The hotels have recruited experts in traditional medicine to design the programs. Chinese doctors formulated the herbal products used at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. Their CHI (“energy”) spas in Bangkok, the Philippine province of Cebu and Shanghai use oils and body gels made with ingredients such as ginger and cardamom to harmonize the body’s five basic elements. The CHI spas have also introduced a variety of treatments–including acupressure ($85) and Himalayan hot-stone massage ($200)–aimed at maintaining good health by balancing yin and yang. As Chinese medicine gains more mainstream acceptance in the West, the company plans to expand. Over the next four years, Shangri-La ( Shangri-la.com ) expects to open more than 20 CHI spas, not justin Asia, but in places like Chicago, London and Vancouver. The Seychelles and Doha, Qatar, are also on the list.
Mandarin Oriental guests in New York City can now sign up for classes in tai chi, a form of Chinese exercise that aims to improve the body’s flow of energy. In Hong Kong, both the boutique Landmark Mandarin Oriental and the recently refurbished flagship Mandarin Oriental ( mandarinoriental.com ) offer Chinese deep-tissue tui na massages ($140) to stimulate the body’s energy points.
High-end hospitality companies are also putting together packages built around Asian-style wellness programs. Hong Kong’s Langham Place hotel has a special “Chuan Journey” program that includes a night’s stay in one of its Asian garden-inspired spa suites plus sessions with a Chinese medicinal expert who prescribes the appropriate massages and meals ( hongkong.langhamplacehotels.com ). At $1,000, it must be some journey.
