Extended retreats also offer more mindfulness treatments through food. Nestled in the hills surrounding Bologna, Palazzo di Varignana recently launched a series of programs focused on cultivating inner harmony, stimulating the immune response, combating oxidative stress and alleviating sleep disorders. Led by Dr Annamaria Acquaviva, the In-forma Retreat features a six-night stay and daily “mindful lunches.” Dr Acquaviva explained that, “mindful eating aims to fight nervous hunger and develop emotional eating – a conscious attitude towards food that fully allows you to appreciate its aromas, flavours, and consistency.”
Likewise, The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, in the heart of the United Arab Emirates’ Al Wadi Desert, has rolled out full-day packages like their rainforest experience, on a private 1,235-acre nature reserve. “The immersive experience combines European hydrothermal culture with Middle Eastern bathing rituals, creating a rejuvenating sanctuary of 16 different thermal stations, each journeying one-step closer to relaxation,” said general manager Tracey Oliver
Cutting-edge spas are leveraging technologies to facilitate achieving more mindfulness. Take Chenot Palace Weggis, an ultra-luxe medical spa perched above Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. Unlocking the science of wellness, they offer guests a range of research-backed technologies like the qiu ball, used to strengthen the parasympathetic nervous system. Essentially a biofeedback device, the ball calculates heart rate variability. It then glows in different colours and at different speeds to guide you in breathing frequency.
Finally, even more rudimentary add-ons like aromatherapy can help spa-goers set out on a more mindful journey. “Spas are using essential oils during treatments that help focus the mind,” notes Altavilla, “and many of today’s spas are encouraging guests to extend their visit post-treatment to utilise the spa’s relaxation area and amenities,” for a deeper zen.
With a mission to gain some mindfulness on a recent rainy January night in Paris, I visited the Mandarin Oriental’s spa, a veritable cocoon of tranquility in the swanky first arrondissement. Mind racing and reeling from a recent heartbreak, my experience began with a green-tea towel and a ceramic finger bowl of ginger-lemongrass tea. I was whisked through the moody pool area to a private suite – aptly called Harmony – and pampered with Dyptique products while waiting for my massage to begin.
“Sometimes, the mind needs to rest,” said my massage therapist as she covered me in a warm towel, and offered me a deep inhale of lavender essential oil. I noticed my heart rate slow as she massaged the tension from my lovelorn body. To the sweet song of a harp, I felt my muscles slacken with the heat of organic almond oil. It might sound corny, but I found myself suddenly filled with a sense of gratitude – to be fully present with all of my feelings, pain included. And an hour later, I was back on the chilly Rue Saint Honoré, noticeably lighter than when I arrived.
A version of this article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveler US.
