Tranquility in the hustle and bustle of Jakarta

Illustration - A peaceful and quiet yoga studio. (ANTARA/Aria Cindyara)

On Saturday, December 7, crowds gathered to attend the Wellness and Meditation Festival held in Central Jakarta’s Plaza Indonesia. Between people getting from the meditation hall to the yoga room, were those signing up for meditation, yoga and gym packages offered by tenants and those looking at crystals, learning the different benefits from amethyst and rose quartz.

The enthusiasm shown by the people who showed up to such a wellness festival reflected the growing interest in the idea of wellness living. Maintaining a balance between the body, mind, and soul, have become a popular trend amongst communities across the globe, and Jakarta is no exception. Yoga and Pilates studios are popping up in every nook and cranny of the city, ready to welcome the fatigued minds and bodies of those living in the capital city with approximately 10 million people.

It may seem impossible to find true serenity within Jakarta’s loud hustle and bustle; however, it is believed that increasing level of stress and workload call for better care for the mind, body, and soul.

Nowadays, people are keen to achieve the ultimate ‘zen’ to balance out the hectic everyday lives,  Whether one is visiting or permanently residing in Jakarta, ANTARA has chosen several spots that can be visited for rejuvenation.


Mind

Whether one practices yoga for the bodily benefits of the stretches or the tranquility it brings to the mind, Jakarta houses many yoga studios that not only offer the ultimate yogic experience but in aesthetically pleasing spaces as well. Some of them are clustered in the southern part of the city.

Yoga practitioners, also known as yogis, showcasing Yoga poses in between the press conference to welcome International Yoga Day in Jakarta, Monday (17/6/2019). (ANTARA/Yashinta Difa Pramudyani)

Yoga itself is a discipline that helps one’s mental well-being, and regular practice can lead to mental clarity and calmness, as well as increases body awareness. Amid Jakarta’s hustle and bustle, 50 to 60 minutes devoted to rebalancing the connection between the mind and the body can be beneficial to all.
Breathe Studio Jakarta is located in the strategic area of Senopati. The studio offers various group exercise classes from Pilates reformer, the ballet-based Barre, to variations of yoga including Vinyasa and Ashtanga.

Similar to other studios in Jakarta, Breathe offers packages for multiple visits and various classes. Single class pass price starts from Rp150 thousand.

The studio features a clean, minimalistic architecture that lets in a lot of sunlight, making it ideal for those who prefer to do their sun salutations early in the day. However, classes run throughout the day until it is time for the sunset.
Body

Reflexology places are scattered across town for those who need a pick-me-up massage throughout the week. Meiso Reflexology by Kenko has locations in almost all the major shopping centres in Jakarta, which means they are easy to find and access. Most of them are also located near office towers, and often visited by office workers after hours.

Reflexology places usually offer 1 to 2-hour massages. They are quick yet relaxing and refreshing. Although most of them do offer private rooms for two or three people, most visitors would opt for the communal space. Worry not, the rooms still tune out noises from the outside and equipped with dim lights, soothing music and comfortable massage chairs.

Treatment prices for Meiso start at Rp130 thousand.

Jakarta is also home to an abundance of day spas with services such as full-body massages, body scrubs and masks, such as the Martha Tilaar Salon and Day Spa, which offers authentic Indonesian spa experience and inspired in Javanese and Balinese cultures.

Aside from the classic body treatments using natural ingredients such as spices and essential oils, they also offer unique signature treatments. The ‘Ken Dedes Princess Ritual’ is the complete package for women beauty care, whilst the ‘Batimung body Treatment’ is a traditional treatment of Borneo, featuring steams with glutinous rice, lime leaves and bangkal wood that could only be found in the island.


Soul

If one is looking for the next-level wellness experience, L’ayurveda offers treatments the holistic medical science of Ayurveda. Located in Fatmawati, South Jakarta, it is a one-stop-shop for all things wellness.

They offer body treatments such as the Chakra Healing Massage and the Ayurvedic Abhyanga massage. Although the overall treatment is similar to conventional massages, the Abhyanga uses selected oils deemed most suited to one’s body constitution. Before the treatment, the Ayurvedic expert would conduct a short interview to determine the specific body constitution.

Other than body massages, they also offer a variety of face and head treatments, as humans often carry tension and stress in their necks and on the face such as the jaw and temples.

For those looking to turn the external noises down and seek to be more in tune with their inner selves, L’ayurveda also offers quick guided meditation services, such as relaxation techniques to overcome stress and sound vibration techniques to tackle tensions and anxiety. (Antara)