Yoga

In its purest form yoga is a complete system of physical and mental training: a series of spiritual stages on the path to enlightenment dating back to 1200 BC in India when its wisdom and practice were passed down from Hindu ascetic guru to disciple. The global spread of interest in yoga in the 20th century is unprecedented although much of its appeal lies in the catch-all benefits it unleashes: its ability to work on muscle groups, increase suppleness and vitality, tone internal organs, stimulate nerve centres, relieve stress and clear the mind. All this is attained through breathing techniques {pranayama) and physical postures (asanas) performed deliberately and slowly with a concentrated focus on our own inner awareness. Yoga looks upon the body as the temple of the soul and in this respect is becoming a far more attractive alternative to the all-brawn-no-brain step class. Indeed exercise at its most seductive is a twilight yoga class under a Thai-slyle pavilion beside the beach at Thailand's Chiva'Som where the sea breezes and mantras help transport you to inner realms you never knew you possessed.

Meditation

Its all too easy to believe that meditation is a simple form of stress bustine physical workout and a bit of peace and quiet in which to breathe deeply on 'nothing' in order to feel profoundly relaxed. For the uninitiated, this i is not so straight forward. It can be virtually Impossible to drown out the i of our internal dialogue and it takes practice to reach the state of heighten and inner peace that meditation helps us to achieve.

The various techniques all involve focusing the mind on an object, colour to which it can return if it gets distracted. These may include the consciol breathing, a mantra - word or phrase such as 'Om', the most used and sacred mantra of the Hindus, or an icon such as a burning candle or religious statue.

Once in a quiet, receptive state, the mind excretes certain brain waves, known as alpha waves, that purportedly operate at a far higher intensity than those that occur during sleep, creating electrical activity that leads to altered awareness and deep relaxation.

While different forms of meditation are practised in all major reli- gions (in Christianity it takes the form of prayer), it is most readily associated with the spiritualism of the oriental world where it is used as a way of exploring the inner recesses of the mind and achieving a euphoric condition. This was picked up in the West during the 1960s when the Beatles popularized Transcendental Meditation (TM). By the 1990s, meditation in the West is no longer the preserve of the kaftan-clad fringe set, but has become an executive tool for beating stress, insomnia, addictions and depression.

It is best to be guided through the rudiments of meditation by a practitlor some of the tranquil, tropical locations in Asia are so heavy with a spiritua they provide a perfect sanctuary for getting started on the path to mindful location that immediately comes to mind is Sayan, outside Ubud in Bali, r are offered at the The Four Seasons and Begawan Giri Estate by expert practitioners.

Tai Chi

This ancient Chinese movement therapy is all about harnessing the natural energy both within us and from outside. It relies on the belief that the smooth flow of chi' or life energy through the bodys meridians, is vital for good health and that illness occurs when there is an imbalance or sluggish flow in certain areas due to anxiety, tension and fatigue.

Tai chi is similar to yoga with its focus on breathing and its slow, meditative movements that concentrate our minds and encourage us to listen to that which we can never really hear: our inner self. However, tai chi has its own system of graceful arm movements that symbolize the deliberate process of harnessing the earths energy and drawing it into our bodies. These movements, combined with strong leg postures, are learnt as a sequence practised time and again, although the sequence varies according to proficiency levels. Experts will practise the long version combining up to 108 movements in a 30-minute session.

Yogaia Wave Movement

With so many forms of 'mindful" exercise currently in vogue, how do you choose what to focus on? Meditation clears the mind but doesn't do much for the cardiovascular and yoga is ideal as long as energy levels are not hitting the roof. This is where Yogaia Wave has found its niche. Called "waving" by those in the know, this new exercise is a synthesis of forms that incorporates yoga, dance, martial arts positions and meditative practices, which together, bring a host of healing benefits. Who would have known that gyrating could do you so much good?

The co-founder of Yogaia Wave, Se'a Criss, is based at Begawan Giri Estate, Bali, She claims that this fun form of exercise realigns the bodys physical structure, enhances the immune system, opens  up the spinal column, balances the emotions and relieves anxiety-and, if this weren't enough - balances the left and right brain functions. Nevertheless, this is perfect for the 'mindful" exercise sceptic: it is a combination ofaerobics without the schlep and yoga with a bit of pizzazz. In other words a complete mind and body workout.

Water ShiatsuTheraphy

At last a grown up body treatment that makes us feel young again - really young. Water Shiatsu originated in America but has been developed as an aquatic body therapy for tropical waters by the Breathing Space in Singapore. It is so absorbing and comforting that it must - if only we could remember for sure - recreate the sensations of life in the womb. The rocking and gentle stretches, which are all part of this treatment, make you feel like a baby anyway!

Thanks to the buoyancy of the water for support, the body relaxes in free float. This is the optimum state for carrying out bodywork according to the principles ofshiatsu, the Japanese form of massage that concentrates on the bodys meridians to stimulate its energy flow and de-stress. The mind goes into limbo as the body is walked very slowly around the pool and gently rocked. This is the starting poini for various sequences that revolve, massage and outstretch the limbs. Ardent followers claim that the treatment helps them get in touch with deep feelings of safety and connectedness. However you choose to look at it, Water Shiatsu is - for sure - a total tune-out and the ultimate unwind! Try it at a Breathing Space weekend retreat or at their Moana Spa, both on the Indonesian island of Batam.