As wellness tourism continues to evolve, spas around Asia are reaching deep into their traditions, and combining them with the latest technology to create experiences that deeply affect their guests. These creative developments have turned spa treatments into intentional experiences that relax both body and mind with a lasting effect on guest wellness.
Simon Cameron, CEO of Lightfoot Travel which specialises in exclusive experiences and travel opportunities, notes that clients have increasingly looked beyond traditional spa spaces in their search for health and relaxation. “Our clients are drawn to wellness retreats with state-of-the-art facilities that work closely with qualified doctors and specialist practitioners,” he notes. “We frequently receive requests for advanced diagnostics such as sleep analysis, metabolic and gut testing, immunity support, anti-ageing therapies and physical recovery treatments.” He adds that this pursuit of wellness tends to extend beyond the holiday as well, with many clients focusing on making sustainable, long-term lifestyle changes with an emphasis on longevity and health optimisation.
With that in mind, its worth considering these five new treatments, launched this year at some of Asia’s top wellness-focused hotels, the next time you need a reset.
Fukuoka: The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Fukuoka
Japan’s southern region and its gateway city of Fukuoka offers plenty of rest and rejuvenation, whether you visit the surrounding onsen towns or while away the hours at The Ritz-Carlton Spa’s soothing wellness facilities. Their new, Art of Wellness journey brings together local traditions and premium ESPA products with gentle breathwork that soothes the mind and promotes deeper levels of relaxation. The massage targets tight muscles with a nourishing body oil before ending with light refreshments in the lounge area. For the ultimate treat, relax at the hotel’s 25m heated indoor pool, perfect for colder winter days, before moving to the treatment room for a deeply restorative massage.
The spa menu also includes Kyushu-inspired treatments that use some of the region’s most sought-after ingredients such as rice, seaweed and ume (plum). Try the Itazuke Restore which uses brown rice from the region in heated pillows along with bran and stress-relieving mugwort to compliment a therapeutic massage using essential oils of rose geranium and sweet orange. Or indulge in the Oceanic Purity which uses seaweed from the Ariake Sea, filled with nutrients, vitamins and minerals for a body wrap and massage treatment that nourishes the body while toning and smoothing the skin.
Hong Kong: Yun Wellness, Island Shangri-La
This beautifully appointed retreat in the heart of Hong Kong’s urban jungle is soothing from the get-go. Dressed in greenery and soothing warm tones, Yun Wellness in the Island Shangri-La hotel brings its treatments to life through a thoughtful mix of traditional modalities and forward-thinking technology. Visiting practitioners also add an element of holistic wellness such as energy healing and meridian therapies by Master Franz Polanen Darmasada, and meridian and fascia therapy by Master Eric Lee that can improve mobility and sleep quality.
Also worth making time for is the Yun Align, a new signature treatment that is a high energy meridian awakening therapy that combines Tui Na and Traditional Chinese Medicine meant to restore balance, and ease tiredness and stiffness. It includes meridian brushing on the back that relaxes the connective soft tissues, followed by an application of a soothing aromatherapy balm to boost circulation.
Danang: TIA Wellness Resort
Offering the first of its kind in Vietnam, TIA Wellness Resort in Danang introduces Aerial Flow Therapy, an experience that takes place in a purpose-built room with a hammock at the centre of this tranquil treatment. As you lie peacefully suspended in a cocoon-like hammock, the therapist will guide you through gentle swaying and assisted stretching to decompress the spine and aid in joint relief. Around you, a 3D lightscape of shifting colours and shapes create a dreamlike atmosphere. The experience relaxes you both physically and mentally and is designed to enhance your mood, improve sleep quality, reduce stress and help reset your nervous system.
The 60-minute treatment is part of the resort’s Retreat Inclusive programme which allows guests to enjoy multiple therapies each day along with a plant-based meal plan and access to a wide range of wellbeing classes from HIIT to breathwork.
Phuket: Jara Wellbeing at Trisara Resort
Located on the northern coast of Phuket, Thailand, Jara Wellbeing at Trisara Resort has launched a series of new wellness treatments that delve deeper into relaxation. Their Indian Head Massage treatment includes the use of therapeutic sound vibrations to calm the nervous system and improve mental balance, while their signature Reawakening Journey is designed for weary jetlagged travellers, and combines herbal steam, deep tissue massage, facial therapy and sound healing to help guests recalibrate to their surroundings. For a more traditional Thai experience, the Luk Pro Kob massage focuses on Sen Sib energy lines, while the Samunpai scrubs use aromatic local herbs to gently exfoliate the skin.
The resort is also focusing on offering wellness experiences for the whole family to enjoy together, from spa treatments that use organic coconut oil to fitness activities like Muay Thai and tennis lessons.
Bali: The Ungasan Clifftop Retreat
At this beautiful cliffside retreat at the southernmost tip of Bali, Indonesia, guests are invited to take part in The Ungasan’s Signature Spiritual Wellness Experience, led by Guru Ji Bagus, a Balinese healer whose master of traditional healing is matched only by his unconventional passion for heavy metal music. It is fitting then that Ungasan’s wellness experiences are about finding calm within chaos, and includes treatments such as the Seven Chakra Healing Bowls that cleanses energy pathways and prepares the body for renewal, and the Sacral Light Stone Therapy that connects to Bali’s spiritual heritage and involves an emotional and spiritual cleansing for inner harmony. This is followed with the Cool Bliss Cucumber Facial, a refreshing remedy touching on Bali’s natural healing elements to rejuvenate body and spirit.
The Signature Spiritual Wellness Experience also includes daily yoga sessions, meditative nature walks and resilience workshops alongside elegant private villa accommodation and bespoke butler services.
For more information on Singapore Airlines’ flights to the above destinations, visit singaporeair.com.
