Without
money
there is no longer rock and roll, the group
Charol sang in 1980,
and they were right.
Although if at that time of plethoric anti-Japanese we had been told that a day would come, in 2022, when without money there would be no
yoga,
no watching a
sunset
in a tracksuit, no
sitting down to meditate
to the sound of a Tibetan bell, no
fasting
for days or
walk barefoot
through a forest..., we would have freaked out.
Because those were the things that were done for free or almost in the 80s.
Like
going to the Balearic Islands,
a refuge for penniless hippies then and possible neojipis today.
Ibiza
has become a
mecca for retreats.
For example, bookyogaretreats.com counts up to
59 focused on yoga
on the island.
But there are many other types.
The idea is, frequently, to spend a few days in a
luxurious hotel
and participate in activities aimed at de-
stressing,
inner
growth
or the
rediscovery of joy.
The series 'Nine Perfect Strangers', starring
Nicole Kidman,
portrays the dynamics of this type of tourism to some extent.
But let's face it... Ibiza is way cooler than South East Australia.
Jokes aside, the truth is that the
disconnection
proposed by those who organize retreats would be good for a good part of the population.
Various studies, including the '360 Well-being Survey' carried out by the insurer Cigna, place
the percentage of
Spaniards suffering from stress
at over 70% .
Although the highest peak was experienced during the pandemic, with up to 82%, the truth is that this has left us inherited the growing (and worrying) tendency to
never disconnect
from work.
Today, according to a report by Infojobs,
82% of Spanish employees
answer
calls
or
emails outside of working hours,
a situation that in the pre-pandemic affected 63%.
Hence,
disconnecting
has become a
growing demand
and therefore a business, and explains the proliferation of retreats and hotels that practice what is known as
detox tourism,
where upon arrival they keep your mobile, among other things;
hotels that replace Wi-Fi, such as the
Mandarin Oriental in New York, with
meditation
sessions
,
detox diets, massages...
IN IBIZA, LUXURY
Someone who knows it tells us that "when you get there [the bay of Cala Xararaca], at the northern tip of Ibiza, with those impressive views with hardly any visual pollution and the sun setting right in front of you, you feel as if you entered another dimension" .
In the Six Senses Ibiza retreats (which take place in spring and autumn) you have that and also activities aimed at
improving sleep quality, detoxification
(through diet),
neurological rehab,
exploring
female sexuality...
Their idea is to provide
immersive experiences
"That they expand the comfort zone to help make significant and profound changes, guided by internationally renowned experts," they explain.
At Six Senses Ibiza, the retreat menu is immense, from those that explore female sexuality to those that focus on sleeping well. SSI
All retreats (three, five and seven days, between 1,900 and 4,800 euros) include
suite accommodation,
access to the
spa
and activities such as
yoga, meditation, fitness,
sound healing,
walks
and additional extras, depending on the program.
From May 6 to 10 there is one called
Solving the mystery of your dream,
ideal for insomniacs... sixsenses.com/en/resorts/ibiza
DETOX IN NATURE
In the municipality of Pineda de Mar (Barcelona) is Can Bavi, Inspiration and Well-being Center, located in the
Mont Negre natural park
and five minutes from the sea, specializing in
detox retreats.
What they propose is to regenerate and cleanse the body and mind in contact with nature: "Improve the functioning of your metabolism, avoid cellular fatigue and put a stop to the premature aging of your body," they invite.
To do this, they offer
getaways of two, five, seven or 12 days
with different orientations: from a 'Healthy Getaway' to a 'Therapeutic Fast' through a 'Purifying Cure'.
In addition to
diet
, there are activities such as
yoga and meditation sessions,
hiking
trips
,
Jacuzzi sauna, gym...
Their base prices start at €280 for your healthy getaway (three days).
And also to lose weight
In
Marbella
, hidden among the hills, is Shanti-Som, an intimate
15-room
resort inspired by
Balinese architecture
that offers its visitors "the time and space to unwind, recharge and refresh mind and body."
Its wellness programs focus on the goals of the guests.
In the Marbella resort there are yoga, Pilates, relaxation, fitness or weight loss retreats.SHANTI-SOM
They have many types of
retreats
:
yoga
,
Pilates
,
detox
,
relaxation
,
fitness
or
weight loss.
For example, the latter (which can be five, seven, 10 or 14 nights) includes
healthy meals
(obviously),
group yoga,
training, walks, nutritional
and
sports consultation,
check-up, personalized health plan, spa treatment, exfoliation body...
The price of the retreat, not counting the room, ranges between €1,382 (five nights) and €3,583 (14 nights).
Accommodation costs €472 per night.
Holistic and for all pockets
Not all retreats are luxurious and expensive.
For example, Viajes Transformacionales, which takes you to
India
as well as to
Pilar de la Horadada,
in Alicante, organizes in the latter town, for the May long weekend, the retreat 'Body, mind, soul, four days, all inclusive, 495 euros.
In return they give you
yoga, coaching, meditation, hiking, mindfulness, ayurveda
and
relaxation.
Oh, there's also an enneagram (I Ching) workshop,
massages
, and
organic food
(of course).
The farm is closed for the group.
Conforms to The Trust Project criteria
Know more