Bio-Feedback Rebalance is a heart-focused breathing technique that helps you to understand how your emotions can either deplete or renew your mind, body and spirit, and how these reactions profoundly impact your wellbeing. By practising Bio-Feedback Rebalance, you can manage stress more effectively and reduce its impact. The technique will objectively show the dynamic interaction between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, as well as demonstrate how breathing patterns can promote balance within the autonomic nervous system.

Prana means breath, respiration, life, vitality, wind, energy or strength. Ayama means length, expansion, stretching or restraint. Pranayama is therefore the science of breath, or the extension of breath and its control. Even as emotional excitement affects the rate of breathing, deliberate regulation of respiration keeps emotional excitement in check. Regular practice of pranayama will slow your heart and bring a subjective experience of relaxation. Proper breathing techniques can create space for personal healing and transformational growth.

The human body is a complex organism with the innate ability to heal itself when we learn how to listen to it and respond by supporting its needs. The Naturopathic approach seeks to find the underlying causes of your symptoms, remove obstacles to healing, and implement appropriate changes that restore the body’s natural tendency to return to health. Naturopaths use herbs, homeopathy, nutritional supplements, lifestyle modification, exercise, detoxification and the concept of food-as-medicine to help put your health back on track. Chiva-Som offers a full naturopathic dispensary of herbs and supplements which may be prescribed during the consultation.

As one of the five interdependent branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this treatment begins with a diagnosis along traditional Chinese methods, which includes thorough history-taking and identifying significant signs from pulse and tongue analysis. Acupuncture treatment helps reduce blockages, stimulate energy flow, and restore balance in the body, mind and spirit. Acupuncture treatment has been shown effective in helping relieve aches and pains, insomnia, digestive disorders, stress and chronic immune dysfunction as well as to generally improve wellbeing.

Shiatsu is known as Japanese acupressure, which is acupuncture without needles. Shiatsu manipulates acupuncture points to stimulate the body’s self-healing system through a traditional Japanese massage technique using vertical and continuous pressure. Shiatsu Acupressure can help you relax and cope with stress, muscle pain, nausea, anxiety or depression. The treatment is tailored to your specific needs, and is safe during pregnancy and for all health conditions.

By quickly lancing the skin, a few drops of blood expressed from one or more of the peripheral acupuncture points provides therapeutic benefit through the “release” of excess heat or stagnant qi (chi or energy). The stimulation of Seiketsu points helps the autonomic nervous system to improve the flow of energy in the meridians, restoring neurological balance and aiding relaxation. Additionally, this technique will have a calming effect on motor and sensory nerves, helping to relax excessively tight muscles and relieve common complaints of muscle spasms, pain and tension.

This highly regarded healing procedure is the combination of modern scientific understanding and an ancient system of medicine once only available to occupants of the Royal courts. Using only the fingers and palms, practitioners unblock the 10 main health lines, akin to meridians in Chinese medicine, which allows restoration and energy flow to the whole body, creating wellness and vitality. Sufferers of acute or chronic pain, migraines, digestive or pelvic ailments and joint discomfort may sense immediate improvement of symptoms after this deep tissue and hot compress massage. Follow up treatments may begin with Thai herbal steam the use of traditional Thai herbs which can be obtained from our pharmacy on prescription of our Traditional Thai Medicine specialist.

Bamboo Massage’ offers a gentle, natural healing experience for stress relief and overall well-being. Bamboo Therapy Massage harnesses the innate healing power of bamboo to promote wellness and rejuvenation. This unique form of massage therapy offers numerous benefits for the body, mind, and spirit. The therapist uses the bamboo stick are carefully selected for their smooth texture, strength, and flexibility to apply various massage techniques, such as rolling, kneading, and tapping, along the body. Bamboo sticks provide a gentle, comfortable massage, applying targeted pressure to relieve muscle tension and promote deep relaxation, ensuring a customised and effective massage experience. Let's delve into the remarkable healing properties of bamboo and explore why it has become a sought-after treatment for stress relief and overall well-being.

A speciality at Chiva-Som, Thailand’s unique abdominal massage works directly over the navel and surrounding abdominal areas where stress, tension and negative emotions accumulate. If this area is congested, the circulating energy of the body is blocked, slowly weakening internal organs and decreasing energy and vitality. Chi Nei Tsang helps to quickly release negative emotions and tension, bringing comfort to the abdomen and vital energy to the organs. This technique is particularly effective for those who have digestive problems. A course of three treatments is recommended for optimal benefits.

Ear-abdominal reflexology is an effective alternative to Chi Nei Tsang or abdominal massage, ideal for those who prefer a lighter touch. Ear Ab Reflex stimulates points in the ears that reflect the associated organs in the body, based on the same meridian principles as TCM. By facilitating energy flow within the major systems of the body from the ear reflex points, the body can be restored to its optimal function.

The combination of the use of gemstones with Reiki can have very positive effects. Reiki enhances and the gemstones amplify the energy. The gemstones help by drawing negative energy out of the person’s energy field.

Shirobhyanga is one of the classical Ayurvedic Rasayana, or rejuvenation therapies. In this treatment imbalance will be ayurvedically diagnosed and individually selected medicated oil will be used to massage the head. Special attention is given to the marma points (acupressure points) so that deep and penetrating release of blockages will take place and also lymph drainage will occur. The head is the centre of the whole nervous system and when stimulated by massage the benefits are numerous and profound. Shirobhyanga can relieve many of the stresses and strains that cause tension, fatigue and insomnia.

A traditional Chinese healing method, reflexology works on the connection between specific reflex points in the feet and all other body parts. After determining these tender and tense spots, the therapist then applies pressure on the feet to alleviate the local discomfort and treat the body parts reflected. Reflexology stimulates these points in order to improve and strengthen the weak areas of the body, remove congestion and eliminate discomfort. As tensions are eased and circulation is improved, this gentle therapy encourages the body to heal itself at its own pace, often counteracting a lifetime of misuse.

Skin is the body’s biggest elimination organ, and dry skin brushing is a highly effective way to remove the dead layers and rejuvenate the healthy skin underneath. It also encourages the flow of blood and lymph to eliminate the toxins.

This unique treatment combines both physical touch and energy healing, to deeply relax and improve both blood and lymphatic circulation. The use of energy during the massage not only serves to increase the therapeutic work of the massage but also allows for a deeper state of healing and relaxation. The therapist, uses warmed, carefully selected jade stones and therapeutic oil, to relieve muscle tension and release trapped emotions. The session ends with a cooled rose quartz crystal, to emphasise the energy healing nature of this treatment and to facilitate the release of any lingering negative emotions as well as promote life-force energy.

This highly regarded healing procedure is the combination of modern scientific understanding and an ancient system of medicine once only available to occupants of the Royal courts. Using only the fingers and palms, practitioners unblock the 10 main health lines, akin to meridians in Chinese medicine, which allows restoration and energy flow to the whole body, creating wellness and vitality. Sufferers of acute or chronic pain, migraines, digestive or pelvic ailments and joint discomfort may sense immediate improvement of symptoms after this deep tissue and hot compress massage. Follow up treatments may begin with Thai herbal steam the use of traditional Thai herbs which can be obtained from our pharmacy on prescription of our Traditional Thai Medicine specialist.

Calibrate your mind, body and spirit with these simple body awakening exercises. This gentle full-body flow is designed to slowly and gently help you move from sleepy morning to energised.

Gyrotonic® exercise offers 360-degree freedom of movement, resulting in increased equilibrium through comfortable stretches that build strength in the spine. Exercises are performed on a fully-adjustable pulley tower that supports a variety of body types and levels of strength. The even and constant resistance in the handle unit and pulley tower ensures a smooth and safe experience for maximum positive effect.

This unique form of exercise incorporates many key principles of yoga, dance, gymnastics and Tai Chi as it works the joints and muscles of the entire body in a gentle yet invigorating way. Rhythmic, spiralling and undulating movements set the spine in motion and send waves of circulation through the inner organs and all other tissues of the body. These harmonious movements and their corresponding breathing patterns oxygenate the blood and stimulate the nervous system. The body and mind are re-trained to move with greater fluidity, relaxation, elegance and power.

After any exercise session it is important to stretch and relax. Our fitness team has developed a unique stretch combination to refresh and rejuvenate you at the end of your workout. Receive a full one-to-one stretch, rounded off with muscle manipulation to aid the body’s recovery process. This cooling-down treatment is also highly recommended for golfers looking to improve their swing.

Meditation is a key element of many alternative therapies, often combined with prayer, music and mantra chanting. This is not a technique, but rather a way of life and ‘detached observation of the thought process’. It describes a state of consciousness when the mind is free of scattered thoughts and various patterns. The observer (one who is doing meditation) realises that all the activity of the mind is reduced to one, and that true peace is only found within.

Pilates is a unique form of exercise that caters to the specific needs of each individual. Slow, precise movements allow you to become aware of any weakness and postural misalignment caused by injury or muscle imbalance. Your individual programme will tone up muscles and increase flexibility as well as your ‘core stability’ (functional abdominal and lower back strength, which is essential for managing back pain and other injuries). Our professionally equipped Pilates Studio will allow you to work out using many forms of Pilates, regardless of your fitness level.

Ashtanga Yoga -- the feature that distinguishes Ashtanga Yoga from the other forms of yoga is its unique movement and breathing system, or Vinyasa. Movement through the sequence of poses (Asanas) is responsible for producing heat, which, in turn, produces sweat that is both cleansing and purifying. As students progress more deeply into the practice, toxins held in the deeper layers of muscle tissue and internal organs are also released. The power of the breath is the key to this system of yoga. It draws the mind in on itself and, in so doing, yokes mind and body together. It is the breath, the energy centres (Bandhas) and the eye focus (Dristi) that, when applied together, bring about the physical and the meditative aspects of Ashtanga Yoga. The practice itself becomes a dynamic meditation. Hatha Yoga is the most popular branch of yoga and from which a lot of the styles of yoga originated. Yogis use physical poses, breathing techniques and meditation in order to bring the body into perfect health and for more spiritual elements of the mind to emerge freely. The meditative aspects of yoga can also help to develop your willpower, concentration and self-withdrawal. Hatha Yoga practice is a splendid way to cope with stress, relieve tension and promote positive moods. Vinyasa Flow - Vinyasa means linking movements. Vinyasa Flow Yoga is derived from Ashtanga Yoga, whereby the set sequence from the Ashtanga Yoga system has been ‘dissected’ to assemble a more freeform, creative approach. A typical Vinyasa Flow class begins with the Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) and continues with a variety of poses through the flowing movements of Vinyasa. Each pose will lead to the next like a continuous dance. It is advisable to be somewhat familiar with some basic yoga poses before trying Vinyasa Flow Yoga, as the pace will be quite fast. Although not essential, some basic Ashtanga Yoga experience will also be helpful. This style of Yoga is suitable for those who already have some previous experience in Yoga and are looking for a more dynamic, fun and challenging practice.

This deep hand massage is designed to thoroughly release tension that accumulates in the hands and arms from the multitude of daily tasks we use them for. Working the major channels/meridians of the arms first, reflex points in the hands are then stimulated to release deep tension.

This traditional treatment begins with a ritual cleansing of your feet and legs, letting the tension drift from your body as you experience a deep cleansing skin polish. Our signature massage for feet and legs, together with a herb-infused steamed towel wrap, will bring total relaxation and restore a sense of wellbeing.

Smell is a strong sense that influences the activity of the brain. Our specially formulated mood mists include “Release” and “Fresh”, each one a special blend of herbal extracts and essential oils selected for their healing properties. “Release” promotes harmony of the mind and calming of the emotions, while “Fresh” is a light aroma to uplift your spirit.