Soara: Discovering your ‘sore’ mate

A recent pilgrimage to Nagasaki, Japan to unravel its rich Christian missionary history (hai, it boasts 130 churches and more than 40 saints who were crucified for their faith) stirred our spirits and nourished our souls. But though the spirit was willing, all the walking we had to do surely left me with a sore body. It was therefore a relief to find my “sore” mate in Soara. The word Soara sums up what this wellness facility is all about.  Heal ye, heal ye: S is for systemic hyperthermia; O is for oxidation-reduction reaction; A is for activating the immune system; R is for rejuvenation; A is for autonomic nervous system.

“We’re not a hospital,” asserts Takako Lucy Monuki, The Soara general manager/program coordinator/yoga & fitness instructor. “We’re located in the huge complex of Huis Ten Bosch which used to be just a theme park but is now a wellness park as well.”

Soara has its signature thermo bath treatment, which energizes and rejuvenates through the stimulation of the immune system and autonomic nervous system. It’s especially recommended for insomnia, back pain, stiff shoulder, and cold extremities.

The thermo bath treatment works wonders and is a hot favorite among the Japanese who like to relax after a long hard week. Staying in the bathtub even just for 15 minutes is enough to raise our body temperature by two degrees (from our normal 36 to 38°C) and increase our blood circulation, thus balancing our autonomic nerves (the nerves that control the functions of the heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, breathing, etc.).

Nagasaki abounds with hot springs, which members of our party immensely enjoyed at Kishotei Hotel Okura and Hotel New Nagasaki where we stayed. There, we soaked our tired bodies and instantly washed away our weary spirits. Then there’s the miraculous healing water of Hongouchi Lourdes, which was used to cure people who suffered from the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945.

Care for Soara’s Ayurveda head and leg oil treatment (45 mins.)? As you probably know, Ayurveda is a traditional holistic and healing system from India.

“For our detoxification program, Ayurveda has helped a lot of people suffering from constipation and those who are not able to perspire because right now, we often stay in a room with a good air-conditioning system and we don’t exercise to sweat that much,” says Takako Lucy. “That’s why we encourage people to do some exercise or to walk. We have elderly clients who come here for Ayurveda and yoga.”

Lucy adds, “Ayurveda can treat even severe cases of mental disease.”

Soara has Ayurveda therapist Hitomi Tabata who trained in India and is authorized by the Indian government.

Soara, the first Japanese holistic and healthcare resort in Japan, also houses an acupuncture clinic. You’ll be on pins and needles (quite literally) as you feel the gentle touch of the Japanese needles (thinner than the Chinese ones). Soara’s acupuncturist is trained both in the Chinese classical style and in the Japanese style. This is used for treating insomnia, back pain, and shoulder stiffness.  Special acupuncture without the use of needles is recommended for children suffering from ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and crying at night.

Soara has acupuncture specialists who come when needed.

Can’t sleep at night? You’re not alone! “A lot of people work too much, until very late,” Takako Lucy notes. “So, even though it’s time for sleep, they can’t sleep anymore. And with the Internet and all those gadgets, you don’t realize it’s very late. Twenty to 30 years ago, everyone found it easy to get lazy or relax. If you don’t work, you can relax.”

Certainly not sleeping on the job, Soara has a sleep program, which usually takes two nights and three days. “People come here, attend a seminar and get updated on studies about insomnia so when they go back home, they can continue what they learned here,” Lucy shares.

Now, for this big, fat question: Can Soara help obese people?

“Yes,” comes Lucy’s quick reply. “We have a fasting program for obesity. Sometimes, it’s not just a physical problem, it could be a mental problem, too, so we do some consultation for this two-night-three-day program. Of course, we can’t expect results in just three days, so we encourage our clients to change their lifestyle.”

For this “fasting” program, Lucy explains, “You can eat anything you want — red meat, fish, anything is fine — as long as you do it only once a day, either for breakfast or lunch or dinner.  We collaborate with the hotels in Huis Ten Bosch. We have our French vegan and Japanese vegan menus. We also offer our smoothies and juices. But a lot of people now eat Western food. They eat red meat and they live to a hundred. But they eat rice at the very end of the meal. You start with salad, miso soup, fish; it’s a very balanced meal. When you go back home, you can eat your salad and smoothie by yourself; we don’t dictate what you eat, we merely suggest.”

Lucy stresses, “We encourage people to maintain their health on their own — self-maintenance and prevention. A lot of people now think that it’s smart for them to take charge of their own health. This will also help the government as we spend a fortune on health care insurance.”

These treatments must be very expensive, right? Wrong! “We’re not very cheap, but we’re not too expensive,” Lucy tells us, much to our delight and relief. “Teachers, people who own a business come here. You don’t have to be very rich to avail yourself of our services.”

You’re sure to leave Soara sore-free, with your spirit soaring to the heavens.

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The Soara Healthcare Resort is located at Huis Ten Bosch Cho, Sasebo City, Nagasaki, Japan. For inquiries, call 0956270585. Visit www.thesoara.com.

For inquiries on must-see sights and Christian sites in Nagasaki, visit www.visit-nagasaki.com; call the Nagasaki Prefecture Convention & Tourism Association at +81-95-826-9407, fax +81-95-824-3087; email nagasaki@ngs-kenkanren.com.