BEACH REAFY

Amatara Active is equal parts fitness and frolics.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

Amatara Active is equal parts fitness and frolics.

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My Reading Room
My Reading Room

“Have you been to a wellness retreat before?” asks Nadia, my wellness consultant. I nod, and she continues, “Well, Amatara is different because we’re a lot more flexible. We believe in enjoying life while achieving your goals at the same time.” My expectations are instantly managed, and I relax knowing this will be more holiday-like with a focus on health, yet with plenty of indulgence. Tucked away in secluded Cape Panwa, surrounded by the tempting blue waters of the Andaman Sea, Amatara Wellness Resort offers a variety of programmes catering for travellers who wish to maintain a balanced lifestyle while on the road. I opt for the Amatara Active programme, featuring personalised fitness sessions, physio and a great deal of spa time. 

PREVIOUS PAGE: The Retreat at Amatara has been designed to meet the needs of wellness programme guests, who will be spoilt for culinary choice. CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: A beautiful spot for morning yoga; ocean pool villas offer gorgeous views of the Andaman Sea; the lengthy Thai Hammam Experience is for serious spa-goers – the 105-minute treatment is based on the Turkish classic, but with a local twist.

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DAY 1

A personal consultation with Nadia comes first. She explains my itinerary, which looks to be as much pampering as exercise, with emphasis on a few one-on-one sessions. After a tour of the spa and fitness centre, my base over the next four days (programmes are available for three, five and seven nights), I am scheduled for a physical analysis.

Physiotherapist Pop goes through a quick examination, and after watching me stand, sit and walk, concludes no major issues, just some tightness in the shoulders, as with anyone who spends hours a day desk-bound and typing. She ices the area to ease inflammation before applying a warmed compress for 20 minutes. Apparently lying prone on a treatment table alone is enough to induce slumber, no massage needed...Pop demonstrates neck stretches to loosen stiffness, and corrects my seated posture before giving the all clear to start the programme tomorrow.

The evening is spent sampling culinary delights at The Grill, where a room has been cornered off for retreat guests ordering from the wellness menu. A bit of a shame not to be able to enjoy the ambience and views of the other eateries, though only a temporary situation while renovations to The Retreat space take place. No complaints regarding the food however, which was a green vegetable curry with a serious kick, followed by sesame dumplings in ginger broth to soothe the palate.

DAY 2

The breakfast menu is filled with healthy options, and I opt for scrambled eggs on rye bread, though less virtuous offerings of pastries and cereals are also available at the buffet to test my self-restraint. Afterwards, a personal training session with Tum consists of four circuits of jump lunges, push-ups, mountain climbers, squats, sit-ups and tricep dips.

There’s no break before private yoga with Phoebe, a welcome change of pace, though equally challenging. Highly observant, she encourages me to concentrate on diaphragmatic breathing throughout our practice. Having her undivided attention to correct poses is hugely helpful, and one of the most useful takeaways for taking the intimidation out of more advanced poses is to have an exit strategy should you take a tumble.

With any work on my part out of the way for the day, it’s time for serious indulgence, not only in the form of a Thai massage with Es before lunch, but for three hours in the afternoon, a lot even for a spa lover like myself. Their signature offering is the 105-minute Complete Thai Hammam Experience, based on the Turkish classic, but with a local twist.

Complete is right. As someone notoriously impatient, the nearly two hours prior to the Amatara massage, can feel like an eternity if you prefer to cut to the chase rather than take advantage of the facilities. The to and froing between the sauna, rain shower, ice bath and Thai herbal steam may seem like a lot of foreplay, if you will, to get through before the main event.

I enjoyed the nurturing aspects of the treatment, therapist Ae lathering me with Moroccan black soap to soften the skin, followed by a vigorous exfoliation with a kessa glove before covering me head-to-toe with Hungarian moor mud recommended with detoxifying, anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties, believed to boost circulation. But the time in sauna, steam room and Himalayan salt cave (supposedly to enhance relaxation) was mostly spent with eye on the prize – the concluding oil massage – which turned out to be worth the wait.

My Reading Room
My Reading Room
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DAY 3

Guests on the wellness programme can take part in daily activities, such as Muay Thai and TRX classes, at no extra charge. I joined  the morning vinyasa group class, a gentle way to ease into the day with modifications for all levels. Next is a fitness assessment with Tum, where he records my pulse, BMI, measures hip-to-waist ratio and uses a skin caliper to measure body fat, before testing how many squats, push-ups, stepups and crunches I can do for a minute, compared to others women in a similar age bracket. Though reassuring my fitness levels are up to par, it may have made more sense to schedule the analysis on the first day to create the programme around this, though still useful as a gauge for areas of improvement.

The afternoon private Pilates session involves leg, arm and core work, through repetitive movements which feel deceptively easier lying on the reformer, building to poses with arms and legs strapped into the pulley, before tackling more intense stretches like the splits, using the weighted springs for balance.

Saving the best for last, the day ends with the Individually Focused and Intuitive Massage with Es, who uses a ‘freestyle’ technique according to individual needs, rather than going through the motions. I remain blissed out on the treatment table as he transitions seamlessly into the Amatara Brightening and Revitalizing Facial.

Designed to clarify the skin, argan is the star ingredient in the facial prized for its youth-boosting, nourishing properties. Beautifying patchouli, rosehip, moringa and buriti oil are combined with a herbal mask to deep clean and renew, while stimulating circulation. It’s the perfect pick-me-up for the sleep-deprived, frequent travellers or anyone experiencing stress.

Compared to more stringent retreats, the Amatara Active programme is a breeze. Type As may find themselves at a loose end without specific goal setting upon arrival, and guests new to healthy eating may require a touch more nutritional guidance to take good habits home with them. While the three-night option provides a wellness taster, more dramatic results may be achieved through a longer duration or the detox programme. But for those simply looking to unwind and be spoilt with massages and delicious food while staying active, it’s perfect. www.amataraphuket.com

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THIS PAGE: Pilates, yoga and personal training are highlights of the Amatara Active programme; The Retreat is ideal for a sundowner of the mocktail sort. OPPOSITE PAGE: Ocean view suites are the place for neverending pampering.

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