By Lily Wong

SPA VILLAGE PANGKOR LAUT is a unique retreat that extols the healing cultures of the region and offers a respite from the rest of the world. For those seeking to fully experience the health rituals of the region, guests are recommended to experience a selection of traditional Malay, Chinese or Ayurvedic treatments.

LOCATION Pangkor Laut Island, Perak, Malaysia

DESIGN Situated to the north of the main Resort, Spa Village is a collection of low buildings and structures, featuring both indoor and open-air spaces, spread over 4 acres on a quiet bay between the sea and the rainforest. Designed to soothe and refresh the senses, the various buildings face the sea, and are interspersed with open courtyards, lotus ponds, an herb garden, and a reflexology path.

SPECIALIST CONSULTANTS 3 specialists to administer Chinese, Malay and Ayurvedic consultations and treatments.

FACILITIES The complex comprises eight treatment pavilions, a deluxe Belian Treatment Pavilion, “Healing Huts”, which includes Chinese Herbal, Ayurvedic and Malay Huts, 2 Bath Houses, 3 Thai Pavilions, 3 Nap Gazebos, a Herbal Garden, a 50 metre lap pool, Fisherman’s Cove Restaurant, Jamu Bar, Library and Spa Boutique. 22 Spa Villas situated over the sea offer direct access to the Spa Village. The Spa facilities are open from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Spa treatments are available from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily.

DINING Fisherman’s Cove, with a stunning sea view, offers a unique symphony of fresh seafood, Western Grill, Chinese, and Italian cuisine, enhanced by home-grown island herbs from Spa Village’s gardens. Revive the senses at the Jamu Bar, which serves fresh tropical fruit and herbal extract drinks. This outlet also serves sandwiches and light snacks for lunch.

www.spavillage.com/pangkorlaut

Depending on how you see it, healing can be a beauty ritual, where treatments work both ways – to balance and rejuvenate our inner elements; and at the same time accentuate and enhance our physical appearance. We found some of the best ways to heal beautifully at Spa Village Pangkor Laut.

Bath Rituals

More than just a constant source of renewal to our health and beauty, the ritual of bathing provides a precious refuge to purify not just the body but also the mind and soul. Today, in modern times, bathing may be just another routine in daily life; but if done with the intention for healing; even your daily shower can be a healing experience.

At Spa Village Pangkor Laut, the Signature Bath House Ritual that is offered before every therapy epitomises the multi-cultural ethos of the spa. This ritual is carried out in an exclusively designed series of secluded pool and pavilions that are flanked by a lush garden setting. Inspiring and rejuvenating at the same time, this ritual provides guests the perfect beginning to their therapeutic vacation.

Treatment: Signature Bath House Ritual The Bath House ritual is a complimentary 45-minute bathing experience before every spa treatments. Private and philosophical, this ritual offers a unique bathing experience, recreating the importance of bath rituals of some of our Asian cultures. What to Expect This ritual is a 6-part sequence starting with a footbath and an invigorating Chinese Foot Pounding session, previously only enjoyed by the concubines of feudal China. From there, you are escorted to the Bath Houses to enjoy the traditional Malay “circulating” bath, from where villagers bathed in streams or rivers. The inhalation therapy is next. Using a combination of herbs in four steam boxes, this therapy helps to calm, uplift, detoxify and de-stress your mind and body. You then proceed to a Japanese-style cleansing session with “goshi-goshi” cloth, followed by a dip in the heated Rotenburu pool. A professional spa assistant will then refresh your senses with the signature Shanghai Scrub, gently exfoliating and washing your body in the private scrub house. Benefits Helps you to slow down, unwind and prepare your body and mind for your spa treatments. Editor’s Experiecce “This ritual is a wonderful start before any treatment – it is a transitional stage from your usual sense of busyness to a state of relaxation. It’s common to want to rush through each sequence because you are excited about what’s next. However, try your best to do each part slowly and with complete awareness so that you are fully ready for your treatment after the ritual.”

Body Treatments: The benefits of body treatments are immeasurable. Apart from elimination of bodily toxins to promote health of your internal organs and systems and enhance circulation for total wellness, it is also an essential treatment for the joints and muscles. Beauty-wise; a healthy internal environment is expressed in the form of rejuvenated skin, youthfulness and a glow to your overall appearance. Physical benefits aside, body treatments are also an effective stress management tool, relaxing you and enhancing your senses – all of which increases the feeling of self appreciation. The ala carte menu of Spa Village Pangkor Laut’s Body Treatments features the signature Campur-Campur, Javanese Lulur and Thai Herbal. The wide array of massages includes Malay, Balinese, Thai, Shiatsu and Aroma. Additionally, guests can indulge in wraps and masques with therapeutic benefits, including hydrating and detoxifying of the skin or easing tired, aching muscles. Lapis-Lapis, the signature Malay herbal wrap, combines local herbs such as lemon grass, ginger, galangal, and camphor. Other wraps on the menu are Spirulina, Moor Mud and the refreshing Papaya Enzyme.

Treatments: Campur-Campur A signature Spa Village treatment, Campur-Campur (“mixture” in Malay) is a combination of Malay and Thai massage techniques. Touch, tone and aromatherapy is used in this treatment to stimulate and relax the mind and body. What to Expect The combination massage incorporates long, kneading strokes on major muscle groups, focusing on the joints. As the muscles are being massaged and stretched, steamed muslin pouches stuffed with lemongrass and pandans leaves are pressed on your skin; which completely comforts your body. Benefits Releases tension from muscles and joints. The heat from the steam pouches rejuvenates the areas that feel stretched while the aroma nurtures the senses. Editor’s Experience “In the beginning, my body resisted the gentle strokes – probably because it has been under stress for a long time. Gradually, the gentle strokes from the massage removed the tension. Halfway into the treatment, relaxation swept all over my body in a warm and nurturing way. After the treatment, there was a nice sense of tiredness, as if a huge burden is finally lifted from the body. A nap in the gazebo after the treatment rejuvenated me completely.”

Treatments: Abhyanga The Abhyanga massage is the essential beginning to the Ayurvedic program. It is a simple but powerful therapeutic oil massage that lasts for about 50 minutes. What to Expect The massage is carried out on a neem wood table in the Ayurvedic treatment room where prescribed herb-infused oil is applied to your body. Using sweeping, gentle strokes, the therapist begins the massage by smoothing the oils all over your body. Then she applies light pressure on sensitive areas such as the abdomen or the chest. More oil is used as the therapist massages the areas where nerve endings are most concentrated: soles of your feet, palms of the hands and along the base of the fingernails. There are also circular motions over rounded areas such as your head or joints, and straight strokes on straight areas such as your arms and legs. After the massage, you are asked to relax for a few minutes to allow the oil to penetrate the massaged areas. This is followed by a relaxing warm shower. Benefits Helps to improve blood circulation, expels toxins, lubricate the joints, gives lustre to skin, helps to relieve aches and pains, promoting sleep and digestion; and also delays the effects of ageing. Editor’s Experience “It is a very different massage experience. Unlike other kinds of massages, Abhyanga is a series of long sweeping strokes, which may be uncomfortable at first – especially for the first-timer. For instance, the neem wood table is hard on the back but it is supposed to help straighten the spine. And, the long strokes using large amount of oil can feel a bit too slippery and wet on the skin. But what really stands out from this massage is that it is not only felt physically – I was experiencing strong emotions (anger, irritation, depression, etc) as the massage proceeded. Only later did I realise that as much as physical toxins were released, toxic emotions were removed as well.”

Treatments: Moor Mud Wrap This is a full body wrap using thermal water-derived black organic mud, rich in minerals and trace elements called Moor Mud (also known as therapeutic peat moss). What to Expect An even layer of warm mud is gently applied to the whole body. The therapists then wrap your body in a plastic sheet, a foil and then a thermal blanket. In this compression wrap, which lasts for about 30-40 minutes, you have the option to also apply the warm mud onto your face. This is recommended because it helps you to relax into the wrap experience. Benefits Re-mineralises, softens and purifies the skin; promotes circulation, stimulates the immune system, induces muscular relaxation, breaks down fat cells and reduces the appearance of cellulite. Editor’s Experience “The metabolism-accelerating effect is felt immediately during the compression wrap. For a first-timer, the wrap can feel a bit claustrophobic; but as long as you relax, the experience is a nurturing one.”

Energy Flow

Energy flow or “chi” plays an important role in the well-being of our body. This is exemplified perfectly by the traditional Chinese healing philosophy, which emphasises the healthy flow of chi (“vital power” or “inner energy”). Traditional Chinese healing is based on the theory that the body is a harmonious whole, of which the interplay of five elemental forces represented by earth, metal, water, wood and fire also correspond to different internal organs as well as emotions, tastes, colours and sounds. When a correct balance of forces exists, chi flows smoothly through Meridians connecting the organ systems.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) series of treatments at Spa Village Pangkor Laut work well to promote inner circulation within the body. It is recommended to go for the full Chinese Treatment package for a complete energy flow therapy. The package includes a consultation with a TCM Specialist followed by a Gu Fang Xun Shen therapy (Ancient Body Smoking), Tui-na An-mo Massage and the Mian Bu Hu Liao Chinese Herbal Facial.

Treatments: Tui-na An-mo Massage Developed in China over 2,000 years ago, Tui-na is a bodywork therapy utilising acupressure techniques that puts emphasis on energy flow or chi. Like its name suggests, pushing with palms (tui) and pinching with thumbs (na) are the two main techniques to release excess wind and cold from within the body. Tui-na massage is more than a system of relaxation and tension release. Although attention is also placed on the tendo-muscular system, the focus on the subtle channels allows you to influence the organs on a deeper level and treat complex complaints. What to Expect At Spa Village, a TCM doctor conducts this 50-minute massage. Prior to the massage, a brief “pulse-checking” is done. The pulse diagnosis determines areas of concentration for Tui-na and the elemental oil needed to restore the flow of chi. The massage is done in gentle but strong pressing and rubbing motions, focusing on the acu-points and directional flow of the subtle channels in the body. Benefits Promotes blood circulation, assists in healing back pain, migraines, arthritis, and can be used to treat depression. Editor’s Experience “The massage by the doctor is truly an artistic combination of touch, movement and sensation. Being a person sensitive to energies, I felt the flow of chi within me immediately. As tension is released, I experienced warmth accompanied by a deep sense of relief. The massage left me feeling rejuvenated and energetic.”

Treatments: Gu Fang Xun Shen (Ancient Body Smoking) A traditional technique to rid the body of negative energies, this therapy smokes the body with special focus on several points. According to classical Chinese healing, treatment will be less effective if patients have traces of unwanted negative energies lingering around their bodies. What to Expect This ancient art of body smoking includes wafting the entire body with incense, of which the major ingredient is acorus root (a herb that has potent cleansing effect). This is to remove all traces of negative energy. As the therapist conducts the ritual, she also chants an old Chinese proverb. This therapy requires your active participation also – you need to cooperate by engaging fully into the cleansing process. One of the best ways to do so is by quieting your mind through intention. Benefits Removes negative energies, cleansing the mind and body. Editor’s Experience “This treatment must be appreciated as a symbolic affair for thorough holistic cleansing of the mind, body and soul. Unlike the other therapies that focus more on touch and sensation, this one requires you to calm your mind and focus gently on your intention to heal yourself. Empowering you, body smoking reminds you of your own healing powers. Overall, this is also a very meditative experience, perfect after the Tui-na An-Mo to allow chi to flow smoothly without interference from our usual busy minds.”