30/11/2025

ON SUNDAY November 30, 2025 theSunday Special VII

Press pause and spend a day of self-care across Peninsular Malaysia

BY DAYANA SOBRI

• Choose intention over indul gence: Let your day follow your mood. Craving JURXQGLQJ FDOP" 7U\ D ZDUP VWRQH massage. Feeling overstimulated? Opt IRU VRXQG KHDOLQJ RU ERWDQLFDO EDWKV • Incorporate gentle movement: Y RJD IRUHVW ZDONLQJ RU VORZ ND\DNLQJ KHOS LQWHJUDWH WUHDWPHQWV 'RQ¶W VNLS EUHDWK EDVHG ZRUNVKRSV RU PHGLWDWLYH ULWXDOV ZKLFK DUH RIWHQ R̆ HUHG PLGGD\ when most people’s energy dips. • Eat cleanly: S RPH UHWUHDWV LQFOXGH SODQW EDVHG menus or lighter vegetarian sets. Choose meals that support your reset rather than heavy indulgence. • Allow space before returning to routine: Even after spa time ends, linger with tea, MRXUQDO D IHZ WKRXJKWV RU VLW TXLHWO\ E\ WKH ZDWHU 'HOD\ GLJLWDO UHFRQQHFWLRQ where you can.

J XVW DFURVV WKH ERUGHU LQ -RKRU D FRDVWDO UHVRUW 7KH :HVWLQ 'HVDUX &RDVW 5HVRUW leans into the ultimate reset: Rest. Its Sleep Well treatments and hydrotherapy ULWXDOV DUH IUDPHG DURXQG UHVWIXO VOXPEHU VXSSRUWHG E\ +HDYHQO\Š %HGV DQG SLOORZ menus. Spa offerings draw inspiration from the ocean, with mindful spaces de signed for thoughtful recovery. Special seasonal spa experiences are R̆ HUHG IRU FRXSOHV IDPLOLHV RU JURXSV NHHQ WR VKDUH D UHVWRUDWLYH MRXUQH\ ,W¶V DERXW FUHDWLQJ D VORZ H[KDOH QRW WLFNLQJ ER[HV R̆ D SURPRWLRQDO EURFKXUH Plan for your self-care day F ROORZ WKHVH ¿YH VLPSOH VWHSV ZKHQ SODQ ning your self-care day. • Set the tone early: 7XUQ R̆ QRWL¿FDWLRQV 'UHVV FDVXDOO\ LQ D UREH RU VRIW DWWLUH %HJLQ ZLWK D WHD ULWXDO RU KHUEDO ZHOFRPH GULQN WR PDUN WKH VKLIW IURP GRLQJ WR EHLQJ

Trails of wonder, a guided jungle walk at Ritz-Carlton Langkawi.

O VER 151 spas operate nation wide, many set amid nature or in hotel retreats. More than KDOI QRZ R̆ HU EDWKV ZLWK MHWV DQG KHUEDO WHDV DV VWDQGDUG post-treatment fare – 87% according to LQGXVWU\ VXUYH\V E\ 7UDYHO 'DLO\ 1HZV $VLD 3DFL¿F Meanwhile, wellness tourism gener DWHG DURXQG 86' ELOOLRQ LQ DQG LV SURMHFWHG WR JURZ DW SHU FHQW DQQXDOO\ WR 86' ELOOLRQ E\ DFFRUGLQJ WR *UDQG 9LHZ 5HVHDUFK 7KDW WHOOV \RX self-care isn’t a niche, it’s rising fast. At a time when our daily lives are domi QDWHG E\ PHHWLQJV ZRUN QRWL¿FDWLRQV DIWHU Ṙ FH KRXUV DQG RWKHU HYHU\GD\ VWUHVVRUV FDUYLQJ RXW D GD\ MXVW IRU \RXUVHOI IHHOV less indulgent and more essential now. 6HOI FDUH LVQ¶W VHO¿VK LW¶V UHVWRUDWLYH Across the peninsular, luxury retreats now meld traditional rituals, serene envi URQPHQWV DQG KROLVWLF ZHOO EHLQJ ± ZLWK KRVSLWDOLW\ DV D EDFNGURS UDWKHU WKDQ D EUDQG PHVVDJH Here’s where and how you might plan a day of pause at six sophisticated stays in Malaysia. R LW] &DUOWRQ /DQJNDZL LV D MXQJOH LPPHUVHG UHVRUW ZKHUH VSD SRGV ÀRDW DERYH FDOP WXUTXRLVH ZDWHUV 6WDUW \RXU day with a Mandi Bunga ritual, a tradi WLRQDO ÀRUDO EDWK WKRXJKW WR UHVHW HQHUJ\ 1 ext, try the Mystical Ocean and Earth PDVVDJH ZKLFK HDVHV WLJKW NQRWV XVLQJ marine mud and heated stones. Prefer VRPHWKLQJ URRWHG LQ ORFDO KHDOLQJ" 7KH Urut Melayu massage and hot stone WUHDWPHQW R̆ HU FHQWXULHV ROG WHFKQLTXHV in a modern spa sanctuary. I I \RX IHHO UHVWOHVV EHIRUH VSD WUHDW PHQWV MRLQ D JXLGHG MXQJOH ZDON OHG E\ 8QHVFR FHUWL¿HG QDWXUDOLVWV 2U ND\DN WR D KLGGHQ EHDFK IRU D VHFOXGHG SLFQLF 7KH pace? Slow, mindful and attuned to your RZQ EUHDWKLQJ 7XFNHG LQ WKH FLW\ 7KH 6W 5HJLV ./ RYHUORRNV WKH YHUGDQW 3HUGDQD %RWDQLFDO Gardens. At the hotel’s Iridium Spa, mas VDJHV VXFK DV 5HYLYDO 7RXFK DQG 6XPPHU Serenity Express soothe tense muscles and FDOP D EXV\ PLQG C RQVLGHU ERRNLQJ D FRPSUHKHQVLYH

ZHOOEHLQJ SDFNDJH IHDWXULQJ D VLJQDWXUH PDVVDJH SODQW EDVHG PHDOV DQG H[WHQGHG FKHFN RXW ± SHUIHFW LI \RX VLPSO\ ZDQW WR VWD\ LQ \RXU UREH DOO GD\ 7KH OHDI\ YLHZ outside your window helps anchor you to WKH SUHVHQW FDOP $ ELW RI XUEDQ JUHHQHU\ goes a long way in a mental reset. 7KH 6W 5HJLV /DQJNDZL D XQLTXH OX[XU\ VSD R̆ HUV KLJK LQWHQWLRQ VHQVRU\ H[SHUL HQFHV VKDSHG E\ WKH UK\WKP RI WKH VHD DQG rainforest. On your arrival, you might choose WKH /DQJ 0DU\ ERG\ VFUXE D GHWR[LI\LQJ ULWXDO XVLQJ ORFDO ERWDQLFDOV 2U RSW IRU WKH 6RXQG %DWK 2SXOHQFH D GHHSO\ PHGLWDWLYH sound therapy designed to restore inner EDODQFH WKURXJK KDUPRQLF UHVRQDQFH When treatments are done, let the sea EUHH]H EH \RXU VRXQGWUDFN 7KLV LV D UHWUHDW that lingers in the senses, not in hashtag campaigns. R DQNHG DPRQJ WKH WRS KRWHO VSDV LQ Southeast Asia, Perhentian Marriott Resort & Spa on the Perhentian Islands IHHOV OLNH VHOI FDUH LQFDUQDWH %HDFKIURQW VSD SDYLOLRQV EOHQG FODVVLF WKHUDSLHV ZLWK wellness rituals. Experience a Mandi Bunga VRDN LQIXVHG ZLWK ÀRUDO SHWDOV RU the Qi Forest Signature Massage, which EHJLQV DQG HQGV ZLWK 7LEHWDQ VLQJLQJ ERZO YLEUDWLRQV IRU DGGHG FDOP Choose the Elemis Pro-Glow Smooth )DFLDO WR DGGUHVV ¿QH OLQHV DQG UHIUHVK VNLQ texture. Afterwards, slow down island VW\OH ZLWK \RJD RQ D GHFN RYHUORRNLQJ WKH 6RXWK &KLQD 6HD :LQG GRZQ ZLWK EDWLN SDLQWLQJ RU EDWK ULWXDOV OHWWLQJ WKH QDWXUDO rhythm wash over you. %DFN DJDLQ LQ /DQJNDZL 7KH :HVWLQ /DQJNDZL 5HVRUW 6SD PHUJHV UDLQIRU est and sea with an award-winning spa experience. Sign up for treatments such as the Urutan Malaysia Massage or Sonic Serenity Fusion, designed to restore calm and clarity. I I \RX DUH VHHNLQJ PRYHPHQW EDVHG restoration, explore mindfulness sessions VXFK DV DTXD DHURELFV VXQULVH \RJD RU JXLGHG ZDONV WKURXJK IRUHVW WUDLOV For a deeper reset, a resident Yoga Mas WHU PD\ OHDG EUHDWKZRUN DQG DOLJQPHQW sessions – less choreographed routine, more healing focus.

Aqua aerobics and mindfulness sessions for gentle restoration at The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa.