Top Alternative Treatments for Total Wellness
If you’re looking to get fit, or maybe just get body and mind in sync again, you’re in the right place. Yes, that sounds odd, seeing as how Bangkok is well-versed in the language of pleasure, but this city is just as fluent in the art of wellness. And, for that, Bangkok’s boutiques go well beyond the day spa. Here are just a few of the ways you can treat your body right, apart from the standard Thai massage.
Balanze By Hydrohealth
494 Erawan Bangkok 4F | 0 2250 7800 | hydrohealth.co.th | daily 10am-8pm
Empty yourself of excess at this world-class aesthetics and detox centre. HydroHealth seeks to bring balance to hectic modern lifestyles. And it does this particularly well with a signature four-hour detox programme, featuring three kinds of treatments. HydroHealth is also the first colon hydrotherapy centre in Bangkok, and it claims to be the largest colon hydrotherapy facility in Asia.
Cascade Club
6F,7F The Ascott Sathorn Bangkok, South Sathorn Rd | 0 2676 6969 | cascadeclubandspa.com | Mon-Fri 6am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-9pm
This five-star health club was established for the work hard, play hard crowd in the neighbourhood to blow off steam and lead healthier lifestyles. The gym features the latest equipment and some truly top-notch instructors while the club itself has a luxury spa and its own bistro and wine bar (okay, maybe the wine is better for the mind than the body). Regular classes include yoga, pilates, Zumba, body combat, body pump, and aerobics. Best start off with an assessment from one of the personal trainers, who can design a bespoke fitness regimen to whip you into the shape you want.
Glitterati Nail Lounge
2F, 66/4 Mille Malle, Sukhumvit 20 | 08 3423 3334, 0 2663 6033 | glitteratinaillounge.com | daily 10am-8.30pm
Fingers calloused from the keyboard? Glitterati Nail Lounge has you covered. This elegant, full-service nail salon offers manicures, pedicures, and a variety of hand and foot spa treatments. Only the best products from industry-leading brands are used by a well-trained team of nail technicians and nail artists. New items are regularly added to a collection of mainly natural, vegan, and safe to apply products (in fact, they’re so safe that even children and pregnant women can use them without worry). Prices are affordable, too, so you can feel good about coming back—and often.
Rajadamnern Singha Muay Thai Academy
3F Seenspace 13, Thonglor 13 | 0 2185 2384 | rsm-academy.com | daily 10am-9pm
Get your kicks and work off some stress at the RSM Academy. All ages and abilities are welcome to explore Muay Thai here. Renowned fighters and trainers with expertise in both martial arts and fitness training make up the staff. But it’s not just for fighters. Alongside certified training programmes for competitive Thai boxers, the academy also offers plans to suit those seeking an engaging and social health and fitness programme. The approach here is extremely personal, too, eschewing the detached style of many flashy health clubs and combat training centres.
Theta State Float Center
88/1 24th Avenue Mall, Sukhumvit 24 | 0 2261 7943 | thetastatefloat.com | Tues-Sun 11am-8pm
“Samadhi tanks” enjoyed a brief heyday in the ‘70s following the publication of Dr John Lilly’s hallucinatory sensory-deprivation experiments in The Center of the Cyclone. Pro athletes discovered more recently that flotation tank sessions miraculously speed up recovery. The womblike experience encourages theta brain waves, associated with deep relaxation and meditation, and the body experiences total relief from pressure points while absorbing a medical-grade salt mixture that conditions skin and relieves muscle tension. Floating for an hour or two in the soundproof, lightproof, temperature-controlled chambers is the perfect antidote to frenetic Bangkok.
TRIA Re-Life Villa
998/9 Rimklongsamsen Rd, Huay Kwang | 0 2660 2620 | triawellness.com
All-in-one TRIA offers healing and wellness from top to bottom. Specialist teams and world-class facilities provide patients with comprehensive care according to their needs. Doctors, nutritionists, chiropractors—every specialist is experienced in Eastern and Western medicine, so you can find the most effective therapy for you. Start with consultations and then move on to detox programmes or facial and skin treatments, or simply get in a good sweat at the spa and fitness centres. For traditionalists, check out the Chinese medicine on offer, including herbal therapy and acupuncture.
Yunomori Japanese Onsen & Spa
A-Square, Sukhumvit 26 | 0 2259 5778 | yunomorionsen.com | daily 10.30am – 12am
Bare all at Bangkok’s first true Japanese Onsen. Yunomori offers a wide range of Onsen baths with mineral water sourced from natural springs at Wat Wangkanai in Kanchanaburi. This is very much a retreat from the hectic pulse of city life. The Onsen, spa, café, and beauty clinic nurture tired minds and sore bodies back to health, whether for an hour or a day. The options are many, from traditional mineral water baths to modern therapies, such as the soda spa with carbon dioxide-rich water, an open-air bath in a Japanese garden, a soak in a teak tub, and invigorating cold baths.
