Cambodia & Wellness : BODIA, or the variations of Khmer healing

Bodia is one of the oldest and most renowned spas in Cambodia, a country where massage is said to have been a tradition for centuries.

Inside Bodia in Siem Reap

It's difficult to give an accurate count of the number of massage parlors in Siem Reap. According to the Google search engine, no fewer than 146 establishments are listed in the town. This figure is corroborated by TripAdvisor. Both, however, omit the spaces dedicated to this art in many hotels, as well as the multitude of informal salons that will probably never be referenced. Among this multitude, some establishments stand out for the quality of the treatments they offer. With its 16 years of existence and seven establishments, Bodia is one of Siem Reap's most emblematic brands.

The spas feature a boutique to prolong the atmosphere of plenitude

“Cambodian cocoon”

As soon as you open the front door, the heady scent of essential oils immediately sets the mood. Comfortably seated on a wicker sofa, an iced tea accompanies a reading of the treatments on offer. The full breadth of our expertise is summed up in these promising formulas: “Bodia Tonic, Apsara Indulgence, and Spicy Body Wrap.”

Leap Soeun, who oversees the establishment located a stone's throw from the old market, lists them one by one, explaining how the treatments work, and all their beneficial effects. “Many of our customers come here to relax, some after a hard day's work, others to recuperate after a visit to the temples, which is often hard on the body. But we mustn't forget that traditional Khmer massage is also a form of medicine. A massage can lower blood pressure, reduce stress and insomnia, and regulate blood pressure”. Leap Soeun's detailed inventory of ailments prevented or cured reveals the age-old roots of a practice still shrouded in mystery.

A massage steeped in history

Once intended for purely therapeutic use, Khmer massage was passed down orally from generation to generation, with each region and pagoda having its own variations. Today, it's difficult to trace the origins of this heritage, as no written record exists of the details of these practices. Whether or not massage is an ancestral tradition in Cambodia remains a matter of debate. For some, a Bayon bas-relief showing a figure who could be King Jayavarman VII being massaged lends credence to the traditionalist thesis. An even older illustration of what could be an abortifacient massage can be seen at Angkor Wat, in the huge representation of Heaven and Hell.

However, interpretation of the bas-reliefs adorning the temples remains extremely subjective, and raises more questions than it offers certainties. There's no doubt that the practice was already well known in a kingdom with both Indian and Chinese influences, with massage considered to be just another form of medicine. A treatment technique that was widely encouraged during the Angkorian period, when the kingdom was dotted with a large number of hospitals.

Khmer massage involves stimulating and relieving pressure points using thumbs, hands, arms, knees and feet.

Interior and store of Bodia in Siem Reap

Adapting tradition

While the habit of massage has remained alive among families and therapists alike, a new demand arose in the 1980s, when mass tourism turned to a sometimes fantasized Asia. Thai massages, for better or worse, were the stuff of dreams for many Westerners drawn by a long tradition of well-being. A great deal of marketing came into play, touting age-old techniques that had, for the most part, only just been invented.

As Cambodia opened up to tourism, it followed suit, with a flourishing number of brands offering a wide range of qualities, from the sordid to the excellent. “From the opening of our first spa to the present day, we have always been sensitive to the most traditional forms of Khmer massage. We regularly gather testimonials, mainly in the countryside, from people practicing these ancestral therapies. This enables us to perpetuate a tradition that we then adapt to the tastes of our customers,” explains Leap Soeun, who has been with the company since 2007.

As she defines it, “Khmer massage involves stimulating and relieving pressure points using thumbs, hands, arms, knees and feet. Unlike most massages, this traditional form relies on the body's natural hydration and does not use oils. Although it's a matter of preference, some people like Khmer massages more than Thai ones, as they are less vigorous and more soothing”.

Ongoing training

The Old Market Spa, expanded in 2012, employs 100 people. Each employee treats between 4 and 5 customers a day. In the city of temples, a mecca for international tourism, the majority of customers are travellers exhausted by the hustle and bustle of the city, seeking a haven of peace for treatments lasting up to 3 hours. Locals and expatriates are also regular visitors.

“It's a job that combines contact, care, attention and listening, which makes it an exciting activity”, says Sechivean Thap, who joined Bodia from the hotel industry in 2009, after completing an in-house training course. Under the supervision of experienced professionals, apprentice therapists are taught all the secrets of the treatment range over a 6-month period. Once trained, employees are assessed on a monthly basis, and receive a refresher course if necessary.

Since its inception, the company has gone from strength to strength, opening new spas and creating its own range of products. Body care products, balms, shampoos and soaps make up a range of over 300 items. Spa treatments are carried out exclusively with products from the Bodia range, made from local ingredients and certified free from synthetic components, colorants or preservatives. Manufactured in a workshop in Phnom Penh, these original creations join the shelves of the 6 dedicated boutiques, and are also available online.

“Using our products for treatments allows us to guarantee consistent quality of care,” says a retail manager. “As with our massages, we have embarked on a vast quest to collect the oldest methods. We are also developing original recipes that are attracting a great deal of interest from our customers: facial treatments based on Moringa, used for its anti-ageing properties, and charcoal-based treatments that are widely acclaimed by consumers”.

A leading destination for wellness and body care, Southeast Asia is constantly expanding the quality and range of services it offers. Long overshadowed by neighboring Thailand, Cambodia has become a key player, boasting a well-deserved reputation. Bodia's unique approach to combining tradition with customer tastes, and its own range of products, have set it apart from the competition. And, more importantly, the company has succeeded in bringing to the forefront age-old practices that had long remained confidential, but are now renowned the world over.