responsibility, which is an attitude
that feels to be at the heart of a family
wellness holiday.
The Farm has a vegan-focused
restaurant with a tempting blend of
raw food, done with a modern twist
– everything from organic greens
and vegetables from the resort’s own
gardens, to sweet potato spring rolls
with sesame cabbage and coconut
chilli cream. And after three days of
eating there, I felt as though ultimate
health was within reach. The fuzzy
“city” feeling in my head was gone.
The hope is that with a spotlight on a
strengthening and nutritious diet on
holiday, children will naturally follow
in their parents’ enjoyment of such
food, making it easier to integrate once
at home.
If you’re looking for an organised
cleanse on your holiday, that’s
on offer for adults at The Farm.
Accompanying treatments, such as
peppermint foot scrubs, chlorophyll
body wraps, a couple’s massage under
the stars, and spiritual yoga retreats,
will round out an adults-only stay.
Ditch the detox
Many wellness-type resorts offer
some form of detox, but is the idea
of a detox too mature for children to
understand – and too difficult for a
parent to achieve on a family holiday?
Director of Flex Studio here in Hong
Kong, Heather Thomas Shalabi, says:
“I think it’s a great idea to eat well and
exercise on holiday and not use them
as excuses to indulge in bad eating and
laziness. However, I think detoxing
is a different matter – detoxing may
not be appropriate for children, and it
may be very difficult for parents who
are detoxing to participate in holiday
activities with children. I would
separate out the detox element.”
Jessika Carlestam, a 47-year-old
mother to three boys, follows this idea,
choosing to spend adults-only time at
Atmanjai – a detox and wellness spa
in Phuket – purely to detox, separate
from family holidays. “It’s a great
place, run by Britain Michael Massey,
who is available for you with support
day and night. I have done a serious
detox, which means no food – only
vitamins, coconut water and shakes,”
she says.
For Jessika, a detox holiday with
her children at a resort is out of the
question. But a multidimensional
approach to health that makes it
an experience for the entire family
– an extension of day-to-day life,
incorporating healthy exercise,
nutritional healthy foods and learning
new things – can work.
Heather from Flex likes the idea
of holidaying with children at resorts
that offer spa services and healthy
food, as well as yoga and outdoor
activities. “Personally, as a parent,
I am much calmer and have more
patience with the children if I’m
able to look after my health whilst
on vacation; I would definitely count
that as a benefit. [On a recent health-
focused family holiday] we were able
to push ourselves to do challenging
long mountain biking trips as a
family, which gave us a tremendous
sense of accomplishment and cause
for celebration. Occasionally, I even
managed to get the children to join in
with my yoga practice,” she says.
A stay at a wellness resort like
The Farm can bring families together
with a sense of play and ease. We
hope that we all packed a touch of
inspiration and mindful living in our
suitcases to take back into the toil of
our daily lives.
June 2014
95
