The million dollar question…
Q: What’s going to be big in wellness next year?
A: The million dollar question…
First off, you can’t have missed the current anti-sugar movement, which will reach warp speed in 2016. Don’t miss movies like Fed Up, sign up to Dr Mark Hyman’s (http://www.drhyman.com) newsletters and get in the habit of reading food labels and discovering hidden sugars in items like bread, sauces and dressings.
Secondly, hair health is often left out of spa menus, but if it looks good, you feel good, so focus on your locks next year. Lisa Cuddy, trichologist at Philip Kingsley was at Hong Kong’s Mandarin Salon (http://www.mandarinoriental.com) this year launching fantastic hair health packages, while the Four Seasons Hong Kong’s new Carol Joy spa menu includes a hair treatment (http://www.fourseasons.com). Hair tells us a lot about our health too – US based Reset Yourself (http://www.resetyourself.com) analyses hair and suggests diet and health advice and Asia-based Dr John Rogerson (www. cell-wellbeing.com) tests hair to uncover elements of your health you may have had no idea about.
Finally, movement and massage were made for each other and more spas will link the two. At the W Hotel Seminyak Bali’s AWAY Spa (http://www.wretreatbali.com), try silat-inspired martial arts before settling down for a treatment, or work out for free at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong’s (http://www.grand.hyatt.com) new, sexy fitness centre and do laps in their pool when booking certain treatment packages.
Q: Which wellness festivals are not to be missed in 2016?
A: Bali Spirit Festival, created by the lovely Meghan Pappenheim of Yoga Barn and Kafe fame, mixes yoga, dance and music in a five-day wonder fest from March 29 to April 3. http://www.balispiritfestival.com
Wanderlust is America’s homegrown yoga and wellness event, and I’ve been wanting to go for ages. This year, it hits Lake Taupo on February 4–7 and Thredbo in Australia February 18–21 – two amazing places to experience esoteric heaven… http://www.wanderlust.com
And later on in the year on September 2–4, Anandamaya in Jakarta will be a yoga, Pilates and meditation fest with plenty of music, dance, healthy food and healing. http://www.anandamayawellnessfestival.com
Q: I’m already sick of the cool weather, please cheer me up with some short haul, warm destinations.
A: I’ve just come back from Danang in Vietnam, where the temperature varies between 20 and 35 degrees Celsius. It’s the perfect place to spend days at a pool or in the sea, eat seafood and pho, and drink their addictive iced coffee. Stay at Fusion Maia for all-inclusive spa treatments (http://www.fusion-resorts.com), the Hyatt Regency Danang for urban style beachy cool (http://www.regency.hyatt.com) and the surreal Bill Bensley fantasy InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort (http://www.ihg.com).
Or head to Cambodia: fly in to Pnom Penh but head south (rather than north to Angkor Wat) and you’ll find my favourites, Kep-sur-Mer’s Knai Bang Chatt for boutique living (http://www.knaibangchatt.com) and Kampot’s affordable Rikitikitavi (http://www.rikitikitavi-kampot.com) or stay at private island resort Song Saa for a splurge (http://www.songsaa.com).
Alternatively, answer the call to return to old favourite Bali, but leave out Seminyak, Ubud and Kuta. I just had four fabulous days in Canggu, exploring a Bali of paddy fields by scooter, lunching at breezy cafes like Betelnut and watching sunsets at low- frill beach bars. Stay at the village-like Desa Seni for amazing yoga (http://www.desaseni.com), antique ridden Hotel Tugu Bali (http://www.tuguhotels.com) or go contemporary at The Canggu Club (http://www.cangguclub.com).
