4. Obesity : Size Matters
“Men are usually more ignorant about weight as their priorities in life are usually their careers. As they grow older, they spend more time working and less time on exercise, “says Sylvia Lam, senior registered dietitian at the Pro-Cardio Heart Diseases and Prevention Centre in Hong Kong Hence it’s easy to let the pounds creep on. Based on height and weight measurements, the body mass index (BMI) can help determine if someone is obese. Shortness of breath during light exercise and joint and back pain are possible signs of becoming obese.
There are countless health risks associated with obesity. Doctors can check if weight is affecting health by detecting increases in blood cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Long term effects include diabetes, heart disease, stroke , sleep apnea, gout, joint pain and cancer.

5. Diabetes: Sugar High
“Men need to gain far less weight than women to develop diabetes. Men tend to store fat in the liver and waist”, says Dr. Joshua Ko of Hong Kong East Cluster. Put simply, diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases where sufferers have high blood sugar. “Type 1 diabetes is caused when the body does not produce enough insulin, and type 2 diabetes is the result of cells being unable to use insulin properly or respond to it. Once it occurs the damage is irreversible and can lead to blindness, renal failure and lack of blood flow to the limbs”.
Obesity, lack of exercise, a high sugar and saturated fat diet as well as smoking can trigger diabetes. Frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger, fatigue and problems with vision are some of the warning signs.
Regular exercise (at least 30 minutes per session) ,eating fruit and veggies, decreasing fat intake and giving up smoking can help prevent people getting it.

It is only human to fee indestructible until a medical scare hits a little too close to home, such as one experienced by a friend, family member or relating to us directly. Scheduling regular check ups for the big five is not a sign of weakness but one of strength – nipping issues in the bud early could be the difference between life and death. Instead of just sending our loved ones to the doctor, why mot lead by example, and pay a visit too? After all, a price cannot be put on good health.

Written: Andre Cooray for Asia Spa March/April issue

An Ancient Tale
Unlike many cultures, where generational knowledge passes by word of mouth, Bali has a scholarly tradition of recording important knowledge in manuscripts fashioned from the leaves of tropical palm trees. Known as the Lontar Usada, these ancient palm-leaf manuscripts are n invaluable part of Bali’s history and are now part of a large, Asia-wide preservation project.
Bali’s Tradition f Healing
Grounded in ancient Balinese beliefs and practice, influenced by Ayurveda, as well as Javanese and Chinese practices, the traditional healers of Bali are known as Balian. Balian group themselves into such specialties as manipulation and bone setting; midwifery; spiritual healing; and herbal therapies.
Similar to other Asian healthcare traditions, illness is viewed as the result of disharmony, or disease. The concept of harmony and balance, pervasive in Balinese culture, is grounded in the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana – literally, “three causes of wellbeing”
The three fundamental relationships which must be in harmony for health are the relationship between the individual and the Divine, the social environment (human to human) and the physical environment.
The Balian’s role was to identify the source of the disharmony and to re-establish harmony in the life of the patient. This was then recorded on lontar, strips of cured palm leaf which were etched in Balinese script with a steel sylus. After rubbing with ash from the waxy candlenut to highlight the text, they were bound into bundles and fastened with twine between slats of insect-resistant wood.
Bali’s highest knowledge has been stored in these palm-leaf books for centuries. Poetry, religious ritual ,art and literature are all recorded on lontar, but it is the medical manuscripts known as Lontar Usada, that are beginning to attract worldwide attention.
Ancient Origins
The use of palm leaves as a record for the written history of a society, its codes and guiding legends, has ancient origins in South and Southeast Asia. Palm-leaf manuscripts constitute one of the oldest media of writing in India as well as in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia.
India’s influence on Southeast Asia especially on the island of Bali, clearly included the introduction of the palm-leaf manuscript tradition of writing. Historians speculate that palm leaf was used as a medium for writing long before the time of Ashoka the Great (ca. 304-232-BCE) As far back as the 4th century CE, Buddhist texts record housewives reading palm-leaf texts in the light of oil lamps in the evenings. Records also indicate that the ripithaka, or Buddhist scriptures, were written on palm leaves in the First Buddhist conference (1st century CE).
On account of their perish ability, there are no palm-leaf manuscripts in India dating before the 10th century. Despite this, they are mentioned as a writing material in a number of literary works and can be seen in several sculptures and monuments. Indeed, the patroness of knowledge in both India and Bali. Saraswati, is classically depicted holding a set of palm leaf manuscripts or lontar.
From Palm Leaf to Lontar
The tropical palms of Bali offer a perfect medium for writing materials. While methods of processing differ throughout Asia, in Bali the basic method of palm leaf preparations starts with the half-opened young shoot of palm leaves being cut before they become dry and brittle. The leaves are then cut into the required sizes and then soaked for up to several days in an herbal solution that includes turmeric, an antioxidant, and lemongrass, an insect repellant.
After the softened leaves have been dried in the shade or light sunshine, the spine is removed from the main leaf and the remaining portion is pressed, polished and trimmed to size. Holes are made on either side of the eaves, typically with a red-hot wire or special knife. Then a cord is passed through the holes to hold the leaves together.

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New Dates: 25th - 29th January 2012
Venue: Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Bangkok
Organizer: Department of International Trade Promotion

Spa Origins Booth: F10

Spa Origins - for all your Spa Consulting, Spa Management, Spa Training, Spa Auditing needs

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1. Healthy Feet Treatments

2. Cold and Ice Are Hot

3. Wellness and Beauty Coaching

4. Online Wellness Gaming

5. Pairing Fine Dining and Spa-ing

6. Vibration, Sound, Music, Light and Color Therapies

7. The Glam Factor

8. Spa Evidence: Showing the Science Behind Spa

9. Spas Become a Family Affair

10. Spas Go for the “Wow”

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Many spa treatments promote detoxification and a greater level of wellness or well-being than many given them credit for. Well trained Spa Therapists who are intune with the human body and have a sound knowledge of anatomy and physiology should be able to deliver even greater health benefits to spa consumers. A Lymphatic Drainage therapy will obviuosly help remove excess fluids from the body, while a salt scrub will draw out toxins from the body, but even the most basic of massage therapies will start the detoxification process. Why is it that one of the first things given post treatment is a glass of water or sugarless herbal tea? Whether acknowledged or not, it is not just a ‘nice post treatment touch’ (thought it is also that!), but it has a practical application as well as it helps flush toxins from the body.

So this festive seasion, when spa cuisine tends to sit on the back burner for a couple of weeks, be kind to your body and choose spa treatments that perhaps offer a great level of detoxification than you would normally take to at least try and counter some of the festive season excesses.

In what is seen as confirmation of the rising standards of the ASEAN spa industry, there were a total of 10 spas that acheived Platinum awards Standard in the Spa of the Year category inculding Anatara Spa, Anantara Phuket Villas, Thailand and Coqoon Spa, Indio Peral Phuket, Thailand. For the Signature Spa Experience, there were also 10 Platinum winners including Coqoon Spa, Indigo Pearl Phuket, Thailand and Luxsa Spa, Hansar Samui, Thailand

For a complete list of all winners visit Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards or to find out more about HAPA, visit www.hapa.asia