British GQ - 04.2020

Guests can

choose to

stay in

either a

traditional

Thai pavilion

or an ultra

modern

beach-side

apartment

The stretches

Stretching helps promote

flexibility, decrease muscle

soreness, makes you stronger

and reduces stress. Here are

three to try at home.

How to pull

muscles the

right way

According to

Chiva-Som’s

Executive Chef

Sinchai Srivipa,

a great way to cut

calories and reduce

fat in cooking is to

use vegetable stock

instead of oil or

coconut milk

Hamstring stretch

Place your hands behind your

knee, keeping your foot flexed

back. Hold for 15-20 seconds.

Trunk stretch

Lay on your back and reach over

to hold your right knee across the

body with your left hand. Hold

15-20 seconds, then twist to the

alternate side and repeat

Although the architecture of the

resort remains unchanged – the lush

greenery, koi-filled lagoons and tradi-

tional Thai villas – it is the main build-

ings that have been redesigned and

refreshed. A new interior design style

featuring sustainable teak, bamboo and

natural stone has been introduced in

the therapy suites to create a warmer,

more natural and relaxing environment.

The indoor pool now features a glass-

roofed relaxation area and a Kneipp

therapy zone. And the medi-spa has

been transformed, from clinical to lux-

urious and welcoming.

In many ways, the resort itself is

a blank canvas, allowing each guest

to shape their experience around the

goals they wish to achieve from their

stay. Before arrival, guests fill out a

thorough health questionnaire. The

results are then discussed with your

resort liaison who designs a programme

based on your consultation and objec-

tives. From a fitness boost and weight

loss, to injury or illness recovery, rehab

or detoxification, whatever your health

needs Chiva-Som can help.

Guests can choose to stay in either

a traditional Thai pavilion or an ultra

modern beach-side apartment, and

most choose to eat in the new glass-

walled Siam restaurant. The food, it has

to be said, is exceptionally good. There

isn’t as much of it as you will be used

to, but the 1,200 daily calorie menu is

full flavoured, varied and guilt-free.

The personal training sessions in the

state-of-the-art fitness centre can be

tough (if that is what you want). If you

have hamstrings like piano wire and a

spine that is as flexible as a sun-baked

floorboard, the “super stretch” treat-

ment is both agonising and orgasmically

good, while a traditional Thai massage

will remove all your tension and reduce

you to tears at the exact same time.

The staff at Chiva-Som care about

every facet of your visit, right down to

the local environment you are staying

in. The multi-award winning resort is so

committed to sustainability that they

support a social responsibility pro-

gramme that extends from onsite solar

power and water conservation, through

to organic farming, community welfare

initiatives and their stewardship of the

last remaining mangrove forest.

So a visit to Chiva-Som will not

only improve your health, well-being,

reduce your stress levels and boost your

fitness, you’ll also leave with a clear

eco-conscience.

Healing Holidays can arrange a 7-night stay from £4,595 per

person sharing, including British Airways flights, transfers,

full board accommodation, a wellness consultation, one daily

treatment and £625 wellness credit. For more details,visit:

healingholidays.com/gq Tel: 020-7529 8549.

Both hips stretch

Hug your knees to your chest for

15 seconds. Relax and repeat

WELLNESS

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