The Como Shambhala Experience

By Caroline Usher

COMO Shambhala Bali a.k.a “The Estate” is a lustrous natural wonder heaving with oxygen from a wild jungle valley of shimmering trees, and a roaring river named Agung that flows through a deep ravine.

This is a place where you feel the air pump into your lungs and circulate fresh blood through your veins creating an immediate flow of relief, and after living and working in the hedonistic realm of Hong Kong, with its not so clean air and many distractions, what more could your mind, body and soul possibly be craving?

Days of this raw oxygenated beauty mixed with an elite team guiding you through yoga, pilates, tai chi, martial arts, meditation, walking, hiking, climbing, biking means you are assured of receiving the best training possible. As for relaxation, lounge by the many pools on site, hang out in your sumptuous suite and enjoy a ton of spa treatments in conjunction with exquisitely flavoursome cuisine - all of these options are personally blended to suit your taste buds resulting in the most incredibly self rewarding retreat that you could ever experience.

COMO Shambhala is the crème de la crème and to add to their existing mantle of awards, AsiaSpa Awards have just granted the estate 2009 Best Spa Retreat of the Year.

Read on to get the full picture on what a programme is like, who the team are and why what they offer is so special. Also get the low down on the land, the magical healing elements of the water, the treatments and food glorious food!

The COMO Experience

After only an hour’s drive from the airport, you will be able to take a pleasant stroll to your suite or take it easy with a driver and buggy - they're available anytime. There are two restaurants perched on the edge of the hilltop, on the east side of reception. Glow serves western inspired mouth-wateringly healthy cooked cuisine and raw food, a contrast to Kudus House that offers diverse flavour combinations from around the Indonesian archipelago, India and beyond. From here, you can either walk through the modern Japanese-inspired Ojas spa lounge or through an antique wooden doorway opening out into an incredible vista - a cascading valley of trees, undulating green terraces scattered with frangipani, tall lotus flowers and the immediate surrounding jungle. An undercover lounge area is perfectly positioned so that you can take refuge from the sun while gazing through the gardens and valley.

A hydrotherapy pool is nestled on a terrace under the Ojas Spa lounge and library, and a lap pool is positioned below to catch the full extent of sunlight. This area is also ideal for sunbathing on luxurious loungers that have comforting white toweling covers and soft pillows. A pathway of lily pad stones gradually descends the terrace and continues to the buggy thoroughfare where a short ride will bring you to the various accommodations.

Accommodation

Set in and around 23 acres of jungle, the themes that follow the perimeter of the property overlooking the valley are based upon the 5 Sanskrit elements; Bayugita – Windsong; Tirta Ening – Clear Water; Tejasuara – Sound of Fire; Wanakasa – Forest in the Mist and Umabona – House of the Earth Son.

The choice is yours - Garden Rooms, Terrace Suites, Estate Villas, COMO Shambhala Suites, or if you are lavishly inclined you may want to opt for the royal suite. COMO Shambhala also offers private Retreat Villas complete with steam rooms. One thing you can be sure of, every villa, residence, suite and room offers a spacious unique interior, all luxuriously decorated – some more masculine, others feminine while the Retreat Villas are minimally modern. All guest quarters open out into the environment. Each of the residences can be booked out individually or entirely and all have their own common pool, spacious sundeck, sun loungers, a living and dining pavilion and a study that can be turned into a treatment room or kingsize bedroom.

The Cleansing Experience, Meeting Amyjo and Food Glorious Food

Set in a private sanctuary, the Wanakasa Forest in the Mist Master Suite was to be home for the next 5 days. The feeling was immediately serene. Nature was in abundance with cicadas, crickets and birds playing an ongoing symphony, so mixed with the roaring river it was a mesmerizing experience. Above all, the positioning of each COMO Suite around the perimeter of the estate maximises privacy, so you can walk around without a care, or any feeling of being watched. After settling into the suite and taking in the various intricacies of the interior design, the PA warmly sets a reminder about a meeting with the COMO Nutritionist, Amyjo Johnson.

Admittedly, there was an initial feeling of apprehension – what programme will be chosen, will this experience be regimented and fixed like other places? All fear subsided as the introductions were made. Amyjo, confident and glowing, with a natural reassuring air sets the pace immediately, “this is your time, whatever and however you would like to make the most of this 5 days is up to you. We can guide you every step of the way and if you feel that you want to change at any time you can, if you would like us to guide you with more assertion we can. This is your time to give back to you”. An overwhelming relief ensued and after an in-depth discussion on personal eating habits and other things a decision was made to try a juice fast for a day and to eat a mixture of raw and cooked vegetables, fruits and varying grains for the remaining 4 days. And so, a personal menu was created.

The Cleansing Programme was in no way difficult. The confirmed gluttonous, carnivorous, dairy and gluten fiend surprisingly gave way to a welcoming dietary change. The juicing day had the PA delivering fresh blended goodness every two hours, ending with a vegetable broth at 9pm. Of course there were moments of feeling a bit odd not
chewing, but in no way was there any hunger to stave off or any distaste for what juice was handed over, quite the opposite – a contented full feeling all day. By morning the toxins were leaving the body, which was a welcoming revelation and relief that it had in fact worked. By the time the steamed fresh vegetables with avocado and a zesty lemon dressing was delivered for lunch, it was the most deliciously tasting piece of heaven a tummy could have hoped for.

Glow Restaurant is superb at combining healthy locally sourced organic produce, herbs, various legumes and grains into extremely tasteful dishes, led by Executive Chefs Chris Millar & the fabulous Dewa. Utterly impressed by the food, a cooking masterclass was undertaken toward the end of the stay. Because this experience was so utterly perfect, we have arranged with COMO to offer our Hip readers who experience COMO a complimentary and private cooking masterclass with Dewa. You will select 3 courses from any of the menus, make each dish and then eating what you have created. You won’t regret it and you will be able to impress guests when you entertain back home.

With all this healthy food talk, there must now be a note for the carnivores. Yes there is organic wagyu beef, chicken, salmon, swordfish and prawns on the menu. Creamy pasta and other carb filled options are also present, as is a fairly basic wine list. The moral of this note is that everything is provided at COMO Shambhala, but be aware that COMO is ultimately a holistic world class wellbeing sanctuary, so you may just want to go with the flow and take as much advantage of this opportunity and chill out from your ‘normal’ lifestyle for a few days.

The Treatments, Ojas Spa and Sally Halstead

Depending on whether you are cleansing, rejuvenating, fitness seeking or discovering Ayurveda through any of the COMO programmes, the relevant consultant overseeing your programme will also guide you on diet and suggest treatments that will work in total harmony with your body. The Spa Manager, Sally Halstead is a registered nurse from the UK, who oversees colonic therapy at Ojas Spa. Not only is Sally well qualified and experienced, she has a very intuitive air about her and her personality is warm and engaging, so you are in good hands with Sally.

You choose a selection of spa treatments for the duration of your stay and also the kind of activities you wish to participate in. On the first day an Indian Head Massage was a divine way to de-stress the mind from travel and the remnants of HK living; a deeply relaxing head, shoulder, arm and hand massage that left a very dreamy and super relaxing feeling in the body and mind. The second treatment was a lymphatic drainage massage – now saying lymphatic drainage sounds weird and kind of icky when you think about it, but it was incredible. You will leave the room not knowing what time of day it is and you will be noticeably radiant. Luckily, your PA will be right outside with a buggy to take you back to your suite so you can further indulge in the magic of your newfound jellied mind. The third treatment was a 2 hour full body mask and massage in one of the natural outdoor treatment bales that resulted in an enchantingly out of body experience, and a frangipani bath at the end topped it off nicely. Finally, a deep tissue massage was given that did exactly what the title suggests, worked deeply into the muscle tissue pelting out any remaining tight spots in the body. All of these treatments in conjunction with the various activities have done wonders for body and mind, leaving a lasting impression.

The products used in conjunction with all treatments at COMO Shambhala, use aromatherapy as a foundation for blending high grade essential oils, they are delicious and every product is available to purchase online or in the COMO store, which sells everything from personal vanity bits and pieces to yoga gear and casual wear to jewelry and sunglasses. We are offering Hip readers a free gift basket worth USD200, see the end of this story for more details.

Pak Wayan Mudra and the Holy Spring

A walk one early morning through the estate with super-fit Activities Guide Pak Wayan Mudra was a journey into the history and natural environment that makes COMO so energetically special. Mudra’s family comes from the land that COMO is built upon. His Grandfather was a priest who lived in a small hut by a holy spring located in the north east of the property. Mudra guides mountain biking and hiking trips that include an ascent high on the crater rim of Mount Batur (1717m) and a downhill run through long-established villages. It is said he can run up the side of the mountain in one go, so if you are that way inclined he is the perfect guide for iron men and explorers and if you want to take it easy, he won’t push you.

Back on the walk, there are vistas of 12 metre high bamboo clumps bristling in the morning breeze and lush green paddy fields alongside a rock climbing wall and jungle gym. The fresh smell of morning dew and earth emanates around you as you walk. Moss covered rocks show signs of a healthy environment surrounding the river bank while you wander the stepping stone walkway. Massive flat rocks plateau where the river rapids cascade over them. Reaching the Holy Spring there is a peaceful feeling amongst the trees. You can lounge on any of the daybeds dotted around and swim in the two tiered pools.

The water is crystal clear and not freezing as you may expect it to be. Stand in the water and twirl around looking up into the trees and sky, then stop, catch your breath and adjust your eyes again – just be with the feeling for a moment. Then sit right under the falls and let the water cascade over your head and shoulders, feel it wash away any remaining stress. If you are really brave, get up early one morning and go for a walk to the spring, you will be warm enough to go for a swim by the time you arrive and there will be no one around, nature is just waking up – swim naked if you dare and you will feel energised for the rest of the day.

Why the Holy Spring is Holy

On a spiritual tip, the local Denpasar University came by in the past to investigate the spring. When they tried to channel water to a pump so they could take samples, the water stopped flowing causing turmoil within the local village. Eventually, after consultation with a priest, various offerings were buried, ceremonies performed and the water started flowing again.

Dr Dwaraka the Ayuverdic Guru & an Enlightening Opportunity for Your Fertility

The most important thing you need to know about Dr Dwaraka is that he loves to laugh and his is a laughter that is natural and full of spirit. This comes from a philosophy of keeping a wish book, meditation and yoga, and if you stay long enough at COMO, you will be able to attend a philosophy discussion where all of the above will be explained. You can’t help but have a giggle with Dr Dwaraka, because he actually navigates the lighter side of your spirit when he consults with you. He is a brilliant ayurvedic doctor who is residing at COMO for 6 months while the other excellent resident, Dr Deepak G Deginal is away. Although Dr Dwaraka consults over the ayurvedic realm of health matters, his passion and work back in India has a lot to do with fertility and helping couples to conceive. He takes on a small client base so that he can monitor each couples progress and he intuits which couples’ he believes will be able to have children after undertaking his special programme. There is no magic surrounding his method of deduction, he just simply knows. Out of 65 couples, 62 have all naturally conceived and carried to birth healthy babies. While this is an outstanding percentage, we must note that Dr Dwaraka isn’t able to assist everyone he comes into contact with. He did see over 500 couples and of these he chose just 65 – all with varying fertility concerns. The most redeeming factor about Dr Dwaraka’s methods is that the process is 100% natural.

For overall health matters you can choose the ayurvedic programme at COMO, Dr Dwaraka will map out a complete plan for your stay that will also help you beyond your time at COMO Shambhala.

Norma Gray COMO Activities Manager

Upon meeting Norma Gray, she immediately says “this is a great time to be working in the health and wellbeing industry as it is making a return to nature”. We are all looking for ways to live longer, be more healthy and look greater as we age, and be able to have a good time while we are at it. The global wellbeing industry is maturing to a level where it offers more valid ways to achieve such results and this is ever so poignant of the COMO philosophy – as naturally as possible. Norma exudes intellect and passion for health and fitness; a conscientious observer and mentor, Norma investigates each process always looking to the end result – almost like a physicist would develop a theory then see it become a fact through the exploration of that process. This systematic and highly evolved approach means that Norma is completely clued up and able to give the utmost in guidance for your body. Norma also says “what we do now with our bodies helps us with our future”, this gives us reassurance about what Norma will provide in the way of long term goal achieving. Norma has worked in the Middle East, UK and is now based in Asia. She is fully qualified from the American College of Sports Medicine and comprehensively trained in the Pilates method by the Pilates Institute in London.

Pilates and the Vitality Pool

Pilates is the complete opposite to yoga. The breathing and exercises undertaken is a new realm of understanding. Norma and the super buff “Sgt. Major” Putu are the A-team guiding the pilates and vitality therapy pool activities. Extremely thorough in their approach and guidance you won’t find time to think of anything other than each moment during the session. The studio stands on stilts built into the hillside looking out over Agung and the valley.

The outdoor Vitality Aqua Therapy pool is a powerful natural force to be reckoned with. This ionized, salt and spring water pool will elate your mind and work wonders on your body and internal organs. All sessions are guided, so booking is essential, whether it be with a group or private session. After a session you wrap up in a robe and lie on the lounger for 15-20 minutes to allow your body to absorb the ions and energy from the pool. The end result was a completely energised and natural high that lasted for the rest of the day.

Yoga and Meditation in Nature with Christina Curry, COMO Shambhala’s Yoga Teacher

There are two pavilions for enjoying a yoga session with highly trained Christina Curry, both yoga bales look out over various mountains and trees on the COMO estate and beyond. The yoga practice is intimate, challenging yet mindful for any new yoga seeker wishing to join in and you get to work to a level you are comfortable with. Christina has a lovely natural yet assertive nature filled with light, she gives clear instruction and she intuits where you
are with your practice, guiding you to deepen, heal or unfold naturally into your Asana ability.

Pranayama meditation with Christina is also on the activities menu and is an amazing experience to feel and enjoy – it is highly recommended you try this if you haven’t already – the outcome is a very light feeling that will stay with you for the rest of the day and the positioning of the yoga bale for the meditation is perfect as it is set in a pavilion amongst the forest.

In closing, many guests who visit COMO come back time and time again, including many celebrities from all genres of famed creativity, but you would never know because thankfully, the COMO team is incredibly discrete.

There is a saying for guests who, like us, leave kicking and screaming wanting to uproot career and just move in “aaaah, so you’ve been COMO’ed”. We were, will you be?

For more thorough information on the types of accommodation available, packages and regular discounts COMO Shambhala provides, please check out their website and email Monica Barter with further questions monica.barter@cse.comoshambhala.bz
If anyone knows why COMO is what it is, Monica does. As the Operations Director for several COMO properties around the globe Monica works tirelessly to maintain the core operating philosophy of COMO’s evolution.

Complimentary Giveaway
Please note that when you book your package to stay at COMO, be sure to mention you are a Hip reader to obtain a complimentary class with Chef Dewa, valued at USD100 (subject to availablility) or a COMO Shambhala Aromatherapy product basket worth USD200.
*Please note that you are able to choose one option per individual booking only.

COMO Shambhala Estate
PO Box 54
Ubud 80571
Bali, Indonesia

T+62 361 978 888
F+62 361 978 889
E res@cse.comoshambhala.bz
W cse.comoshambhala.bz

Location: The Estate is a 15 minute drive from Ubud and a one hour drive from Denpasar Airport. There are direct flights to Denpasar from Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Tokyo, Bangkok and Sydney.