When it comes to health, an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure, and by taking the time to slow down and nurture your body and mind, you can ensure that you stay healthy and happy. Malaysia offers a huge range of wellness treatments that seek to soothe the mind and body. The Expat’s team has the details on how to get some good R&R in Malaysia.

When it comes to your health, fixing problems is only the final solution. Everyone will need hospital treatment from time to time, but more and more people are realising that, by taking a little more care and ensuring the wellness of the self during times of good health as well as bad, visits to doctors become rarer. Your body is a machine; treat it well and fewer problems will occur.

As lives seem to become ever more frantic and weeks turn into dashes from office to work to grocery shopping to bill paying, the weekend seems to shrink and those precious hours of relaxation disappear. Lack of sleep, a poor diet, and a brain juggling an array of tasks and issues can all serve to exhaust, and too many people work beyond that state of exhaustion. This is when medical problems arise, and then an extra stress is added to the load.

A good way to avoid this slippery slope is to take the time to rest and relax, nurturing your body with the right treatments and bringing your mental and physical well-being back to a comfortable standard. There are many different ways to do this, but most people only find the time to do so during a holiday, so why not take a health holiday during your time in Malaysia and combine a stunning, tropical location with the chance to give your body and mind some tender loving care?

Malaysia has a lot to offer those seeking rest and recuperation away from the toils of daily life, and there are a whole range of options available, from island escapes to blissful spas in the centre of the city.

Another advantage to indulging in this care in Malaysia is that prices are generally much more reasonable compared to the equivalent treatments in Europe and America: guilt-free pleasure!

Pampering the Body

A weary body in need of looking after will be well catered to in Malaysia. Nearly every shopping mall has a collection of outlets offering back, neck, and full-body massages, reflexology sessions, or more unfamiliar procedures such as ear candling, which removes the wax from the ears by lighting a paper-like cone that sits in the ear while the area is massaged.

Malaysia’s multicultural identity extends to treatments too, and Balinese, Thai, and even Turkish massages make an appearance at the array of spas and massage parlours throughout the country. For a piece of Bali, there are a number of spas in Malaysia which offer authentic Balinese spa treatments using natural products. These spas’ services are specialised and the ingredients used in treatments are prepared daily.

Most hotels will have a spa of their own, and both guests and non-guests can take advantage of the treatments. These often include body scrubs, body wraps and herbal baths as well as all manner of massages, all of which will leave you feeling refreshed and renewed.

Nurturing the Mind

Just as important as looking after the body is giving the mind a break, as work and life stresses can take their toll on your brain and bring just as many physical side effects as body stresses.

Spa treatments and massages will certainly give you time to switch off, but meditation is also a way to take stock and slow down.

Meditation is a term that refers to various processes that lead to a state of consciousness that offers some benefits, both mental and physical. Those seeking scientific justification for, effectively, sitting quietly and doing nothing can be comforted by research findings. Neuroscientists have found that those who meditate succeed in shifting their brain activity to different areas of the cortex, thus decreasing the negative effects of stress and anxiety. Scientists also spotted that meditators have reduced activity in the amygdala; the area where the brain processes fear.

Meditation takes many forms, and activities such as yoga, tai chi, and qi gong all share similar benefits to the more stereotypical image of what meditation entails. Meditation classes are available at various locations throughout Malaysia and cover everything from basic meditation right up to advanced yoga. Many public places such as parks host tai chi classes in the early morning or at dusk, and this is a great way to find some inner calm as well as meeting some local people.

The Whole Package

A very popular method of completely detaching yourself from your former, hectic life is by booking to stay at a resort that caters for your every desire. These “wellness” resorts are usually tucked away in a natural beauty spot and feature spas with a whole range of treatments, classes, and usually an in-house restaurant offering healthy, wholesome food to ensure that the whole body is soothed during your stay. One such place is The Orchard, which is detailed separately in this issue. The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat (www.thebanjaran.com) is another of these gems, and the location – expect natural limestone hills, geothermal springs, and pristine jungle – combined with luxury villas, five-star cuisine, and a dizzying choice of treatments and treats make this paradise in a single location.

Malaysia is a superb place for expats to indulge at spas and take treatments at a much more affordable rate than in countries such as the UK, and the beautiful beaches and lush green forests will soothe your soul and transport your mind far away from the stresses of your normal life. Don’t wait until it is too late to take some time out of your busy life; remember that your body and mind need a break, too.

Read This: 6 Different Types of Massage Treatments to Try in KL

Source: The Expat Magazine April 2015