My Personal Journey at Kamalaya
Arriving in Koh Samui, I was greeted before I got to the exit by the Kamalaya staff holding up a board and guiding me calmly to the Kamalaya air conditioned four wheel drive while everyone else seemed to enter a confusing bazaar of Thomson reps and taxi drivers trying to pick up a fare. It was a good start and the 40 minute drive took me through the somewhat commercialised island of coconuts to the quiet southerncoastline that houses the Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary. Here there are no cheap drinking joints or massive Tesco stores (I kid you not) but a feeling of peace and purity. When you enter the Sanctuary you realise that nature has been left to show off all its wares without too much interference. Perched on a lush jungle like hillside that overlooks the sparkling ocean it is obvious that the owners have the utmost respect for nature. When Kamalaya was built 150 trees were carefully removed and then replanted once building was complete. It looks like its been there for 50 years as its so integrated into the natural surroundings.
The story behind Kamalaya is inspirational. This isn’t an enterprise by a big corporate jumping on the health bandwagon, but a group of people that are passionate about wellness and experts in their field. It comes through loud and clear in the experience and permeates throughout the staff who are genuinely wanting to help us stress heads get some balance and peace in our lives.
My introduction to the stunning Wellness Sanctuary perched on a hill above a sacred Buddhist monks cave, was the scary sounding bio impedance analysis. This is standard practice at the beginning of your programme where electrodes are attached to your fingertips and a machine prints out results on important health indicators such as how healthy your cells are, how hydrated you are, the proportion of fat to muscle and the dreaded bmi (body mass index). No surprises there but I didn’t need a print out to tell me that I am slightly overweight. The cellular information is fantastic as it serves the purpose of being preventative and diagnostic.
The Biomempidance analysis is followed by the Wellness Consultation with one of the resident naturopaths. The lovely laid back Joanne from Australia, ran through my pre filled questionnaire and my BIA results. She quickly established that I was probably experiencing adrenal burn out from too much stress and work. I agreed but not with all of it – after all my ability to fight through all obstacles meant that I am strong didn’t it? I deliberated about changing my programme to a detox programme more because I felt I ought to rather than wanted to but Joanne quickly got me over my guilt. “You can choose from the detox menu Stella and cut out coffee, alcohol and sugar really easily. Really it’s best that you do that than a full detox right now” I guess she knew what was coming. I added a couple of acupuncture sessions with the resident Chinese Doctor to my Balance & Revitalise Programme on Joanne’s recommendation in order to deal with a long standing arm/shoulder problem and to release energy blockages .
I spent the next couple of days walking around in a daze feeling very tired and falling asleep at any opportunity. I tried to fight the fatigue as I normally do by keeping active. I studied the packed activity schedule and planned a list of classes I wanted to go to – early morning yoga, meditation and pranayama, fitness, cookery class and even set my blackberry alarm to wake me so I could get to the yoga class. I continued to crash and burn as I struggled through yoga and heard myself snoring in meditation , hoping the snores were in my dream and not heard by all (unlikely!)
Joanne my naturopath caught me sleepwalking through the spa after a fantastic vital essence oil massage. After hearing my whining about my lack of energy she advised me to just “be”. “Stop trying to do stuff and just let your body rest, it needs it”. It was then it dawned on me that I didn’t have to fill every moment of the day being productive. So I rested and slept, lay around on the beach, wallowed in the swimming pool without trying to swim 20 laps and had more fantastic treatments. For a couple of nights I chose not to sit on the communal table at dinner – I really didn’t have the energy to chat, so I sat on my own without feeling conspicious. There were some couples there but 60% of Kamalaya’s visitors go on their own. Most of them form a bond at the spa and over dinner as they share their experiences but there’s no pressure to do that as you can be on your own without any pressu
re to socialise. Your personal space is definitely respected by all – another culture shock!
The turning point came on day 3 after I had my consultation and acupuncture session with Dr Bruce Song, the resident straight talking Chinese Doctor. After some acupuncture to help clear my stagnated energy channels and a vigorous Tui Na Chinese medical massage I felt great. My treatment schedule said I was late for my next treatment, the detoxifying abdominal massage Chi Nei Tsang. The Chinese believe that the gut is the body’s second brain as digestive problems can lead to disease. But this treatment is so much more than that. Yes it will help stimulate a sluggish bowel or aid digestive complaints like IBS but it also helps release negative emotions and stress from the abdominal area where they tend to sit and fester, blocking vital energy to the main organs. Not really a relaxing treatment, I winced with pain as the therapist got down and deep giving my organs a good knead as I tried to identify from her my problem areas. The kidneys and the heart got the loudest “ouch” – blocked emotions that were coaxed out by a determined therapist.
The next morning I woke up in tears and pain. Emotional issues that I had filed away in the “to deal with later” tray, surfaced with a vengeance. My shoulder pain had turned into a full blown lower back problem. I felt like packing my stuff and leaving. Why do I feel like this?...I’m supposed to be feeling great. I sought help from my naturopath and this is where Kamalaya really comes into its own. Even though I was wrapped up in my own cocoon of self pity I am by no means unique. They deal with these problems on a daily basis and they know how to hold and support you on an emotional as well as physical level. My “Anti Stress Techniques” session was modified by Isabella an Angel from Austria, to help me get through my emotional turmoil and used her healing touch to help my lower back relax from the spasm. Flexibility at its best! Not something you would get at many spas promising to help you with stress release and detox.
I kept wondering about my back and what had happened, thinking it was maybe a sudden movement in the Qi Gong class the day before. Dr. Song set me straight. Within minutes he told me that I had a trapped sciatic nerve explaining the pains in my legs also but instead of prescribing me with big doses of ibuprofen he put me on his table and worked his magic again with his needles and massage. When I asked him why, he told me that I had most likely had a chronic problem that I had hidden with stimulants such as coffee, sugar, alcohol and adrenalin. The problem had been released and made visible to deal with after the stimulants had been removed and the energy blockages had been unblocked. So a good thing, even though it didn’t feel too good at that point. It made me think of our society and how we live in general – short term gain, quick fixes, immediate results! Well as we are dealing with the outcome of a near collapsed financial system and troubled economies , surely a long term sustainable and holistic approach is the best way to go.
Within 48 hours my back was fixed and my emotional issues addressed with without a pain killer or anti depressant in sight. Some lifestyle recommendations were typed up and printed by Joanne and slid under my door. Some were achievable – vitamins to take, food to eat, recipes to make. Others made me smile, work no longer than 8 – 9 hours a day, be in bed by 10pm and eat the evening meal by 7pm. I calculated that I would need to leave the office by 5.30pm. Is she joking, how can I run a business like that?..but the message hit home. Work less and look after yourself more!
My last few days at Kamalaya were bliss. I enjoyed some more stress busting treatments. Ayurvedic treatments administered by Ruby or Samy (a brother and sister team of qualified Ayurvedic therapists from Kerala, India. An Asian Foot and Hand massage that has been designed to take in the major acupressure points and a brilliant cranio sacral treatment that were all part of my package. All the packages are designed and put together very carefully by Karina Stewart, the Creative Director and co founder who uses her vast holistic and medical knowledge and expertise to make sure the programmes deliver safely and effectively.
I sat up and took notice of the views, the food, the people and grasped how magical this place really is. The views are amazing, as you curse the steps taking you up to the treatment rooms, just stop and look across at the mountains and sea – it’s worth it.
The food is mainly organic, very tasty and the fresh vegetable and fruit juices and mocktails are heavenly, each one with its own therapeutic properties that are clearly listed on the menu. I became slightly obsessive with the drinks menu, reading it over and over again, actually wondering if I could ask to take one home with me. I alternated between the detox menu and the regular also very healthy menu and my pot belly went down after not having any wheat , sugar or red meat for a week. I could have easily just had the detox food as it was so tasty but couldn’t resist the fresh fish.
The staff permeate the warmth and support you would expect from a Wellness Sanctuary. It’s not just that special Thai gentleness but the whole philosophy of Kamalaya that has been so seamlessly passed across to those who deliver the experience by those who put it together. If you want ultimate luxury or super slickness Kamalaya is not your place. Kamalaya is authentic and beautiful. It’s like the perfect mother – supportive, non judgemental, nurturing and guiding. A place that you will leave feeling genuinely renewed and replenished.
