RAKxa is one of the most exciting wellness retreats to arrive in Thailand in recent years.
It opened nearly four years ago in Chao Phraya River, (an area nicknamed “Bangkok’s Green Lungs” due to its lush landscape) and is the country’s first and leading integrative wellness retreat. Fast forward to March 2024, and RAKxa expanded its reach to the hills of Tuscany, through a new partnership with luxury property Castelfalfi.
Nestled in the heart of the sprawling five-star Tuscan estate is the RAKxa Wellness Spa, through which RAKxa offers a series of seasonal Wellness Retreats, which launched this summer.
According to the experts at RAKxa, each of its new retreats at the Italian luxury property, is “curated in harmony with the distinctive characteristics of the Tuscan seasons and meticulously designed around RAKxa’s five interconnected pillars of wellness: Nutrition, Exercise, Stress Management, Rest and Restorative Treatment.” Adding to this, specialists from RAKxa’s flagship retreat in Bangkok lead the wellness workshops throughout the retreat, guiding guests towards their health goals using RAKxa’s holistic and integrative approach.
It’s easy to see why the Italian countryside was chosen as the location for RAKxa’s European outpost. The rolling Tuscan hills surrounding Castelfalfi are bathed in the area’s famed golden light, against a lush landscape, making it the perfect destination to hike outdoors and explore the surrounding area. Discussing the synergy between the two destinations, Roberto Protezione, General Manager of Castelfalfi explained “RAKxa’s unique concept of wellbeing, resonates very strongly with Castelfalfi’s offering to all our guests. The original RAKxa Wellness, in Thailand, is a temple of healing and inner peace. Here, we are committed to the same aim: to ensure our guests are entirely relaxed, revived and restored. Genuine food, activities set in nature and beautiful views are some of the common characteristics connecting us.”
Unlike some wellness retreats which focus solely on strength training and gruelling fitness regimes. The RAKxa retreat is focused on building a foundation of better musculoskeletal alignment and pain-free movement. As the course leaders explain, modern lifestyles, dominated by hours spent hunched over screens, sitting at desks, and staring at smartphones, have taken a significant toll on posture. Prolonged sitting and the frequent forward head tilt associated with screen use lead to muscular imbalances, particularly weakening the core and back muscles while tightening the chest and neck. This can not only result in rounded shoulders and a forward head posture but also increases the risk of chronic pain, spinal misalignment, and even decreased lung capacity. Over time, poor posture becomes the default stance, impacting overall health, reducing mobility, and contributing to a cascade of musculoskeletal issues. As such, the Wellness Retreat offers an entry point for those looking to improve their overall well-being, which is accessible to any age and inclusive of different levels of fitness. At the core of the programme is a focus on posture and balance, and fixing these basic elements to help each guest’s future fitness journey.
Another key element of the programme is a gentle morning hike each day, with glorious views of the Tuscan landscape and fresh country air, led by Castelfalfi’s highly accomplished on-site guide, who has crafted several hikes across the estate which are positioned to different levels of hiking ability. Throughout the stay, guests can also recover and rejuvenate with luxurious wellness spa treatments that offer to soothe tired muscles and restore full motion and balance. Highlights of the spa include an infrared sauna within the two separate changing rooms, a wet room area featuring an ice plunge pool, a steam room, a further sauna and tropical showers. The jewel in the crown of the spa is the hydrotherapy pool which includes automatic doors within the pool, which allow guests to swim directly from the Romanesque indoor space to the outdoor infinity pool with cascading panoramic views over the surrounding Tuscan landscape.
While RAKxa offers treatments within the spa from traditional massage therapists, there is also an onsite physiotherapist called Ploy, who offers a bespoke treatment plan to those with specific ailments, such as scoliosis or other musculoskeletal issues. Trained in the spa’s headquarters in Bangkok, she offers a spectacular range of treatments to aid and help recovery, improve movement and help with pain management.
Throughout the retreat, there is also a menu of full-board wellness meals prepared with seasonal, organic ingredients that showcase Tuscany’s culinary heritage while adhering to RAKxa’s anti-inflammatory food philosophy. Each meal on the menu includes a breakdown of the calorie content, as well as the protein, carbohydrate and fat content within each dish. However, the focus is very much on nutrition rather than restrictive eating. For example, (depending on the season) the retreat includes a truffle hunting experience followed by a sumptuous truffle-themed lunch, offering a taste of authentic Tuscan cuisine. At each meal, a delectable side of rich focaccia homemade bread is also on offer, with all ingredients on the menu sourced from a 15-kilometre radius of the estate, and many of the ingredients grown in Castelfalfi’s own organic garden.
Marrying the techniques built in Bangkok’s “Green Lungs”, with the timeless beauty and relaxing environment of Castelfalfi’s Tuscan estate, the retreat offers the perfect setting to explore the five pillars of wellness in a restorative setting.
