Wellbeing Escapes talks to UK’s top retreat journalist and founder of Queen of Retreats Caroline Sylger Jones who was lucky enough to visit Euphoria Retreat.
What were your first impressions of Euphoria? Do you think it lives up to its reputation as the hottest new destination spa?
The creative brainchild of Marina Efraimoglou, an inspired Greek banker turned energy therapist who has battled with cancer herself, this retreat felt a special place to be from the very start, offering properly holistic programmes and a magnificent, very feminine spa with circular architecture and a womb-like sphere pool just made for dreaming in. I loved the grounding setting, within striking distance of the mysterious ancient site of Mystras on the Peloponnese, and looking out over the terracotta roofs of the village, the plains of Sparta and its mountains beyond. So I would say that yes, it felt pretty hot to me!
You have been too many destination spas. How does Euphoria compare to them?
It’s unusual to find a healing, spiritual spa in luxurious surroundings so deliciously close to the UK. This place is interestingly holistic too, because the programmes pivot on a unique combination of both Chinese Taoist and Greek Hellenic philosophies. Like them, Euphoria embraces mental, physical and emotional wellbeing, but in line with the ‘living well’ principle of Hippocratic medicine, there’s nothing dogmatic or earnest here - you feel, just like its owner, there’s a true celebration of life and abundance instead. Mediterranean-inspired meals are cooked without sugar or salt yet don’t feel like deprivation, and there’s no forced sharing in workshops or fake-feeling rituals before treatments.
Do you think it is a unique offering in Europe and if so why?
Most destination spas in Europe are very good at dealing with physical health issues, and while they also offer care for the soul, Euphoria Retreat makes it a priority. So as well as blood tests to check anti-oxidant levels, nutrition advice, hikes in the hills, Pilates and fitness training, for example, you’ll have access to guided meditation, all sorts of yoga, chakra dancing, tai chi and some of the best energy work and therapies out there. This is a top notch luxurious spa location that properly deals with the mental and emotional aspects of the self - something that until now you’ve been more likely to find only in Asia.
How about the treatments? What did you try and what was your favourite?
I loved my hammam treatment in the huge Byzantine marbled hammam, a true head to toe purge and indulgence that had me covered in mud, shampooed from top to toe, scrubbed with eucalyptus-infused black soap and massaged and rinsed into a blissed out state. The calm and mellow Greek therapist Kyriaki (who also teaches tai chi) gave me an exceptionally good reflexology session with ‘rejuvance’, an uplifting and natural face treatment, while acupuncture with Katarina lead to strong emotional shifts in a short space of time.
Which programme did you do? What did you think of it?
I took the 7 day Signature Emotional and Physical Transformation Retreat, which pivots on the theory of the Five Elements from both ancient Greece and Chinese philosophy. Each morning a two hour workshop taught us about the physical and emotional aspects of an element through chat and meditation; each afternoon we had massages and energy work to balance that particular element in our own bodies. We learnt about the aspects of ourselves that might be Water (I dream), Wood (I think), Fire (I know), Earth (I do) and Metal (I feel) - all the while gently held and supported by kind and warmly humoured mentors, who include the retreat’s owner Marina. I liked that there was an intellectual focus to the retreat as well as the potential for emotional release and lots of the clear thinking time often needed to make real life changes. I’d certainly recommend it.
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