Wellness retreats here cater to those with a busy lifestyle

SINGAPORE - In need of a breather from your hectic schedule, but have no time for a quick vacation?

Two wellness centres now offer ongoing retreats which last from one day to three weeks, so you can work it into your daily schedule on weekends.

This month, Como Shambhala Urban Escape at Delfi Orchard launches its 21 Days To Change programme.

The holistic three-week course - which consists of at least three sessions spread over each week - is dedicated to improving one's work-life balance, relationships, health and nutrition.

Urban Escape is an offshoot of The Como Shambhala Estate in Bali, which is well known for its holiday wellness programmes, which last up to nine days. This is the first time the local spa brand is offering a retreat programme at its branch here.

"Clients who have already experienced the benefits of our classes and individual consultations at Como Shambhala Urban Escape are now asking for complete programmes to bring these various elements together in one accessible format," says Ms Rita Haque, learning and development director at Club 21, which is part of the Como Group that also owns Como Shambhala Urban Escape.

Last May, Espa at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) launched four lifestyle retreats - lasting between one and three nights - which target fitness, weight loss, nutrition and detoxing. Espa at RWS is the Asian flagship of the British luxury spa brand.

Espa at Resorts World Sentosa
Call 6577-8880 or go to tinyurl.com/k3q9kn5 for more info

The programme: There are four to pick from: Fit For Life; Weight Management; Intro To Detox and De-Stress. They range from one- to three-night stays.

Price: From S$1,111 for one night's accommodation at Equarius Hotel or the Espa Beach Villa. For three nights, the price ranges from S$2,060 to S$4,608. The price includes three healthy meals a day from celebrity-chef spa cafe Tangerine; fitness and leisure activities, such as yoga or dance classes; as well as unlimited use of the hydrotherapy facilities and the gym.

What to expect: Fit For Life is designed to help you understand how to exercise properly with the right diet. There are two consultations - one to help you achieve overall fitness and another for a customised exercise regimen.

Similarly, the Weight Management programme starts with a consultation to help you overcome mental barriers and achieve a healthy weight. You will also be guided on exercises which maximise weight loss.

The Intro To Detox package begins with the basics of the detoxification process and exercises and activities which boost detoxification will be recommended. The De-Stress package aims to help you relax through therapeutic treatments and meditation techniques.

Pointers on how to relax effectively will be given, while you will be guided through muscular and nervous tension relief exercises.

You will also have a skin-analysis session, as well as 105 minutes of your choice of spa treatments daily.

However, those who sign up for a one-night stay will not get the personal-trainer and skin-analysis consultations. They will get only a personal-lifestyle consultation.

The consultations are conducted by a team of certified nutritionists, aromatherapists, personal trainers and skin therapists.

Espa will hold a three-day, two-night Healing Retreat with visiting Thai holistic practitioner, Dr Buathon Thienarrom from Aug 29 to 31.

She is the founder of ZenNaTai, an integrated therapeutic treatment based on traditional Chinese medicine and meditation. It costs S$2,400 for one person and S$3,900 for two people.

Como Shambhala-Urban Escape
06-01 Delfi Orchard. Call 6304-3552 or go to www.comoshambhala.com/ singapore for opening hours

The programme: 21 Days To Change

Price: For one person, the three-week programme costs S$750.

Go with a friend and pay S$500 each or have two others join you and pay S$400 each. Join with three other people and pay S$350 each.

The fee entitles each person to three group-yoga or pilates sessions a week and one 60-minute spa treatment, as well as a S$100 Club 21 voucher, which can be used during the styling session that is part of the programme.

What to expect: Need a mental, diet and style makeover?

This programme touches on topics such as work and personal relationships, health and nutrition, as well as your physical appearance.

Participants are expected to commit to spending at least five hours spread over three days a week at the Urban Escape.

"The path to health and wellness is not a quick fix," says Ms Rita Haque, Club 21's learning and development director. "It requires focus and commitment to change behaviours and patterns. Often, people are unaware of unhealthy habits in their daily lives or lack the tools to make a positive change.

"The programme was developed to support and guide clients through this transformation of making sustainable changes towards a healthier life."

The first week focuses on nutrition and includes a consultation on diet and lifestyle habits with the wellness centre's resident nutritionist and naturopath, Ms Sigrid Grobys.

The hour-long session will address issues such as excessive stress levels, fatigue and food allergies. Participants will then be given a customised diet plan.

In the second week, coaching sessions with Ms Haque, a certified life coach, are targeted at guiding one towards positive thinking, getting rid of bad habits, as well as reaching fitness, personal and work goals. The number of sessions required depends on the issues which need to be addressed.

The final week focuses on improving one's style and physical appearance.

Get a hair, make-up and wardrobe makeover, as well as a body-shape analysis consultation at Club 21 Style Services with its resident style coach, Ms Lani Chan.

In between the consultation sessions, you can fit in yoga, pilates classes and spa treatments.

This article was first published on July 30, 2014.
Get a copy of Urban, The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.