But does it have to be that way? How about a holiday that inspires you to a healthier diet and lifestyle? One that transforms the way you look and feel, so that you return a slimmer, more zestful you? This inspiring thought is behind the trend for transformative holidays, to pep you up in more ways than you could imagine.

At Essential Escapes we find people are looking to their holiday to direct a little TLC back to themselves. Our busy lives mean that it can be hard to put time aside to focus on our own wellbeing. A healthy holiday can be a great way to reset the body, learn a new approach and develop some good habits to bring home.

On most people’s wish list is a desire to dine deliciously on holiday without breaking the scales on their return, which has led to the rise of specialist hotels reinventing what we think of fine dining. Here, the gastronomy has to taste sensational whilst being true to the highest nutritional standards. There are diet consultants on hand to help you make informed choices to achieve your goals, and to point you towards suitable menus. A programme of therapeutic spa treatments complements the cuisine for the best results. Add in a host of activities in the sunny outdoors, and it’s easy to see how you can return refreshed and renewed.

If willpower is your weak point, then a surprising new approach is yielding impressive results. Try a holiday where experienced practitioners will hypnotise you into believing that you have had a gastric band fitted. The team will re-educate you about healthy eating, and reinforce these messages with effective hypnotherapy (but strictly no actual surgery). In this way, the effects of the holiday will last long afterwards, with healthy eating habits adopted for life. The before and after photos are eye-popping!

The drastic detoxes of the past are not the best way to establish a healthy lifestyle. Fortunately, it is possible to detox deliciously on your holiday, without an assault on your body. Many spa hotels now take a more gentle approach, making use of local, fresh ingredients in their menus, backed up by massages, scrubs and infrared saunas. The beautiful beachside settings are an added bonus!

A holiday in the sunshine offers many simple, pleasurable ways to keep in trim, such as a run along the beach, with the soft sand cushioning the impact on the body. Swimming in the sea or pool is another low impact way to rediscover muscle tone that you thought was long gone. For a more focused approach, you could try a specialist retreat, offering tuition in yoga, Pilates or tai chi. This allows you to combine beachside lazing with some gentle progress towards your goals. Or you can make the most of your restored energy at a bootcamp or hone your skills on a specialist tennis weekend .

The team at Essential Escapes has advised clients on a whole range of requests, with their needs and requirements being as varied as the individuals concerned. But whether they have major weight loss goals or just want to tone up in style, somewhere in the sunshine there’s a spa retreat that’s perfect for them. May the holiday bikini never strike such fear into us again!

The staff at the hotel and particularly in the restaurants really look after you and guests travelling alone for relaxation or for spa treatments can rest assured they will not feel awkward here.  The spa of course is a highlight of the hotel being a fully fledged Thalassotherapy treatment centre with 20 Thalassotherapy treatment rooms and 22 spa treatment rooms.   Guests can also choose to follow a weight loss programme and there is a daily changing dietetic 3 course menu which provides delicious yet low calorie meals for lunch or dinner.  On the breakfast buffet low calorie options are highlighted, but strong will power is required since these sit alongside the less weight friendly Portuguese pastries!

I was fortunate enough to try out some Thalasso treatments one morning. The session starts with a medical consultation with the in house doctor.  This is simply to check general health, to discuss any particular problems or requirements and to make sure there is no reason why Thalassotherapy would be unsuitable for you. My first session was the Jet Shower where a therapist uses a pressurised jet of water to hose you down and provide a hydromassage.  Fearing I would be blasted across the room with icy water, I was pleasantly surprised that this was actually quite a gentle treatment with nice warm water and just a quick spray of cold water right at the very end. This was followed by a short aquagym session is the heated seawater pool and then a hop over to the underwater jet steam pool where exercises against a jet current were directed by another therapist.  The final part of my treatment was the Seaweed therapy where a kind of seaweed gel (very smelly) was applied and I was then wrapped like a mummy in a heated blanket and left for 20 minutes.  A couple of hours of treatments left me feeling very relaxed and sleepy initially, but after a short rest, quite invigorated.

The hotel has a choice of pools, mostly sea water with one freshwater pool and a poolside snack bar serving drinks and tasty snacks.  You can also relax in the lounge and library area.  The restaurant offers high quality table d’hôte or a la carte dining in a lovely location overlooking the sea.”

Vilalara Thalassa Resort in Portugal >

But what’s behind the feel-good glow that we all experience? A US study now suggests that getting a massage might alter the body’s immune response and lower stress-related hormones.

In a small-scale study, the blood of twenty-nine people who received 45-minute Swedish massages was tested five minutes and one minute before the massage began, then one, five, ten, fifteen, thirty and sixty minutes after the massage, using intravenous catheters.

Swedish massage is a form of massage originally used on gymnasts to relax tired and tense muscles.

The blood of people who received 45 minutes of light touch massage — a much less intense form of massage — was also tested, and saliva samples were taken from both groups.

The massage therapists all adhered to the same massage pattern and were taped for quality control.

The researchers, from Cedars-Sinai Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, a Los Angeles-based medical centre, found that the Swedish massages reduced arginine vasopressin, a hormone that causes the stress hormone cortisol to increase. The massages also reduced levels of cortisol itself in the body.

Study participants also saw their cytokines — proteins released by stimulated white blood cells when danger is present — decrease, indicating the body did not see itself as under attack during the massage.

Light touch recipients saw their cytokine levels actually rise slightly.

The researchers believe that massage could play a role in helping people manage inflammatory or autoimmune conditions, in which the body’s immune system overreacts, attacking itself.

“This research indicates that massage doesn’t only feel good, it also may be good for you,” said Rapaport, the principal investigator of the study and the Polier Family Chair in Schizophrenia and Related Disorders, in a release. “More research is ahead of us, but it appears that a single massage may deliver a measurable benefit.”

The authors believe a larger study should now be undertaken to replicate the results.

Given that modern lifestyles seem to be only increasing the daily stress we encounter, massage appears to be both an important and enjoyable antidote.

So next time you feel the urge to stretch out at a luxury spa, tell yourself that it is for the good of your health, lay back and enjoy.

Exclusive Offer! Receive a complimentary massage at Shanti Som in Spain, book by 31 March 2012  more info >

“Say the word ‘Detox’ and I used to immediately think of endless juices and tasteless ‘rabbit food’, the idea of doing one seemed almost dangerous to my health. I heard stories about people giving up solids for a whole week or just eating one particular food for a period of time.  I knew that this was surely bad for me so I avoided detoxing until one day I was working with a nutritionist called Kate Cook, when I told her of my unhealthy visualisation on detoxing she explained that they could be amazing if done right. So very often people don’t detox correctly and this can have the reverse effects of doing more harm than good. You are supposed to rest your body by eating lots of the right foods and avoid a set of foods that are more complex for the body to deal with. It is supposed to be like a holiday for the body and you are supposed to ease in and out of it.

Three years ago, Kate and our team of Pure Package chefs designed an amazing detox,  seemingly achieving the impossible and designing a complete 21-day ‘Internal Makeover’ programme, containing nothing but real and delicious food to give your whole body the makeover it’s been crying out for. This is achieved without restricting food groups for long periods of time or depriving your body of vital nutrients and calories.

This Christmas I did not hold back, I love food and took advantage of the fact that you could actually get a table at London’s top restaurants. I graced the tables of multiple Michelin starred restaurants and had what can only be described as a hedonistic period. My body, especially my liver – think 11 course meals twinned with wine – had taken quite a battering. Come January I was hitting the scale at 68 kilos which for me is definitely on the high side. I was feeling sluggish and wished every day was a duvet day; it was the perfect time for a detox!

Designed by The Pure Package’s team of expert nutritionists, the 21-day programme is ideal for those who have comfort eaten their way through winter or over-indulged during the festive season (that’s me then!). With carefully tailored daily menus made with award-winning fresh ingredients and giving your body exactly what it needs, the dishes are created to ease the pressure on the liver and help get your body back to optimum health.

How Does the 21 Day Plan Work?

Week One – Certain food groups put pressure on the liver and so these will be cut out of the programme to give your system a much needed break. These include red meat, eggs, dairy, gluten, shellfish, potato and some vegetables.

Week Two and Three – These food groups will be reintroduced in a controlled manner.

Throughout the 21 day plan all dishes will be packed with vitamins, minerals and essential fats.

What Makes The Pure Package’s Detox Programme Different?

No need to cook for yourself!  The programme is devised by an expert nutritionist and is then delivered to your door daily, for complete convenience. The days of shopping, chopping and cooking are over!

You will not be hungry!  The programme does not restrict calories, cut out food groups for a long period of time or involve any shakes, juices or ration packs! The Pure Package ensures detoxing is done in a healthy, controlled and balanced way using award-winning ingredients to make a varied menu of delicious dishes you will look forward to eating.

Expert advice is just a phone call away!  The team of expert chefs and nutritionists are on hand to offer advice and tailor the deliveries to your needs. Based in London’s world-famous New Covent Garden Market, The Pure Package has direct access to the freshest ingredients and has a commitment to sourcing food from sustainable and local sources. All food is carefully tailored, beautifully presented and loved by celebrities and A-list stars including, Erin O Connor, Denise Van Outen, Lisa Snowdon and Hugh Jackman.

Never has a truer word been spoken than the expression ‘beauty comes from within’, as glowing skin, healthy hair and nails, and a cleansed internal system are all within reach with The Pure Package’s ‘Internal Makeover’ programme!

So how am I feeling at the end of my 3 weeks?  Amazing, my head feels clear and I have a spring in my step. Detoxing is not about weight loss but it will happen naturally if it should. I dropped to 62 kilos in the 21 days, which is 6 kilos! The team at The Pure Package say this was because my body was holding on to so much water due to my extravagant diet and some mild intolerance to certain foods. Whatever the reason I have a spring in my step and converted to the concept of cleansing the body by following The Pure Package detox. I will definitely consider it again next New Year if I am lucky enough to be able to find such fine food and wine to indulge in over the festive season.”

“The Six Senses Samui is the most rustic luxury resort we feature in Thailand.  Located in Koh Samui this offers a boutique style accommodation popular with families, couples and spa enthusiasts.  The hotel is designed with a traditional fishing village in mind and so lots of wood adorns the décor and the rooms are built in the style of wooden villas.   There are just 66 villas and each has its own butler, sunken bath tub and outside shower, many of the rooms boast their own pool and have views of the sunset or sunrise.  Each of the villas has a little garden area and many of the rooms are sea view or they have garden views.  There are then stairs upwards to the bedrooms and bathrooms.  You would need to ensure children were supervised on these rustic wooden stairs.  There is no kids club but babysitting is available and depending on the number of kids they will organize activities during the day time.  There are 2 restaurants, Dining on the Hill and Dining on the Rocks and they offer international cuisine and themed evenings and the Dining on the Rocks specializes in New Asian Cuisine and is an award winning restaurant.    The spa is a Six Senses Spa with 12 treatment rooms offering a range of traditional therapies as well as a number of signature treatments.  They offer holistic activities daily including yoga, tai chi and pilates and these should be booked in advance each day.  This is a perfect little gem for those who love laid back luxury, who don’t need a huge kids club and want to escape from it all.

I visited Krabi on the mainland and stayed at the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort.  Krabi Krabi has more than 130 islands, which are grouped into four archipelagos – the Hong Islands, Poda Islands, Phi Phi Islands, and Lanta Islands.  The landscape is very different from the flat plains of Bangkok as there are irregular limestone peaks, some as high as 400 feet high which are covered in jungle vegetation offering picturesque backdrops.  Krabi has beautiful beaches and clear waters and offer a variety of reef fish and so is ideal for snorkeling and diving.  I thought Krabi was a lovely part of the country, it had a very tropical feel with beautiful beaches and lagoons.  It felt less touristy than Phuket but having said that it is more rustic and the service is not so on point in general.  The hotel was a lovely resort and felt the most relaxed of the hotels we visited.  It is more of a basic rather than luxury 5* and this is reflected in the price.  The resort had a gorgeous main pool area leading down on to the beach, plenty of sun-beds and umbrellas for shade.  The main pool area also had a separate children’s pool.  They had a small kids club but this did look better for younger kids with arts and crafts and a small outside play area but they also run a program of activities too.  There were a good choice of restaurants including the international, Thai, Indian and Italian and I really liked the food here it was fresh and tasty.  The prices also were very good and you did not feel you were paying over the odds for drinks and meals.  The hotel has quite an international feel, and I think this stems from being an international chain and aside from the art work in the bedrooms you could have been anywhere in the world when you stepped into the bedrooms which were clean and well equipped, please note that most rooms come with a shower over the bath only.  The main areas of the resort and the general style was very Thai and the staff dress traditionally although again have more of a Western approach to the service greeting with hello rather than sawadeeka which we had become accustomed to elsewhere.  This did not detract from the hotel though and we could quite happily have stayed on longer.  They are undergoing some soft refurbishments of the rooms and the spa and they have knocked a few rooms through to make a larger suite but this is all due to be completed by end of January.

The Banyan Tree in Phuket is visually stunning, located in the Laguna Beach area commonly referred to as millionaires row.  It is in a more purpose built area of the Island of Phuket, close to Laguna Hotel and I am told you can share facilities with the hotels here including the use of the golf course.  The Banyan Tree itself is split into 3 areas and the main hotel is the best for families, they also have a spa wing and guests staying 3 or more nights here have a daily massage included and can opt to take a healthier spa cuisine in villa or at the spa restaurant.  They boast a large main pool and then around 80% of their rooms have their own pool, there is also a section for children and a pool at the spa which is more for adults only.  There are tennis courts and water-sports available from the beach.  They have a fabulous spa with a range of treatments including Thai Massage and Ayurvedic Treatments and they also offer fitness activities and classes including personal training, yoga and a gym.  This resort caters for everyone from couples and families to spa goers who want a 5* hotel and service and relaxation treatments as opposed to a dedicated wellness spa.  They offer deluxe villas which have a garden with Jacuzzi tub, they offer 1 and 2 bedroom pool villas and these are ideal for families as they have 2 bedrooms and bathrooms, a living and dining area and small kitchenette.  They really have the WOW factor with stunning decor throughout, exceptional service and beautiful grounds.  This is surely one of the best hotels in Thailand.

Andara is located on the Island of Phuket and offers a choice of apartments and villas.  This is a small boutique accommodation ideal for those who perhaps want self catering luxury accommodation, groups of friends or families or perhaps evening wedding parties.  The reception is very grand with a water feature and hugely high ceilings, grand statutes add an exclusive feel and the floor to ceiling mirrors and glass are very impressive and mean fabulous views of the guest rooms.  The apartments are located across 8 buildings of 3 storey’s and you can choose from 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms.  There are a total of 37 apartments, the ground floor have a terrace with private pool, the first floor have no pools and the penthouse apartments have a roof top terrace with a pool.  They are truly amazing accommodation, brand new apartments with all the mod cons.  They are spacious and luxurious.  Each apartment is privately owned but Andara manage the whole resort and let these out to holiday guests.  A couple could book a 2 bedroom unit for their honeymoon and they would simply close off the use of the guest bedroom.  We stayed in a 3 bedroom penthouse which had a huge master bedroom and en suite bathroom with bathtub and separate walk-in shower as well as double vanity unit and a separate toilet.  The guest bedrooms boast one double and one twin with en suite bathrooms.  They also have an incredibly spacious open plan kitchen, dinner and lounge which has flat screen TV, large fridge, separate utility for staff and sound system through the apartment.  The private pools are a great size and the views across the resort and Bay were amazing.  The main hotel area is home to the infamous SILK Thai restaurant as well as the gym, yoga studio, spa and salon.  There is no kids club but the hotel with arrange babysitting and an activity program is offered during the day.  They are around 5 minutes from the beach and they run shuttle cars to the public beach of which they have a small club area with day beds, loungers and a concession with drinks and towels.  There are plans to offer a 2^nd beach area at the far side of the Bay which will give a quieter more exclusive 2^nd club away from the busier parts of the beach.   The resort has a second section offering a series of villas 4-7 bedrooms and these are all different in terms of the layout but the décor is similar in style to the apartments with high roofs, floor to ceiling windows and en suite bathrooms.  They even boast their own chef and villa attendant.  The villa we saw had a basement games room with computer games console and table tennis, it also had a huge pool with plenty of sun-beds, an al fresco dining area and a barbeque.  I thought it was stunning here, a lovely place to get married around the pool, a great place for a group of families/friends to holiday together, a great place for a honeymoon or for families with kids who don’t use a kids club and prefer a quieter escape.  Being so close to a local town means that you can get out and about for shopping and local restaurants as the cuisine in SILK is predominantly Thai especially for dinner and this may not be too everyone’s taste for a long stay.

KC is another little gem offering stylish, modern and bright accommodation.  The resort is located in Koh Samui close to Chaweng which is a great shopping area and boasts a choice of restaurants, bars and night clubs.  As the hotel as one international restaurant this is great for those who may want to get out and about.  They also offer a shuttle service to the beach at Chaweng around 3 times per day.  The resort is split into 2 areas with a main hotel with rooms and suites and a series of overwater villas which are perfect for honeymooners.  Families could stay in here but probably best with older children as they are built over their own swimming pools and the balconies had wider gaps than one would like with smaller children and one side of the decking had stairs into the pool.  The furnishings are white giving the rooms a bright and airy feel, they have big windows to let in lots of light, big beds and comfy sofa’s.  The décor and colour scheme continues in the main hotels 75 rooms and suites, they have spaciuos double rooms, and 1 bedroom suites.  Some rooms can connect to form 2 bedroom suites.  Each of the rooms has a jacuzzi bath and modern bathrooms with separate shower.  The hotel can provide baby cots and Playstations and DVD players can be requested for the rooms.  There is no kids club but babysitting can be arranged.  This hotel is popular with families and honeymooners.”

“I won’t be forgetting the day I walked into a Harley Street Clinic to meet with Energy Therapist Paul Lennard. I was all prepared with my list of interview questions and yet I didn’t even get as far as taking the pen and paper out my bag. Paul wasn’t interested in talking to me, he wanted to show me the gift that has turned him into one of the most sought after healers in the country.

Paul got to work straight away, identifying immediately an acute pain in my stomach that I didn’t know I had. Paul explained that the emotional pain was evident by the physical pain and it was traced back to a particularly low point in my life. The more I spilled my emotions on the table, the more the physical pain in my stomach eased until eventually, it disappeared and I felt almost weightless in that area. This continued with a narrative from Paul that went through identifying areas of pain and linking it to events in my past that could have caused the physical discomfort. My upper body, which felt inextricably tense for most of the hour long session, couldn’t have felt more detached from my lower half, so much so that when Paul asked how my legs felt, I barely felt them. I was suprised to even learn he was holding my feet up.  Paul identified a pain from a skiiing accident fifteen years ago, a low point after my father died and even managed to tap into discussions I had been having with my husband about getting a dog, a Labrador to be precise!

The range of emotions I felt over the hour was quite extraordinary. I had gone in there thinking I had no physical or emotional demons to exorcise, and yet by the end of the session I was already booking my next apppointment to continue my cleansing journey. This felt like the deepest massage I was ever likely to have and I’m pleased to say a few weeks on I still feel as light and unburdoned as I did when I left the clinic.

Put simply, Paul has a gift that is complemented by his skills in cranio sacral therapy and sport massage.  He has a long waiting list, purely through word of mouth. He was even reluctant to feature in this piece but I explained that I simply cannot keep his unique therapy to myself!”

What is Energy Therapy?

Energy Therapy can heal physical complaints that conventional medicine cannot shift, by clearing the fundamental emotional cause.

Paul applies a unique combination of deep tissue massage, cranio sacral therapy and Chi Nei Tsang to clear old emotional and physical traumas from the body. This therapy works on every level: the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.   As each of these aspects is so closely entwined, an emotional problem from long ago can be the cause of a physical problem today.  Paul works in Harley Street and Belgravia in London, and also practices at Chiva Som spa resort in Thailand several times a year.

When did you first develop an interest in natural healing?
I grew up in Mexico, and was greatly influenced by my mother’s interest in natural healing. I learned early on about food as medicine, and took particular interest in our weekend excursions to local markets where the healing powers of exotic leaves, roots and flowers – and the occasional dried snake – were revealed by local healers.

What introduced you to Asian spirituality and approach to wellness?
When I was about 14, my mother introduced me to meditation and yoga. I chose to study cultural anthropology and the religious traditions of India, while continuing to attend extracurricular meditation and yoga retreats. When I was 21, I met my spiritual master, Sri Babaji, in northern India. With him, I learned about devotion, about opening my heart and connecting to a much larger experience of life. A few years later, I was greatly influenced by Master Ni Hua Ching, a Taoist master from China. It was his influence that led me to study traditional Chinese medicine and Taoist practices.

Can western and eastern traditions of healing complement each other?
While it is true that they take a very different approach, this does not mean that the two can’t support each other. It is essential however, to consult with qualified and reputable practitioners. The Kamalaya Detox programs are based on principles of Asian holistic healing systems, and then refined and enhanced through western research-based medicine to ensure an effective and safe process.

Has your academic background ever been in conflict with alternative methods of healing?
I have not had any conflict, however my academic background has made me more discerning in the selection of practitioners and the therapies that are offered at Kamalaya. There are numerous alternative healing methods that have been well researched and found to be effective for physical, emotional and mental wellbeing, such as, naturopathy, Ayurveda and homeopathy.

Andrew Weil, a Harvard Medical school graduate, is a pioneer in bringing these various traditions into mainstream medical environments. In the past 20 years, research has also been verifying the intimate connection between our emotional and mental states and the impact these have on our physical health, particularly our immune system.

What natural products have you found to have the most potent properties?
If I have to narrow it down to a single product, it might be fish oil (tested to be free of heavy metals and other impurities). Fish oils have a strong anti-inflammatory effect throughout the body, including the heart and brain. Additionally, I would add a herbal tea, such as Rooibos, for its rich mineral content and calming effect on the nervous system.

What brought you to Koh Samui?
Illness brought me here; wellness kept me here! At the time, my husband John was very ill and I knew of a particular herb that could help him which grew abundantly on the island. We came here so he could rest and heal.

Have any of your guests had a particularly transforming experience?
From healing of long held emotional conflicts, to letting go of unresolved issues, to completing a book during their stay, finding inspiration in their career or relationship, or finding a new direction and making a complete career change, these are some of things that our guests find transformational. The common denominator is that our guests seem to reconnect with themselves, and in so doing, rediscover the source of health, joy, and inspiration within them.  As one of our guests so eloquently expressed, “Sometimes there are periods in life when you tend to forget how special you are.  After only 7 days here, I left feeling very special again. Thanks to all of you.”  Albert – Germany 2008

What’s next for Kamalaya and the world of healing?
We have introduced Balance & Revitalise to help the increasing number of guests who were depleted and on the verge of adrenal burnout. At the moment, I’m working on a new Emotional Balance program. This is in response to the guests who express a need for off-loading old and limiting beliefs so that they can approach life with a fresher and more relevant perspective.

Kamalaya, Thailand >

Les Sources de Caudalie in Bordeaux in France offers an unforgettable experience, and the spa treatments, using the grapes from the surrounding vineyards, are almost good enough to eat… or drink!

After consultation with the client and hotel, we made the following plans for her short stay:

* Spa treatments: Crushed Cabernet Scrub, Caudalie Massage and Grand Caudalie Facial Care

* A private guided tour of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte followed by a wine-tasting

* Dinner at the restaurant La table du Lavoir (the Michelin star restaurant La Grand’Vigne was closed that day).

We received the email below from the journalist after her visit:

“It was the most WONDERFUL trip. We had a fantastic time and they looked after us so well.

Alice is a wonderful host and is charm personified. We met her parents too at their Chateau for a drink and they were fascinating as well.

The spa itself is immaculate. The treatments are very special and the practitioners are adept and knowledgeable. I had one of the best massages I have had in years.

The food at the restaurant was delicious and their own wines were a lovely accompaniment.

I don’t know that I could praise the place more. They have taste and it abounds in buckets.

Thank you for sending me there.”

We’re delighted to receive such lovely feedback, but knowing Les Sources de Caudalie, not altogether surprised!

If you’d like to know more about Les Sources de Caudalie, click here, or contact us.

Les Sources de Caudalie

The descriptions here are quite brief, so feel free to ask the team at Essential Escapes for elaboration.

SPA GLOSSARY:

Acupuncture – An ancient oriental healing technique using needles to balance energy meridians and encourage self-healing.

Acupressure – Energy is unblocked by stimulating particular pressure points on the body using fingerpoint massage.

Algotherapy – The application of sea products such as algae or seaweed.

Aqua-aerobics – Aerobic exercises in a swimming pool using the buoyancy and resistance of the water.

Aromatherapy – The use of essential oils from natural sources in an ancient practice of pressure-point massage. The inhaled aroma induces relaxation.

Ayurveda – An ancient Indian practice using herbs, essential oils, nutrition, massage and meditation to balance mind and body.

Bach Flower Therapy – A holistic treatment using extracts of flowers to calm emotions and promote healing.

Balneotherapy - Water-based therapies using seawater or thermal spring water to improve circulation thereby relieving stress or strain.

Body Scrub – The removal of dead skin by various means after which creams or lotions are applied to render the skin smooth.

Boreh – A Balinese massage, created by rice farmers to ease pain, using a preparation of a paste of ground spices.

Caldarium – A room containing steam that has been infused with aromatic plants and herbs.

Cathiodermie – Low voltage electrical treatment to oxygenate the skin (especially the face) and revitalize circulation.

Chakra Balancing – According to yoga philosophy, chakras are wheels that form symbolic energy centres at main points of the body. Imbalances or blockages can be caused by physical or emotional reasons. The seven chakras each relate to a specific colour, organ, gland or part of the body. Colour healing, crystal healing, meditation, sound therapy and visualisation are also used to clear blockages and harmonise the system.

Cold Plunge - A cold water plunge following a heat treatment.

Colonic Irrigation – A water enema to cleanse and detoxify the colon to prevent toxins re-entering the blood stream.

Craniosacral therapy – Gentle massage of the head and neck to release tension and restore balance.

Crenotherapy - A mud, steam and water therapy.

Crystal Healing - A spiritual healing using crystals or agates to draw out imbalanced energy from various parts of the body.

Cupping – An ancient oriental treatment where cups are placed on various points on the body to improve circulation and boost the body’s energy.

Dead Sea Therapy – Mineral-rich mud from the Dead Sea used to cleanse and detoxify. Also used in the treatment of muscle stress, arthritis and rheumatism.

Deep Tissue Massage – A deep muscle massage, sometimes painful, used typically to treat sports injuries.

Dochas – An Ayurvedic belief that the three elements pitta (fire), kapha (earth) and vata (air) must be balanced for maximum health and wellbeing.

Dry Flotation Bed – The body is covered in a mud or algae wrap, cocooned and lowered into warm water.

Duo massage (also 4 hands massage) – A synchronised massage by two therapists.

Electrotherapy – Stimulation techniques using low voltage electricity.

Endermology – A French massage using a vacuum and rolling machine to reduce cellulite.

Fango – A therapy employing highly mineralised mud applied to the body in a medium of oil or water.

Flotation Tank – A deep relaxation technique in a darkened room in which there is a tank filled with a high concentration of salt in mineral-enriched water to maintain weightlessness.

Gommage – Rehydrating and cleansing by means of long-stroke massage.

Hammam (also Turkish Bath) – A steam room(s) usually with herbal-scented vapours.

Herbal Wrap - Hot sheets soaked in herbs wrapped around the body, then covered with blankets and a cold compress applied to the head. Used to relax, detoxify and soften the body.

Homeopathy – A treatment that uses the same natural substance to cure an ailment that caused it. A self-healing therapy.

Hydromassage - A method of stimulating the blood and lymphatic system by using high pressure hoses under water.

Hydrotherapy – A generic term for all water-based treatments.

Indian Head Massage – Massage using essential oils that are massaged with the fingers and the “heel” of the hand onthe crown of the head. Particularly effective with focused meditation.

Ionisation – A thalassotherapy where the sea water is ionised with negative ions and is inhaled or sprayed. Used to heal the upper respiratory tract.

Jet Shower – see Scotch Hose Kinesiology – A diagnostic system to find food allergies and mineral deficiencies.

Kneipp Bath – A hydrotherapy, using herbs and minerals in water of different temperatures, combined with a diet and exercise regime devised by Father Sebastian Kneipp.

Kundalini – An Ayurvedic treatment to improve metabolism of the body, strengthen the back, increase mobility in the spine and ease many painful complaints from migraine to stiffness.

Laconium – A dry heat treatment room for relaxing the body.

Lastone Therapy - A massage to relax and revitalize using hot and cold stones on a well-oiled skin.

Lomi Lomi (also Lomilomi) – A Hawaiian massage using a rhythmical rocking and long stroking technique.

Lymphatic Drainage Massage – A means of reducing water retention using a gentle pumping and non-oily massage.

Mandi Lulur (also Javanese Lulur) – An ancient therapy involving a mask of flowers, herbs and spices that is allowed to dry then buffed and rinsed in yogurt. Usually precedes a jasmine or rose petal bath.

Meditation – Meditation has many forms but all are based on the concentration of an object, sound or belief whilst controlling the breathing. A powerful antidote to stress and anxiety.

Ozone Bath – A circulation stimulant using a jet of ozone bubbles onto the body while immersed in thermal or seawater.

Phytotherapy – The use of extracts of plants, herbs, seaweed and aromatic essential oils applied through massage, wraps, inhalation and steam treatments.

Pilates - An exercise discipline combining synchronised stretch and breathing techniques to strengthen the body.

Rasul Bath (also RhasoulBath) – Self-application of special muds to the face, chest, back and thighs whose remedial qualities are slowly absorbed in a heat chamber as the body perspires. A tropical rain shower is used to wash and cleanse.

Rebirthing – A Yoga technique of breathing and meditation to clear the mind thus achieving profound relaxation.

Reflexology - An ancient therapy restoring a natural energy flow around the body using finger-point pressure on the soles of the feet or sometimes the hands.

Reiki - A spiritual therapy where the body is loosely clothed. Rebalancing and relaxation are achieved whilst the therapist hovers, or lays hands, over specific points of the body.

Roman Bath – A communal pool of mineral enriched thermal water with underwater seating.

Salt Glow (also Body Glow or Turkish Scrub) – An exfoliating scrub using coarse salt, essential oils and water followed by a shower and the application of body lotion.

Sauna – A dry heated wood-lined room where the heat induces a sweat to cleanse the body.

Scotch Hose (also JetBlitz or Jet Shower) – A standing hydromassage using a high pressure hose of alternating hot and cold water.

Shiatsu – Japanese finger pressure used to improve energy flow along the body’s meridians used to boost one’s natural recuperative powers.

Shirodhara – A powerful Ayurvedic variation where oil is slowly poured over the third eye to relieve tension and restore balance.

Spinning - An aerobic exercise using a stationary bicycle.

Swedish Massage – Five-movement massage involving long strokes, tapping, kneading, rolling and vibration.

Tai Chi - A Taoist discipline combining mental concentration, dance and controlled breathing.

Tui Na Massage – A Chinese therapy using deep hands-on, digital pressure to relieve pain and restore balance.

Thai Massage - A “dry”massage with the subject dressed in loose clothes. The body is manipulated and stretched with pummelling and kneading whilst exerting pressure along the body’s energy channels. Used to relax tight limbs and release blockages.

Thalassotherapy - Seawater-based treatments sometimes enhanced with marine derivatives to restore balance and wellness.

Vichy Shower (also Affusion Shower) – An energising and relaxing therapy using multi-jet hot and cold water sprays onto the body whilst lying on a massage table.

Vinothérapie – A treatment that combines thermal spring water, oligo-elements with wine and grape extracts to strengthen blood vessels and enhance micro-circulation.

Watsu – A water-based massage applied as the body floats on warm water. Known for its emotional and physical liberating benefits.

Yoga – Based on ancient Indian teaching, Yoga combines posture, breathing and stretching. There are 18 different paths (Hatha, Ashtanga, Bhakti, Sivanda etc) each with their own emphasis. Some are physically very demanding. Ask before you commit!

Have you come across any weird and wonderful new treatments? Let us know!

These workshops include lunch at the spa and should be a very inspiring addition to the Abama wellness programmes.

The first workshop is “A Brief Introduction to Feng Shui”, by Abama’s life coach, Daniela Herzberg.

Throughout ancient China, classical Feng Shui was a closely guarded discipline used as a tool to ensure the good health, wealth, and power of the imperial dynasties. The keepers of this secret knowledge were the Feng Shui masters, the highly respected scientists and astronomers who were charged with sustaining the good fortune and prosperity of the royal court.

During the morning session of this workshop the participants get to know the basic rules and principles of Feng Shui and learn how to apply them in their own environment (home & business).

After lunch at the beautiful SPA café, participants will then assess the Feng Shui of the main hotel.

Daniela Herzberg is renowned as a life coach, nutritionist and certified Feng Shui consultant. Her comprehensive knowledge about the Chinese philosophy is a result of her work with Derek Walters, one of the most respected Feng Shui masters in the world.

Daniela has published several books and articles in German, English and Spanish. She is appreciated by her students and clients for her personalized approach, her enthusiastic and entertaining teaching methods.

We’ll keep you updated of more spa workshops throughout the year.