INTO THE deep

IN 2009, CHRISTINA ONG WENT ON ‘RETREAT’ AT COMO PARROT CAY IN THE CARIBBEAN WITH DONNA KARAN, BRINGING WITH THEM ONE OF THEIR FAVOURITE YOGA TEACHERS, RODNEY YEE. NOW THE PHENOMENON IS HERE TO STAY, WITH THE BEST EXPERTS IN THE WORLD LEADING WEEKLONG, FULLY IMMERSIVE WELLNESS EXPERIENCES IN DISCIPLINES RANGING FROM YOGA TO MEDITATION AT COMO SHAMBHALA’S PROPERTIES WORLDWIDE

COMO Shambhala Retreat at COMO Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos

Let's say someone does yoga consistently at home in New York," says Sally Halstead, the Wellness Programme Manager at COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali. "Maybe he or she goes to class for an hour, two or three times per week at the end of a busy day. How does that person progress his or her practice?" This is the role of COMO Shambhala's workshops and programmes, each focusing on immersion in a singular discipline, ranging from yoga and Pilates, to cleansing or becoming more active. The framework allows you to withdraw, to remove yourself from your current situation and fully focus on the thing instead.

It’s a direct approach that COMO Shambhala has refined over its 20-year history. The structure is simple and accessible, especially for people travelling alone. For workshops – which occur on various dates throughout the year – a first-night welcome dinner is followed by five working days and a farewell event. "The idea is to foster a harmonious team feeling so the group can process, grow, and learn together,” says Halstead. If the COMO Shambhala workshop's theme is yoga, the working days might include two or three hours of practice in both the morning and afternoon. Similarly, a speaking engagement might focus on hands-on morning and afternoon talks with the expert. A meditation week would feature a variety of guided, one-on-one, and silent meditations.

These events are always led by internationally renowned experts, with past visiting masters including yoga instructor Rodney Yee and Buddhism professor Dr Robert Thurman. In 2018, COMO Shambhala has several workshops planned, including yoga retreats in Bhutan and the Maldives with experts Lynn Yeo and Sumei Shum and a selfmastery week with the Curry Sisters in the Turks and Caicos.

The workshops and programmes each focus on immersion in a singular discipline, ranging from Yoga and Pilates, to cleansing or becoming more active

For those who can’t commit to a full week, COMO Shambhala Estate also offers ongoing wellness programmes – holistic itineraries that can be booked at any time, for a minimum of three days. There are currently four available; 'Ayurvedic, 'Cleanse', 'Be Active' and 'Bespoke'. All include a one-to-one consultation with one of COMO Shambhala Estate's wellness experts to offer tailored wellness recommendations, followed by treatments designed to suit that specific programme. ‘Be Active’, for instance, might include daily physical activity like treks through the rice fields, followed by restorative massages. ‘Cleanse’ might include colon hydrotherapy and lymphatic drainage massages to rid the body of toxins. ‘Ayurvedic’ would include Ayurvedic treatments, from warm oil massages to therapeutic yoga sessions.

Alongside these programmes and workshops, COMO Shambhala has a range of holistic offerings and daily activities, from rice field walks to informative talks, helping guests achieve true physical and emotional balance. Holding all this together is an inspirational leader, supported by retreat menus made up of nutritious COMO Shambhala Cuisine, and a deeply relaxing, restorative environment.

For more information on COMO Shambhala Estate’s range of workshops and programmes, please visit comohotels.com/comoshambhalaestate. COMO Shambhala Retreat at COMO Parrot Cay also offers wellness programmes – to find out more, please visit comohotels.com/parrotcay.