COMO Shambhala Singapore is located in quite an odd corner of Orchard Road. It’s housed within COMO Orchard, with the only notable landmarks adjacent to it being Paragon Shopping Centre and Al-Falah Mosque. But the rather secluded location (if you could call being along one of Singapore’s busiest boulevards that) is perfect for a wellness oasis. It’s relatively quiet and tucked away from the crowds while still having all the perks of being in the heart of the city.
Plenty has been done to ensure that the atmosphere of COMO Shambhala Singapore is kept serene. Its interiors are calming with a colour choice meant to reflect healing waters, and a studied use of space—even the locker rooms are incredibly spacious and not to mention luxurious—encourages a sense of vast openness.
It’s no surprise that the wellness brand is such an expert in crafting wellness spaces and experiences. “Over nearly three decades, COMO Shambhala has consistently evolved while staying true to its roots in quality instruction, especially in yoga and Pilates,” says William Daniels who is the director, wellness programmes of COMO Shambhala Singapore. “This deep history allows COMO Shambhala to authentically expand its wellness offerings. The latest evolution is our flagship at COMO Orchard, which marks its first anniversary this year. Here, we’ve introduced a suite of recovery services, ranging from physiotherapy to cutting-edge health technologies like Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Contrast Therapy, designed to enhance the experience for both locals and visitors to Singapore.”
The 9,000-square-feet space is seemingly separated into different segments. Exit the elevator upon reaching the fourth level of COMO Orchard and you’ll find the yoga and Pilates studios to your left, before being greeted with rows of massage rooms, and Contrast Therapy rooms (two private rooms that are each equipped with a Brass Monkey ice bath and a Sunlight infrared sauna) as well as an Oxygen Therapy space. On the other side of COMO Shambhala Singapore is the 1,500-square-feet gym that’s complete with weightlifting paraphernalia as well as a Red Light Therapy room. Located just outside the gym are rooms for physiotherapy in partnership with Strength Clinic Academy.
Yes, this is definitely not your usual gym membership space.
Daniels tells us that red light therapy has been specifically integrated directly into the gym space as one of the ways COMO Shambhala Singapore aims to provide science-backed treatments for its clientele. Red light therapy has been known to assist in treating joint and muscle pains as well as healing muscle injuries and reducing any soreness experienced after hitting hard at the gym. It’s already gaining traction in other parts of the world, and offering it at COMO Shambhala Singapore buffs up its holistic wellness approach. Or as Daniels puts it: “blending tradition with innovation for a truly elevated experience”.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is another state-of-the-art offering that’s become a popular go-to for clients. COMO Shambhala Singapore has two Airpod™ hydroxy mild hyperbaric devices in its premises—a first for Singapore. Clients can choose between the Propel or the Revive for a capsule or an upright seated experience respectively. HBOT is widely used by athletes, owing to its multitude of benefits. By increasing oxygen levels in the body, the therapy helps to boost energy and fatigue recovery as well as promoting mental clarity. HBOT is also known to improve one’s quality of sleep.
“For the busy individual seeking to maintain peak performance, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being, the integration of HBOT, along with our other advanced treatments, offers a comprehensive, science-backed approach to living well in the city. At COMO Shambhala, we aim to provide not just a break from the urban grind but a real solution to the unique challenges of modern life,” explains Daniels. And it seems to be working too.
According to Daniels, the recovery therapies—particularly HBOT and contrast therapy—have been popular since operation a year ago. But what’s been a key shift is a growing trend in booking these services in groups. “Friends, colleagues, and fitness enthusiasts are using these sessions as a way to unwind and recharge together, blending the benefits of advanced recovery with a shared experience,” he shares. It reflects the uptick in popularity of more social physical-centric clubs that have sprouted since the Covid-19 pandemic. Ordinarily solitary physical activities such as cycling and running have evolved to become a way for people with common goals and interests to partake together. We’ve always been a social species and that has extended into how we’re keeping our wellness in check too.
Even with the slate of wellness technologies on offer, there’s still that irreplaceable human element that’s vital in ensuring clients receive the best and most holistic wellness experience at COMO Shambhala Singapore. Personal fitness training is a key component here. The establishment’s coaches are the driving force behind its approach, serving both as movement experts as well as recovery advisors. They’re trained to be cognisant of a client’s needs and are skilled in educating them about the potentially intimidating intricacies of the full suite of recovery services on offer. And as one would expect, a lot of educating is necessary for clients who aren’t familiar with alternative therapies aside from the usual post-workout physiotherapy.
“What sets us apart is the holistic approach our coaches take. They’re not just there for a workout session; they help clients stay accountable to their goals by adapting training programs to suit individual needs, be it injury recovery, improving fitness levels, or boosting confidence in the gym. This attention to detail ensures that clients receive ongoing support, and the impact of COMO Shambhala’s service is felt not only during the sessions but throughout their entire wellness journey,” expresses Daniels.
If things like time, work and other personal commitments aren’t factors, you’d easily be able to spend an entire day at COMO Shambhala Singapore just focusing on your wellbeing. While the idea is quite a tempting one, the reality is that no one really has that much time in a day and it’s probably not advisable to do so anyway. Treat COMO Shambhala Singapore like a wellness escape in the city—even for just an hour—and you’d potentially find the rigours of modern life a bit more manageable. Because wellness is the new wealth you ought to continuously invest in.
Here is a reminder: It’s 2024 and there is absolutely no reason why a regular self-care day isn’t already a part of your routine. It’s so easy to get caught up in the constant chase for success that we sometimes forget that our bodies, minds and spirits need to be rejuvenated every so often. As much as we feel like well-oiled machines after years of stress-inducing hard work to get to where we are now, let’s face it: the stress never ends. Self-care is a necessity.
Much like how one’s idea of success is personal and varied, the choice of self-care is individual and multifarious. Getting my body pummelled and cracked into submission by a professional makes for the perfect therapy for me. It’s the reason I go for an osteopathy session almost monthly. It’s a way of preventing muscle injury from running, as well as loosening up the accumulated tension in my neck and back. I leave feeling like a new person after every session. My entire posture feels more open, and everything feels lighter. And such results are typically what I look for when trying out new massage experiences. Granted that osteopathy and massage therapies aren’t the same, there still ought to be a noticeable change in how one feels after going for either one. They aren’t effects you’d only be able to notice after multiple sessions; they are not facial treatments.
I have heard glowing reviews of the COMO Shambhala Signature Massage from several lifestyle editors who’ve tried it. And so when COMO Shambhala Singapore offered one as part of a tour of its new flagship, I jumped at the opportunity. Scheduled for the third day of 2024, sandwiched between a couple of nights of New Year’s Eve shenanigans and a two-week sojourn in Milan and Paris for Fashion Week Men’s, the timing couldn’t be better. Yeah, I definitely needed a good massage.
The new COMO Shambhala Singapore flagship is located on the fourth level of COMO Orchard, which is a self-care hub in itself, with Cédric Grolet’s Singapore outpost located on the ground floor, next to multi-label boutique Club 21, and COMO Cuisine on the second level. Stepping out of the elevators and into COMO Shambhala Singapore, however, one gets a sense of how it has been consciously and intently designed to be a wellness oasis despite being at the centre of one of the busiest spots in the city.
Wes Anderson immediately came to mind as I am greeted by tiles in a familiar shade of calming blue. The interiors were however designed by Milan-based designer and architect Paola Navone of OTTO Studio (she’s also behind the designs of other COMO projects), with the colour choice meant to reflect healing waters. The pastel hue is complemented by the use of greys and everything appears to be symmetrically aligned.
COMO Shambhala Singapore takes up an entire floor, spanning 9,000 square feet, with 1,500 square feet dedicated to a well-equipped gym to the right of the lounge and retail space. I was ushered into a private room towards the left, a small flight of stairs up past the yoga and pilates studios. The facial and massage rooms are all located down this corridor, including rooms designed for couples to enjoy treatments together.
I was informed that Master Song, the lead therapist and trainer, has been with COMO Shambhala for about five years. Before that, he had been practising traditional Thai massage since the late ‘90s. I was assured I would be in the best hands. I settled facedown under the covers—the bed was very plush and comfortable—and Master Song got to work.
I have noticed that the kinds of massages that leave me in unexplored states of bliss tend to be the ones that are specifically targeted. Sure, the strength of pressure applied counts, but getting them applied to spots that would do nothing but inflict pain seems counterintuitive. That was certainly not the case with Master Song. I was asked if I had any specific areas that I would like to work on. “Neck, shoulders and legs, please,” I responded, enumerating the three areas I struggle with the most.
Master Song’s expertise came into play from the very first touch. He knew the right points to concentrate on—which is surprising given that this was our first session together—and had me melting into the bed within a minute. He checked in after a few minutes of me stifling any guttural moans (it was that good), asking if the pressure was sufficient. I could only muster out an “uh-huh” as he continued to work on my neck. It was at this point that I felt certain I astral projected out of my body for a good 30 seconds. I’m not even embarrassed to say that I might have teared up a bit at the release of tension in my neck.
Every move was precisely targeted. For someone who is used to hard-pressure massages (at my request) this felt even more satisfying because I left the session without any aching from over-exertion on unnecessary spots. I didn’t want the hour-long session to end.
Given the level of expertise as well as the facilities—the changing rooms where the washrooms are located are immaculate—the COMO Shambhala Singapore experience is a luxury that’s reflected in its price point. A 60-minute COMO Shambhala Massage costs SGD220 and SGD330 for a 90-minute session. But if luxury is what you need and deserve to rejuvenate, there aren’t many out there that’ll be as life-changing as what you’ll experience at COMO Shambhala Singapore. Like I said, self-care is necessary.
