The Location
 The lush tropical haven rests on a 2.5 hectare hilltop above Angol  in Barangay Manoc-Manoc, on Boracay Island, the Philippines. The  prevailing atmosphere is one of serenity and tranquility.

The Architecture
 Mandala Spa & Villas is a tropical day spa and resort. The  architecture blends Filipino elegance with its capiz doors and  woven bamboo floors with Italian modernity, furnished with Italian  bathroom fixtures. Sliding walls dissolve the barriers between  the outdoors and indoors.
 
 What is a Mandala?
 ‘Mandala’ means “the space that contains the  essence.” ‘Mandala’ is the Sanskrit word for  “circle” or “whole”, symbolizing the holistic  nature of all existence. Always graphically symbolized as well  as taking the Tibetan connotation, a Mandala can represent a person’s  spiritual evolutionary path.

The Philosophy
 Mandala Spa & Villas reflects the philosophy and lifestyles  of the owners, Karen Villarica Reina and Dieter Schrottmann, the  same team that conceptualized the Kon-Tiki Floating Bar in 1985.  Both believe that life is to be enjoyed and not endured.

It is a love affair with  the spirit of Boracay that made this project possible. Being both  long time residents of Boracay, Karen and Dieter felt that it  was of importance to preserve a piece of the serenity and peace  that the island became known for in the “early” years.

Mandala  Spa & Villas approaches health holistically, regarding the  outer as much as the inner self. Much importance is placed in  creating a culture that embraces change as growth towards perfection.  

Mandala  Spa & Villas is about making a difference in a person’s  life, if only to plant a seed that will eventually lead to a better  quality of life.

The  People Behind Mandala Spa & Villas. While Dieter was exposed  to Shiatsu in Japan (he subsequently founded a company called  “Health for the New Age “ in 1987, the company that  pioneered in educating blind masseurs in Shiatsu and successfully  operated in Manila until the early 90’s), Karen learned  Watsu and other healing arts in Northern California, a world center  for mind-body therapies, and continues to learn from Master healers  worldwide.

The Staff. All of our Spa  therapists are physical therapists or nurses who undergo a rigorous  3-month spa training course conducted by Mo-ching Yip, our in-house  American-licensed massage teacher and spa consultant.

Mandala  Spa & Villas Offerings. All Spa offerings are especially designed  by Mandala Spa, with much emphasis on the natural and nourishing  aspects of the experience. Western body work is blended with caring  service. Our beauty concoctions are derived from Asia’s  rich plant heritage. Pampering is met by wellness and the quest  for relaxation and inner peace.

The spa is an environment  for personal growth, a place to remind us of the quality of life,  a place where we can reflect and achieve spiritual rejuvenation.

In  line with its goal of offering a sanctuary for the soul, Mandala  Spa integrated the “Healing Arts Foundation” into  the spa concept. The healing arts aspect inspired the creation  of spa services and treatments based on wellness. Also unique  to the Mandala Spa & Vilas experience are the yoga classes  led by our certified instructors as well as yoga retreats by renowned  yoga teachers. Watsu (Water shiatsu) is offered at Mandala Spa  & Vilas, where the receiver is taken to a very deep state  of relaxation. Karen is the only certified Watsu therapist in  the Philippines and the only certified Watsu instructor in Asia.  She received advanced training at Harbin in Northern California,  the birthplace of Watsu. Karen is also a Reiki Master-Teacher  and leads Reiki sessions.

Visiting Masters of different  disciplines are often invited to share their knowledge and skills  with Mandala Spa’s guests and island residents.
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 Time spent at Mandala Spa & Villas, is time for yourself –  time for your body and time for your soul. Mandala Spa & Villas,  where you experience yourself.

Mandala  Spa & Villas presently offers natural spa treatments in four  private day spa villas, at the Yin Yang Pavilion which houses  the saunas and shared treatment areas, and in the privacy of 12  luxury resort villas.

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Each  moment spent at Mandala Spa & Villas is a sanctuary for the  soul. Through its carefully designed villas, one sees the beauty  of creation while healing therapies become the vehicle by which  one experiences oneself.

Mandala  Spa & Villas, the world class destination spa, sets the standard  in service excellence and holiday accommodations on Boracay Island,  Philippines.

Recently  awarded Best Rejuvenation Program by the prestigious 2004  SpaAsia Crystal Awards, Mandala Spa was applauded by  the international spa industry for its outstanding contribution  in upholding and maintaining the highest quality service standards  and uplifting the spa industry in the region as a whole. Mandala  Spa & Vilas Boracay is proud to bring honor and recognition  to the Philippines, once again validating their outstanding reputation  as one of the best spas in Asia.

The Resort Villas.  Imported teak flooring and vaulted wooden ceilings provide the  perfect space where you can enjoy your favorite spa treatments  in private, or perhaps have a yoga class or a consultation with  our therapists.

The interiors are walled in glass,  allowing a seamless flow between the lush tropical outdoors and  the warm wooden finish of the interiors. Remote-controlled air-conditioning  and in-room safes are standard in all villas, while televisions  and digital audio/video players are available upon request.

The bathrooms brim with world-class  luxury and modernity, furnished with Italian fixtures by Antonio  Citterio designer of B&B Italia. The bath is made more exquisite  with bath soaps, shampoos and conditioners made from natural ingredients,  infused with essential oils and healing herbs.

Dining. Prana  Restaurant which serves vegetarian spa cuisine, is open for breakfast,  lunch and dinner. The vegetarian fare goes beyond the generally-held  impression that vegetarian means salads.
 
 Spa. The spa services are considered as some  of the finest in the world. All the ingredients used are natural  products and in most instances prepared fresh. Among the spa offerings,  we highly recommend Watsu, a deep relaxation water therapy, exclusive  in the Philippines only to Mandala Spa & Villas.

Mandala  Spa & Villas Holidays
 To further the Mandala Spa & Villas experience, we have various  Spa Holidays which include daily breakfast, daily dinner, daily  yoga classes, PLUS spa treatments. Yoga and Corporate Wellness  Retreats are also offered.

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Man-da-la Pronounced (mun/ dl  e) Noun, plura. = las

Mandala is a Sanskrit word. Mandala  means Sanskrit circle. It is pronounced muhn’-duh-luh  by Tibetans.

History and Function of the Mandala

Mandalas are visual images or  symbols simply constructed or can be as complex as a grand wall  mural. They are works of spiritual art that, upon gazing, brings  healing to the viewer. Mandalas from any source share an arresting  beauty and universal appeal. Mandalas are used for meditation  and to healing. In spiritual traditions worldwide, mandalas focus  and reflect the spiritual content of the psyche for both the maker  and the viewer. They are used as a healing and transforming art  in Native American sand painting, Hindu and Tibetan Buddhist rituals,  and modern psychotherapy. When a Buddhist monk gazes at a mandala  while in meditation, he sees a map which leads him on the path  to nirvana.

The many uses of a mantra

1. A mandala has a calming and  relaxing effect on the mind and body, thus focusing and strengthening  the will to heal.

2. A mandala can give form and  expression to an intuitive insight into spiritual truth, by releasing  the inner light of the soul.

3. The mandala is a magnifying  glass or mirror for all of us. A mandala has the regenerative  and curative power to activate the latent powers of the mind.  The meditative process helps to focus and open the heart to the  healing power of unconditional love.

4. A mandala can bring joy as  it facilitates the healing of a sense, of psychological fragmentation.

5. A mandala can make the invisible,  visible – expressing situations or patterns of ultimate  reality that can be expressed in no other way.

6. A mandala can reveal unity  between human existence and the structure of the cosmos –  opening up a perspective in which things can be understood as  a whole.

Construction:  
 Most mandalas consist of one or more circles with a square inside  it. Inside the square is again, a circle. Mandalas are used in  the practice of Buddhism in Japan and Tibet. Their symbols are  associated with the cosmos. Tibetan monks say, it is a reflection  of the world of the gods. Mandalas are traditionally painted on  walls, on paper, and are also made in colored sand or powder on  the ground. In some cloisters, new mandalas are made every day.
 

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