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A blissful relaxation pavilion set in a lily pond at the new Sacred River Spa / photo: Sacred River Spa
“I had a dream I was flying with someone and guiding them to the river for physical and spiritual cleansing. We arrived at the Ayung River, where I bathed them, making them shine,” recalls Luisa Anderson, regional director of spa at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific. This ethereal depiction perfectly symbolises the vision behind the newly conceptualised Sacred River Spa.
Anderson and I sit in the serene atmosphere of the redesigned facility at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan. Nestled near Ubud, on the banks of the Ayung River – the longest, widest and most revered waterway in Bali – this spectacular resort is ensconced in a vibrant rainforest. It’s the grand reopening day of this tranquil space and I’m honoured to be the first guest to experience Tirta Ening – a 150-minute water ceremony that translates as ‘sparkling water’. This exceptional IDR4,5 million (US$286, €264, £221) ritual pays tribute to the healing powers of Bali’s sacred water.
Truly magical “I knew we had to create a treatment that made water a central element,” Anderson explains. While developing the spa’s concept, she delved into the country’s cultural uses of water. Three aspects inspired her: the taste of water from the local Tirta Empul temple that’s infused with Balinese healing plants such as cananga, chempaka and pandan; a traditional cleansing ritual known as melukat, where holy water is poured over the individual for spiritual purification; and the subak system, Bali’s unique irrigation method for rice fields.
These influences are elegantly integrated into Tirta Ening, which begins with setting an intention through the resonant tones of a crystal singing bowl and sipping blessed water infused with local botanicals and crystals. This is accompanied by the gentle sound of flowing water – part of a specially composed music track which plays throughout.
“Water is said to hold the memory of the Divine,” Anderson notes. The journey continues with a gentle steam followed by a scrub and one of the most invigorating Vichy experiences I’ve had to date – courtesy of Lemi. It’s an exhilarating nod to melukat and Bali’s tropical rains.
The massage that follows is no less extraordinary. Conducted on a special Lemi Dream Table equipped with a warm water mattress, it uses fluid lomi lomi techniques, emphasising the body’s connection to water. “The flow and long strokes remind the body of its watery essence,” Anderson explains, while ensuring the muscles receive deeper attention. The massage features Water Dreams, a locally sourced essential oil by Bali Radiance, which blends ylang ylang, vanilla, lavender and patchouli.
The ceremony closes with a crystal sound bath and a final sip of blessed water.
This was an extraordinary experience where every movement, every delicate touch, seemed infused with reverence. It was truly magical and I’m left feeling invigorated and renewed with a lightness of being that’s hard to come by.
Powerful ‘unseen’ energy Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023 and was overdue for a spa upgrade. The original spa was situated on the lower level of the main building and consisted of three rooms. Treatments, says Anderson, always nodded to Balinese traditions with classics such as lulur and boreh scrubs. In 2014, she introduced Chakra Ceremonies and “cleaned up” the menu.
“We always knew a major refurbishment was essential,” Anderson tells me. “In Asia, a treatment room without natural light or vegetation wasn’t going to cut it.” The thoughtfully redesigned spa complex spans 4,970sq m and was crafted by Australian architects, The Fulcrum Agency; Japanese interior designers, Design Studio SPIN; and Indonesian landscape consultants Bukit Kembar Permai. Every centimeter – indoor and out – is meticulously designed to harmonise the body and mind with the rhythms of nature.
There are seven stunning Spa Villas that are named after sacred Balinese Elements. Nestled beneath the jungle canopy, these offer a seamless blend of natural beauty and modern design. Each villa is equipped with a humongous bathtub hand carved from Indonesian stone. Other noteworthy spaces include Dharma Satya, a lovely yoga pavilion that sits adjacent to the river and a blissful relaxation pavilion set in a lily pond.
The new spa draws inspiration from the ancient Balinese philosophy of niskala (unseen energy), tapping into practices such as biogeometric design for example. “Few places in Bali have ‘unseen’ energies as powerful as those in the Ayung River basin,” Anderson says, adding that it’s been a privilege to connect with these energies throughout the spa’s relaunch.
Indeed, being situated along the revered river means the spa is perfectly positioned to connect guests to the natural flow of the landscape. In an age where nearly every destination is striving to innovate with water therapies, Sacred River Spa shines as a model of thoughtful, intentional design. It’s set to become a true-blue destination spa grounded in authenticity and my time there left a lasting impression.
photo: Stephen Kiesling
"Every movement, every delicate touch, seemed infused with reverence"– Mary Bemis
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2024 issue 4
Editor's letter: Pleasure time
It’s time to make ‘pleasure health’ the new ‘play’ to realise the true value of the wellness sector, says Katie Barnes
Spa people: Luuk Melisse
Sanctum's co-founder Luuk Melisse on going global with the unique, spiritual workout that originated in Amsterdam
Interview: Dean Kowarski
Virgin Active is transforming its gym business with 230 sites and 1.2 million members into a social wellness brand. The CEO reveals more details to Liz Terry
First person: Steamy situation
Cassandra Cavanah is moved to tears (and also a little nervous) as she joins hundreds of near-naked heat enthusiasts at this year's Aufguss World Championships
Promotion: TechnoAlpin: In touch
Sara Brenninger talks
to wellness expert
Alina Hernandez
about the power of
real snow to create
immersive touchless
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Interview: Fabian Dolman
How can operators make a successful business out of aufguss programmes? Thermen Resort's CEO gives some tips
Sponsored: Best of both
Alina Hernandez, Gharieni Group advisory board member, explains how Metawell – its portfolio of tech-forward mind/body technologies – is right on time for the next era of wellness
Sponsored: Elevate your business with EGYM
Transform your business with fully connected, personalised and data-powered solutions that drive results
for members, trainers and businesses
Sponsored: Outstanding in its field
RKF Luxury Linen has had a stellar year in 2024, hitting new standards of excellence with a raft of certifications
Promotion: Rest and repeat
Starpool is drawing on science, innovation and equilibrium to offer the industry’s leading recovery solutions
Sponsored: Iyashi Dôme's Oteire
Modern consumers demand solutions that blend cutting-edge technology with proven results, and Iyashi Dôme is rising to the challenge by redefining industry standards
First person: Sparkling Water
Mary Bemis is one of the first to visit the stunning new Sacred River Spa at Four Seasons Bali at Sayan
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A blissful relaxation pavilion set in a lily pond at the new Sacred River Spa / photo: Sacred River Spa
“I had a dream I was flying with someone and guiding them to the river for physical and spiritual cleansing. We arrived at the Ayung River, where I bathed them, making them shine,” recalls Luisa Anderson, regional director of spa at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific. This ethereal depiction perfectly symbolises the vision behind the newly conceptualised Sacred River Spa.
Anderson and I sit in the serene atmosphere of the redesigned facility at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan. Nestled near Ubud, on the banks of the Ayung River – the longest, widest and most revered waterway in Bali – this spectacular resort is ensconced in a vibrant rainforest. It’s the grand reopening day of this tranquil space and I’m honoured to be the first guest to experience Tirta Ening – a 150-minute water ceremony that translates as ‘sparkling water’. This exceptional IDR4,5 million (US$286, €264, £221) ritual pays tribute to the healing powers of Bali’s sacred water.
Truly magical “I knew we had to create a treatment that made water a central element,” Anderson explains. While developing the spa’s concept, she delved into the country’s cultural uses of water. Three aspects inspired her: the taste of water from the local Tirta Empul temple that’s infused with Balinese healing plants such as cananga, chempaka and pandan; a traditional cleansing ritual known as melukat, where holy water is poured over the individual for spiritual purification; and the subak system, Bali’s unique irrigation method for rice fields.
These influences are elegantly integrated into Tirta Ening, which begins with setting an intention through the resonant tones of a crystal singing bowl and sipping blessed water infused with local botanicals and crystals. This is accompanied by the gentle sound of flowing water – part of a specially composed music track which plays throughout.
“Water is said to hold the memory of the Divine,” Anderson notes. The journey continues with a gentle steam followed by a scrub and one of the most invigorating Vichy experiences I’ve had to date – courtesy of Lemi. It’s an exhilarating nod to melukat and Bali’s tropical rains.
The massage that follows is no less extraordinary. Conducted on a special Lemi Dream Table equipped with a warm water mattress, it uses fluid lomi lomi techniques, emphasising the body’s connection to water. “The flow and long strokes remind the body of its watery essence,” Anderson explains, while ensuring the muscles receive deeper attention. The massage features Water Dreams, a locally sourced essential oil by Bali Radiance, which blends ylang ylang, vanilla, lavender and patchouli.
The ceremony closes with a crystal sound bath and a final sip of blessed water.
This was an extraordinary experience where every movement, every delicate touch, seemed infused with reverence. It was truly magical and I’m left feeling invigorated and renewed with a lightness of being that’s hard to come by.
Powerful ‘unseen’ energy Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023 and was overdue for a spa upgrade. The original spa was situated on the lower level of the main building and consisted of three rooms. Treatments, says Anderson, always nodded to Balinese traditions with classics such as lulur and boreh scrubs. In 2014, she introduced Chakra Ceremonies and “cleaned up” the menu.
“We always knew a major refurbishment was essential,” Anderson tells me. “In Asia, a treatment room without natural light or vegetation wasn’t going to cut it.” The thoughtfully redesigned spa complex spans 4,970sq m and was crafted by Australian architects, The Fulcrum Agency; Japanese interior designers, Design Studio SPIN; and Indonesian landscape consultants Bukit Kembar Permai. Every centimeter – indoor and out – is meticulously designed to harmonise the body and mind with the rhythms of nature.
There are seven stunning Spa Villas that are named after sacred Balinese Elements. Nestled beneath the jungle canopy, these offer a seamless blend of natural beauty and modern design. Each villa is equipped with a humongous bathtub hand carved from Indonesian stone. Other noteworthy spaces include Dharma Satya, a lovely yoga pavilion that sits adjacent to the river and a blissful relaxation pavilion set in a lily pond.
The new spa draws inspiration from the ancient Balinese philosophy of niskala (unseen energy), tapping into practices such as biogeometric design for example. “Few places in Bali have ‘unseen’ energies as powerful as those in the Ayung River basin,” Anderson says, adding that it’s been a privilege to connect with these energies throughout the spa’s relaunch.
Indeed, being situated along the revered river means the spa is perfectly positioned to connect guests to the natural flow of the landscape. In an age where nearly every destination is striving to innovate with water therapies, Sacred River Spa shines as a model of thoughtful, intentional design. It’s set to become a true-blue destination spa grounded in authenticity and my time there left a lasting impression.
photo: Stephen Kiesling
"Every movement, every delicate touch, seemed infused with reverence"– Mary Bemis
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2024 issue 4
Editor's letter: Pleasure time
It’s time to make ‘pleasure health’ the new ‘play’ to realise the true value of the wellness sector, says Katie Barnes
Spa people: Luuk Melisse
Sanctum's co-founder Luuk Melisse on going global with the unique, spiritual workout that originated in Amsterdam
Interview: Dean Kowarski
Virgin Active is transforming its gym business with 230 sites and 1.2 million members into a social wellness brand. The CEO reveals more details to Liz Terry
First person: Steamy situation
Cassandra Cavanah is moved to tears (and also a little nervous) as she joins hundreds of near-naked heat enthusiasts at this year's Aufguss World Championships
Promotion: TechnoAlpin: In touch
Sara Brenninger talks
to wellness expert
Alina Hernandez
about the power of
real snow to create
immersive touchless
wellness experiences
Interview: Fabian Dolman
How can operators make a successful business out of aufguss programmes? Thermen Resort's CEO gives some tips
Sponsored: Best of both
Alina Hernandez, Gharieni Group advisory board member, explains how Metawell – its portfolio of tech-forward mind/body technologies – is right on time for the next era of wellness
Sponsored: Elevate your business with EGYM
Transform your business with fully connected, personalised and data-powered solutions that drive results
for members, trainers and businesses
Sponsored: Outstanding in its field
RKF Luxury Linen has had a stellar year in 2024, hitting new standards of excellence with a raft of certifications
Promotion: Rest and repeat
Starpool is drawing on science, innovation and equilibrium to offer the industry’s leading recovery solutions
Sponsored: Iyashi Dôme's Oteire
Modern consumers demand solutions that blend cutting-edge technology with proven results, and Iyashi Dôme is rising to the challenge by redefining industry standards
First person: Sparkling Water
Mary Bemis is one of the first to visit the stunning new Sacred River Spa at Four Seasons Bali at Sayan
Synergy – The Retreat Show, the global trade show for retreats, has launched a global research
initiative that will provide insights into the retreat sector from both consumer and industry
perspectives.
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) has published a non-regulatory global industry
framework designed to ensure the retreat market offers responsible experiences.
A new survey of UK and international spa practitioners shows that stress, burnout and
wellbeing concerns have caused one in three respondents to consider leaving the industry.
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of Physical activity
guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report, updating the evidence that underpins the nation's
physical activity recommendations and placing greater emphasis on strength, balance, reducing
sedentary behaviour and, for the first time, supporting people taking weight loss medications.
Anna Bjurstam has left her role as Wellness Pioneer at Six Senses Hotels and Resorts and
launched a new wellness, longevity and “consciousness consultancy” called Wahayla.
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, has opened today (10 July) in the Northwest of England
with a
1,715sq m Fairmont Spa that has been designed using a ‘Wellness without Walls’
concept.
Wellness hotels generating less than US$1 million (€932,700, £785,200) – or 10 per cent of
total revenue from wellness and leisure – recorded the strongest RevPAR and TRevPAR growth
in 2025 across categories when compared with 2024, according to the latest Wellness Real
Estate Report by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P and L benchmarking firm HotStats.
Lefay Resorts, the portfolio of two luxury wellness properties in Italy, has added emotional
dance classes and group cold plunge sessions in response to market demand for social
connection.
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
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