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!
Category: yoga
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
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
fit and wild
I love Tara Wood – she is the woman responsible for what is going on in this picture, the creator of WildFitness.http://wildfitness.com She thinks we have all forgotten how to move naturally and wants to return us to our animal agility. When I first met her I told her I didn’t run…within 24 hours not only did she have me running but also pushing a wheelbarrow full of logs – up an alp! She was at the time holding one of her wildfitness weeks in the French Alps, now you’ll find her in Crete…but best of all at home at Watamu beach on the Kenyan coasts. This is where WildFitness comes into its own with the ocean, the beach, the jungle and a nearby mangrove swamp where guests (victims) of all ages, sizes and strengths are put through their paces. But it’s not total hell, there is some gentle yoga, hours lazing on the beach and great massages to soothe aches and pains. She will then of course lecture you on what and how you eat – but then she knows what she’s talking about. But then she is probably the fittest person I know, and also the woman with the strongest body! There are occasional wild days in London parks if you want to get a taste of what it’s all about…but it is difficult to beat the sun, the air and the space of Watamu. The holiday gets your head working as well as your body