Explore the science of self-discovery at this wellness destination

Emirates Woman

05-05-2025

Thailand's leading integrative wellness destination, RAKxa focuses on restoring balance, renewed energy, and how to reconnect with your body's natural rhythm.
Drawing from seven branches of medicine—including Traditional Thai Medicine, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Modern Medicine, and Sports Science—the programme addresses the full spectrum of factors that influence weight and well-being. From optimising sleep and hormone levels to reducing inflammation and eliminating excess water retention, each element is thoughtfully considered and tailored to the individual.
The property is located on the edges of the Chao Phraya river in Bang Krachao, known as the 'green lung' of Bangkok.
'Many guests come to RAKxa facing underlying health issues that complicate weight management—be it stress, poor metabolism, or chronic inflammation,' explains Dr. Tal David Friedman, Director of Wellness Operations at RAKxa. 'Through advanced diagnostics and close consultation our integrative team, each guest receives a personalised plan designed to identify and treat the root cause—not just the symptoms—of their concerns.'
The concept focuses on creating a safe space for guests to unwind from the hustle and bustle of daily. To understand more, Emirates Woman sat down with Dr. Tal David Friedman on how the concept works. Can you expand on the principles that RAKxa is built on?
RAKxa is a leading integrated wellness destination in Thailand that combines the latest medical science with alternative holistic medicine to deliver truly transformative and personalised wellness experiences. Our philosophy is rooted in the understanding that true well-being encompasses the harmonious balance of the mind, body, and lifestyle. At RAKxa, we go beyond simply treating symptoms; we guide individuals on deeply personalised journeys towards wholeness, empowering them to achieve lasting well-being transformations.
At RAKxa, how do you integrate science with traditional healing practices to personalise self-discovery journeys?
At RAKxa, science and tradition come together across four key pillars – Therapy, Nutrition, Rest, and Lifestyle – to create a completely personalised journeys towards wholeness, empowering them to achieve lasting well-being transformations. At RAKxa, how do you integrate science with traditional healing practices to personalise self-discovery journeys?
At RAKxa, science and tradition come together across four key pillars – Therapy, Nutrition, Rest, and Lifestyle – to create a completely personalised wellness experience. Each journey begins with comprehensive diagnostics – ranging from cellular age analysis to hormonal, metabolic, and microbiome profiling. These insights provide a detailed picture of each guest's health and form the foundation of a bespoke treatment plan. This plan may include a combination of cutting-edge therapies such as Redcord neuromuscular activation, cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen, IV nutrient therapy, and infrared technology. These are complemented by traditional healing modalities including traditional Thai, Chinese and Ayurvedic therapies such as acupuncture, energy work, and massage. Whether it's detox, stress management, sleep improvement, or gut health, our programmes offer a fully integrative experience to guide guests towards long-term vitality. What role does naturopathy play in helping individuals uncover their true physical and emotional needs?
As a trained naturopathic doctor, I believe naturopathy plays a crucial role in this process. At its core, naturopathy emphasises understanding the individual as a whole, identifying the root causes of imbalances rather than just treating symptoms. Through comprehensive assessments, including lifestyle analysis, nutritional evaluations, and often specialised testing, we gain a deeper understanding of each guestʼs unique constitution and predispositions. This allows us uncover underlying physical stressors, nutritional deficiencies, and even emotional patterns that may be contributing to their current state. Naturopathic principles guide us in recommending personalised interventions that support the bodyʼs innate healing abilities, nurturing a greater sense of self-awareness and empowering individuals to connect with their true physical and emotional needs. Many ancient healing traditions emphasise self-inquiry – how does RAKxa integrate these into modern wellness?
RAKxa integrates self-inquiry through guided consultations, mindfulness and meditation practices, body-focused therapies that encourage introspection, and personalised programme design that fosters self-understanding. We blend ancient wisdom with modern science to empower guests on their inner journey. What role does gut health play in cognitive and emotional self-awareness?
Your gut is more connected to your emotions and mental clarity than most people realise. At RAKxa, our Gut Health Programme helps you understand and take care of your gut microbiome – the trillions of microorganisms in your digestive system. They influence neurotransmitters that affect your mood, memory, and ability to focus. When your gut is out of balance, it can lead to issues like brain fog, mood swings, or feeling disconnected. By improving gut health, we aim to support both emotional resilience and cognitive clarity. How does movement (e.g., yoga, breathwork, qigong) facilitate self-discovery on a cellular level?
Movement practices like yoga, breathwork, and qigong are powerful tools for self-discovery that extend beyond the physical. On a cellular level, these practices can influence
various physiological processes that contribute to a greater sense of self-awareness For example, mindful movement and breath work can reduce stress hormones like cortisol, which, when chronically elevated, can impair cognitive function and emotional regulation. These practices can also improve circulation and oxygenation throughout the body, including the brain, potentially enhancing mental clarity and focus. Over time, this increased bodily awareness can lead to a deeper understanding of oneʼs physical and emotional responses, leading to a more profound sense of self-knowledge. How does stress affect self-discovery, and what tools can people use to navigate it?
Stress can be a significant impediment to self-discovery. When we are under chronic stress, our bodies and minds are often in a state of high alert, making it difficult to engage in introspection and connect with our inner selves. Stress can cloud our judgment, narrow our focus, and trigger emotional reactivity, hindering our ability to understand our true needs and desires. At RAKxa, we recognise the profound impact of stress and offer a range of tools to help individuals navigate it effectively. These include mindfulness and meditation practices to cultivate present moment awareness and reduce mental clutter, breathwork techniques to regulate the nervous system, restorative therapies like massage and sound healing to promote relaxation, and personalised lifestyle guidance to build resilience against future stressors. By learning to manage stress, individuals create the mental and emotional space necessary for genuine self-reflection and discovery.
How do you see AI and technology influencing the way people approach self-awareness?
I believe AI and technology have the potential to be valuable tools in supporting the journey towards self-awareness. For example, wearables and AI-based diagnostics give us useful insights, like tracking sleep or heart rate, which can reveal patterns affecting wellbeing. But ultimately, self-awareness comes from reflecting on those insights with guidance from wellness professionals. At RAKxa, we see technology as a partner, not a replacement – it enhances the personalised wellness journey but always takes a backseat to the human connection and deeper introspection. What innovations or emerging trends excite you about the future of self-discovery in wellness?
Iʼm particularly intrigued seeing how ancient rituals are being revived and adapted for modern self-discovery. I've seen some resurgence of practices like vision quests, sweat lodges and grief ceremonies – but with contemporary psychological frameworks that make them more accessible. For example, grief rituals are being incorporated into therapy settings, and guiding substance-free plant medicine ceremonies to help people reconnect with nature. These traditions work for many because they create space for introspection through symbolic action rather than words, something that modern approaches often overlook. What fascinates me is how these ancient practices are being refined to meet todayʼs needs while maintaining their power to facilitate meaningful personal growth. This is The Discovery Issue – what has been the most surprising discovery in your career?
The most surprising 'discovery' in my career, isn't really a discovery per se, but it has been learning that all systems of medicine – whether conventional, naturopathic, Ayurvedic, Traditional Thai, or Traditional Chinese – function through the same fundamental mechanism: pattern recognition. Every modality, ancient or modern, relies on observing symptoms, identifying imbalances, and applying interventions/treatments. The diagnostic tools vary (from lab tests, pulses and tongue diagnosis), but the underlying process remains strikingly similar. This 'discovery' reshaped the way I approach wellness. It dissolved the implied separation between complimentary and conventional medicine. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
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