A number of luxury hotel operators around the world are enhancing their spa offerings by inviting Buddhist monks to carry out meditation classes and teach guests ayurvedic wellness rituals.

For example, The Chedi Andermatt in Switzerland has added yoga retreats by Buddhist monk Loten Dahorstang to its spa programme. The retreat is offering three hour-long mindfulness meditation and Lu Jong yoga sessions, led by the Tibetan spiritual advisor, as a way to market its 2,400sq m (25,833sq ft) wellness facility – which features Finnish saunas, plus scented salt and steambaths.

The Peninsula Hotels is launching a ‘rest, relax and rejuvenate programme’ at the Peninsula Spa in Bangkok, which is a spa, wellness and healthy lifestyle programme in collaboration with Wat Pho Traditional Thai Medical and Massage School. ‘Wat Pho’ is referred to as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.



Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts are also in the process of creating a Buddhist Trail for tourists, taking in resorts from Nepal to Bodhgaya, Nalanda and Varanasi in India.

In December, Four Seasons Bali at Sayan in Bali welcomed former Buddhist monk Ibu Fera. She became the resort’s resident wellness mentor and leads meditation classes that cover introductory principles and techniques to achieve present moment awareness.