Sangha Retreat by Octave is blazing the trail for a progressive new movement—quantum wellness. Here’s what that means and how to achieve it
Quantum wellness is the belief that enhanced consciousness has the ability to positively affect every aspect of one’s life, from the way we handle business to cultivating deeper connections in our relationships—both with others and ourselves. One of the biggest advocates for this is billionaire Frederick Chavalit Tsao, the founder of Sangha Retreat by Octave in Suzhou, China.
Sangha is Tsao’s vision of a utopian future—a wellness ecosystem that goes beyond traditional spa or retreat offerings, where ancient healing modalities and modern medicine come together in the name of human optimization—and includes physical fitness, mental clarity and consciousness awakening. Spread across 19 hectares and built over picturesque lakes and canals just 15 minutes by bullet train from Shanghai, Sangha is an expansive resort that comprises luxury accommodation, a clinic, a spa and on-site dining helmed by chef Paul Then, who was previously stationed at the two-Michelin-starred Cuisine Cuisine in Hong Kong.
“We know when we are well, and we are only well when all is well. This means that our family, friends, community, business, society and environment must be well for us to feel wholly well,” explains Tsao, author of Quantum Leadership: New Consciousness In Business. “We are entering an era with a new paradigm. This is the paradigm of Quantum Leadership, where all people must become the CEO of their own life. We need to take responsibility for our holistic wellbeing and for a purposeful life, mindfully lived.”
A Global Shift In Consciousness
There’s no denying the significant shift towards mindfulness around the world in recent years, as ancient healing practices are increasingly being seen with the same reverence as modern medicine; practices like yoga, meditation and reiki—previously shut down as “hippie nonsense”—are more in demand than ever, and increasingly validated by science.
But science and spirituality are often conflicting ideologies—so how do you bring the two together so that they can coexist and not conflict? I posed this question to Jamie Waring, managing director of wellness at Sangha, when we met at the Global Wellness Summit in Singapore.
“For the first time, you’re touching a population of left-brain, objective scientists who are realising there’s truth to things like traditional Chinese medicine and meditation. Quantum really just means subatomic—as small as you can get—and what we’re finding is proof that there’s a materiality to consciousness. It’s a real tipping point,” says Waring. “From a wellness perspective, this opens up different frontiers because you’re bringing real data points to spiritual experiences. The potential to unify and go deeper into this is profound and exciting.”
See also: Celebrity Facialist Ada Ooi Shares 5 Traditional Chinese Medicine Skincare Tips