Healthy Spa Recipes from our favourite holistic spa

As part of our Health & Wellness 2010 Series

From the age of 5, Kai had a passion for cooking. He started early with his first job in the kitchen at an Austrian ski resort at the age of 16 and from there moved on to London where he worked at Mossimann’s who pioneered healthier cooking through Cuisine Naturelle, healthy foods which do not sacrifice on taste. From there, Kai went to Thailand in 2006 to take the position as Executive chef at Kamalaya. Evolving his approach to healthy cuisine by blending it with Thai culinary traditions, Kai worked with Kamalaya to develop a healthy, spa cuisine menu that is shockingly good and good for you.

To make the spa cuisine that Kamalays guests rave about, Kai focuses on building flavours through curry pastes and herbs rather than butter. And he uses all of the herb when cooking. For example, the stem and root of the coriander it is much more potent that the leaves of the herb. Plus fresh herbs have great antioxidant benefits. Nuts and seeds and high fiber grains are a dominant part of Kai’s cuisine along with high quality proteins like fish, chicken and legumes. He also prefers to use virgin coconut oilwhen cooking at high heat – it has a higher smoking point, so doesn’t break down as quickly. In most tropical coastal areas, like that of Koh Samui, this is the oil that locals use (instead of corn oil) – if you have ever been to Thailand, you will see they are all quite thin and healthy. When cooking at low heat he likes to use sesame oil or olive oil.

Kai shared with us some of Kamalaya’s recipes (a couple of my personal favourites), for you to try at home.

Stir Fried Glass Noodles (Serves 2)
Ingredients:
Glass noodles (soaked for 2 hours) 120g
Carrot, cut into thin half moons 40g
Cauliflower, cut into bite size florets 50g
Broccoli, cut into bite size florets 50g
Snow peas 30g
Asparagus, cut into 3cm sticks 30g
Shitake mushrooms, whole 20g
Cabbage, shredded 20g
Carrot, shredded 20g
Shallots 10g
Lemongrass, sliced very fine 5g
Ginger, chopped very fine 5g
Spring onions, sliced very fine 5g
Sesame oil 5ml
Tamarind juice 30ml
Bean sprouts 60g
Sesame seeds 10g
Sea salt Dash
Coriander leaf (garnish) 5g
Garlic 3g

Instructions:
Heat the sesame oil in a wok or frying pan over medium heat. Add the lemongrass, ginger and shallots and sauté for 15 seconds. Next, add the carrot, cauliflower, broccoli, snow peas, asparagus and shitake mushrooms. Stir for another 15 seconds before adding the drained noodles, tamarind juice and a dash of sea salt .Keep stirring (or it will stick to the pan) until heated through, this should take about 30 seconds. Just before you remove the pan from the heat stir in the spring onions, bean sprouts and sesame seeds. Place in the center of a plate and garmish with coriander.

Poached Sea Bass with Soya and Thai Seafood Sauce (Serves 2)
Ingredients:
Sea bass filet, 2 filets 320g
Ginger 30g
Celery  30g
Spring Onion 30g
Red Chilli  15g
Soya Sauce mix (see below) 180g
Sea salt Dash
Black Pepper Dash
Vegetable stock 250ml
Thai seafood sauce (see below) 100ml
Coconut or Sesame Oil 40ml
Lime juice 20ml
Bay leaf 1 leaf

Soya Sauce Mix:(makes approximately 250ml)
Carrot, with skin 100g
Celery  100g
Onion  100g
Soy sauce  100ml
White soya sauce 40ml
Vegetable stock  300ml

Thai Seafood Sauce: (makes 300ml)
Fish sauce  150ml
Lime juice  150ml
Garlic clove, finely chopped  4 pcs
Chilli, finely chopped   3 pcs
Palm sugar 1tbsp
Coriander root, finely chopped 2 pcs

Instructions:
Begin by preparing the Soya Sauce Mix at least 1 hour before you need it. Cut all vegetables into 5cm slices. Place all ingredients into a wide pot and simmer on a low temperature for 1 hour. Strain the liquid, discard vegetables. Store the liquid in the refrigerator until you need it (you can also freeze leftover and use later).

Prepare the Thai Seafood Sauce by placing all ingredients in a blender and blending for 1-2 minutes. Place mixture into a serving bowl.

Now you are ready to prepare the fish. Cut the ginger, celery and spring onion into fine strips, but not as thin as julienne. Heat the vegetable stock in a saucepan to a very light simmer and season with the bay leaf, celery, lime juice and sea salt. Place the fish into the pan and poach for 7-10 minutes. Once the fish is cooked, remove from saucepan. (If you want, you can save the stock for a clear fish soup later.)

Meanwhile heat the soya sauce mix and the sesame oil in separate and small sauce pans.

To serve place the cooked fish skin side up on the plate with the vegetable strips on top. Drizzle with the warmed soya sauce followed by a drizzle of the warm sesame oil. Serve with the Thai seafood sauce on the side.

Kamalaya Koh Samui
102/9 Moo 3, Laem Set Road, Na-Muang
Koh Samui, Suratthani 84140 Thailand
Telephone: +66 (0) 77 429 800
Fax: +66 (0) 77 429 899

An endless array of holistic therapies at this tranquil island spa

I generally have a rule of not visiting the same place twice. I prefer to expand my horizons and challenge myself to see and do new things. However, I recently returned to Kamalaya in Koh Samui. Our more dedicated readers may remember I went to Kamalaya last year to do a detox program. Well, this year when the time came to take a break after a seriously demanding year, I could think of no better place to do it than Kamalaya Koh Samui. In fact, Kamalaya wellness retreat is of such a high standard of excellence that I can foresee returning again and again.

My overall goal on this trip was to reconnect with myself, and bring back some tools to my daily life that would encourage balance and long term wellness. So this time, rather than detox, I chose to do a program called Asian Bliss – a program combining the Asian holistic therapies of Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Reiki, Pranayama (yogic breathing), Naturopathy and various spa treatments including Thai Massage, Herbal Compress Massage, and traditional Asian hand and foot massage. I also added on private yoga instruction – I have a couple of tight, low mobility areas in my body and I wanted to address with specific areas with a yoga routine that I could do at home or in a hotel room.

Also this time, Paul came along with me. Paul chose the Relax & Renew program which was a combination of massages (1-2x / day featuring a variety including Oil Massage, Indian Head Massage, Hand and Foot Massages, Thai massage, etc) and he decided to add on an acupuncture session as well. Paul had just been in the US for a while and was hoping to get back into a healthy pattern and lose a few kilos. The steaks and beers and other heavy foods during his visit to Texas had taken their toll, and he was feeling a bit sluggish.

(If you are not sure which program would benefit you most before booking, naturopathic doctor meets with you upon arrival for a complimentary consult and can help advise and guide you.)

In our opinion, the therapies at Kamalaya are unparalleled. The therapists are of the highest caliber, trained on-site by management. And the specialists, like the TCM doctors and Ayuvedic practitioners are highly skilled. Further, Kamalaya enhances their staff from time to time with visiting practitioners who are best in class in their fields. For example, I saw Dr Song when I was there, a TCM doctor who had recently completed an 8-month sabbatical in China enhancing his TCM knowledge. I was astonished when just by reading my pulse, he was able to tell me about every health concern that I had (stiff and painful shoulder, insomnia, low energy, headaches, etc…). I spent 2 hours with Dr Song where he used acupuncture, moxibustion, and bonesetting (spinal manipulation similar to chiropractic). Even though our appointment was only one hour long, he told me that I was not going anywhere until we addressed my core physical issues. And I slept that night….for the first time in 3 months…soundly, without interruption and woke up with a feeling of refreshment that astonished me. (If you would like to try Tai Chi or Qi Gong, Dr. Song also teaches these at Kamalaya.)

Similarly, the Ayurvedic therapies are stunningly good. I think my hands down, favorite treatment at Kamalaya is the Indian Head Massage – on both visits, I enjoyed this, and myself and other guests all consistently rave about it. And now it is Paul’s favorite too…he was so blissed out that over lunch we sat quietly mesmerized by the sea and saying very little…just enjoying a deep sense of ultimate relaxation. Also, I tried Shirodara (a massage where warm oil drips onto the forehead continuously) and Royal Ayurvedic Massage. The Avuryedic treatments were consistently high calibre with an intuitive and experienced therapist who adeptly reads the body and adjusts the treatment to uniquely fit the individual.

Beyond the programs themselves, we enjoyed yoga and pilates classes, the steam cavern and the fantastic spa cuisine at Kamalaya. I don’t know how they manage to do it, but the food is absolutely and unequivocally delicious. They manage to keep it super healthy (with an emphasis on high quality proteins like fish and chicken, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and healthy, flavorful grains) while not losing any flavor.

The result is that every meal is thoroughly satisfying without feeling like one is sacrificing. And beyond the food itself, meals are served in a tranquil environment overlooking the hills of Kamalaya and the sea, so not only is the body nourished, the view itself provides a deep sense of serenity at mealtime.

For those of you who might want to splurge, there is that option as well with chocolate soufflés, wine and more available. Kamalaya is not about deprivation.

While all of this might sound like what one would expect for a spa of this caliber, there is something special about Kamalaya… a feeling that is ephemeral yet consistently present. Maybe it is because everyone that works on site is trained to level 1 in Reiki, or maybe it is because the spa itself is built around an old monks cave.

Its hard to put one’s finger on it, but this is clearly a magical place in which to take a step back from the demands of the world and take on a unique wellness journey and reconnect with oneself. It’s no wonder that they have recently been awarded Best Wellness Retreat by Spa Asia Crystal Awards and Best Destination Spa by Asia Spa Baccarat Awards.

After a week at Kamalaya, we felt renewed and rejuvenated…clear of mind and pure of body. Paul lost a few kilos (without actually being on a weight-loss program) and was decidedly chilled out. I was sleeping soundly and that nasty, persistent pain in my shoulder was gone. But not only that, we also brought back many tools to help us make the feeling long lasting. I have finally made the switch from coffee to green tea. We are cooking more at home, inspired by Kamalaya’s cuisine. I have embarked on a 6-day a week exercise program with a focus on yoga. I have vowed to make massage a weekly part of my routine and so far, I have managed to keep this vow. Sure it is only January (you might skeptically observe), but I am realizing more and more that health is a choice…something I learned at Kamalaya. And as Karina Stewart, one of the founders says, “we can either take a proactive role with regard to our own conditions or take the consequences of living a life of lower quality.”

If you are considering a spa or wellness retreat we would, without hesitation, recommend Kamalaya Koh Samui. Whether you want to Detox, try the Ideal Weight Program or simply relax was Paul did with the Relax & Renew program, Kamalaya is treat for yourself not to be missed.

Kamalaya Koh Samui
102/9 Moo 3, Laem Set Road, Na-Muang
Koh Samui, Suratthani 84140 Thailand
Telephone: +66 (0) 77 429 800
Fax: +66 (0) 77 429 899

CocoLoco Smoothie

200 mL coconut water
50 mL coconut flesh
100 mL banana
5 mL tahini
1 ice cube

Directions: Blend all ingredients in a blender until fully smooth. Garnish with a slice of pineapple an orchid flower.

Shitake Carrot Soup

100 g carrots
150 g shitake mushrooms
300 g pumpkin seed milk (or soymilk as substitute)
300 g vegetable stock
1 g cayenne pepper
80 g straw mushroom
30 g shallots
5 g virgin coconut oil

Directions: Heat a sauce pan to medium heat – add oil and shallot and sauté for 5 seconds. Next add all vegetables and sauté for another 10 seconds. The add vegetable stock and pumpkin seed milk. Simmer lightly for 15 minutes, check to see if carrots are soft. Then transfer the soup to a blender and puree. Put the pureed mixture back in the sauce pan and reduce to a nice creamy soup.

Vegetable Maki Roll

15 g carrot
15 g asparagus
15 g cucumber
20 g avocado
180g brown rice
1 sheet dried nori
2 tbsp rice vinegar

Directions: Season warm brown rice with the rice vinegar – work the vinegar in with your hands until the rice mixture starts to stick together like sushi rice. Blanche the carrot and asparagus for 2 minutes, then cool in an ice water bath. Now, place the seaweed sheet on a sushi mat (a bamboo mat designed to help roll the sushi) and spread the rice mixture over 2 thirds of the sheet, leaving the upper third empty. Stack the vegetables neatly and length-wise on the widest part of the sheet. Then roll the seaweed sheet using the mat to press and roll. Close the sushi roll by wetting the empty one third of the seaweed sheet with water and then sealing closed. Cut the roll into 9 slices and serve with your favorite dipping sauce. We recommend low sodium soy sauce with wasabi paste.

Kamalaya calls itself a “wellness sanctuary and holistic spa.” And with a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor, a Naturopathic doctor and a Director of Medicine with a background in Western Medicine, they offer the most comprehensive approach to wellness I have seen. And all within a tranquil seaside setting that will leave one breathless. The entire center is cut into the hillside in such a way that it seems it was always destined to be there – the villas and the other Thai-style structures blend with the natural environment in a way that is completely serene and organic.

While there are many programs to choose from at Kamalaya (or simply none at all, just enjoy the experience), I chose the Detox & Cellular Rejuvenation program…lured by the promise of correcting imbalances and emerging with pure, cleansed system free of toxins and enhanced cellular function. My 7-day retreat cost 60,400 THB ($2784 SGD / $1673 USD), plus accommodation and included all my meals, approximately 3 spa treatments a day and any of the many available fitness classes available. My program started with a thorough medical evaluation by a skilled nurse and then a consultation with a Naturopath. Also included in my package was a regimen of low glycaemic, vegetarian diet, colon cleansing, herbal supplements, protein shakes and spa treatments specially chosen to further encourage the detox process in the body.

The cuisine of Kamalaya
Kai Mueller, the Executive Chef of Kamalaya, expertly supervises all spa restaurants. Kai managed to repeatedly turn out inspired healthy cuisine that feels at once pure and clean yet also nourishing and satisfying. I had the opportunity to spend some time with Kai for a cooking lesson and he showed me how to make 3 of the recipes I most enjoyed while I was at Kamalaya, the Shitake Carrot Soup, a Vegetable Maki Roll and a to-die-for smoothie called CocoLoco.

The spa at Kamalaya
The detox program is supported by spa treatments designed to enhance the detoxification process. All done from a birds eye view overlooking the placid sea, I enjoyed the Vital Essence Massage, Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Asian foot massage, Thai body massage, Herbal Detoxifying Body Scrub and Wrap and many more outstanding treatments. My favourite though was the Indian Head Massage…based on the ancient healing system of Ayurveda, this treatment is used to massage and relieve tension from shoulders, neck, back and scalp. The massage is sublime with a rich, yummy smelling coconut oil my therapist uses firm yet gentle pressure to release tension. A tip for women – leave the coconut oil on your hair for an hour before shampooing and you will experience the most glossy mane of hair.

I do want to spend another second talking about the colon cleansing part of the program. Having never experienced a colonic, I was quite nervous about the process. Will it hurt? How does it feel during and also after? Is it healthy? After taking 3 colon cleanses during my stay, I can say that it is absolutely safe (administered by registered nurse) and painless. And not only that, it really is an integral part of the process – I felt healthy and full of vitality, with a level of natural energy that surprised me.

The people of Kamalaya
In this most exotic and beautiful of settings, the staff exhibited a level of service I have yet to see anywhere else in Thailand…after day one, they remembered my name, the juice I preferred at breakfast and even the book I was reading! And because I was by myself, I was invited by the staff to join the “community table” at mealtimes. This was a specially designated table where those travelling alone could take meals and chat with other guests.

It was here that I had the opportunity to have breakfast with one of the founders, John Stewart. John is an American who has been in Asia since age 16, studying in the Himalayas with a spiritual guru and yogi. John and his wife found the Kamalaya site during a time of mourning after the guru’s passing, and in meditating upon the site, felt moved to build what is now Kamalaya.  In John’s own words, “Kamalaya was created to offer a nurturing environment to guests, so that people feel immediately intrigued, full of excitement, and at the same time welcomed, comfortable, and at ease, like they are in a magical little village.”

More about Kamalaya….

Kamalaya invites guests to “reconnect with life’s potential” and integrates ancient and contemporary holistic medicine and healing traditions. Guests can choose a la carte services, embark on an individual wellness program or join a group retreat.

Treatments include:

• Practices from Traditional Chinese Medicine, such as Tui Na, acupuncture; Western Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Ayurvedic therapies (shirodhara, Kati Vasti, etc), Sound healing, emotional and spiritual healing, as well as the more usual spa treatments.
• Wellness programs: Asian Bliss, Balance & Revitalise, Detox & Rejuvenation, Ideal Weight, Introduction to Detox, Optimal Fitness, Personal Yoga Synergy, Relax & Renew.
• Signature Wellness Retreat: Essential Detox
• Holistic Fitness: daily classes may include yoga, tai chi, chi gong, pranayama, Pilates, meditation and spirit dance.
• Retreats & Events: In addition to Kamalaya’s signature wellness retreats, hosted retreats with visiting specialists range from corporate workshops to events in meditation, spiritual philosophies, yoga, dance and the arts.
• Spirit Cave: At the heart of Kamalaya is a cave that once served Buddhist monks as a place of meditation and spiritual retreat. This cave is available for meditation or as a quiet place to sit and reflect.

Kamalaya Koh Samui
www.kamalaya.com
102/9 Moo 3, Laem Set Road, Na-Muang
Koh Samui, Suratthani 84140 Thailand
Telephone: +66 (0) 77 429 800
Fax: +66 (0) 77 429 899

All photos provided by Kamalaya from their media kit. Copyright © by Kamalaya Co.Ltd. All rights reserved.