159Traveltheprospect of change. I’ve signed up
for ‘Asian Bliss’, a mix of Ayurvedic
treatments, traditional Chinese
medicine and Thai therapies, not only
because it’s recommended for stress
(my middle name), but also because
my energy levels are at zero and it
sounds like the easiest one on the list.
My first appointment on the
afternoon we arrive is a wellness
consultation and Bio-Impedance
Analysis, during which I’m attached
to a machine to check key health
markers, such as cellular integrity, fat
and lean mass, plus hydration levels.
My assigned wellness consultant,
Leila, analyses the results (all ofMyfriend Debbie is one of those
super successful, multitasking
businesswomen who never
seems to run out of energy or
enthusiasm for life and all its
possibilities.For the past few years
she’s been raving about Kamalaya,
a wellness sanctuary on the Thai
island of Koh Samui, where she takes
herself for one week every year and
returns home with her batteries fully
recharged,her mind relaxed and her
bodyrevitalised. When she suggests
I join her for the next trip with a
coupleof other friends, it takes me
a while to convince myself that, yes,
I can leave my husband and kids on
their own for one week, and that
actually, I work really hard, so maybe
I deserve this? If I can channel even
a tad of Debbie’s feel-good energy
while learning how to slow down and
livea less frantic, more considered
life,it will be well worth it.
So, I’m excited when the four of us
meet in Bangkok airport – Debbie
having flown in from Italy, Jacky and
myself from London, and Gaye all the
way from Canada. Together, we take
the 45-minute flight down to Koh
Samui on the south-east side of the
mainland, then it’s just a 20-minute
drive to Kamalaya, where I hope to say
goodbye to my burned-out self.
HITREFRESH
TheKamalaya philosophy is all about
optimal well-being for body, mind
and spirit, with each of these three
elements being nourished through
food, treatments and activities
throughout your stay. A wide variety
of wellness programmes are available,
from detox and optimal fitness to
sleep enhancement and embracing
Clockwisefrom far left: Kamalaya is set on a beautiful
hillside overlooking the Gulf of Thailand; room with a view;
Trish (pictured second from left) with friends Debbie,
Jacky and Gaye; sunset yoga; beachfront blisswhichare surprisingly OK, but there’s
always scope for improvement) and
asks me how I’m feeling about my
life, my health, and what goals I’d like
to set for the week. Where to start?
The short answer is to feel less
exhausted, less overwhelmed, and to
shift that constant feeling of heaviness
weighing down my shoulders.
Leila talks me through the Asian
Bliss programme: I’ll be having two
treatments a day, ranging from
scrubs, herbal compresses and
Taoist abdominal massages, to
acupuncture, Reiki and one-to-one
meditation. She also recommends
what to eat (as a vegetarian, I need to
up my protein intake to boost energy)
and explains how important it is to
calm down the nervous system
through holistic activities, such as
yoga, meditation and Qigong.
Finally, she advises me to think
about just two or three things to
take home at the end of the week,
rather than expecting to replicate
everything that happens here when
I’m back in the real world. This could
be changing a few habits, making
some tweaks to my diet or continuing
with a holistic practice.
That evening I have an Ayurvedic
massage that certainly ticks the‘IT’S ALL ABOUTOPTIMAL WELL-BEING FOR BODY,MIND AND SPIRIT’