Sarah Douglas visits Karma Kandara’s latest spa options for a hedonistic and healthy lifestyle.
The inclinator that transports you down to Karma Beach is, to my mind, one of the world’s best mood enhancers. Edging closer to the clear blue water that laps the beach, looking out towards the endless horizon … pure bliss.
Karma Kandara is defined by its spectacular location. Spacious pool villas are spread out across the cliff face, surrounded by coral walls. Stone paths meander through beautiful gardens and glimpses of the expansive views frame the experience.
Karma has always had a strong commitment to wellness, with a fabulous curated spa, a range of wellness packages, yoga and fitness programs, visiting health practitioners offering different modalities and optional health-based menus.
The Cliff Spa has a philosophy of welcoming guests from outside the resort, with people regularly coming from all over the island to enjoy their signature spa. With spectacular views across the ocean and windows that open wide to welcome the breeze, it’s one of the most geographically blessed spas on the island.
Down the newly renovated hill tram is Karma Beach, the resort’s private beach and the location of the new Segara Ocean Spa, fashioned from a rustic reclaimed fisherman’s hut. Here guests experience sea-infused cures and treatments, soothed by the sounds of lapping waves.
Nearby, the seaside Yoga Bale, offers complimentary yoga, as well as tai chi, pilates and muay thai Boxing classes, as well as Sunday Thai Massages in the open-air bale overlooking the ocean. Taking a class, whether it is yoga or pilates or something more active, with the sound and the spray of the waves just a few feet away is as close as you get to a natural high.
The introduction of Sunday Wellness invites guests coming to Karma Beach to enhance their day of relaxation, world class DJs and cuisine, by taking advantage of complimentary yoga and optional healthy brunch. Muay thai boxing, tai chi, pilates and TRX classes are also available at an additional cost.
Sunday Wellness begins with one hour of yoga flow from 9-10am. This is followed by a plant-based vegan brunch complete with wellness tonics. The package costs Rp550,000++ for outside guests and includes entrance to the stunning Karma Beach Club.
As one of the island’s leading spas, Karma has won countless prestigious awards, including two Yak Awards. Curated by leading international Spa Consultant Judy Chapman, treatments here evolve in response to the guest’s needs and demands. Expect to experience a range of uplifting sea-inspired therapies inclusive of Feel-Good Facial, Salty Glow warm sea salt scrub and a Cool It aloe-vera hydration treatment.
Next in line is a Sleep Ceremony Ritual to help sleep deprived guests unwind and sleep soundly. As well, a ‘Screen Escape’ to help counter issues caused from staring at a screen all day and includes a warm ginger compress to reduce inflammation in the body. It goes without saying that all ingredients used are local, organic and sustainable.
Unique are the Segara Spa Safaris where your customized experiences are co-created with the team of bodyworkers. Feeling overloaded? Your Spa Safari may include an organic sea salt scrub with warm coconut oil to cleanse the skin followed by a divine massage delivered slowly to calm the nervous system. Suffering sleep issues? The team will curate a series of therapies to help ground your body and mind to help you rebalance. The packages include a choice of Mediterranean or wellness lunch starting at Rp 2.250.000++.
You start your three-hour Sunrise Segara with a one hour yoga or meditation session in the seaside yoga bale, followed by a choice of facial hydration, scrubs and facials followed by a sublime super food breakfast, free flow coconut water, juices and herbal teas.
Sunday has always been a popular day to enjoy the amazing Karma Beach, cool off in the clear blue sea at one of the island’s best swimming beaches, enjoy an international line up of DJ’s playing beach-inspired tunes and indulge in their Mediterranean-based menus together with a great wine and cocktail list.
The new wellness packages speak to those who want to take their health a bit more seriously, trade the sunbathing for something a little more active, cut back on the booze and celebrate a healthier way of living.
Yoga, pilates and fitness classes are offered daily at Karma, along with healthy spa-based menus, so you don’t have to wait until Sunday to sample what makes this destination spa so special. The new offerings, the bale, the ocean Spa and the Cliff Spa are open sevens days a week from sunrise to sunset.
Naturally this will also appeal to the hedonists among us, because you can have it all. With this latest offering, Karma is simply addressing the balance between indulgence and wellness, a time-honoured route to holistic happiness, for this writer at least.
