions, hydrotherapy, Thai or oil massage, body and facial scrub, and meditation classes.
Six Senses is a spa-focused brand that works all across Thailand. Six Senses Samui is set on a gently sloping headland at the northern tip of Samui island with 66 private villas, many with personal pools, which are landscaped within natural vegetation, and glorious, sweeping panoramas out to the Gulf of Thailand and the surrounding islands. Travellers can get treatments with a tropical sea breeze in private salas. This spa has some of the best visiting experts in alternative medicine, offering physical and spiritual therapies to help address health concerns and achieve a better state of mind. There is also Yoga, Reiki and Pilates to add to the menu.
Six Senses Yao Noi resort sets the highest benchmark for island resort living in Asia. Located on a small island in Phang Nga Bay, this resort gives a sense of privacy and adventure. The Six Senses Spa village is nestled into the lush tropical hillside. A Long House Suite is modeled on a typical village house from northern Thailand. Using only naturally and ethically produced spa products, the treatment menu promotes traditional Thai healing practices and incorporates the four elements of earth,
Various spa resorts offer different signature services of their own and travellers can meet health consultants to select the course of therapy
water, fire air, to ensure the senses are balanced. The Six Senses Integrated Wellness Programme offered at Six Senses Yao Noi is an innovative approach to wellness. An in-house expert measures and analyses key physiological biomarkers and provides the guests with lifestyle and nutritional advice, along with personalised programmes of spa treatments, fitness and wellness activities based on the preventative principles of the eastern medicine approach.
Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort offers a flexible approach to spa and wellness in a scenic setting like Traditional Thai massage, royal Thai massage, Thai herbal compress, Thai herbal steam, Tok Sen Northern Thai massage therapy, herbal body scrubs and wraps incorporating medicinal ingredients like the healing ginger herb plai – also known as ‘poo loey’. Muay Thai is Thailand’s traditional martial art, a unique unarmed combat style known as the ‘art of eight limbs’ since fighters use knees, shins, feet and elbows. When practicing this art one can develop coordination, flexibility and stamina. One can visit week-long Muay Thai camps, or fitness boot camps along with Yoga holidays. For aesthetic treatment, Thailand also has a lot of specialised hospitals like Yanhee Hospital, Bangkok Hospital, Bumrungrad, Samitivej, Phyathai Hospital, Central General Hospital, RSU Healthcare, etc. The cost for treatments in spa resorts start from THB 1,200, while a short-time Thai massage or foot massage outside the resorts start from THB 150.