A Phuket resort combines fitness, fortifying food and a stimulating environment for a revitalising wellness holiday, writes Angela Goh
FRESH crisp air wafts past as the shrieks and shrills of creature calls resonate with the distant sound of a rushing stream. The damp sandy ground rasps underfoot as I trudge through lush tropical rainforest with mind-trainer, Pierre Gagnon, who leads me on a walking meditation at Khao Phra Thaew National Park in Phuket. The mission: To do nothing.
“Only observe what nature presents,” he exhorts, as I try very hard to quieten my thoughts and allow my latent awareness to emerge. “We are constantly focused on ‘doing’, not ‘being’, therefore have lost the capacity to connect with our five senses,” Gagnon explains at the end of the mind-calming session.
Most tourists come to Phuket for the beaches and food, but I am here on a wellness holiday to rebalance mind and body. Indeed, retreating to nature - among the top wellness trends in 2020 - is one of the most profoundly powerful ways to recalibrate ourselves.
A short distance from the national park is Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort where Gagnon heads the Mind Centre, offering a range of meditation classes. Better known for sports training, Thanyapura is not only geared for professional athletes and fitness fanatics. For burned out urban warriors, there are wellness programmes for detox, de-stress, weight loss, fitness, yoga and beauty. For the undecided like me, a package can be customised.
Besides sports coaches, there are physicians and medical staff who oversee a range of rehabilitative services from physiotherapy, chiropractic treatments, intravenous (IV) infusions and colon hydrotherapy to aesthetics. For those suffering from pain and mobility issues, there’s also an osteopathy unit.
Whether you are fitness-focused, prefer a mellow path or a bit of both, Thanyapura caters for various interests. At a Thai kickboxing class, I train alongside a mother who comes after a school drop-off to get some muscle-toning, and a university lecturer with a weight-loss goal.
But it’s not all about workouts; you can laze by the recreational pool, pool bar, or garden. And this resort does not skimp on comfort when it comes to accommodation.
Guestrooms are spacious and kitted out with four-star hotel amenities. As with any wellness programme, there’s an initial health assessment, but unlike others, Thanyapura’s screening and consultations are very comprehensive. The three-hour screening includes five assessments (Lifestyle Assessment, Heavy Metals and Toxins Scan, Body Composition Analysis, Functional Fitness Assessment, Body Systems Bio Scan) and consultation with a doctor.
The body composition analysis requires me to stand barefoot on sensors attached to a machine akin to a large professional weighing scale and grasp two handheld sensors. This equipment measures the distribution of muscle, fat and water, while for me it detects dehydration; alas, my copious consumption of green tea is no replacement for plain water.
Next, electrodes are placed from head to toe for a bio scan to evaluate the health of vital organs (the brain is among them and mine shows fatigue). In the fitness assessment, the physiotherapist puts me through a series of movements to determine my dexterity before recommending exercises targeted at strengthening my upper body and loosening a tight left shoulder.
Based on these and other results in consultation with a medical doctor and nutritionist, a personalised “plan of action” is drawn up, including a session of multivitamins and anti-oxidants by IV (provides higher absorption than oral intake).
My day starts with early morning meditation followed by breakfast, kickstarting with kombucha accompanied by two booster shots rotated among turmeric, wheatgrass and ginger. Through the day it’s not difficult to ensure my recommended daily hydration of 2.5 litres of water is met as purified and alkaline water for self-refill is available resort wide and the natural hydration booster – fresh coconut water – is included in my diet plan as well.
For body workout, there’s the option of the gym or from a slew of daily movement classes such as yoga, circuit training, zumba, pilates and spinning.
Late afternoon is best reserved for the spa which may appear as a simple setup but the therapists are a cut above. The Thanyapura Signature Massage, a physiotherapist-curated blend of deep tissue sports and Swedish techniques, left me not only deeply relieved of aches from various workouts but also reinvigorated.
While my results don’t require any diet restriction, I opt for a plant-based/vegan diet as it suits my lactose intolerance and I do enjoy being meat-free sometimes.
Surprisingly, my choice is gastronomically rewarding. The plant-based buffet spread at DiLite restaurant is exceedingly tasty – organic, locally-sourced, seasonal and brilliantly curated (kudos to the chefs) – no wonder I look forward to meal times.
Because Thanyapura caters to a diverse crowd, the food at the main restaurant, DiVine, is wide-ranging from vegan and meat-based dishes to alcoholic drinks.
A curative holiday combining meditation and movement does wonders in nourishing the spirit, enhancing the senses and optimising one’s potential.
FAST FACTS
THANYAPURA HEALTH & SPORTS RESORT
120/1 Moo 7 Thepkasattri Road, Thalang, Phuket, Thailand
TEL +66 (0)76 336 000
EMAIL info@thanyapura.com
WEBSITE www.thanyapura.com
STAY 77 Pool Wing rooms with bike-hanging rack fronting a 25-metre recreational
pool with pool bar and 37 Garden Wing ground level rooms with an outdoor terrace
and views of the national park or gardens.
EAT DiVine restaurant serves Thai and international dishes while DiLite offers
vegan/plant-based buffet. Booster offers light meals and detox juices while the
Sports Lounge serves plant-based snacks.
DO Professional grade sports facilities (including Olympic size pools, FIFA standard
pitch, running track, plexi-cushion tennis courts), fitness classes (over 100 per
week), spa, sauna, steam, ice bath and a spa.
GO Tranquil location near Khao Phra Thaew National Park. Shuttle buses to the
beach (daily) and night market (Fridays). Twenty minutes from Phuket international
airport.
HIGH Activities guided by certified coaches, trainers and consultations with medical
doctors.
LOW Isolated location
Photos by Thanyapura Health&Sports Resort
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