Three luxury spa managers explain the importance of wellness

An indulgent spa day can be the golden key to rest, relaxation and recuperation. Serving as havens of calm and wellbeing, hotel spas and spa resorts seamlessly blend comfort, luxury and health. Offering massages, holistic therapies, beauty treatments and, above all, unique experiences, the island’s most luxurious and premium spas respond to their clients’ deep yearning for serenity and relaxation, and provide an unwavering commitment to their wellness and wellbeing.

Below, the managers of three luxury spas talk answer three questions:

• How does your spa promote wellness and a balanced life?
• How do you ensure a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere for your guests?
• What wellness tips and advice can you offer individuals with very demanding and busy schedules?

Jasmine Savvas, Assistant Spa Manager, Thalassa Spa at Anassa Hotel

How does your spa promote wellness and a balanced life? What sets Thalassa Spa apart?

At Anassa, our spa is dedicated to promoting a holistic approach to wellness and a balanced life by offering an extensive range of treatments and experiences designed to nourish the mind, body and soul. We believe that true wellness comes from an integrated approach that attends to all aspects of health and lifestyle. We offer a diverse menu of treatments, including traditional massages, hydromassage and holistic therapies. Each treatment is designed to relieve stress, rejuvenate the body and promote overall wellbeing. What sets us apart is our passionate and dedicated team who are committed to excellence and service, ensuring that each guest’s experience is unique and transformative and bringing a personal touch to each individual guest. Also, we continuously innovate by incorporating the latest advancements in spa brands such as the contemporary Augustinus Bader, the unique organic selection of Tata Harper and the luxurious fusion of Subtle Energies. In addition, we are one of the few resort spas that offers thalassotherapy, harnessing the benefits of sea water.

How do you ensure a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere for your guests?

Several factors are key to this. Our spa concierges are very attentive to all our spa guests, connecting with each individual guest from the start of their journey with us. A warm welcome on entering the spa and the immediate soothing and serene ambience, together with the pleasant scents, enhances tranquillity. Our facilities are luxurious and include comfortable lounge areas and high-end products, amenities and refreshments. The spa is also an adults-only environment.

What wellness tips and advice can you offer individuals with very demanding and busy schedules?

In these times of hectic schedules and demands, focusing on practical and time-efficient strategies is key. Carving out time for yourself is important, even if it is just 10-15 minutes in a day. Simple activities like meditation, a quick yoga stretch, a bath-soak or integrating mindful breathing exercises into your day can reduce stress and improve focus. You should also set boundaries between work and personal life, ensuring time with loved ones, hobbies or just down-time to connect with yourself. A spa visit is always a well-deserved treat that will provide physical serenity and mental rejuvenation.

Chanelle Hemper, Kalloni Spa Manager (Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol)

How does your spa promote wellness and a balanced life? What sets Kalloni Spa apart?

Our spa promotes a holistic approach to wellness and a balanced life through a variety of integrated services and practices. We tailor our treatments to individual guest needs, ensuring that each guest receives a personalised wellness experience that addresses their specific physical and mental needs. Our spa offers a range of services including signature massages, classic and Thai massages, facials using the top brands in the world, reflexology and our very unique Russian Banja Experience – plus many other treatments. Our spa is set apart by being the only thalassotherapy centre on the island – the unique Supervised Thalassotherapy Programme offers the curative effects of mineral enriched seawater. The supervised session takes you through two outdoor or three indoor pools, each with a different temperature and salinity content. As a treatment that can be enjoyed by a couple or a group, Thalassotherapy induces relaxation, as the high-density salt-water pools allow the body’s skeletal frame to relax completely whilst floating. It is the ideal treatment for sheer indulgence and relaxation.

How do you ensure a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere for your guests?

We focus on several key aspects to always ensure a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere. Our spa features a soothing design with calming colours and natural lighting, with stunning views of the Mediterranean from every treatment room. Each room is named after a Cypriot herb or flower to bring a feel of Cyprus to enhance the guest experience. Our associates are trained to be both professional and warm, offering a welcoming smile and attentive service from the moment the guest arrives.

What wellness tips and advice can you offer individuals with very demanding and busy schedules?

For individuals with demanding and busy schedules, achieving wellness can be challenging but it is attainable with some strategic practice. Prioritising self-care should be a non-negotiable part of your routine – once a week a massage or something as simple as applying a face sheet mask in the bath. Downtime is very important for relaxation and activities you enjoy. Mindfulness is a must for a hectic lifestyle – meditation, deep breathing or walking along the beach. Staying active is crucial for maintaining energy and reducing stress, so try a morning jog or yoga session. Eating balanced meals and getting quality sleep are essential, while staying hydrated is number one when it comes to skincare.

Magdolna Marton-Szucs, Spa Manager, Opium Health Spa (Elysium Hotel)

How does your spa promote wellness and a balanced life? What sets Opium Health Spa apart?

Opium Spa offers a holistic approach with regard to treatments and wellness. Our highly trained experienced therapists treat each guest as a whole and personalise the treatments in accordance with each one’s actual needs. We support wellbeing to achieve total balance by focusing on mind, body and spirit. Following your spa experience, your skin will look and feel better and you will leave not only with an understanding of how the health of your whole body, both inside and out, affects your skin, but also with lifestyle advice to ensure that you keep feeling and looking your best.

How do you ensure a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere for your guests?

The treatment area is completely separated from the active area of the spa to ensure full relaxation and tranquillity for our treatment guests. The spa journey will take you to the relaxation room with a welcome drink to set your mood for your spa day and, after the treatment experience, you will continue in the relaxation room with a cup of herbal tea.

What wellness tips and advice can you offer individuals with very demanding and busy schedules?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a ‘state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing.’ This includes eating a balanced diet, getting adequate rest and maintaining optimal emotional health. Be mindful throughout the day, learn to say no and engage in activities that make you feel energised. Focus on yourself a few times during the day: close your eyes, take a few big breaths – this could be with calming essential oils – stretch, even at your desk, walk outside. In my office I always have a bottle of water and a box of mixed nuts in front of me – to remind me to hydrate and eat healthier. Once a week, you should visit a spa and recharge with a minimum 90-minute holistic ritual.

(This article first appeared in the 2024 edition of The Cyprus Journal of Wealth Management, commissioned by Eurobank Cyprus and published by IMH. Click here to view the article. Click here to view the entire magazine online.)