October 21st saw the unveiling of Karma Royal’s flagship spa in India within the grounds of the well-established Haathi Mahal resort in the famed southern resort district of Goa.

Enter a world of pure harmony where white stone floors, arched walls, domed ceilings and flowing drapes create a temple experience. Karma spa offers a menu of natural, luxurious and healing experiences in sanctuary surrounds. Renew your being amid the seductive white marble steam room with a star-like sky. The spa features all white chamber-like therapy rooms inclusive of a traditional Kerala ayurvedic therapy room and couples treatment room. As well, a more communal and relaxed Spa Club Lounge, fitted out with a complimentary tea bar is where pedicures and foot rituals are performed.

Opening mid-November is Karma Spa at Royal Palms that will be something to talk about. Imagine cool green stone tiles with bamboo arched entrances and soft flowing drapes. Following this, Beach Club will be created from exquisite jaisalmer yellow stone sourced from Jaipur. The jaisalmer stone steam room features a slab of stone whereby scrubs & mud wraps can be performed. Next year will see the opening
of Karma Spa at Monterio.

Ingredients used in Karma spa treatments are pure and natural, with the theme all about crystals, gems & jewels. Offerings are a mix of traditional Ayurvedic curatives like the Shirodhara and Podikkizy (where warm herbal compresses are pressed and pounded along the body to soothe any sore muscles), as well as Asian therapies like the traditional Thai massage and the signature ‘Tibetan Singing Bowl massage’. Sublime spa facials are delivered with pure Indian rosewater and exquisite aromatherapy compresses while the purifying Himalayan crystal salt scrub is the ideal choice for those who want to cleanse & renew. All this plus an on-site Ayurvedic physician to prescribe programs tailored to the individual.

Last month also saw the opening of a K Spa at the Royal Bali Beach Club resort in Jimbaran, Bali. This boutique spa haven offers a menu of zen massages, organic facials and affordable manicures and pedicures.

What makes Karma spas significant is that all therapists are being trained by various masters in their field including Ayurveda, yoga, nutrition and Chinese medicine. As well, they have recieved Level 1 Reiki training which they infuse into their healing treatments. Karma’s commitment to local and sustainable ingredients is revealed through a boutique collection of limited edition organic spa products. Most significantly, by 2010, every Karma Spa aims to be a mostly chemical-free environment inclusive of organic linens & uniforms, amenities and cleaning fluids.

“Karma Spas represents the entire wellness sector of our resorts worldwide, We combine all that one would expect to find at a 5 star Asian spa, along with many things one would not; such as health and fitness programs led by international sports people, star make-up artists to celebrity healers. Our focus is to deliver holistic and transformative experiences to our guests.” says Chairman, John Spence.

Karma Spa is an initiative of the Karma Royal Group, and can aslo be found at Karma Jimbaran, Karma Kandara and Karma Samui.

Wellness & Spa Curator for the Karma Royal resorts is Judy Chapman, well known in the global spa industry. From the hot springs of Japan to the ancient spas of Eastern Europe and Ayurvedic spas of India, Judy has spent the past two decades exploring the best spas around the world. She started her career as co-founder of Sanctum Pure Body Products, Australia’s first designer natural spa & skincare line with spas in Sydney and Byron Bay and has consulted with several brands and spas. She is the previous Editor-in-Chief for Spa Asia magazine and author of 4 books on spas.

 

We all need time to enjoy the finer aspects of life and there is no better time to do that, than when taking holidays.

As a family man myself, living in a world where these days we all seem to have to work extra hard, I believe that we therefore cherish, all the more, the simple pleasures in life as well as any quality time we manage to spend with the family...

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