Healing in Bali

While in Bali this November I wanted to see a healer.  Both for physical - joint pain, back pain, PCOS/hormone imbalances, foot pain, and more. And also emotional reasons - help with motivation, and also my boyfriend and I were in the process of a break up and it would be nice if it was easier on me. I did a little bit of searching online before hand of who to see and came up with two. So I went to see both with my boyfriend-ish.

I first went to see Tjokorda Gde Rai since we didn't require an appointment to see him.  We were the only ones there upon arrival as it was still early.  Tjokorda Rai was so kind.  His english was pretty good and his smile just lit up his whole face.  He saw my boyfriend first.  He touched his head and ears and told him much of what he was struggling with.  He then lay down on the mat and he poked and prodded his toes.  

Once it was my turn I didn't feel he was very thorough with me to be honest.  He looked at me and asked if I had kids.  I said no.  He asked me to lay down on the mat right away without even touching my head.  He knew there was something wrong with my menstruation which of course having PCOS there certainly is.  He stuck a stick in between one of my toes which hurt, and worked on me a bit and came up and whispered in my ear that I need to talk to him and he motioned to my boyfriend. Tjokorda Rai really wanted me to have kids, despite me really NOT wanting kids at all! He told me to stop taking the medication and take omega 3 instead.  He spent about 5-10 minutes with me and told me next time I come back there will be 3 people instead of two.  Funny considering if I go back to Bali, I might consider just going alone!  

I don't not recommend Tjokorda Gde Rai, but know that he doesn't spend a lot of time with you. It was a lovely experience and if he had spent another few minutes with me trying to figure out what I needed I would have felt a bit better.  It's by offering, and between the two of us we left 450,000 IDR.

The second healer we went to see was Nyoman Arya Dunung aka Pak Man who is located in a village just north of Ubud.  This guy is amazing, however it's important to know that you'll likely leave exhausted.  Pak Man spends much more time with you.  He spent about an hour and a half with each of us.  First we sat down with him and his partner Lucinda who is British and absolutely lovely! She also translates for him as his english isn't very good.  You have to come with clear instructions of what issues you want to deal with when you go to see him.  They go over everything with you in details prior to your treatment.  Once that's completed each one of use went with him into his private treatment area.  I sit on the mat and he begins by taking a q-tip dipping it in something and then writing on my tongue with it.  After, he started working on my feet first which is a constant problem area for me.  He touches every area on my feet and locates every single tiny issue I have. He works on my legs and moves up to my stomach area.  He sticks his fingers in my belly button and I'm pretty sure he's trying to poke a hole right through my body cause man does it hurt!  He massages my organs and presses on my kidney and I pretty much wanted to cry in pain.  Now I have to admit I have a pretty low tolerance for pain, and I knew he had figured that out and was trying to take it easy on me. He asked me to drink some medicine which tasted pretty gross like water with some kind of essential oil. I struggled through it and he tried to get me to finish it but I left a small amount at the end I just couldn't stomach anymore.  He poured it on my head and rubbed it into me.  He worked on my body more and cracked my back very lightly which felt great and was much needed.  At one point during the session I suddenly felt very emotional and wanted to cry, it was as if something was released. Following the session I went back to the sitting area and he talked to me about what he had done with Lucinda translating.  There were a lot of bloackages he said which he had tried to tell me during the session itself.  He had gotten rid of them.  He said my kidney is functioning properly and that I HAVE to drink more water and it will get better.  He also said there was some darkness but he got rid of it for me, and that I need to find my peace.  

Both my boyfriend and I were exhausted by the end of this and throughout the whole day we were both very tired as it had taken a lot of energy to get through this.  We both wish we had gone to see him sooner though so we could have seen him more than one time while we were there. 

I definitely recommend going to see Pak man.  The cost is 500,000 IDR (about $50 CAD) It was worth it for sure. For an appointment please call 081 338 935 369

So where do I go from here, Omega 3, more water, and find my peace. With my relationship ending and my boyfriend moving out I know that I will soon be able to find my peace once again. 

Laya Spa & Yoga Review

I'm still trying to process the events of what just happened.  I'm pretty sure it was magic!  My amazing sweet boyfriend wanted to get me a facial as a gift.  I haven't gotten a facial in perhaps a decade or so.  My skin would always be super red afterwards and it just didn't appeal to me.  I did a lot of research and read a lot of reviews before deciding on Laya Spa on Queen St. W.  I opted for the Ayurveda Facial because I liked the idea of using all natural ingredients instead of the crappy chemical filled gunk most places use.

I called to find out more information about the service and pricing and spoke with a few different woman.  Each were incredibly helpful, patient, thorough, and friendly.  It didn't feel like I was being rushed off the phone.  That pretty much sold me on the place.

The place is BEAUTIFUL.  For a small spa they really have done something incredible with it! The atmosphere is clean and calming and really attractive.

I started in the steam room for 30 minutes which is included in the facial.  It was amazing.  Very relaxing and I LOVE the heat!

Following that Alice took me into the room to begin the facial.  She asked me to hang my things up and lay on the table. I've never done a naked facial before but I'm game for most things so I was fine with it. She left for a while, and the wonderful subtle smells in the room and the spa-style Bob Marley music near put me to sleep.  I should mention that I'm really sensitive to smells but the smell in the room was nice and not overpowering.   Alice came back and began the magic.

I can't tell you exactly what she did but it involved a lot of amazing massaging of my upper chest, back, arms, and abdomen .  She did a light extraction which wasn't painful. It involved a great deal of hot towels on my chest, face and back. Heaps of delicious smells.  A mask made of chocolate, turmeric, honey, and probiotics. I honestly could have licked my face until it was clean and felt very happy about it! Apparently each person get's something different and tailored to their body type.  She used Aloe and rose water and some other stuff that was light.

When I was done I went to change, and they brought in some freshly squeezed grapefruit juice for me which I downed and it was delicious!

My only few things that would make this absolutely perfect would be larger robes for the steam room.  I asked if they had but they didn't.  I'm a big girl with lots of hip and the robe only covered one leg.  The other thing would be to clean the marble on the entrance to both the steam room and the shower.  The whole place is REALLY clean but those two areas didn't look it although the steam room and shower itself were spotless.  And lastly I like to know information and what's happening.  Perhaps other people just like quiet and like to relax, but I would have liked if Alice had told me what she was doing and putting on me.  I just find stuff like that interesting.  But she was honestly so amazing in every way that this is just me nit picking and who cares!  I'm still in heaven, super relaxed and my skin looks incredible and is so soft!

Thank you Alice and Laya Spa for this amazing experience.  I will definitely be back! And I will tell all my friends!!