It had been a good few years since I visited Grayshott Health Spa in the Surrey countryside. From my memory it was an easy to get to and decent enough spa break, focused on pampering, healthy food and a good exercise class schedule.
Since that time it has come under new ownership and management and the much respected Sheila McCann is now in charge. Sheila is revered in the industry, having won awards and previously managing the iconic Chiva Som destination spa in Thailand. The reason I share this is that Sheila is passionate about authentic wellness and providing an experience that addresses mind, body and soul which I saw in action during my recent visit.
My visit inspired us to create some packages with our friends at Grayshott which address the needs of our clients. From those who are struggling with emotional issues such as being tired and overwhelmed, bereavement, and extreme stress to those wanting a good burst of fitness.
How was it for me?
I have had a difficult year with my health. Nothing serious, but big hormone imbalances which have caused me to feel weak, exhausted and anxious. Layered with the responsibility of running a business it has taken its toll and when I visited Grayshott I was in desperate need of a break. I felt like what I really needed was a week in the sun by the beach somewhere but I couldn’t face the journey to be honest and wanted a break that was easy.
My package was a good mix of therapeutic treatments, consultations and movement including yoga and a rebounding class (on a small trampoline) which was fun and energising.
The Treatments
The treatments were outstanding. The therapists are very experienced and have the freedom to follow their own techniques and intuition. They also mix their own oils using high grade essential oils which is a special touch. One of my pet hates are spas with inexperienced therapists who follow a robotic formula, which is particularly prevalent in UK spas. This is definitely not the case at Grayshott where I felt like I was treated as an individual. The Holistic Massage and Hot Stone Massages are as close to perfect release and relaxation as you can get.
My other highlights were the therapeutic treatments such as the Craniosacral Therapy which fixed a neck problem, the Sound Healing that took me to a place of deep relaxation and the Emotional Freedom Technique which taught me a new tool to practice myself for stress relief and feeling anxious.
The Food
On my quest to lead a healthy lifestyle, I consider myself to be well versed in nutrition and the different approaches to eating healthfully. I nonetheless took in new information during my attendance at the talks with subjects such as “Fats Don’t Make You Fat” and “Carbs Conundrum” delivered by one of the nutritionists. I was lucky enough to have a consultation with the renowned author Stephanie Moore who is the Head of Nutrition at Grayshott. She helped me with new ideas around my hormone issue and encouraged me to introduce more protein and take certain supplements that are not already on my daily regime.
The food is very tasty with a good choice of vegan and vegetarian options and beautifully presented. The philosophy is good fats, good quality protein and limited carbs although there is bread available and some healthy desserts too.
Sleep Tight
The quality and quantity of my sleep increased with one night reaching my record of 11 hours and missing breakfast the following morning. The beds are super comfortable but it is the peacefulness of the place, combined with the calming of mind and nervous system with the wonderful treatments and therapeutic food.
My short break to Grayshott left me feeling revived and I realised it probably did me more good than a week by the beach. I realised that Grayshott is much more than a pampering spa but a serious holistic retreat and a place to rest and address specific issues. In my view, one of the UK’s best.
Book one of our Exclusive Wellness Programmes including Bereavement, Stress Relief, Tired & Overwhelmed and Low Mood / Depression.
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