Chik Lai Ping is senior vice president of the Spa Division at YTL Hotels, and oversees operations of the group’s award-winning spas. Her passion for the industry stems from her profound interest in the indigenous beauty rituals long practiced in the multi-racial society of Malaysia. Her ability to revive the dying arts of Southeast Asian and Asian spa therapies has made her a respected figure in the spa industry.
While she possessed significant experience in the hospitality industry, Lai Ping only began to focus her attention on the spa industry in 1999. After managing a humble fitness center in the JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur, she was given the opportunity to develop a unique spa brand for the YTL Hotels.
Extolling the healing culture of the region each spa resides within, Spa Village made its debut at Pangkor Laut Resort in 2002, and, under Lai Ping’s guidance, expanded its presence with the launch of Spa Village Tanjong Jara, Spa Village Kuala Lumpur, Spa Village Cameron Highlands, Spa Village Malacca, Spa Village Gaya Island, The Majestic Spa by Spa Village, Spa Village Bath, Spa Village Koh Samui, and The Floating Spa by Spa Village at Monkey Island.
Through her commitment, innovation, and enthusiasm, Lai Ping ensures that every moment at Spa Village is a unique, unforgettable encounter of wellness and rejuvenation. Here, she shares her thoughts on wellness.
What does wellness mean to you?
Wellness is not a destination or a strict regime. To me, wellness is living in balance — everything in moderation, neither over nor under, like yin and yang. It means allowing yourself to enjoy things a little without being too strict, embracing wellness living as a journey to be lived and enjoyed. It’s about moving your body, feeding it well, resting deeply, and also making space for your emotions.
What are your favorite things to do to maintain your personal wellbeing?
I start each morning by drinking a bottle of warm water. In fact, I only drink warm water and avoid cold or iced water altogether. Then I have my espresso on my balcony before walking or strength training for an hour. I try to follow a routine of three days of walking and three days of strength training, with Sundays off. In the evenings, I protect my sleep by keeping screens out of the bedroom and playing a few rounds of Sudoku or other brain puzzles to clear my mind before I sleep.
Is there a specific fitness activity you love and why?
I love walking, followed by a yoga stretch. I walk outdoors as much as possible to enjoy the greenery and fresh air before sunrise. I love sun salutations. They connect my breath, my body, and my mind in a single moment. This gentle and restorative practice helps my back and has taught me patience, both on the mat and in life. Whether I have 10 minutes or an hour, stepping onto my mat feels like reconnecting with who I really am.
What is your favorite healthy food, and do you have a favorite way of preparing it?
Steamed fish with ginger, green onion, and soy sauce, preferably grouper, which is my absolute favorite! I stuff the cavity with fresh ginger slices, steam it gently for about eight minutes, then finish with a light drizzle of soy, and a touch of sesame oil, sprinkled with fresh green onion. It’s pure, clean, and satisfying. This dish is true comfort food for me.
What is your favorite healthy beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), and do you have any insider tips for preparing it?
Fresh turmeric and honey. My insider tip: lightly bruise the turmeric with the side of a knife or a pestle, then pound it to release the juice. Add a tiny drop of raw honey and drink it straight or diluted with water. This is an Indonesian home recipe.
What is your greatest wellness achievement?
Expanding Spa Village into a collection of spas that honor local healing cultures—Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai, and more. Seeing guests from around the world experience authentic treatments passed down for generations, and watching them leave truly transformed, is my proudest accomplishment.
Alongside that, discovering indigenous treatments and developing them into spa experiences for our guests, capturing the knowledge so it lives on for many years to come. Beyond the achievement, the most rewarding part has been shaping staff members over two decades into professional spa service providers who serve from the heart.
What person in wellness do you most admire and why?
My mentor, Sylvia Sepielli, a true trailblazer of American spa and wellness. She crossed borders to learn Asian healing methods many decades ago, long before it was common. She walks the talk and practices what she preaches, serving as a role model for so many of us in the spa industry. She is firm yet gentle, creative yet practical in operations, which is a difficult balance of left and right brain to strike. With her remarkable spirit of living and boundless curiosity, she is currently on a two-month pilgrimage in Tokushima, Japan, even as the world endures war. That, to me, is the essence of being truly in her own wellness space.
What is the best piece of wellness advice you have ever received and from whom?
“Preventive maintenance is the best.” I know it’s not ideal to compare our bodies to cars, but the analogy holds. We service our cars on schedule, change the engine oil, refuel them regularly, and keep driving. Yet we don’t extend the same courtesy to ourselves. We work and eat as we please, expecting our bodies to digest and our minds to cope with everything. Most of us wait until we feel pain, exhaustion, or anxiety before taking action. My advice is this: get a yearly medical checkup to understand your body’s condition, and make regular massages, facials, and consistent exercise part of your routine. When you eat, think of the internal organs working hard to process every bite, and don’t take them for granted. Give your body and mind the best possible nutrients.
What do you think is the most exciting wellness innovation you have recently discovered?
I believe in intuitive, traditional healing. Out of curiosity of technology, I discovered lately a smart weighing scale and its accompanying app. I weigh myself every morning and monitor the data like a report card, tracking my BMI, muscle mass, body fat, and visceral fat. My goal is to watch my fat percentage transfer to muscle as I work out daily. This has become my motivation to get up and exercise.
What is your idea of balanced healthy happiness?
Waking up without an alarm. Keeping my phone on silent all the time. Doing work at my own pace. Moving in a way that feels good, not punishing. Eating food that tastes delicious yet nourishes deeply. Having moments of real connection with the people I love. And at the end of the week, feeling tired in a way that tells me I’ve earned a weekend where I can play a little and simply feeling satisfied.
What do you think is the most overused word or words in wellness?
“Detox.” It has become a marketing buzzword. Instead, just drink warm water, eat fruits and vegetables, move, and sweat a little. Water will flush things out. That’s real, natural, and doesn’t need a fancy label.
Do you have a secret health or wellness tip you would like to share?
I enjoy taking a warm bath with sea salt and sliced kaffir lime. I love natural ingredients, and it smells wonderful. I do this once or twice a month, especially when my energy level is low. Traditionally, kaffir lime and salt are used to cleanse negative energy. In Chinese culture, for example, kaffir lime, lime leaves, and flowers are often used during auspicious occasions to purify and refresh the body and spirit.
What is your favorite place for a healthy vacation or escape?
Spa Village Tanjong Jara, located within Tanjong Jara Resort off the east coast of Malaysia. It’s a beach resort surrounded by a long stretch of calm sea and swaying palm trees. Every treatment there is rooted in Malay healing traditions. When it’s in season, I go for a diving session. The underwater life around Tenggol Island is still very untouched. Sometimes I get lucky and swim alongside sea turtles. I go there not just to relax but to remember why I do this work.
Is there a particular wellness company or brand that truly impresses you with their efforts and why?
I haven’t found a brand that truly ticks all my boxes yet. At Spa Village, we honor ancient traditions—natural ingredients, authentic healing, and human touch. But I’m also curious about the potential of high-tech diagnostics. My dream brand would somehow bridge these two worlds: deep data to understand the body, yet warm, natural treatments that never lose the soul. That balance is rare, but I’d love to see it.
What is your favorite self-care routine?
I prioritize self-care as part of my weekly and monthly rhythm. Every three weeks, I treat myself to a facial. Every two weeks, I have a manicure and pedicure. Once a month, I schedule a session of cupping and Tuina, both traditional Chinese therapeutic bodywork practices that help me feel balanced and renewed. I also drink only warm water, exercise for an hour daily, and once in a while, I wind down with a fresh cucumber slice mask before bed and warm coconut oil in my hair. These small rituals are my way of showing up for myself.
What is your go-to for de-stressing?
I enjoy sketching. I carry my sketchbook wherever I travel and draw as I go. Seeing an object face to face and drawing it on the spot keeps my mind still and focused. It helps me let go of stress and trains my eye for detail.
What aspect of your wellbeing do you struggle with the most, or would most like to improve?
I anticipate too much. I try my best to stick to my physical routines—the exercise, the warm water, the self-care—but my mind doesn’t switch off as easily. It often stays in “work mode,” running through scenarios and thinking about what might happen, even when I’m not at work. It’s like once I’m in that headspace, it’s hard to step out of it. I think meditation could help. I’m trying.
What wellness-related books or authors do you recommend, and why?
I recommend Health and Beauty from the Rainforest: Malaysian Traditions of Ramuan. This book explores traditional medicine and natural ingredients—recipes, plant origins, benefits, and how to adapt them. The book was authored by Dr. Gerard Bodeker with five other editorial contributors.
How do you celebrate small victories?
I reward myself with my favorite fish ball noodles and a local iced coffee. Most days, I avoid carbs and cold drinks, so this little indulgence is my way of saying, “You did well.” My cheat day is my small victory celebration.
What brings you joy?
My two pet rabbits. After a long day of meetings and travel, coming home to their soft noses, twitching ears, and quiet, trusting presence instantly melts my stress away. They don’t care about titles or deadlines. They just want a gentle stroke and a fresh piece of carrot. Watching them hop around freely reminds me of how essential freedom is to happiness, and that joy lives in the smallest, simplest moments. They are my daily dose of pure, uncomplicated happiness.
