Ah, January. The month of chills, drizzle, vegetables and no alcohol. Joy to the world. If the thought of the long weeks of winter stretching ahead of us makes you want to hibernate, now is the perfect time to indulge in a New Year’s retreat at one of the world’s premier spa location. If you’re going to do winter you may as well do it properly; may I introduce The Alpina Gstaad. The Swiss retreat has introduced a new programme of health and wellness retreats, available until 20th March, the ideal antidote to an overindulgent festive season in the stunning surroundings of a serene Alpine location.
The Alpina Gstaad opened its doors in December 2012 as the first newly built five star hotel in Gstaad in 100 years. The hotel offers 56 rooms and suites with magnificent views over the Bernese Alps and the Saanenland, as well as 14 private apartments and two private chalets.
The additiona of the Six Senses Resort & Spa provides guests with award-winning experiences, with the spa offering a wide range of holistic ace and body therapies and beauty treatments administered under the guidance of expert therapists.
The Tibetan Retreat
is a three-day retreat run by Antonis Sarris, an esteemed holistic therapist who was awarded “Best Masseur in the World” by SpaFinder and explores the Tibetan tradition which believes in the wholeness and independence of body, mind and nature. The retreat includes primary diagnostics to detect imbalances, their causes and subsequent therapy, all aimed at the rehabilitation of balance between body and mind. It will also include modification of dietary and behavioural regimes, herbal medicine and healing treatments.
Priced at CHF 2,220 (approx. £1,498), the retreat includes two nights in a Deluxe Room based on single occupancy.
The four day Yogic Sleep Retreat, aimed at yogis of all levels, aims to induce a deep state of relaxation by combining yoga nidra – a powerful ancient relaxation practice that unwinds the nervous system and instills a sense of joy and wellbeing – with gentle stretching yoga poses and pranayama, or breath regulation. The retreat will be run under the guidance of Yoga teacher Barbara Montant, who has spent many years practicing and teaching different forms of Yoga.
Priced at CHF 1,800 (approx. £1,225), the retreat includes three nights in a Deluxe Room based on single occupancy.
The sound of silence with a backdrop of picturesque Swiss mountains provides a restorative healing retreat is the name of the game for the Silent Retreat. This four-day programme aims to disconnect guests with all technology, in order to connect with the inner self. Accompanied by several treatments and activities, the silent retreat will help centre the mind and body. From 7-9 March 2016 Tibetan Monk Tenzin Kalden will lead the meditation sessions.
Priced at CHF 2,840 (approx. £1,933), the retreat includes three nights in a Deluxe Room based on single occupancy.
The ideal starting point for improving health and wellbeing, the five-day Mountain Detox Delight is designed to increase energy and vitality. Comprising of detoxifying treatments, nutrition programmes, detox cuisine, therapies and activities, the retreat makes the most of the natural setting. Activities include salt inhalations in the hotel’s Himalayan salt room, a signature Hammam experience, colonic cleansing, a detox bandage wrap, Yoga, chakra balancing, optional group classes and more.
Finally, available upon request at any time throughout the winter season, an Alpine Wellness Retreat consists of three different programmes; Nutritional Consulting with Angela Ferri, whose specialities include Reiki, Fascia Massage, Shiatsu, nutritionist iridology consultation and detox scrubs & wraps; Sense of Fitness, Movement & Balance in which guests will work with trainers to create a personalised training programme aimed at improving strength, flexibility and muscle tone, boosting metabolism and increasing stamina; Sense of Beauty which consists of cosmeceutical face and body sculpting rejuvenating treatments.
For more information on The Alpina Gstaad and the winter retreats please visit www.thealpinagstaad.ch
