For travellers wanting to get away from it all over Christmas and New Year, COMO Shambhala Estate represents the apogee of pure escapism. A unique residential health retreat located in the hills of inland Bali, this is the perfect choice for families and couples looking to regroup, regenerate and recover. Enjoying unique villa accommodation, guests not only enjoy exceptional food and active adventures from hiking to biking, but a purposeful spa experience in the journey towards a richer life. And for a high season holiday, the prices have never looked better .

For information on the COMO Shambhala Estate, click here.

Throughout the holiday season, Uma Ubud has a fun-loving air, this fresh, contemporary Balinese resort defined by its joyful, buzzy vibe. This has much to do with its location on the fringe of the inland artists’ town of Ubud. And then there’s the ‘Uma’ philosophy, which encourages guests to get out among the people, landscape and culture on compelling excursions ranging from shopping trips to guided hikes up sleeping volcanoes. Over Christmas and New Year, Uma Ubud is offering a series of excellent deals for guests—all of them an invitation to connect with the holiday spirit in this unique part of the world.

For information on the events at Uma Ubud, click here.

COMO Shambhala Estate near Ubud, Bali, continues to attract leading international names in the Yoga world, the Estate’s awardwinning reputation based not only the calibre of facilities but also the specialists who recognise in this jungle location a unique opportunity to find peace and wellness.

From 10th to 16th December 2009, the Estate will be welcoming Sarah Powers, a premier, California-based teacher known for her ‘Insight Yoga’ approach. This will be the first time she has worked with COMO Shambhala.

Sarah, who has taught Yoga since 1987, interweaves the insights and practices of Yoga and Buddhism, her style blending both a Yin sequence of long held poses to enhance the meridian and organ systems, combined with a flow or Yang practice, influenced by Viniyoga, Ashtanga, and Iyengar teachings.

Sarah also focuses on preparing the mind for effective meditation. By taking time away from our busy schedules to commit our attention to our inner development, she believes all of us have the capacity to refresh the way we live our lives. She draws from her studies in Transpersonal Psychology, as well as her training in the Vipassana, Tantric and Dzogchen practices of Buddhism.

This December Retreat will begin with silent sitting practice each morning and two Yoga sessions per day. The Yin style encourages suppleness in the body’s core while invigorating chi (prana) to flow throughout the joints, balancing the organ and meridian systems. A Yang (flow-style) asana practice follows, geared toward strengthening the core while creating ease and grace in movement.

Sarah will also be engaging with students over healthful meals, which are designed to complement the Yoga practice. She has much to share, for Sarah is co-founder of Metta Journeys, a service oriented organisations that offers Yoga retreats internationally to help women and children in developing countries.  She is also author of the upcoming book Insight Yoga: Integrating Yin/Yang Yoga and Buddhist Meditation.

Other benefits of being a guest at COMO Shambhala Estate include the unique opportunity to explore a wide range of complementary treatments, from massage to Ayurveda, in a quiet and peaceful riverside location. Guests can choose from different types of accommodation including villas with pools and those with private treatment rooms.  Throughout, the emphasis is on privacy, peace, nutritious cuisine and meaningful results with a personal assistant assigned to each guest to help maximise the wellness opportunities.

Prices start at $3,515, which includes five days of Yoga instruction, accommodation, return airport transfers, daily breakfast and brunch and two dinners.

Guests staying outside of the Estate may wish to consider booking their accommodation at COMO’s sister property on Bali, known as Uma Ubud, which is located a 10-minute drive from The Estate.  Prices for a six-night stay including all transfers, breakfast and lunch daily and two dinners costs $3135 per person (single occupancy).  For other non-residents, the classes cost from $1210 (daily Yoga classes only) or $1452 (daily Yoga classes and brunch) per person.

Now in their fifth edition, the Crystal Awards are an industry-renowned recognition. They are designed to endorse, through a collective voice of experts, the contributions made by properties and individuals to spas in Asia.

This new accolade follows closely behind The Estate’s success when it secured the same award in 2007. Last year, the property was also named among the ‘Top 10 Best Spas in the World’ under three separate categories in the 5th Annual Spa Finder Readers’ Choice Awards.

It was only in 2005 that COMO Shambhala Estate first opened as a high-end residential retreat for health and renewal, and launched as the flagship property of the COMO Shambhala portfolio. Its quick success has had much to do with the integrity of its wellness vision. For The Estate goes far beyond the usual luxury spa offerings, the property’s unique Wellness Programmes designed to guide guests towards radical lifestyle change.

This is achieved by focusing entirely on the individual’s needs and requirements in a private, nurturing way. Leading specialists in contemporary holistic health offer different wellness consultations from nutrition to naturopathy. Tailored hands-on healing techniques include massage, Ayurvedic and water-based therapies. Yoga, Pilates and meditation complement this line-up with high-end Retreat Weeks led by internationally-renowned names. In addition, guests are encouraged to engage with the big outdoors in their pursuit of better health, with activities including biking, climbing and hiking. Guests also benefit from the healthful and locally sourced COMO Shambhala organic cuisine, which is available at all meals.

A strong sense of quiet and contemplation is afforded by The Estate’s location. Accommodation is nestled amid jungle greenery on a peaceful riverbank close to the inland, artists’ town of Ubud. Individual villas are hidden among the forest canopy, all with pools, some with private treatment rooms.

Three days of fine dining, revelry and relaxation begin at Uma Ubud with the presentation of a special ‘Ang Pao’ to share good luck for the new year (it is a Chinese tradition to give a red envelope with a monetary gift – we will present you with a gift voucher instead). Treat yourself to a sumptuous meal at Uma’s renowned Kemiri restaurant and a rejuvenating COMO Shambhala treatment in lush Balinese gardens at Uma’s holistic Retreat. Gain insights into the colourful local culture and landscape on a guided morning walk among the rice paddies, or head out on a sightseeing tour in and around Ubud, the town of artisans.

Inclusions:

Terms and Conditions: Rates are subject to an additional 21% government tax and service charge. Rates are quoted in US Dollars per room per package and based on two people sharing. Extra person: under 12 years old free; over 13 years at USD$70 per person per night (B&B) subject 21% tax and service charge. Maximum of one extra person per room. Check in time after 2pm and check out time 11am. In order for the hotel to arrange transfers, please provide accurate flight arrival and departure details.

To book now or for more information please contact:
res.ubud@uma.como.bz
uma.como.bz

From 16th to 22nd November 2008 renowned American Yoga teachers Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman will host a residential Yoga Retreat at COMO Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri, Bali.
Rodney Yee, who sits on the Board of Advisors for COMO Shambala, is a long-term friend of the company. He has hosted many sought-after Yoga Retreats at Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos as well as retreats in Bali. He is the co-founder of the Piedmont Yoga Studio in Oakland, California, and author of Yoga: The Poetry of the Body and Moving Towards Balance.
Colleen Saidman was originally certified in the 800 hour-plus Jivamukti Teacher Training Programme. She and her business partner, Jessica Bellofatto, own the hip Yoga Shanti studio in Sag Harbour, New York.
Colleen has also been a long-term friend of COMO Shambhala and shares the company’s strong holistic vision.
Rodney and Colleen are the perfect partnership to lead this retreat. They have been practising together for more than five years. However, this is the first time they will be leading a joint Yoga week at COMO Shambhala Estate.

During five days of practise, Rodney and Colleen will help students move from Vinyasa to integrated alignment, from chanting to silence and from pranayama to pratyahara, creating a profound experience of movement from the gross/masculine energy to the subtle/feminine. Under Rodney and Colleen’s expert guidance, participants will be able to refine their attention and dissolve the boundaries between male and female, between us and the world.

Guests will also be able to benefit from the Estate’s healthful COMO Shambhala cuisine and substantial wellness facilities. A team of highly skilled consultants and therapists offer a wide variety of treatments, including Ayurveda, nutritional consultations and Pilates.

A 25m lap pool as well as a sauna, steam rooms and hydrotherapy pool are available to guests, and there is a daily schedule of complimentary activities such as walking, martial arts and biking.

The Estate is nestled in the Balinese jungle near Ubud, the island’s cultural hub. Accommodation is private and spacious, located in one of five unique Residences or various individual villas. Retreat guests also all have the use of a personal assistant, creating an environment in which to relax and clear the mind. Retreat rates start from $3,650 (single occupancy) or $5,640 (double occupancy) in a Garden Room, inclusive of government tax and service charge.

All rates include six nights accommodation, five days Yoga tuition, daily breakfast/brunch, welcome and farewell dinners and return airport transfers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

COMO Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri
Banjar Begawan, Desa Melinggih Kelod,
Payangan, Gianyar
Bali 80571, Indonesia
Tel +62 361 978 888
Fax +62 361 978 889
Email res@cse.comoshambhala.bz
Website cse.comoshambhala.bz

The Company: COMO Shambhala is the COMO Group’s healthy living concept that spans environments, services and products, offering a full range of experiences that challenge and inspire us to greater wellbeing.

The COMO Shambhala Offer: COMO Shambhala advocates proactive responsibility for individual holistic wellness. This entails balancing healthy eating with pleasurable gastronomy, self-directed exercise with expert instruction, massage with greater mental repose, and thought with action. COMO Shambhala embraces all modalities of wellbeing, from yoga’s ancient system of self-development to other proven methods such as Ayurveda, aromatherapy, Pilates, Tai’Chi, and Qigong. Consultants take a consultative rather than prescriptive approach, working with guests on a one-by-one basis to define and achieve their goals. COMO Shambhala cuisine offers enzyme-rich, healthy and delicious cuisine.

COMO Shambhala at Home, a lifestyle brands, creates skin and bodycare products developed to complement the environments and services available.

Property Portfolio: COMO Shambhala owns, designs and manages seven centres of wellbeing at properties worldwide. Each location is chosen because it possesses a sense of peace in its own right, whether this is a hillside in Bhutan or riverbank in Bali. COMO Shambhala’s portfolio includes COMO’s city hotels spas, known as COMO Shambhala Urban Escapes (in Singapore, at the Metropolitan London and Metropolitan Bangkok), COMO Shambhala Retreats (at Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos, Cocoa Island in the Maldives, Uma Ubud in Bali and Uma Paro in Bhutan), and its flagship destination, COMO Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri. In addition, COMO Shambhala owns and operates Glow, three restaurants in Singapore, Bangkok and Bali that focus on COMO Shambhalainspired healthful cuisine.

The COMO Group: COMO Shambhala is part of the COMO Group, which represents Christina Ong’s unique vision of contemporary living. The COMO Group encompasses Club 21, the international luxury fashion retailer, COMO Hotels and Resorts, which is the hospitality collection with properties in London, the Caribbean, Bhutan, Bali, Thailand and the Maldive Islands, and the COMO Foundation representing the Group’s philanthropic interests throughout the developing world. The Group is headquartered in Singapore.

Cok Gede Agung Suyasa was a close advisor to the Royal Familiy and the leader of customary law in Ubud. Cok Gede Raka was the head of the Ubud police

The Royal Cremation Ceremony promises to be an unfortgettable event.

The bodies of the deceased will be carried through the streets of Ubud by hundreds of local people on top of a nine-storey tower called bade. The procession will be accompanied by the elaborately decorated and venerated bull effigy Lembu and a Naga Banda, a mythical dragon-like creature with a 5-metre long tail.

The cremation procession and ceremony are an important ritual in the Hindu tradition; to witness a Royal procession is rare.

Uma Ubud is your gateway to discovering Balinese culture and traditions, and our expert Uma Guides offer an escorted excursion to experience this unique event.

Click Here for more information.

This exciting development for both Uma Paro and Uma Ubud recognises both properties’ belief in a sophisticated luxury credo, which is shared by Design Hotels. Luxury is defined as something which adds pleasure to our lives, highlighting real substance over that which is only packaging. The hotels speak to guests as individuals, enhancing our quality of life.

With both properties, guests can enjoy a unique cultural adventure, complemented by the core of the COMO Shambhala experience with Yoga and Asian-inspired therapies. In design, each hotel reflects local aesthetics, combining indigenous detailing with a serene modernity. The number of rooms is deliberately limited. In cuisine, both Uma properties incorporate local organic foodstuffs with sophisticated Asian-led traditions. Uma Paro and Uma Ubud also offer the opportunity to explore the surrounding landscapes with experienced guides.

Uma Ubud in Bali, new in July 2004, is located within Ubud, an inland town revered as the island’s cultural hub. The 29-room hotel overlooks the Tjampuhan Valley. The interiors are by Japanese designer Koichiro Ikebuchi. Carved panels open up the rooms to incorporate views, while the simplicity of pared-down spaces keeps light flowing through the interiors, from the bedroom through to garden terraces, private courtyards and pretty plunge pools. This respect for Uma Ubud’s natural surroundings is repeated in the choice of materials, including local woods and alang-alang thatched roofs.

Uma Paro, which opened in November 2004, is located on a 38-acre hilltop site. It is close to the town of Paro, one of the main cultural centres of Bhutan. There are only 20 rooms and nine villas, with interiors by traditionally-trained Bhutanese artisans working alongside Cheong Yew Kwan, architect of COMO Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri, and Kathryn Kng, who did the contemporary-styled Metropolitan Bangkok. The hotel staff have substantial experience in trekking and cultural excursions, taking guests all over the country to explore monasteries, markets and hidden Himalayan valleys.

For more information on Design Hotels, visit www.designhotels.com.
For COMO Hotels and Resorts, visit como.bz.

Understanding Uma:

Uma means ‘Living House’ in Bahasa, the Indonesian national language. Developed by COMO Hotels and Resorts, Uma properties are located in unspoilt, inland locations. They are also ecologically aware. Every aspect of an Uma resort is infused with indigenous attributes, from design to cuisine to local staff knowledge. The intention is to immerse guests in the textural richness of the resort’s carefully chosen region – from culture to religion and landscape – offering the dual experience of escape and adventure. This is complemented by the holistic core of the COMO Shambhala philosophy, featuring Yoga and Asian-inspired therapies. Uma Paro’s sister resort, Uma Ubud, is located in Bali.

Understanding COMO Hotels and Resorts:

COMO Hotels and Resorts’ first property opened in 1991 – the Halkin in London’s Belgravia. The winning combination of smooth and accurate service, healthy Michelin-starred food and contemporary, understated style has since led to the creation of further properties, each different from the other while respecting COMO’s core commitments – to indulge every guest’s sense of respite, be it on a private island or a city hotel in the world’s most dynamic capitals. Currently the COMO portfolio consists of two properties in London: the Halkin and Metropolitan, London. The resort product launched in 1998 with Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos. In 2002, Cocoa Island in the Maldives was born, followed in 2003 by the Metropolitan, Bangkok. In early 2004, COMO Hotels and Resorts assumed management of Begawan Giri Estate in Bali. That same year saw the opening of Uma Paro, Bhutan, and Uma Ubud, Bali. In 2005, Begawan Giri was relaunched with substantial new facilities as a top-end residential wellness retreat called COMO Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri.

Don Peers has been practicing Yoga since 1993.  His teaching reflects his belief that Yoga is an inward journey; how we undertake that journey is as important as the final destination.
He has studied with prominent teachers from around the world including Sri Pattabhi Jois and Rodney Yee. In 2000 he finished a three-year teacher-training program with Simon Borg-Oliver and Bianca Machliss at Yoga Synergy in Sydney, Australia. He has also undergone teacher training in Vinnie Yoga with Sri Desikachar at KYM in India and Ashtanga Vinyasa with Tim Miller in California.

On this Yoga Retreat Peers will help students to focus on their personal practice in an environment far removed from the rigours of every day life. Each morning will start with pranayama followed by asana practice and the complete Ashtanga primary series. Modifications for beginners and those having difficulty with specific poses will make this Retreat suitable and challenging for all levels. Afternoon sessions will develop individual asanas: awakening the body through breath, giving lightness and lift through uddiyana bhanda (diaphragm lock) and achieving correct body positioning and leverage. Sessions will end with guided meditation followed by questions and answers on alternate days.

The Retreat takes place at Uma Ubud, a quiet haven on the fringe of the artist’s town of Ubud, central Bali (an hour’s drive from the international airport at Denpasar). Residential guests will be able to benefit from Uma Ubud’s substantial facilities in other areas of holistic wellness. Massage and Ayurvedic therapies are available at Uma Ubud’s COMO Shambhala Retreat and guests can eat healthily from the organic COMO Shambhala menus. Guided walks, mountain biking trips and other activities enable visitors to explore the enchanted forests and mistwrapped paddies of the island’s hinterland.

Substantial time is available for relaxing around the pool or lounging in Uma Ubud’s tranquil private gardens. Thatched accommodation blends seamlessly with the forest environment and rooms are flooded with natural light. Retreat guests may come alone, share a room with a friend, or opt for a more couple-orientated suite with a private pool.

Retreat prices start from US$2259 for single occupancy in a Terrace Room, or US$1990 per person for double occupancy (all rates are inclusive of 11% government tax and 10% service charge). Prices include six nights accommodation, five days Yoga instruction, daily breakfast and brunch on Yoga days, welcome and farewell dinners, healthy juice and ginger tea, and private round-trip airport transfers.

The cost for non-residents is US$1101; this price includes all of the above excluding the six nights accommodation, breakfast and airport transfers.

Understanding Uma: Uma means ‘Living House’ in Bahasa Indonesian national language. Developed by COMO Hotels and Resorts, Uma properties are located in unspoilt, inland locations. They are also ecologically aware. Every aspect of an Uma resort is infused with indigenous attributes, from design to cuisine to local staff knowledge. The intention is to immerse guests in the textural richness of the resort’s carefully chosen region – from culture to religion and landscape – offering the dual experience of escape and adventure. This is complemented by the holistic core of the COMO Shambhala philosophy, featuring yoga and Asian-inspired therapies. Other Uma resorts include Uma Paro, in Bhutan.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Uma Ubud
Jl. Raya Sanggingan
Banjar Lungsiakan, Kadewatan, Ubud, Gianyar
Bali 80571, Indonesia
Tel: +62 361 972448
Fax: +62 361 972449
Email: uma.ubud@comoshambhala.bz
Website: http://uma.como.bz

FOR ANY PRESS AND MEDIA QUERY:

Yenni Maelianawati
COMO Shambhala
Telephone +44 (0) 207 447 1017
Facsimile +44 (0) 207 447 1072
Email yenni.maelianawati@comoshambhala.bz
Website http://comoshambhala.bz

The SpaAsia Crystal Awards are the highlight of the SpaAsia Wellness Summit, an annual event to honour the crème de la crème of the wellness community. A total of 14 categories are designed to endorse, through a collective voice of experts, the contributions made by properties to spearhead trends in the luxury spa industry.

Created in 2005, the AsiaSpa Awards set a benchmark for the growing number of outstanding spas throughout Asia, the AsiaSpa Awards are decided by a panel of over 20 handpicked judges, all experts in their fields of spa healing and beauty. The awards honour the best of the best in terms of quality, service and innovation in 26 different categories.

These accolades follow closely behind the 5th Annual Spa Finder Readers’ Choice Awards earlier in the year when COMO Shambhala Estate was named among the ‘Top 10 Best Spas in the World’ under three separate categories.

In 2007, this makes The Estate winner of a total of seven major awards so far. The Estate is especially proud that such recognition has come so early; it was only in 2005 that this extraordinarily beautiful resort became a high-end residential retreat for health and renewal, and launched as the flagship property of the COMO Shambhala portfolio.

The awards recognise that The Estate goes far beyond the usual luxury spa offerings, the property’s unique Wellness Programmes designed to guide guests towards radical lifestyle change.

This is achieved by focusing entirely on the individual’s needs and requirements in a private, nurturing way. Leading specialists in contemporary holistic health offer different wellness consultations from nutrition to naturopathy. Tailored hands-on healing techniques include massage, Ayurvedic and waterbased therapies. Yoga, Pilates and meditation complement this line-up with high-end Retreat Weeks led by internationally-renowned names. In addition, guests are encouraged to engage with the big outdoors in their pursuit of better health, with activities including biking, climbing and hiking. Guests also benefit from the healthful and locally sourced COMO Shambhala organic cuisine, which is available at all meals.

A strong sense of quiet and contemplation is afforded by The Estate’s location. Accommodation is nestled amid jungle greenery on a peaceful riverbank close to the inland, artists’ town of Ubud. Individual villas are hidden among the forest canopy, all with pools, some with private treatment rooms.

COMO Shambhala’s innovative position in the global spa market is set to grow. The company recently created a Board of Advisors made up of experts in holistic health to help direct the company’s evolution; members include Dr Robert Thurman, Yoga teacher Rodney Yee and Donna Karan.