Rebecca’s Review of Ti Sana Retreat in Italy

What is Ti Sana and who’s it for?

A quiet, rural health retreat just outside Milan, Ti Sana is a tucked away gem that I had the pleasure of visiting for a refreshing long weekend. This healthy hideaway specialises in detox, anti-stress and wellness holidays with a real focus on inspiring their guests with long-term, sustainable lifestyle changes. Ti Sana’s main clientele are those suffering from stress or focusing on weight loss. It is also perfect for those looking for a rejuvenating wellness break complete with delicious vegan cuisine, informative health, fitness and lifestyle advice and a range of classes, all delivered by the genuine, friendly and caring Ti Sana team.

 

Please note that this holiday is no longer available. Please visit our Fitness Holidays page or view our holidays in Italy.

What is Ti Sana and who’s it for?

A quiet, rural health retreat just outside Milan, Ti Sana is a tucked away gem that I had the pleasure of visiting for a refreshing long weekend. This healthy hideaway specialises in detox, anti-stress and wellness holidays with a real focus on inspiring their guests with long-term, sustainable lifestyle changes. Ti Sana’s main clientele are those suffering from stress or focusing on weight loss. It is also perfect for those looking for a rejuvenating wellness break complete with delicious vegan cuisine, informative health, fitness and lifestyle advice and a range of classes, all delivered by the genuine, friendly and caring Ti Sana team.

Getting There

Ti Sana is located just north of Milan and can be accessed most easily from Milan Bergamo airport, however Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa are also close. All guests on a Ti Sana health programme have airport transfers included with their programme, no matter which Milan airport they arrive from. I flew into Bergamo so had a quick 40-minute transfer through the Italian countryside and small villages until we reached the hamlet of Arlate where Ti Sana is situated.

The Hotel & Accommodation

Rustic and charming, the conversion of this old 18th Century building into a beautiful health retreat has created rooms that feel full of character and very homely. The relaxed feel to the whole place is heightened by the delicate music that can be heard softly in all outdoor areas. Each bedroom is unique and all are decorated very tastefully with a luxurious, comfortable feel. There are 22 rooms in total, including 3 standard rooms, 16 suites, 2 Exclusive rooms and 1 Divine Imperial room. The highest two room categories have views to die for and all room categories really do have lovely interiors. I stayed in a suite which had a huge bed and a gorgeous marble en-suite bathroom with an almost equally as huge shower. The fluffy gowns, slippers and organic toiletries were a lovely touch too.

The Spa

The tranquil, underground spa has a number of treatment rooms and provides a wide range of therapies which focus on energising, relaxing and slimming. I really enjoyed the hydrotherapy circuit as well as the saunas and steam room. The provision of unlimited herbal teas on offer in the spa are a very nice addition.

As well as the spa, Ti Sana has a medical centre - they are renowned for their scientific approach to health programmes. During my stay I met with the specialists, Edoardo and Mario, for a range of health and medical consultations.

All wellness programmes include a comprehensive diagnostics assessment in the medical centre involving a PPG Stress Flow test, which is electrodes being applied on tabs to your hands and feet, displaying the percentage of muscle and fat in your body, it also test various factors such as your heart rate variability which I was told should be irregular if you are not stressed and are in good health. A Tomex test is also included in all programmes, which is a machine which tests the functionality and reaction of various areas of your body, highlighting inflammation and possible scope for disease.

I found these slightly alarming at first but all in all, it was very informative and interesting to learn about how introducing different stimulus (more varied diet and varied exercise regime) can make you more adaptable, which is reflected in the regularity of your heartbeat. Mario was more than happy to explain absolutely everything to me in simple terms. I also learnt that due to stress and worry being highlighted in my test, I should introduce a protein supplement to my diet to counteract my stressed body taking energy from muscle instead of from fat. Overall I found my experiences in the medical spa to be very informative and was impressed by the expertise of the team, who are always connecting with other professionals internationally in the industry to keep their wellness programmes relevant and at the forefront of new research.

The Fitness

There are two or three group classes per day at Ti Sana, ranging from gentle yoga or stretching to circuits and the infamous rebounding. High ceilings supported by impressive wooden beams create the spacious room used for group fitness sessions, that I found to be perfect for yoga and stretching classes complete with a mountain view. I particularly enjoyed Edoardo’s circuits class as he really pushed me but was sensitive to how I was doing (I am not used to doing weights!). Sana’s stretching class was so relaxing and absolute bliss; especially at the end when she pulled and stretched out my arms and legs one by one, leaving me feeling so tranquil. The yoga class I attended was also excellent and I found each teacher to be so attentive and flexible according to my ability.

The gym is small but still has a range of equipment including weights, running and cycling machines.

The Food / Restaurants

All of our meals were beautiful combinations of raw and cooked food with a gourmet touch, always with carefully calculated nutritional value to fit in with the detox cuisine. Breakfasts were full of healthy and energising carbohydrates and sugars – think tasty chia pudding, buckwheat granola or rice cake with fruit, accompanied by revitalising juice combinations such as melon, lemon and fennel (all homemade of course). Lunches were generous portions of large vegetable bowls accompanied by flax crackers and inspiring dips such as avocado, cucumber and lemon, along with a chickpea flour vegetable tart or quinoa salad. Protein and vegetables were the focus for dinners which never featured carbohydrates, with menus offering egg white omelettes with soya mince and fresh vegetables paired with a delicious fresh herby soup.

The meals showed me to focus on carbohydrates and sugars at breakfast and lunch and then focusing on protein and vegetables at dinner to avoid carbohydrates in the evening. I learnt from Mario in my consultation that this diet was designed to not put your cortisol levels off balance and distress your body, which would ultimately lead to weight gain.

Most of the fruit and vegetables are originally from the retreat’s organic garden, beautifully named the “Field of Miracles”. Even their dried herbs are from fresh herbs in the vegetable garden that are then dehydrated in their own kitchen.

In between meal times, snacks are brought to you, consisting of a range of diced fruit and vegetables with a protein drink. The Hydration point is also available to all guests throughout the day, offering broth, herbal teas and a range of herbal supplements along with advice as to which ailments they will relieve (i.e. basil for anxiety, cardamom and cinnamon for bloating etc.). An added extra is that Ti Sana’s water is alkaline water which is ionising, anti-inflammatory and hyper hydrating and I definitely felt the benefits from a few days of drinking it.

The Wellness Programmes

Basic – Slimming, Relaxing or Energising
Liver Detox 
Anti-stress 
Anti-ageing
Weight-loss 
Insomnia

 

The Staff

The friendly team at Ti Sana give the most personalised service. Their attention to detail is fantastic and they made me feel very welcome. I found them to be very attentive – bringing me my morning and afternoon snack wherever I was. It is evident that the owners take great care in establishing a centre where the staff are genuinely committed and dedicated to their programmes as well as being undoubtedly devoted to the health and well-being of each and every guest.

The Scenery & Surroundings

Ti Sana is tucked away in a small, quiet hamlet called Arlate. The surrounded area is forested and mountainous in the distance, providing inspiring and calming views from the courtyard and rooms. The stunning morning walks scheduled in the weekly activity programme give the chance to explore the gorgeous, tranquil surroundings and the wide, glassy river Adda. Other places to visit in the surrounding area include Lecco, Bellagio, Lake Como and of course Milan.

I felt so relaxed from the day I arrived. I will not forget sitting on a sun lounger on my first afternoon, looking at the mountainous scenery with a glass of fresh juice in hand with dreamy, oriental music softly filling the air around me.