Wellness retreats have become hot spots of our high-fliers, with celebs and socialites jetting off to find the latest fad in weight loss, diet or reverse ageing. HELLO! takes a look at the crown jewels of the industry all the way from Austria to Maharashtra.
5 Wellness Retreats That Should Be On Your Radar
1. Atmantan — Maharashtra
For those looking to go in for a proper Ayurvedic detox, while still managing to live in relatively luxe surroundings, Atmantan in Mulshi is the place to check out. Close to Pune and Mumbai, Atmantan offers guests a typical Ayurvedic regimen, where satvik food is de rigueur and is accompanied by massage treatments and nadi readings. Doctors on site offer guests supplements based on their requirements, while making sure they remain physically active through yoga and other exercises. The resort also boasts of salt pools that have zero chlorine, and a range of organic, sustainable practices, allowing for the necessary elemental detoxification that is synonymous with Ayurveda. If the drive is too strenuous for highflying clients, there’s always the Atmantan helipad that sits comfortably on their own grounds.
2. Ananda In The Himalayas — Uttarakhand
For those looking to go for something less intense, closer to home and easier on the pocket, there is Ananda Spa in Uttarakhand. A holistic wellness centre built in a former palace of a royal family (Tehri Garhwal), Ananda has hosted such top-notch celebrities as Ratan Tata, Uma Thurman and Oprah Winfrey. Run by Aashica Khanna, Ananda offers clients a wellness programme as well as an option for a stay that is designed for just rest and relaxation. One can indulge in a glass of wine, partake in an afternoon espresso and dine like a Maharaja, if they so desire, or opt for a regimen of Ayurvedic cuisine that is tailor-made for clients wanting to detoxify or recover. The scenic beauty of the neighbouring hills make this place particularly popular with wellness tourists who want to get a feel of a retreat before jumping into the deep end.
3. Sha — Alicante, Spain
SHA Wellness Clinic has in recent years become a worldwide reference in health and well-being. The clinic recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary and has won over 60 international awards, including “Best International Medical Spa” by Condé Nast Traveller UK, “Healing Hero” by Tatler UK, Condé Nast Johansens and Spa Finder. In 2014, SHA was also awarded the “Medal for Tourism Merit” by the Spanish Government — the highest civil honour in the tourism industry. Over 50,000 guests have visited SHA and experienced a transformative change — amongst which royal family members, heads of state, athletes and many international VIPs from the world of music and cinema form the base of their elite clientele. The basic principles of SHA are similar to wellness retreats across Europe, but what this place specialises in is anti-aging, reversing the effects of the years through specialised therapies at the level of the patient’s DNA.
4. Vivamayr — Maria Wörth, Austria
Recognised as Bollywood’s beloved weight loss clinic, VivaMayr in the South of Austria, is an idyllic retreat for those looking to detoxify and reset their bodies. Following the basic principles of Mayr Medicine — for instance, the key to health is the gut, which is kept healthy through fasting — VivaMayr has added several nouvelle medical practices, thanks to the man who spearheaded it over the years, Dr Harald Stossier. Today Maria Wörth boasts of such clients as Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Princess Esra Jah, Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji, Arjun Kapoor and a list of global industrialists and heads of states. Their infusion cocktails, oxygen therapy, cryotherapy and restricted organic diet, coupled with an intensive physical routine, make them a boot camp for clients looking for a more disciplined wellness retreat.
5. Chenot Palace — Weggis, Switzerland
Like their Austrian brothers, Chenot Palace is situated on the banks of a picturesque lake, making the entire process of detox and rejuvenation all the more easier. Chenot offers guests travelling to its clinic a specific diet that has evolved over 50 years of research. The centre offers guests most of the usual bells and whistles that European wellness spas do, but what makes it stand out is its balance between medical treatment and anti-aging. The super luxe interiors and Swiss service make this a favourite of European aristobrats and Middle-Eastern sheikhs looking to experience state-of-the-art Western medical treatments along with the best practices of Chinese medicine. Chenot has several other facilities around the world, from Azerbaijan to Morocco, offering guests the option of a different destination every time they wish to undergo the Chenot Method treatment.
This interview is from HELLO! India’s January 2024 issue. Check out the latest issue right here.
