Discover these 4 oases of relaxation to find wellness and health. With the new season, leaving the summer behind, we must start again strong and healthy. We can enjoy natural treatments, a balanced nutritional plan or relax in thermal baths.
Connecting body and mind is something fundamental in our daily lives, and we can improve even if it is little by little. In Spain we have great places of beauty and tranquility, so let’s go into these 4 ‘refuges’ of relaxation to find wellness.
Hotel Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona: Oasis in the center of the city
Experiences of tranquility and wellness are in high demand in places as crowded as Barcelona, but even there we can find oases full of serenity. From September 20 through 23 the Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona resort and the Sha Wellness Clinic will join forces to offer a selection of wellness and health services.
The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona complex has magnificent views of the city of Barcelona.
The two major firms are committed to offering the best methods to enjoy good physical and mental health. Sha brings together the latest advances in scientific medicine with natural therapies, in addition, they unite it with a healthy and balanced gastronomic plan. All this, they have it perfectly coordinated, and in this way, visitors can gain better results in less time.
Nutritional level
Sha is inspired by ancient principles of the Mediterranean and Japanese diet, all adapted to modern life, respecting the products of each season and the local offer. During these four days, Mandarin Oriental will have the Sha kitchen team and Lixi Lineas, its Head Chef, will also provide information on the nutritional concept. Eating well and healthy is very easy, but you must approach what is not usually taught.
From left to right: Lixi Lineas, head chef at Sha Wellness, Risotto, one of the dishes on the menu.
Guests can enjoy a noon menu, where they can choose from a wide variety: avocado gazpacho, basil cream, zucchini risotto or carrot cake on creamy coconut. And for the evening, they will have a tasting menu in which there is coca de txangurro, shrimp and wakame dashi, sea bass to the medina or Catalan cream, among others.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method that continues to be used because its benefit is clear.
Cognitive treatments: Technological advances are yielding great results in the medical sector
In addition to the nutritional plan, Sha Wellness Clinic will offer three different individual consultations at the Mandarin Oriental resort.
- Healthy Nutrition Consultation: The nutritionist, Marina Domene, will offer the best guidelines for each person. During the session a personalized report with specific dietary recommendations will be delivered.
- Emotional and Cognitive Development: Managing stress is very important to prevent future illness or disease. Those who wish to do so can make a consultation with Bruno Ribeiro, head of Sha’s Cognitive Development Unit. Thanks to new technologies, doctors can perform their therapies in a new way, and reach the relaxation and concentration that the patient needs.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Consultation: Sha’s TCM specialist, Philippa Harvey, will help improve the immune system by enhancing the body’s healing power through acupuncture. This traditional Chinese method stimulates the body’s ability to preserve and restore health through the proper flow of energy.
Address: Pg. de Gràcia, 38-40, Barcelona
Royal Hideaway Sancti Petri: physical and mental well-being
The metabolic age of our body is something that is hardly known, but it is an important concept, because with it we can know what is our physical condition and health status. From the hotel Royal Hideway Sancti Petri, and thanks to its nutritionist, Alejandro Cánovas, they start new treatments implementing new physical and dietary activities on an individual basis.
Views of the Royal Hideaway Sancti Petri complex
At the hotel’s Royal Retreat, we estimate metabolic age using electrical bioimpedance, a method that compares the basal metabolic rate of reference for their age,” explains Cánovas. – explains Cánovas.
Although there is no ideal metabolic age, there is a minimum of 12 years. The younger the age, the better our body will be. Cánovas points out that it is very important to change the lifestyle in a healthier way because that can avoid pathologies in the future. There are five indispensable habits that must be carried out constantly every day, without excesses and each person at his or her own pace.
- Practicing physical exercise
- Healthy and balanced diet
- Good hydration
- Adequate rest
- Manage the stress you can accumulate week by week.
The complex has a wide and balanced gastronomic plan, always looking for and offering the best high quality products.
Activities such as yoga are a mainstay at the hotel, as it connects body and soul.
Royal Hideaway Sancti Petri is a reference hotel in Spain in terms of health and wellness. In fact, in 2020 it was recognized at the World Travel Awards as “Best beach hotel in Europe”, and “Best hotel suite in Spain”. They have tools and activities to improve the rest and stay of visitors; fitness programs where yoga has been a mainstay for years, the largest spa in Andalusia and a varied culinary offer. The gastronomic plan of the complex is differentiated according to the tastes of each diner, but as a whole it is all oriented to physical and mental care.
Address: UR Lomas de Sancti Petri, s/n, 11130 Urb. Novo Santi Petri, Cádiz
Mondariz Spa: Celtic massage with hot stones
The Mondariz Spa, in Pontevedra offers for this fall, a hot stone massage as a sensory treatment against stress. A thermal tradition of the Romans and Celts used as a complement to the thermal baths.
As a couple or alone, the hot stone massage immerses you in a sensory exercise between body and mind.
During the massage the stones are placed in different areas of the body that are energy points, such as the spine, abdomen and forehead, which causes the blood and lymphatic vessels to dilate and stimulate circulation. Finally, an oil is applied and a therapeutic massage is performed.
These are some of the benefits of massage: eliminates toxins, boosts metabolism, relieves menstrual and back pain, reduces stress, relaxes and helps to fall asleep, eliminates mental hyperactivity, as it decreases adrenal secretion, allows lowering the respiratory rate, regulates blood pressure and pulse, and helps the body to relax and recover.
Nourish skin with cocoa
The treatment using chocolate, a very beneficial ingredient for the skin and for the mood. It has long been used for physical wellness, with it we can moisturize the skin, fight cellulite and improve mood. In addition, cocoa treatments have slimming, firming and detoxifying properties. The results are so beneficial that from the Balearic Islands they believe it is the ideal complement to accompany the beauty offer they currently have.
Cocoa is treated in different ways, and it is applied following different phases
The treatment consists of three phases:
- Cocoa shell peeling: is made with cocoa nectar oil and natural cocoa shell shavings. Its mode of application is the same as the normal peeling; the oil is spread and sprinkled.
- Cocoa mask: Gently apply the mask for 20 minutes, and then proceed to the wrapping, which lasts 15 minutes. Once finished, remove the chocolate with jets of mineral-medical water. This mask combats the effects of stress, stimulates the dermis and replenishes thermal energy. Its benefit is very particular, as each skin is unique.
- Final moisturizing: an extension of cocoa oil with relaxing passes of 10 minutes is performed, the duration of this final treatment lasts about 1 hour, and the results are visible with a softer and hydrated skin.
The price for adults is 75 euros, while for children is 33 euros.
Address: Av. Enrique Peinador Vela, 0, Pontevedra
Hammam Al Ándalus: Arab tradition
Spain has iconic, beautiful and beneficial places for all visitors. As for thermal baths, Hammam Al Ándalus in Granada, was chosen as one of the 10 most beautiful baths in the world. The announcement was made in August after the British company QS Supplies conducted a study, taking into account reviews on TripAdvisior, mentions on Instagram and annual search volume.
Hammam Al Ándalus has a beautiful architecture and design.
Hammam Al Ándalus Granada was inaugurated in 1998, and is the first Arab bath recovered after five centuries disappeared. Its construction was in the thirteenth century, at the foot of the Alhambra and behind the old mosque where today we find the Church of Santa Ana. Thanks to archaeological excavations at the end of the 90s, they were able to find pools that confirmed the existence of the ancient Arab baths.
These Arab thermal baths are located in the center of Granada.
The center specializes in improving the physical and mental health of visitors through treatments based on Mediterranean and Andalusian culture. As we have said, it began in 1998 after meeting again with the remains, headed by two young people inspired by the millenary and lost tradition: the use of the hammam. In these 21 years, this small project has been growing and adding initiatives, and is one of the ideal places dedicated to physical, emotional and environmental health.
Address: C. Sta. Ana, 16, Granada
Images courtesy of Hotel Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona, Sha Wellness Clinic , Royal Hideaway Sancti Petri, Balneario de Mondariz, Hammam Al Ándalus
