The emphasis on the interconnection between mind, body and spirit is, of course, a common parlance in spa and wellness literature, in common with other holistic health terminology. The defining factor at Kamalaya Koh Samui is that it pays more than lip service to these principles.

By Maggie Davies and Jules Kay

Holistic health philosophy states that one cannot treat symptoms in isolation, but must look at the state of the entire body as well as emotional and psychological factors. The Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa at Koh Samui is created with these principles in mind and much thought has been put into creating conditions conducive to finding a true sense of well-being, while also learning life-enhancing techniques and putting the stresses of life on pause in order to reconnect to the source. The beautiful tropical scenery surrounded by ocean, jungle and sky fosters a sense of literally living amongst the abundance of nature, which in itself promotes a sense of tranquility and aids meditative contemplation. An on-site cave was once used as a situation for prayer and meditation by Buddhist monks and the links with the past are by no means lost. The location is steeped in an aura of spirituality, making it ideal for meditation classes as well as lectures on local Buddhist culture, temple tours and occasional seminars on all matters spiritual. Kamalaya translates as Lotus (Kamal) Realm (alaya) in the ancient language of Sanskrit, symbolising the unfolding of the human spirit.

Secret Blends
Despite such high-mindedness, Kamalaya is far from exclusive. Visitors can simply book a room to see what the centre has to offer or experience one of several packages designed to alleviate or educate on the range of health and wellness issues that people face daily, such as stress and burnout, fitness, weight control, toxicity and energy levels. More general packages allow you to explore new therapies, classes, fitness styles and lectures, while also indulging in the best of Asian massage techniques.

Kamalaya's 9 Colour System is an integrated wellness programme for the mind, body and spirit. All of the packages start with a thorough health consultation that incorporates a bio-impedence test. A qualified nurse goes through the results, which highlight areas that may need attention by analyzing tissue and fluid levels in the body. This also gives the naturopath some valuable indicators and is combined with the recording of a detailed medical background, plus a full assessment of health concerns and wellness desires. In this way, packages can then be tailored to individual needs. The comprehensive array of treatments on offer may initially seem daunting to those unfamiliar with alternative health practices, but the initial consultation guides individual choices. Detoxes at Kamalaya are not total fasts, but allow for three sumptuous fruit and veggie meals a day, backed up by on-site medical staff and facilities such as far infra-red saunas, Chi Nei Tsang Chinese abdominal massage, state of the art colon Hydrotherapy and Thai herbal steam. The massages are truly therapeutic and the masseuses receive continual training from a master therapist in both Thai and Indian forms. In addition, specialities such as hand-and-foot massage (often neglected) and stomach (good for detoxing) provide even deeper curative therapies. It is precisely this blend of the best traditions from Asia and the knowledge at the forefront of western medicine and nutritional science that makes Kamalaya unique. Ancient philosophies and modern health sciences compliment and back one another up to form a truly holistic programme. While this is knowledge for the commons, and there is something for everyone to take away, industry professionals trying to discover the “secret formula” behind Kamalaya’s instant impact should take heed.

The 9 colour system incorporates nine themes within its integral Wellness Programmes: Healthy Lifestyle, Detox, Stress & Burn Out, Emotional Balance, Wellness a la´carte, Yoga, Longevity, Asian Alchemy, and Awareness & Meditation. Log on to www.kamalaya.com for details.

Holistic Design
Just as the body should be looked at holistically, the resort also derives its special atmosphere from the interweaving of all constituent parts. The amazing landscape, the staff, the architecture, the expertise of the practitioners and the spa cuisine. The design of the resort was very carefully planned with the help of a Feng-Shui master and an artist. The brief stipulated working with the landscape, and creating living spaces that were specifically Asian in character. The accommodation ranges from single rooms to two bed villas, all simply yet beautifully decorated using natural materials and maximizing vistas. Only three years old, the garden looks mature, bathed in birdsong, butterflies and tropical flowers. Water features throughout, with lotus ponds and waterfalls set around the lovely bathing areas, and the ever-present sound of the waves breaking against the reef.

As founder Karina Stewart explains, it is as though some magical alchemy is at work, and while the ethos is there for everyone to share, Kamalaya is neither easily defined or replicated.

"What we agreed on at the beginning was an approach to this site that would take advantage of its special qualities, not imposing on the setting but to enhance and direct attention to the features of the landscape. The buildings would fit into the site with minimum disturbance and would embrace the rocks and slopes and trees, not see them as obstacles.” - Robert Powell, architect for Kamalaya Koh Samui.

Kamalaya’s Environmental Initiatives*
The architectural brief for Kamalaya centred on the importance of preserving as much of the natural environment as possible.

• Environmental care extended to the transplanting of over 150 trees, which were relocated one by one to a nearby nursery until construction was finished and they could be brought 'home' to Kamalaya.
• All bathroom amenities use 100% natural ingredients.
• Use of eco-friendly detergents.
• Sustainable use of resources is actively encouraged, and accommodations have been designed to allow the natural air flow to minimise the use of air conditioning.
• Informing guests of ways to conserve energy and water.
• A special staff committee has been formed to research, develop and implement environmental initiatives.
• Water is recycled and dispersed back in the gardens.
• Organic waste is used for composting.
• The use of environmentally friendly termite control.

*source: www.kamalaya.com

Kamalaya presents a new business paradigm for the 21st century, replacing competition with co-operation. The Spa may well be a very successful business, but it goes beyond business, as there are reciprocal flows between management, practitioners, staff and guests. One factor, which was remarked upon time and time again, is the incredible warmth and sincerity of the Kamalaya staff who are friendly but never false, cheerfully helping throughout every part of your stay. This is quite a revelation as you certainly cannot train staff to appear happy, genuine and uninhibited. Alongside continual training in healing, service skills and language, which aids career development, staffs are encouraged to join in meditation and massage.

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa, Koh Samui
www.kamalaya.com
Tel: +66 (0) 77 429 800
102/9 Moo 3, Laem Set Road, Na-Muang
Koh Samui, Suratthani 84140 Thailand

A Kamalaya Day

6.30am: Wake up, open curtains, absorb splendid ocean views and hear the dawn chorus. Warm rainshower in the open Balinese style bathroom.

7.00am: Join a Tai-chi, chi-gong or yoga class on the secluded sandy beach; learn these ancient Asian techniques for stimulating the flow of energy in the body.

8.30am: Check out the sumptuous breakfast buffet with every imaginable variety of fruit, nut, seed, fresh jams, salads, savouries and squeezed juices.

10.00am: Sample one of the myriad alternative health treatments such as acupuncture, hypnotherapy, Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. You will have been advised on what suits and will benefit you at your initial naturopathic consultation.

11.00am: Relax by the fairy-tale bathing areas surrounded by lily ponds and get in touch with your inner Prince Rama or Princess Sita.

1.00pm: Lunch in one of the salas overlooking the sea, feast on spa cuisine – you can actually fill up even though its mainly fresh fruits, seafood, herbs and vegetables.

2.00pm: Take a book from the library or an in-house magazine, reconnect, then head down to the private beach and work on the mind.

3.00pm: Time for a Kamalaya detox juice – pineapple, coconut water and holy basil – sublime.

3.30pm: An afternoon massage with one of the expert practitioners – you cannot go wrong– just check the menu of delicious treatments and try something new.

5.00pm: Visits between the Thai herbal steam cavern, built among boulders and the plunge pool overlooking a wide expanse of ocean at sunset.

6.30pm: Float down the hill to the communal Amrita areas where there may be a pre-dinner talk by one of several knowledgeable practitioners, an informal concert, or an entertaining movie.

8.00pm: Dinner. If travelling alone, there is a welcoming communal table – no one has to eat alone. You can share comparisons on menu-choices, treatments and observations about life.

9.30pm: Sink into blissful sleep...