Jamie Nonis comes up with three itineraries to give you a boost when your mind, body and soul are run-down

Your skin is dull, your overall energy level moderate at best, your friends have commented you’re less than chipper…all the signs point to your health tank running on empty. But with the following three methods of cleansing – whether by colonoscopy, exercise and good nutrition, or mental healing – you’ll take the first step towards jump-starting the body.

The quick release
Clean out your system by signing up for a session of Colon Hydrotherapy ($180, plus $80 for the doctor’s consultation on the first visit) at Clinic 10 (#06-25 Tanglin Shopping Centre, 6336 0504). Try not to eat about two and a half hours before the treatment, or if you must, have something light as the hour-long procedure (including consultation) will require your digestive tract not to be on active duty.

After your insides have been flushed free of toxins, walk your ‘lighter’ self out to The Whole Earth Vegetarian Restaurant (593 Geylang Rd, 6841 3319). The Thai and Chinese-styled cuisine proves vegetarian food can be just as tasty as the fatty, salty alternative. Best bets include the TWE healthy wolfberry soup for two ($9) and TWE olive-fried rice ($6). Wash it down with the eight treasure cooling tea with rosehip buds (hot or cold, $4).

On the way home, make a pitstop at SuperNature and buy the Colon Cleanse Tea ($22.90) by Herbal Plus Inc so you can continue detoxing at home. Also worth the money is the Fushi Sleep Tincture ($65) made with valerian, camomile, skullcap, passion flower and oat seed. Mix 5ml of the tonic with water or juice about half an hour before bedtime and you’ll sleep like a baby.

Sweating it out
Test how fit you really are with an early morning run-walk. Head to the TreeTop Walk at MacRitchie Reservoir. You’ll have to hike 27 metres up to the free-standing suspension bridge, but it’s worth it when you reach the top and take in the beauty of the surrounding canopy of treetops. Keep an eye out for long-tailed monkeys making the odd appearance. Continue on with a 10.5km brisk walk (round-trip – it’s one-way traffic only) that should take approximately three to four hours. Or just opt for one of the other four hiking routes (3.5km, 4.8km, 9.5km, 10.3km). Check www.nparks.gov.sg for full details.

After that, make your way to L’Organic for a light lunch of couscous with raisins and mint served with roasted vegetables ($10).



Now it’s time to indulge and treat yourself to a night at the Changi Village Hotel (1 Netheravon Rd, 6737 3304), taking advantage of the Executive Escapades package ($208+++ per night until 30 June 2008). Once you’re there, suit up and head to the outdoor swimming pool to do some laps. Cool down afterwards with a leisurely soak in the Jacuzzi as you enjoy a lovely sunset and the sight of planes landing at the nearby Changi Airport.

Post-swim, head to the hotel’s onsite spa, The Retreat Spa (Level 8 & 9, Changi Village Hotel, 6738 0080), for the NeoQi Energy Spa treatment ($78 for 30 minutes). During an infrared sauna session, a dry form of heat is pumped out, meant to penetrate deep into your muscles and actively burn the same number of calories equivalent to a 10 to 15km run.

For dinner, continue on the veggie route at the hotel’s Saltwater Café (Lobby, Changi Village Hotel, 6379 7018). Meatless options include green pea soup ($10) and The Village caesar salad ($13). Before heading back to your room, stop over at Vau wine bar (Lobby, Changi Village Hotel, 6379 7018) for a glass of house red ($10). After such a wholesome day, why not treat yourself to a scientifically proven way to keep your heart healthy? In moderation, of course.

End the night relaxing in your room, then wake up at 6.30am and take a walk down to the Changi Park Beach (along Nicoll Drive and Changi Coast Rd) to do some yoga stretches and meditate on the sand at the crack of dawn.

Soothe the soul
Physical health aside, strong emotional and mental health is the key to achieving a balanced mind-body-soul. Start your journey at Spaboutique. Join in an outdoor yoga session ($30 for a one-off session from 10.30am to 12pm every Sunday) conducted by Yvette Tee, a practising yoga teacher for almost a decade. Set in a colonial-style bungalow with an expansive landscaped garden, it almost feels like you’re exercising in the comfort of someone’s home.

Now that you’ve physically exhausted yourself, it’s time for a reward. Head to holistic healing space Whatever for a facial massage ($180). Through a series of light touches, the therapist will work on removing toxins and reducing the build-up of fl uid in the body tissue. As a result, your skin will have a healthy glow.



Still shining, grab a vegetarian lunch at Whatever’s café located at the back of its bookstore. The tasty pesto-and-cream organic linguine with pine nuts ($12.50) or the baked tofu with tangy tamarindnut sauce and brown rice ($10.90) are hot favourites. To aid digestion, try the ginger spice fruit juice ($7.90) blended with ginger, apple, carrot and oranges.

While you’re there, pick up a guided meditation CD such as Meditating for Relaxation and Stress Reduction ($18.90); soothing music (Relaxation Time by Margaret M, $20, is filled with the exotic sounds of the New Zealand rainforest); or Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks ($25.90), to learn how to bring your desires to fruition. Get even more help and guidance at Sanctum (5 Boon Tat St, #02-01, 6225 4381). Sign up for an aura and chakra reading, cleansing, healing and empowering session ($250). During the comprehensive two-hour session, the facilitator will focus on the chakras (energy centres) that are blocked. Various energy-healing methods such as reiki are used to ‘cleanse’ and remove these blockages.

Back home, settle in for a quiet night. First, cook an organic vegetarian dinner, followed by self-meditation guided by the CD you bought earlier. End the evening curled up in bed with a good book and the satisfaction of knowing you are recharged for the week ahead.