Stella’s Travel Review: Shanti-Som Wellbeing Retreat, Spain

Location and design

Shanti-Som is just a 40-minute drive from Malaga Airport, so it's nice and easy to get to. What I didn’t expect was the feeling of remoteness and the stunning nature around the retreat. Usually, you have to travel hours to reach destinations like this, which is surrounded by a forest full of ancient trees and beautiful wildlife. During one morning yoga class I was gazing out over the hill watching a couple of Andalucian horses roaming. It gave me such a feeling of peace.

The caring team and nurturing environment

Shanti-Som is a small retreat, so you get to know the team quite quickly. You get the feeling that the staff really care about your wellbeing and do their best for you each day. Whether it's the smiling faces of the ladies on reception, the exceptional yoga teachers and therapists or the team in the restaurant, they all care about your experience and fully understand you are there to achieve your own wellbeing goal. There's a lovely sociable feel to the retreat, and I got to know some interesting people sharing meals with them. There is, however, no pressure to do this and you can eat alone very comfortably if you prefer. 

Wellness

There are a variety of programmes (retreats) available at Shanti-Som. I chose the yoga-focused retreat, which feeds my yoga passion but I met other people who were on a variety of programmes, including detox, weight loss, Pilates and healing. 

I had a massage and was very impressed with the quality of the treatment, and my therapist managed to make some good progress on the sizeable knots in my shoulders. A tip would be to book any additional treatments you may want in advance of arriving, just to make sure you get the availability and time you want. Ask a member of our team and they can help arrange this. 

Activities 

The emphasis is very much on yoga and meditation and Pilates here, with different programmes (retreats) available for each. The teachers are extremely well trained and help you understand the movements and how to do them properly. The schedule typically includes two yoga classes a day (morning and evening), and a daily meditation class. There are also occasional fitness classes such as Fitball, core workout, circuits or stretching. Hiking is available a few times a week. 

Some sessions might not be included in your package but the team will always advise you. I try to practice yoga regularly when I'm home, but here I could really step it up a notch and get two classes in daily plus a meditation session. After only 24 hours I felt so much better and my sleep vastly improved. I didn’t do any Pilates but heard from the other guests that it was excellent. Shanti-Som has a Reformer machine and offers mat sessions, too. 

Food

I came to Shanti-Som after attending a conference, where I ate too much and, quite frankly, felt sluggish and a bit heavy. So, I was craving fresh, light and healthy meals. I wasn’t disappointed and can honestly say that the food here is a real highlight, and is very tasty and beautifully presented. At breakfast, there's a healthy buffet and a cooked menu option. Lunch is served à la carte, while dinner is a set menu with both vegan and vegetarian options. Refined carbohydrates are kept to a minimum, with balanced meals built around quality protein, whether plant-based or animal. After a couple of days I felt lighter but was always satisfied – never hungry.

 Stella visited in October 2022.

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