After ending final 12 months on busy word – a flurry of pre-Christmas events, overindulging on mince pies and dealing over the festive interval itself – I needed to start out 2014 on a more healthy word.
It was positively time for a detox.
Wellbeing Escapes affords a Booster package deal, described as ‘an excellent pause in hectic life’.
Balancing act: Lucy steadies herself as she will get to grips together with her yoga break
It appeared like the right antidote – the promise of stress-free therapeutic spa remedies and ‘energising’ actions together with laughter yoga (of which extra later) unfold over two-and-a-half days.
With no time to waste, I rounded up a gal pal and headed to Portugal within the hope of discovering some winter sunshine.
The Penha Longa Lodge, which is only a 30-minute drive from Lisbon airport, is about amongst rolling inexperienced hills.
In addition to containing a spa, the lodge boasts a golf course – cue numerous males sporting crazily colored trousers and jumpers.
Secluded location: The Penha Longa spa in Portugal is miles away from the hustle and bustle of metropolis life
After a tour of the Six Senses spa, my pal and I went straight to the sauna to see who may stand the warmth the longest, earlier than popping on fluffy white towelling robes and slippers and heading to the Thai natural therapeutic massage space.
The scent of the oil and incense was wonderful, and afterwards we felt completely floppy and relaxed.
Within the afternoon, as a substitute of undoing all our good work and going to the bar for a glass of wine, we determined to exit exploring on bikes. We have been taking this detox critically.
The hills offered a strenuous exercise for my thighs, and I struggled to maintain up with my pal, who has competed in half-triathlons.
Grassy hill-tops: The area affords loads of areas which can be nice for strolling and biking
Our first full day at Penha Longa began with a yoga session within the spa to stretch our limbs and check our steadiness.
Subsequent on the agenda was a holistic therapeutic massage – it felt so blissfully stress-free that I virtually nodded off. Therapist Sandra then demonstrated a detox therapeutic massage with seaweed.
It was an odd sensation, however I used to be prepared to strive something to do away with these mince pies…
Within the afternoon it was time for a meditation session. This was all new to me, but it surely actually helps in case you normally discover it tough to decelerate and clear your thoughts.
On yer bike: Lucy Verasamy, pictured on vacation within the Maldives, tried yoga in Portugal
Decided to maintain up our good work, we caught to wholesome menu decisions resembling sushi within the restaurant that night.
Our closing day began with a tai chi session – it was a lot tougher than I believed it might be and I struggled with a number of the trickier strikes.
After lunch we tried out laughter yoga. Sure, I am not joking.
It is true that laughing is infectious – and it had the additional advantage of releasing endorphins whereas working our abdomen muscle tissues on the identical time. Now that is an train I can handle!
