British GQ - 04.2020

Grooming

Don’t let

the sun spoil

your fun...

WELLNESS

depression. I decided to go solo to Costa

Rica to surf. Personally, it helped me

more than the concoction of tablets

I’d been swiftly prescribed. By doing

something health focused (like surfing)

without a specific outcome other than

finding joy in that moment played a

huge part in improving my mental state.

That is why I have let go of the reins

regarding therapy and I’ve embraced

everything from the spiritual to the

supernatural. I can’t prove that it works,

but I also can’t disprove it. If it makes

you feel better, stronger, more resil-

ient, then it’s worth doing and that’s the

general approach at Kamalaya.

There was a wide range of ages and

fitness levels here and a large number

of people travelling alone. This resort

The natural beauty of

Kamalaya complements

the benefits visitors enjoy

from the wide range of

activity-based treatments;

(left) Victoria Pendleton

Healing Holidays can arrange a 7-night Relax & Renew programme from

£3,399 per person sharing, including British Airways flights, transfers, full board

accommodation and inclusions of the Relax & Renew programme.

For more details, visit: healingholidays.com/gq Tel: 020-7529 8549.

HEALING HOLIDAYS EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Book a seven-night programme and

receive a £150 spa voucher. Terms & conditions apply.

caters well for solo travellers and has

a large table at meal times set up for

guests who might want to make some

new acquaintances.

Nutrition has a massive part to

play in both physical and psycho-

logical wellbeing, so approaching

a nourishing regime is encouraged

regardless of the intended outcome

of your stay. Eating badly here is

near impossible; there are no addi-

tives or processed carbohydrates or

refined sugars. I’ve followed a plant-

based diet for a few years now and

the options on the menu were a rev-

elation. Depending on the programme

there are set menus to follow if you

choose for “Detox” or “Ideal Weight”

programmes, in addition to an exten-

sive a la carte menu. There was no

compromise in flavour or diversity

across all of the menus.

There was such an array of freshly

pressed fruit and vegetable juices,

smoothies and teas (all with the spe-

cific health benefits listed), that I just

didn’t feel the requirement to ask for

the wine list. Which was unexpected,

but it made me feel quite smug.

Treatments span Western and

Eastern medicine, and the pro-

grammes are curated to attend to

all of your needs. In addition, there

are free classes throughout the day

in meditation, yoga, pranayama and

fitness and alternative therapies.

There is everything you could want

on an active holiday. If lying on a

beach overindulging and overthink-

ing is your idea of a nightmare, it cer-

tainly was mine. This is the perfect

setting to make a conscious decision

to address a health concern, stress

or burnout or simply to kickstart to

a new health-conscious regime here

during some time off. It’s also easy to

try something for the first time in the

relaxed environment of Kamalaya,

with beginners welcomed to every

activity. The collective approach is

one of open mindedness and mindful-

ness, looking after yourself whatev-

er your reason or level of experience.

The benefits of a resort offering

programmes like this to keep you

occupied with restful healthy prac-

tices, expanding your knowledge and

understanding are obvious. As an

athlete I understood and accepted

the importance of focused recovery –

it’s now after experiencing some dark

times that I appreciate that approach

shouldn’t have stopped when I hung

up my bike.

Doing

something

with no

outcome other

than to find

joy in the

moment

improved my

mental state

Face Gym

Training Stick

Delivering

spirulina, nutrients,

amino acids and

iron, this will

improve your

post-workout

complexion for

up to six hours.

£38.50.

facegym.com

REN, Evercalm

Gentle Cleansing

Gel

This uses yeast-

derived Beta-

Glucan to treat

redness-prone and

irritated skin.

£20 (150ml).

renskincare.com

Weleda, Edelweiss

Sunscreen Lotion

SPF 30

Waterproof and

light, this organic

lotion uses

sunflower oil and

edelweiss to give

antioxidant

protection.

£22.95 (150ml).

weleda.co.uk

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