We are here madam,” the soft, lilting voice woke me from deep slumber. We were finally at Chiva-Som, the much feted health and wellness spa in Hua Hin, Thailand. The soporific message delivered by the limousine driver was to become an intrinsic part of my routine, as my exhausted body was to later respond to all the massages and treatments by constantly falling asleep!

The nondescript entrance does not prepare you for the journey inside. Chiva -Som means ‘haven of life’ and cocooned from the world, the feeling of peace and well-being justifies the name. There is a no cell phone, no camera and no laptop computers rule while on the spa premises, which further bolsters the feeling of disconnect. For someone who is attached to all three via a metaphorical umbilical cord, I managed to sever all ties and survive. I discovered the computer in the library on the last day, but by then I was too blissed out to care.
I have to confess that I am not a spa person. Apart from celebrating 20 years of matrimony, I was really there to find out for myself what the fuss was all about. Post the experience, my husband and I would now like to celebrate every anniversary at Chiva-Som! The spa’s professional approach is what impresses the most. Even before we glided in through the gates, we had filled out forms declaring every conceivable ailment, physical, emotional, social as well as room preference, fragrance preference and what blanket, pillow, towels, toiletries we would prefer.
After the check-in formalities were complete, we were whisked off for the signature Chiva-Som massage and soon found ourselves firmly entrenched on the treadmill of activities that help to destress, relax and rejuvenate.

Chiva-Som adopts Western and Eastern techniques and has a multi pronged approach to well-being that incorporates holistic as well as health and fitness issues alongside spa facilities. The better half and I happen to be fitness buffs and while he decided to go for personal training sessions at the gymnasium, I decided to use the aqua route and got myself a trainer who took me through a rigorous session in the pool. Totally spent, I crawled through the next few days at yoga sessions and stretching classes. There was still kick boxing, pilates, tai chi...
“At least you have taken the first step and got your toe wet,” observed a lady in my meditation group. Meditation and I have been playing a cat and mouse game. But at Chiva-Som I finally gave in to curiosity and attended a couple of wonderful healing sessions.

One of them was conducted using music therapy. As I lay prone on the floor trying to ‘allow the sound waves to penetrate into my mind’ I was convinced that this was a load of mumbo jumbo. How was it possible not to listen to the music and to just feel the sound waves? By the time the third symphony filled the room, my body was acutely aware of the sound waves reverberating in the room. Unnerving to say the least.
The next day I was in a group session with a reiki master. His spot-on diagnosis of my aches and pains as well as the colours of my light visualisation, without my speaking a word, led me to finally accept that maybe, just maybe, it is not all mumbo jumbo.

In the computer-stress therapy, the physiotherapists, trained in Chiva-Som’s school in Bangkok for four years, use elbows and fingers to knead out tight muscles and stress areas of the body, along with back, neck, shoulder massages and soft tissue mobilisation sessions. We tried the deep cleansing facial to regenerate dead skin and a rebalancing facial for hormones gone awry. The salon is a popular destination for luxe manicure, pedicure and aloe hair treatments. On our second day, the cleansing cocoon which used spiced coffee beans and the revitalising cocoon which used a lemongrass and citrus scrub followed by a herbal Thai massage for me and an invigorating massage for my husband put us on a ‘massage high’ leaving me tripping by the time I soaked in a honey milk bath to wind up my day.

Cuisine plays a central role on any holiday. Though we were technically at a health and wellness spa, food was an important ingredient of our stay. Chiva -Som’s spa cuisine rocks. The proportions of the main dishes are not large but we never left the table hungry. The buffet spread flaunts a range of salads, cereals fruits, desserts, soup, low-fat milk… I went for the almond milk and decided to blank out the high-calorie value assigned to it. Each dish comes with an accompanying calorie count and a little card providing information on fat and protein content. Healthy substitutes are incorporated wherever possible. Instead of wheat there is buckwheat and tofu crème brulee instead of real cream. Soya is used in abundance and sodium is almost non-existent.
No alcohol is served during the day. Instead, jugs of refreshing lemon water or lemongrass tea are placed at strategic locations all over the resort and spa area.

At the end of our sojourn, I suffered withdrawl. I needed to come again. We had only used the pool once and I did not get my fill of the hydro therapy treatments: sauna, steam, Jacuzzi and water bed. For the more action-inclined, the resort conducts jaunts to nearby sites as well as visits to golf courses and beaches. The art gallery at Hua Hin sounded alluring but for my husband and me, the temptations at the spa were thoroughly satisfying including a small bout of splurging at the resort store.
“Thank you madam. Do come again.” With the gently sung message lulling my senses, we flew out of Suvarnabhoomi Airport. On the flight back I was deep in an internal conflict. Should I do the detox programme or should I go for the weight loss? Actually the age reducing option may be better....