Written by Dee on 27/04/12, filed under Europe, General News, Relaxation and Pampering Spa | No Comments
Set on a hill just above the ultra-glitz ski resort, The Gstaad Palace has been renowned for its authenticity, elegance and unique ambiance. Thus when designing the spa, the main focus was to create an outstanding wellness oasis which blends perfectly into the overall hotel concept.
The Palace Spa features authentic decor and ambiance which radiate a magical charm. The calming space filled with natural wood, granite and running water emulates the atmosphere of the mountains. It’s hard to drag yourself away from the salubrious relaxation area, where you sit around a wood-burning fire and sip herbal teas, but it’s the hydro pool that hypnotizes as you swim from the inside out into the open air, surrounded by snow in winter.
Its exclusive facilities are spread over 1800 m² and include eight treatment rooms, a Private Spa Suite, saunas and steam baths, relaxation areas with incredible views, an indoor pool and an outdoor pool with Jacuzzi, a state-of-the-art gym, a pilates studio and a unique hammam experience with seven rooms. With this major investment Gstaad created an exclusive and extraordinary wellness centre, which exceeds the expectations of even the most discerning spa connoisseurs.
The priority was to bring the mountain feeling into the spa, therefore a 60-metre-long stone wall was built with granite from the nearby Blausee region in the Bernese Oberland.
If you haven’t been to Gstaad Palace yet we recommend that you do so! Visit www.sanctuaryspaholidays.co.uk or call 0870 243 1972 to find out about more…
Written by Dee on 06/03/12, filed under Detox retreats, Detox spa, General News, Thailand, yoga retreats | 1 Comment
We’re really excited to announce that one of our favourite retreats, Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa, was honoured with the award for Destination Spa of the Year: Asia & Australasia at the World Spa Awards hosted in London on Sunday evening.
The World Spa Awards is a new initiative that has been introduced by some of the leading figures in the spa industry. Kamalaya faced exceptional competition from across the world and was shortlisted alongside three other finalists in the Asia & Australasia region. Four other regions were recognised by the awards including America (North & South), Africa, Middle East & Africa and Europe.
We’re told that each of the shortlisted properties underwent some serious scrutiny by an expert judging panel which included two site visits, one by an ‘official judge’ and one by a ‘mystery judge’ who stayed at the resort undercover!
We visited Kamalaya last year so the resort has also undergone our own rigorous selection procedure. We understand that the final winners were selected for best practice and excelling in client service (tick), a well researched and comprehensive menu of treatments (tick – over 70 therapies and treatments on their spa menu), high quality training (tick – the massages are out of this world!), and having a point of difference from the opposition through implementation of innovative ideas (definitely – Kamalaya offers ten wellness programs from Detoxification to Stress & Burnout that can be tailored to each guest’s specific health goals).
This latest award follows on from Kamalaya’s success in 2011 when the resort was named Spa Retreat of the Year 2011 at the Asia Spa Awards in Hong Kong; Kamalaya also won two awards for its cuisine: Best Conscious Cuisine at the 2011 Crystal Awards in Singapore and Asia Spa’s Spa Cuisine of the Year.
If you haven’t been to Kamalaya yet we recommend that you do so! Visit www.sanctuaryspaholidays.co.uk or call 0870 243 1972 to find out about more…
Written by Dee on 20/02/12, filed under Caribbean, General News, Relaxation and Pampering Spa | No Comments
Shiatsu began in Japan some 100 years ago, although its origin may lie in traditional Chinese medicine. The treatment involves using the fingers, thumb and palms to massage and stretch the body. The shiatsu treatment traditional hands on Japanese healing and literally means ‘finger pressure’ (“shi” meaning finger and “atsu” meaning pressure). The technique uses rolling, brushing, vibrating, grasping motions to concentrate on your energy, however it is not suggested for people with a history of blood clots, varicose veins, or bruises, cuts, burns, or external swelling of any kind. While most people experience an immediate sense of relaxation after Shiatsu treatments, some suffer from headache or flu like symptoms anywhere from a few hours to a day after the treatment due to the release of excessive toxins in your bloodstream.
There are number of different style of shiatsu, some concentrating on acupressure points and some addressing the body. Shiatsu can help in a wide range of conditions ranging from specific injuries to general symptoms of poor health. Shiatsu is a deeply relaxing experience and regular sessions help to prevent the build up of stress in our daily lives. It is a holistic therapy, which should not only loosen up your muscles and joints but, if undergone regularly, improve circulation, direct oxygen to your organs and skin, and boost your immune system.
Holistic COMO Shambhala Retreat (Shambhala meaning center of piece and harmony in Sanskrit) at Parrot Cay, Providencials, Turks and Caicos Islands, is an award winning sanctuary where mind, body and spirit are nurtured. It is located in low – lying pavilions overlooking the North Caicos Channel and the island’s wetlands rich with birds. The Spa offers Balinese, Thai, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Acupuncture and Ayurvedic treatments.
