Inside the rooms, a huge Asian style teakwood bed takes centre presence, enveloped by white curtains in a tepee style suspended from the high grass-roofed ceiling. A lounge area in the corner in the same style makes for some quiet reading time or meditation.
Fivelements believe in the power of plant-based, sun-produced, raw vegan living foods to cleanse and heal the body, mind and spirit. If you think a raw food diet is boring and bland, you just need to take a look at the menu at their Sakti dining room. ‘Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.’
This is the philosophy that runs through the kitchens here. Does sweet potato soup, live lasagne, followed by chocolate ganache cake sound less than appetising? I can confirm they are not. And it’s not often I get to eat guilt-free dessert. And with such an extensive menu and a chance to develop new tastes, a week’s really not enough. As the chef said, ‘The last thing we put in food is love.’
It’s arguably a sin to miss the opportunity to have a massage when in Bali. And indulging in a little ‘me’ time at this healing centre is truly a treat. It’s not often you get to lay on a massage table under a thatched roof, looking out onto a forest while listening to the gentle sounds of nature.
There are as many different massages available here as there are dishes on the menu. I chose the two-hour Fivelements Sakti Ritual designed to cleanse both emotionally and physically. The treatment begins with a deep muscle relaxation body massage followed by a re-mineralising crystal sea salt exfoliation.
The therapist explained how the minerals and healing properties in salt help to remain hydrated and promote cell renewal. To top off this treatment, I took a 20-minute bath ritual composed of five further powerful healing ingredients, lemongrass to activate blood circulation, Balinese orange and lime for essential vitamins, and pandan leaves and ginger to awaken your senses and clear the head.
To continue clearing the head, the pool is a great place to relax. You can either immerse yourself in the circular heated Watsu therapy pool with chromotherapy lighting and listening to underwater music or use the larger pool for laps and relaxation. Whatever your choice you will be left in total bliss without a care of what’s going on in the outer world. You’ll walk away with a total sense of awareness and mental clarity. I know I did. Oh, and a new healthy interest in raw foods.
Fivelements, Puri Ahimsa – Where and how?
Fivelements have recently won Spa Retreat of the Year 2013 (AsiaSpa Awards) and to celebrate they are offering a special discount on the signature retreats. For more information visit here: www.fivelements.org
We flew to Denpasar Bali with Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong. It now has five daily flights from London’s Heathrow to Hong Kong bringing the total number of flights to 35 every week. For more information visit www.cathaypacific.co.uk
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