The AYANA Wellness Retreat
There are three different AYANA Wellness Retreats to choose from with a minimun stay of 3 nights or a customised plan can be created for you.
1. Immune Reset Package – available for 3, 5 or 7 days and designed to boost the immune system, refuel the body, and calm the mind.
2. De-Stress Package – available for 3, 5 or 7 days and designed to provide practical tools and techniques for achieving sustained physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. As part of the program, guests are encouraged to forget about their digital devices and practice being in the moment and connecting with nature.
3. Fitness Package – available for 3, 5 or 7 days and designed for guests who want to undergo real body transformation through holistic, healthy eating and tailored fitness sessions. The program’s goal is to kickstart a healthy lifestyle for guests who want to feel energised, stronger and fitter.
The Goal
Mid way through the year, those New Year resolutions I made seemed very far away and i’d lost my motivation to workout, attend any fitness or yoga classes and practice self care on a daily basis.
I was exhausted and in need of some kind of magic potion to get me back on track again and re-instill those healthy habits. I was travelling around the island of Bali and discovered that the AYANA Spa Hotel in Jimbaran had just launched a new wellness retreat and I was eager to try it out for myself.
AYANA Wellness Retreat Itinerary
Days on the AYANA Wellness Retreat began early at 6.15am with a morning ritual. I was given a wellness journal to note down how I was feeling, what I was grateful for, things I’d learnt during the day, what my words of encouragement were to myself and the best thing about the day.
It’s such a cathartic exercise and one that’s so simple to do. Even 5 minutes a day just to clear your mind and get rid of any bad thoughts. I’m a true believer that there’s power in writing it all down.
I was also given some two bottles of essential oils that I now carry around with me everywhere. Specially blended for morning and night, the daytime oil was a mix eucalyptus, peppermint and sandalwood and the nighttime blend consisted of lavender, ylang-ylang and geranium.
By 6.30am it’s time for a sunrise morning group yoga class at the Bale with the backdrop of the Bukit Peninsula offering panoramic views of the shimmering Indian Ocean.
On the first day there is a fitness and health assessment with the personal trainer Lynn, who puts together a plan of action based around my fitness goals, and creates a program that I can easily do at home and without gym equipment.
After breakfast there’s numermous classes to choose from – Qigong, Muay Thai, HIIT, Pilates, Power and Hatha Yoga, Meditation, aqua aerobics and SUP. I enjoy anything in (or on) the water as I find it especially fun and keeping fit is the bonus that comes with it.
I tried Muay Thai for the first time, which I found exhilirating and a complete full body workout. It really gets the blood pumping and I gained a lot of stamina and focus.
The Rooms
There are only three things I really care for when staying in a hotel, one is the comfiness of the bed, second is the amount of natural light and third is the noise levels (meaning how peaceful and quiet it is). I loved the bed and give it full marks, it’s one of those that you feel you melt into. There was also plenty of light and a small terrace with a sea view.
The only disspointment for me was lack of sound proofing. I heard that in future, guests on the retreats will be accommodated in a different and exclusive area to avoid this.
Luckily, there’s also the option to stay in one of the private pool villas that come with complete privacy and 24 hour butler service.
The Food
Whilst on the AYANA wellness retreat, you are given a wellness menu at two different restaurants. Breakfast is served at Padi restaurant and lunch or dinner at Sami.
I highly vote for the breakfast menu which had plenty of yummy and healthy options, yet I felt as a vegetarian that there weren’t many choices on the healthy menu at Sami. The al a carte section had a few more options – salad, soup, pasta and pizza with gluten free also available.
The Spa
Jory is the lovely director of Spa and Wellness and was responsible for putting my AYANA wellness retreat package together and organising my itinerary.
The thing that everyone wants to try and the centre point of the spa, is the Aquatonic Thalassotherapy. An all-encompassing sensorial experience and the largest seawater thalassotherapy pool of its kind in Southeast Asia.
The Aquatonic Pool is a warm seawater labyrinth heated to the optimum temperature to rebalance mineral deficiencies, stimulate blood circulation, tonicity, and muscular rehabilitation.
It’s a two hour session where you move through a series of twelve hydromassage stations with over sixty individual jet streams, microbubbles, and geysers that massage the joints and muscles.
Besides the thalassotherapy, I got to experience two massage and healing treatments – the Seven Chakra Dhara – a relaxing Ayurvedic based ritual that uses aromatic oils on the chakra points and all over the body, weaving together Abhyanga massage, aromatherapy, gemstones, and chakra sound healing.
The other treatment was called Nakatsuji and almost felt like acupuncture – pressing deeply into my muscles. I found it very intense and quite painful, most probably because I spent many hours in front of the computer.
‘The Nakatsuji Method’ is said to release muscular pain and enhance lymphatic drainage. And the massage element of the head, neck, and shoulder, alleviates headaches and tension caused by poor posture and prolonged computer use.
I didn’t get to tick this one off my wellness wish list this time around, but next time I will be booking a treatment at one of (the two) exclusive luxury spa villas where this beautiful photo below is from. The two villas come with their own unique Spa on the Rocks ritual themed menu.
The Beach
There aren’t many beaches that you access via a cable car and that are virtually private (because it’s kind of impossible for the public to get there).
The views heading down to Kubu beach are simply magnificent and the beach itself is pristine. Depending on the sea conditions, you can swim under the supervision of the lifeguards.
The waves were too big for it during my stay but as the beach is really my ‘happy place’ I was content with just playing and listening to the waves.
For the infinity pool enthusiasts there’s the adults only cabana chic Ocean Beach Pool. This is the place to be for a chilled daytime hangout.
Rock Bar
A stay at AYANA wouldn’t be complete without a a sunset cocktail with the most stunning views at the famous Rock Bar. After all, life is all about balance right?. The photos below really speak for themselves!
Book AYANA Wellness Retreat
Visit the AYANA website for the latest offers on an AYANA wellness retreat. View the spa services and treatment menu here.
For more retreats in Bali, take a look at our Welcome Back to Bali – The Best Wellness Retreats to book guide.
