Serenity – The Datai Well-being Series 2026 features an inspiring line-up of six visiting practitioners from around the globe, bringing together expertise across diverse holistic disciplines – from facial reflexology and integration therapy, to yoga, advanced fitness, podiatry, and mindful nutrition. Guests are invited to embark on transformative journeys that harmonise body, mind, and spirit amidst Langkawi’s ancient rainforest.
Among the six practitioners who will take residence for the fourth edition of Serenity - The Datai Well-being Series, renowned podiatrist Bastien Gonzalez and structural integration therapist Dr Leonard McGill are returning from the previous series to offer their much sought after services, along with several new visiting practitioners:
- 5-15 February 2026: Alex Scrimgeour, Dien Chan Facial Reflexology and Acupuncture, United Kingdom
- 5-15 March 2026: Dr Leonard McGill, Developer of Structural/Energetic Integration Therapy, USA
- 2-12 April 2026: Shilpa Ghatalia, Integrative Yoga, Malaysia
- 7-17 August 2026: Benny Price, Personal Trainer and Educator, United Kingdom
- 16-24 October 2026: Bastien Gonzalez, Podiatrist, France
- 20 December 2026 - 3 January 2027: Dr Monisha Bhanote, Longevity Lifestyle Physician, USA
Louise Ward, Director of Spa and Wellness at The Datai Langkawi, comments: “Since its inception, Serenity - The Datai Well-being Series has been a way to bring together exceptional healers and practitioners from around the world who embody the essence of holistic wellbeing. Each year, the line-up is thoughtfully curated to ensure our guests experience something truly transformative - unique therapies, authentic teachings, and meaningful connections that inspire balance and renewal. It is a privilege to host these remarkable individuals in the heart of Langkawi’s ancient rainforest, where the harmony of nature amplifies every healing experience.”
For further enquiries or to make a reservation, please call +60 4 9500 500 or email reservations@dataihotels.com
Alex is a highly trained bodywork therapist specialising in Dien Chan Facial Reflexology. After completing a degree in Acupuncture, he undertook clinical internships at the Institute of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine in Saigon, where he first discovered Dien Chan. Over the years, Alex has also studied a wide range of therapeutic modalities, from Tuina and Thai Massage to Deep Tissue techniques and Qigong, and is passionate about helping people achieve optimum health and wellbeing.
Alex’s signature Dien Chan treatment creates a profound sense of relaxation. By releasing the micro-pressure points of the face, a unique shift occurs within the mind and nervous system, easing hidden tension and emotional stress that often build up in the background of modern life. The treatment offers numerous health benefits and can be experienced for deep relaxation or tailored to address specific health concerns. During his residency, Alex will offer a range of treatments and workshops, including Dien Chan Facial Reflexology, Five Jewels Massage, as well as teachings from his newly published book, Facial Reflexology for Emotional Wellbeing. Other treatments include Deep Healing Massage, Inner Healing Massage, Acupuncture, and a Private Tai Chi Qigong Tuition.
Dr McGill’s techniques draw on Taoist energy practices – traditions grounded in ancient Chinese philosophy that emphasise cultivating, balancing, and harmonising the body to support physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. His methods encompass chakra balancing, myofascial release, dry needling, and spinal alignment.
Returning to Langkawi after a highly sought after residency in 2025, Dr McGill offers treatments such as Re-Align and Energise, a session aimed at easing pain, improving mobility, and restoring overall vitality. Through his Structural/Energetic Integration Therapy, Dr McGill works to uncover and resolve the underlying causes of pain and dysfunction, offering lasting relief. His distinctive approach weaves together chiropractic adjustments, intuitive healing, reflexology, trigger-point release, Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage, and cranial-sacral therapy. Together, these modalities stimulate the body’s innate healing capacity, leaving participants feeling looser, lighter, and more balanced.
Shilpa Ghatalia is a respected leader in the yoga community with more than thirty years of experience. Over the years, she has studied a range of Hatha Yoga styles including Iyengar, Anusara and Yin Yoga, in her search for a system that naturally led to spontaneous meditation. This journey culminated in the creation of Integrative Yoga, a Hatha Yoga style that synthesises the teachings and influences she has embraced over three decades.
Her Integrative Yoga weaves together the wisdom of diverse yoga styles and wellness practices. Often called ‘meditation in movement,’ this distinctive approach encourages ease of movement, reduces tension, and supports lasting balance – both on and off the mat, while embracing flexibility and stillness to cultivate a sense of calm that carries through the day.
Ghatalia founded Yogshakti, an award-winning studio and a registered Yoga Alliance (USA) school licenced to provide 200 and 300 hour teacher training programmes in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. During her residency at The Datai Langkawi, Shilpa welcomes all levels of experience, from complete beginners to seasoned practitioners. Her classes foster a warm, supportive atmosphere where everyone can explore and grow at their own pace.
Benny Price is a highly respected personal trainer and educator based in Kuala Lumpur. Hailing from the UK with 15 years of coaching experience, Benny has worked with clients across the spectrum, from bodybuilding champions to high-risk rehabilitation patients.
He brings deep technical insight into human movement and exercise design. Having trained personally under Dr Mark Slavin, founder of Resistance Training Specialist (RTS®) Global and Tom Purvis, RTS® International Director, Benny is currently Southeast Asia’s only certified RTS® Level 1 instructor. Through his work with RTS Global, the international arm of Resistance Training Specialist®, he delivers Exercise Mechanics™ workshops and courses around the world – teaching a science-based approach that emphasises critical thinking and individualised programme design.
At The Datai Langkawi, Benny offers tailored fitness and movement sessions, empowering guests to reconnect with their bodies and enhance vitality through personalised coaching and group fitness workshops, ranging from the basics of strength training to injury rehab and customised training for women.
Returning to Serenity by popular demand, Bastien Gonzalez is famous worldwide for his meticulous and unique approach to foot treatments. He has won multiple awards for his signature podiatrist studio and services. A Paris-trained podiatrist, Bastien was one of the first practitioners to pioneer an integrated approach to hands, nails and feet, combining health and natural beauty in his treatment protocol. His unique treatments employ medical-grade care of the nails, whilst incorporating deep massage, relieving any muscle tension or heaviness from toe-to-knee or finger-to-elbow. During his residency, Bastien will include luxurious foot care and wellness workshops.
Guests can enjoy hand and feet treatments all year round in his Pedi:Mani:Cure Studio at The Spa, however, the master himself offers services exclusively performed by himself during his residency in October only.
Dr Monisha Bhanote, MD, ABOIM, FCAP, is a physician with the exceptionally rare distinction of quintuple board certification, a best-selling author of The Anatomy of Wellbeing, and founder of the WELLKULÅ Institute. Recognised internationally as a leading longevity lifestyle physician, she reframes aging not as decline, but as a journey that can be intentionally shaped through cellular health, gut integrity, and nervous system balance.
Through her signature #CellCare philosophy, Dr Bhanote translates complex medical science into accessible, daily rituals that expand the understanding of wellness and longevity. Her work bridges modern science with timeless wisdom, showing that longevity rests in daily practices, the way individuals nourish, rest, move, connect, and regulate their inner world.
At The Datai Langkawi, she will lead a series of signature experiences designed to inspire transformation, including The Cellular Longevity Experience, which redefines aging through the lens of cellular renewal, and Longevity Lifestyle Consultations – personalised sessions that reveal insights into each guest’s unique aging journey, offering new clarity, perspective, and direction. Other treatments include The Breath of Resilience – a meditative practice for cultivating calm, clarity, and inner steadiness, as well as a Longevity Culinary Experience.
Since its debut in 2023, Serenity - The Datai Well-Being Series provides exclusive opportunities to engage with world-class specialists in personalised and group sessions amidst the pristine natural beauty of Langkawi’s ancient rainforest. Throughout 2025, guests can look forward to an expanded range of transformative and immersive experiences grounded in holistic practices, including sound healing and yoga, as well as contemporary therapeutic innovations like somatic movement, bioresonance and advanced bodywork.
Among the six practitioners who will take residence for the third edition of Serenity - The Datai Well-Being Series, Bastien Gonzalez and Savy Ho are returning from the previous series to offer their much sought after services and treatments again, along with a number of new visiting practitioners:
- 13-23 February 2025: Dr Leonard McGill, Developer of Structural/Energetic Integration Therapy, USA
- 13-20 April 2025: Bastien Gonzalez, Podiatrist, France
- 5-15 June 2025: Hannah Moujing, Indigenous Movement Practitioner, Malaysia
- 7-17 July 2025: Daphne Chua, Somatic and Therapeutic Bodyworker, Singapore
- 9-19 October 2025: Liam Harkness, Founder of The Stretch Clinic, UK
- 22 December 2025 - 2 January 2026: Savy Ho, Sound Healer and Yoga Practitioner, Malaysia
Launched to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Datai Langkawi, which took place in 2023, Serenity - The Datai Well-Being Series reinforces the rainforest resort’s commitment to providing guests with exceptional, world-class experiences and sustainable immersion in the unique natural world of Langkawi.
The six visiting holistic wellness practitioners, including three returning, for 2024 are:
− 6-12 February 2024: Dr Rafael Bagheri, Chiropractor, Canada
− 23-30 April 2024: Bastien Gonzalez, Podiatrist, France
− 14-22 June 2024: Dr Lim Xiang Jun, Specialist in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncturist, Singapore
− 19-27 August 2024: Savy Ho, Certified Sound Healer, Yoga and Meditation Practitioner, Malaysia
− 12-27 October 2024: Hannah Prescott, Nutritionist and Fitness Instructor, UK
− 21 December 2024 - 03 January 2025: Roxanne De Guzman, Fitness Professional and Yoga Instructor, Canada
In celebration of our 30th anniversary in 2023, we launched Serenity - The Datai Well-being Series. This exciting new wellness programme brings the very best holistic practitioners from around the world to the heart of the Malaysian rainforest to host a series of residencies for resort guests.
The six practitioners who took residence for the maiden edition of Serenity - The Datai Well-Being Series were:
− 24-31 December 2022: Dr Rafael Bagheri, Chiropractor, Canada
− 14-20 March 2023: Bastien Gonzalez, Podiatrist, France
− 1-10 April 2023: Dr Rui Pedro Loureiro, TCM/Acupuncture, Portugal
− 14-25 June 2023: Paul Emery, Creator: A Peaceful Mind, Thailand
− 7-17 August 2023 and 10-17 December 2023: Roxanne De Guzman, Fitness Professional and Yoga Instructor, Canada
− 7-14 October 2023: Christina Shiu, Singing Bowl Sound Healing Practitioner, Singapore