Author: TheSpaTraveller

by Chantal Borciani Slinking into the outdoor hot tub, thick globules of snow oozing over the tan-coloured chalet roofs, I feel properly ensconced in alpine life. Everything about the pretty chocolate box town of Gstaad seems to perfectly encapsulate its “come up, slow down” ethos. Firstly your arrival into town is along one of the oldest and most beautiful train routes in Europe. The Montreux Oberland Bernois railway carves through alpine valleys and winds skywards into the mountains, its elegant carriages chuffing higher and higher past snow-swept scars, emerald glacial streams and tiny hamlets until real life feels a long…

RED MULLET by Lefay Resort & Spa Executive Chef Matteo Maenza INGREDIENTS FOR 1 PERSON 1 large red mullet of 120g or 2 red mullets (weight 120g) 1 basil leaf 50g breadcrumbs 1 head of cauliflower 200g orange juice 200g fennel Fresh cream 20g Tapenade   METHOD FOR THE RED MULLET: fillet the red mullet and leave attached by the tail, arrange on a sheet of cling film and place a basil leaf between the fillets. Wrap up the red mullet, securing well, and seal them in a vacuum (for at least 4 hours or freeze). Roll the red mullet in egg and white…

Santa Barbara’s jewel: Bacara By Chantal Borciani Located around ten minutes’ drive from cool and stylish Santa Barbara on California’s Central Coast, Bacara (meritagecollection.com/bacararesort) is a luxury resort with serious star quality. The five-star resort is set on a marigold whisp of beach and its Mediterranean-inspired chic ocean-facing haciendas, private cabanas and divine suites dot the resort’s 78 oceanfront acres. Bacara’s 42,000 square foot spa is one of the largest on the west coast and boasts a courtyard adult-only pool encircled with lazing pods made for two, male and female steam, sauna and Jacuzzi, 37 serene treatment rooms, a fire-lit…

LEFAY RESORT & SPA LAUNCHES LEFAY VITAL GOURMET:TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE WITH ITALIAN CULINARY EXPERTISELefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda, the luxury eco spa resort overlooking Lake Garda in Italy, has launched Lefay Vital Gourmet, an innovative food concept combining the principles of classical Chinese Medicine with the best local seasonal produce and Italian culinary heritage.In line with the resort’s own Lefay Spa Method, which combines the preventative approach of Chinese medicine and modern Western techniques, Lefay Vital Gourmet is a fusion of traditional values and modern expertise. Menus in the resort’s two restaurants – La Grande Limonaia and Trattoria La Vigna – showcase an holistic way of…

Switch off – it’s time for a digital detox Digital detoxers ditch their devices – Ofcom. Is an obsession with smartphones, iPads and ‘screen time’ harming our children and us? Help is at hand… Sign-up to find our more about our Digital Detox and other Bespoke Guided Retreats – click here… Fifteen million UK internet users have undertaken a ‘digital detox’ in a bid to strike a healthier balance between technology and life beyond the screen, according to major new Ofcom research. The study of 2,025 adults and 500 teenagers reveals how our reliance on the internet is affecting people’s personal…

You are what you eat… The inspiration behind Spain’s prestigious SHA Wellness Clinic, Alfredo Bataller Parietti, who cured his own 30-year digestive disease in 30 days by changing his diet now shares his wisdom with you What inspired you to open SHA Wellness? I had suffered for 30 years with digestive diseases and although I had always been checked by doctors there was no improvement. At the age of 52 I was surprised and lucky to find a real solution thanks to a splendid nutritionist and other natural therapies. Once I discovered this new world, and mine was not an…

If you thought hot was better, think again. World champion sauna masters from Tamina Therme, in Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland, give their top tips on how to enjoy this spa experience Sauna, which originated in Finland, is now one of the most popular spa treatments as people seek to sweat out the toxins while sitting in the small cabin-like rooms. But is hot really better? No, according to World champion sauna masters Diana Laig and Maik Brandenburg from Tamina Therme, a public thermal bath in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland. The SPA Traveller caught up with these experts and quizzed them…

Before booking your next treatment, check out our guide below to ensure your next massage is right for youSearch A-Z of massage Search Ayurveda: An ancient Indian holistic medical system involving diet, yoga, massage and herbal remedies based on five elements – earth, water, fire, air and space, stressing balance through your dosha. Ayurvedic Shirodhara: The streaming of warm oil onto the forehead (third eye), followed by a scalp massage and depending on the treatment, another body massage. Acupressure:An ancient healing art using the fingers, and other parts of the body, to skilfully press key points to stimulate the body’s natural, self-healing…

Before booking your next spa and wellness experience, check out our guide below to find our more about what facilities will help you ‘target your treatment!’ Search A-Z of spa facilities Search Aerobics studio Area used for floor exercises. Affusion shower massage Massage given under a relaxing, rain-like, warm shower of water or seawater. Increases blood circulation. Aquamedic pool Pool with specially positioned therapeutic jets for benefits such as relaxation and improving muscle tone. Bath Soaking or cleansing the body in water that is typically infused with salt, flowers, minerals or essential oils. May serve as a prelude to, or conclude a…

Here is a Pilates glossary that includes some common terms used in Pilates practice: Pilates: A physical fitness system developed by Joseph Pilates that focuses on strengthening and lengthening muscles, improving posture and flexibility, and enhancing mind-body awareness. Core: The muscles of the abdomen, lower back, and hips that provide stability and support to the spine. Matwork: The practice of Pilates exercises performed on a mat, using body weight and minimal equipment. Reformer: A Pilates equipment that uses springs and pulleys to provide resistance for Pilates exercises. Cadillac: A Pilates apparatus that consists of a table with a frame above…