The retreat also involved a form of colonic cleansing called an enema, a delicate procedure which required her to insert a pair of 1cm-wide tubes up her anus.

My friends thought I was crazy, she says, with a laugh. Some could not believe the 'no food' part. Others could not imagine the idea of putting something up your you-know-where.

Still, she forked out $1,400 - inclusive of airfare - and set off on her adventure.

For seven days, she subsisted on a special liquid mix of bentonite clay and juice. Bentonite clay, which is composed of weathered and volcanic ash, is reported to have healing properties.

After watching an instructional video and demonstration by the staff at the resort, she also performed colonic cleansing - a do-it-yourself procedure she referred to as 'primitive' - on herself twice a day.

In the approximately 30-minute session, a mixture of water and coffee is pumped into the colon - a section of the large intestine extending from the caecum to the rectum - to remove the build-up of 'debris' within the body.

Stool, yellowish-green mucus and even the occasional worms clogging up the colon are then flushed out into a pail. It can be a pretty scary experience to see the stuff coming out of you, she says.

The results of her holiday in Koh Samui were liberating, she says. After I returned, everyone said I looked healthy and radiant. My friends said they wanted to do it too.

ZAPPING URBAN AILMENTS
A GROWING number of Singaporeans like Ms Tan are heading to wellness retreats in nearby Indonesia, Thailand and India. While the usual spa packages may include resort accommodation with a few massages or body wraps thrown in, wellness retreats offer structured day-to-day programmes designed to zap urban ailments like stress and eliminate the effects of unhealthy eating.

The quality of accommodation at wellness retreats varies. Depending on the price you pay - seven-day packages usually begin at $1,000 - expect to stay anywhere from run-down wooden huts to luxurious private villas.

Programmes include colonic cleansing, detoxification and power yoga sessions. These have been gaining popularity through word of mouth in the local New Age community, typically professional women in their 30s to 50s.

For freelance teacher Lim Yuhui, 29, a 10-day yoga retreat at the Melati Cottages in Ubud, Bali in May helped her sort out her troubles at home.

Her days began at 7am, with an hour of meditation. Four hours of yoga and strengthening exercises followed throughout the day.

She says the fresh air did wonders. I loved doing outdoor yoga in the afternoons, surrounded by greenery.

I was sort of going through a personal crisis and the trip took me out from what was familiar in Singapore. It got me out of my rut and I came back feeling much stronger, she says.

RISKS OF D.I.Y. COLONIC CLEANSING
DESPITE the increasing popularity of wellness retreats, there is some controversy surrounding the radical nature of some of their treatments.

Colonic cleansing, especially, is not for the faint-hearted and can lead to death if not performed properly.

If not administered right, it can lead to dangerous complications such as the perforation of the colon, infection from improperly cleaned instruments and even heart failure due to an imbalance of electrolytes and fluid absorption in the system.

Another form of colonic cleansing is colon hydrotherapy, administered by a certified colon therapist with the help of a special machine.

Holistic healing arts group Breathing Space, which organises yoga retreats for its members once a month, has seen a 50 per cent increase in the number of enquiries, says its chief executive Genevieve Theseira.

But perhaps due to the sensitive nature of these treatments, many Singaporeans opt to book their holidays directly with their chosen resorts.

Ms Tan, for one, is a firm believer. Since her holiday, she has reduced her alcohol intake, quit smoking and even given up char kway teow for brown rice.

She says: I started reading books on detoxification and how the body works. With all this new knowledge, I'm more aware of how much this body takes care of me, and how much I have to care for it in return.

WELLNESS RETREATS IN THE REGION

WELLNESS packages are also available at day spas and resorts in Singapore, but the treatments they offer are different from what is available overseas.

A detoxification programme, for instance, usually involves massages, body wraps and lymphatic drainage instead of the strict fasting regimes overseas retreats put their guests through.

Some, like Spa Valley in Orchard Road, do use a internal cleansing and dieting programme of elderberry juice and herbal pills. But as clients are not there for a continuous period of time, consultants are unable to ensure that they adhere strictly to their diets.

Colonic cleansing is not available in local day spas. Says Spa Valley's managing director Nancy Lim: 'It's a medical procedure which requires the supervision of a doctor.

Moreover, we would need to know our client's detailed medical history to perform it. I don't think everyone would need the treatment.

At present, colon therapist Dr Sylvester Yong runs the only specialised colon cleansing centre in Singapore at Tanglin Shopping Centre.

A local spa which comes close to creating a retreat atmosphere is Spa Botanica in The Sentosa hotel. From $698 and up, it packages one- to three-night retreats which include a free massage and body scrub.

Ms Adrienne Chin, a spa consultant at the Renewal Day Spa, says: 'Most people have a practice of starting in a day spa first. Then they go overseas for wellness holidays.