B

ali has seen a growing number of wellness revivals in the past few years, with many retreats offering attractive programs, including increasingly popular detoxification programs.

By staying in a wellness retreat, a guest can focus on undertaking the detoxifying process in an environment that is supporting the aim.

Holistic experts offer personalized assistance on designing a program that fits a person's health status, monitoring the ongoing condition during the detoxification and giving personal consultations.

The programs offered are usually available at certain periods and vary from one retreat to another.

Most, however, offer a combination of limited diets and light activities, as well as body treatments to maximize results.

Oxygen Detox

Karma Spa offers exciting Oxygen Detox programs that supply an abundant amount of oxygen to the body through several activities.

Judy Chapman, the spa curator at Karma Spa, explained that having enough oxygen in the blood is essential for health.

Visitors can select short programs that only last half a day to one day, although guests can opt to arrange a detox program that lasts longer.

With just one day of detox, guests can eliminate the toxins ingested from the food and alcohol consumed during their holiday, while enjoying treatments and the spa's exceptional facilities.

A private yoga session starts the program at the resort. Here, guests can practice Pranayama yogic breathing while enjoying the ocean breeze and magnificent view.

Next is a 30-minute rejuvenation session in the infrared sauna and a two-hour detoxifying massage using salt and the best marine products, which increases circulation in the body and oxygen in the blood.

Ultimately, guests are infused with oxygen by having a rejuvenating oxygen facial, which has been experienced by some of the world's top celebrities.

A generous healthy breakfast and lunch, combined with nutritious juice creations by Karma's world-class juicologist, Yianni Giannopoulos, are served in between the sessions to nourish the body from the inside.

Fasting Programs

Como Shambhala Estate, one of the pioneer wellness resorts in Bali, offers an extensive range of detox programs based on fasting or special diets and design programs that can support the elimination of toxins.

Sally Halstead, spa and programs manager at Como Shambhala Estate, said that fasting was a common feature of many ancient traditions and civilizations, and it has always been carried out in an effort to clean the body while also having links to spiritual cleansing.

At the estate, guests follow custom-made fasting programs based on the guests' current health, which last from three and four nights to seven or eight, depending on what the guests need and desire.

Special diets come in seven levels. The first level is the easiest type ' what Halstead calls the Clean Diet ' by removing allergens in highly toxic foods and gradually restricting the diet by only offering raw food.

At the more extreme end of the scale, a guest's menu is limited to liquid juices, vegetable broth and coconut water, while the most extreme form of fasting is to not eat anything for a certain length of time.

'We do something quieter, with a soft approach. We have different levels of fasting and can offer programs that people can follow so that they get the full benefits from the programs,' Halstead says.

The center also comes with experts, including a yoga teacher, an Ayurvedic doctor, a Chinese acupuncturist and a nutritionist along with other facilities, such as a hydrotherapy pool, a steam room and sauna.

While following their detox programs, guests are advised to undertake light activities, such as yoga, chi gong ' a martial art like kung fu but carried out with slower movements ' or taking a gentle walk through the lush surroundings.

Herbal remedies

At another detox retreat, Bagus Jati, guests can familiarize themselves with local herbal remedies or jamu and experience the benefits.

Many people in Bali and Java regularly drink jamu. In Bali, jamu is called loloh and the Balinese make jamu from many simple ingredients, such as roots, leaves and fruit, that are easily found in their own gardens.

According to Wayan Gina, Bagus Jati's holistic expert, this traditional herbal medicine is made to suit the guest's taste.

Since many guests come from overseas, they make jamu with a mild flavor using a combination of turmeric, lime, egg white and honey.

'Tumeric has many benefits. It contains yodium, which is good for protecting the stomach and colon. Lime is a high source of vitamin C, while honey and also eggs are high in protein,' Wayan said.

The jamu acts as a natural food supplement for guests who also follow detox programs at the center, believing it balances their digestive systems.

Wayan Gina often demonstrates the jamu-making process to introduce this powerful herbal medicine to his guests.

Wayan said the ingredients used in his jamu were sourced from the retreat's own garden.

Set in 5 hectares surrounded by forest in Sebatu village, Ubud, the retreat supplies its own organic vegetables, planted among its exotically designed villas.

Wayan Gina also leads a yoga session every morning and afternoon in the tranquil yoga room located above the Jati River. Completing the program, guests receive personal motivation sessions, counseling, acupuncture and detoxifying spa and reflexology treatments.

'Intan Tanjung