City Slicker

Hard to imagine that Edinburgh's One Spa, the first serious city spa in the UK, is 10 years old. Can you imagine looking out over Edinburgh from the rooftop hydropool above - only the Castle has a more interesting view! I talked to them recently about the changes that have occurred over the last 10 years of spadom...and even in Scotland, that home of the dour and brave, men have taken to spas like the proverbial ducks to water. In fact they now make up a qaurter of the spa's users and membership. However when guests are looking for something a little gentler and warmer the laconium looks golden and inviting.

To celebrate their birthday One Spa is introducing a new ESpa Enzyme Facial - which peels and plumps - wonder how that is going to go down with the guys?

BodyHoliday3

Well good to know not everything is perfect. Head of Wellness stood me up and my caci facial disappeared off the face of the beach...however I did have a terrific Chi Nei Tsang massage from a really terrific Tao therapost called Toby Maguire. Not too many places offer this TCM stomach massage while a great number of people really dislike having their stomach touched. I am very keen on it as it can be quite strenuous but it does shift any sluggishness in there. This one was exceptional, even more so because I slept for part of it!
Final thoughts on Body Holiday - very good value for money and if you make it work for you it won't get any better. It's all inclusive, including a treatment a day and at least a choice of about 12 activities from golf to scuba, spin to walks as well as yoga, pilates, tai chi and meditation. Everyone os given a 30 minute slot with a personal trainer - hope for Felix, who runs the gym and whose body looks as if its made of iron...but he has the kindest smile...

BodyH 2

Still loving the view of the beach and sea from the spa. What is impressive is that even when the spa is full...and there are 33 treatment rooms, a fitness centre and exercise studio, it still seems calm and uncrowded. But best of all there is NO MUSIC pumped into the rooms...oh the joy of the gentle whir of the air-con rather some horrible tinkling, wheezing, fake chanting or sub Enya...bliss. And while the resort is supposed to be full you are rarely conscious of the fact as so many are out water-ski-ing, tubing, running, playing golf,tennis, walking, mountain biking, pilates, yoga, snorkelling or simply lying down...and that's before they hit the spa... Am also fascinated by the clientele - all ages, all sizes from early 20s to early 80s and from super skinny to simply super!

bodyholiday

At the BodyHoliday in St Lucia (still known in places as LeSport)...which has just had a major refurb, and I must admit is very impressive. There is still some finishing work being done, but the guests don't see to mind, after all they were alerted to it and given a massive discount (50%) for putting up with it. However there is so little noise and now it is mostly cosmetic - planting gardens and finishing the pizza style restaurant. The rest all runs smoothly, while the spa, the Oasis, see top left, is far above it and nothing impinges upon the peace and quiet experienced up there. It looks down on the beach (see right) and is a very calm area. Surprising really as there are 33 treatment rooms, a plunge pool and relaxation area as well as an ayurvedic pavilion and an outdoor area for head, neck and shoulder massage.

So far have only had one treatment - one of the signature massages, a St Lucian Sizzler which was more relaxing than sizzling...but had a therapist, Rosalie who has a very good touch. Guests get one treatment a day as part of their package (which is all-inclusive) and a huge choice of activities - everything from yoga to golf. Other treatments and extra activities are, of course, extra, so little wonder that it's almost always 80-90 per cent full. Surprisingly, as I'm not a great fan of food in the Caribbean, the food is good. The good thing about the BodyHoliday is it does what it says on the tin

la prairie 2

Am always fascinated by who comes to places like this...and although it's almost full...hardly see anybody. Occasionally pass in a corridor or at spa reception...and see a few in the dining room. Mostly Europeans at the moment - women with scary faces and eavesdropping gather none of them done here! silly...

a couple of very elegant elderly Italian couples and a rathar good looking Asian couple, could be Korean, could be Taiwanese. Spa area very ordered and smooth running, while the medical centre the soul of discretion.

Food is delicious if a tad fancy, although wildly healthy - grills, baked, salads and wonderful broths ...many paying lip-service to the growing element of the clientele with a smattering of Asian fusion tastes.

Had a great yoga session today with Veronique. V worried because my back playing up at the moment but she just concentrated on gentle ways to create the spaces at the base of the spine and bewteen the vertebrae.

Terrible music throughout - but then I hate most spa music

Had a

You meet the dietician on arrival and choose your food for the day ahead...as I'm only here for a few days am opting for healthy eating rather weight loss...pity.

la prairie

How it's grown! When I was last here Clinique La Prairie consisted of just two buildings - a medical centre and the Residence...it now has four...but it is still compact with just 69 rooms. The spa, though, has grown and is v impressive with 17 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy, chromotherapy, steams and saunas as well as rather glamorous pool and a host of massages and beauty treatments.

Over at the medical centre, where here are also rooms and suites you can have your bone density scanned, get a new hip, new face, new boobs or simply have a filler or two, not to mention its renowned Revitalisation Therapy - cells taken from sheep embryos which once were injected into your buttocks...but now you can take orally.

Had a terrific yoga session this morning with Veronique. I haven't done yoga for years having had a bad fall...and this woman not only gave me back confidence, but also did wonders for my aching back with special asanas

burn-out

Forget stress...forget sleep deprivation...the new buzz word(s) is burn-out. Spas are fallin gover themselves to now offer special burn-out packages...Viva Mayrvivamayr is one, while http://alpadisiusiAlpa di Suisi in the Italian Dolomites is another. while a whole lot more are joining in.

It stands to reason really - if you're stressed you get tired, if you get over-tired you can't sleep, if you can't sleep you get exhausted - therefored stress+exhaustion+sleep deprivation = burn out time.

Mind you, the current economic climate isn't helping to de-stress any of us...perhaps this is the moment to take time for yourself and even if it's just for a few days to go somewhere quiet, nurturing and most of all relaxing