Sleep

Yoga has taken the world by storm, with over 15 million people now practising this ancient tradition and profiting from its mental and physical benefits. Being much more than just a form of physical activity, a regular yoga practise can also help calm the mind, increase mental and physical awareness, and renew spiritual and physical balance.

Insomnia is a common issue in today's busy generation. Stemming from stressful work lives, anxiety and lack of exercise, it poses long term threats on our health and well-being. Lack of sleep can lead to negative effects on our mood, energy levels and decision-making during the day. We have handpicked a range of our luxury wellness holidays which give you the perfect chance to return to your normal sleeping pattern and achieve deep relaxation. With key lifestyle consultations, helpful advice and indulgent spa treatments on offer, the benefits of our sleep retreats for sleep enhancement will continue even after you return home.

Sleep problems and insomnia are common issues for today's busy generation, stemming from stressful working lives, anxiety and lack of exercise, which can have long term effects on our health and well-being. We have handpicked a range of our luxury wellness holidays which give you the perfect chance to return to your normal sleeping pattern and achieve deep relaxation. With key lifestyle consultations, helpful advice and indulgent spa treatments on offer, the benefits of our sleep retreats for sleep enhancement will continue even after you return home.

by Lucy Miller

A Fitness and Nutrition Expert

How annoying is it, when you’ve had a busy day, have another one ahead but just can’t switch off? It’s so frustrating! So if you have a tough time falling asleep or you toss and turn in the middle of the night then its time to take action and that doesn’t mean popping a pill. Instead, I advise you to create a bedtime routine that includes stretching your limbs. Nearly all of us are guilty of not stretching – me included, so instead I’ve started to take ten minutes to do this quick routine before bed. Not only does it make me more relaxed, but it also helps to keep my muscles flexible, so I’m less likely to experience discomfort or workout-related injuries. I also find that it makes me put my iPad down, which can stimulate your brain and keep you awake at night. I know, it’s so hard to switch off these days!

We all have those days—when we feel tired the moment we wake up and unable to resist crawling back to bed. Sometimes we feel mentally foggy or irritable, it’s no surprise that we go through a lull in the middle of the day when even a smidgen of energy seems impossible. Getting a quick natural energy fix can be really easy by switching up your daily routine or escaping on a sleep retreat to banish lethargy and rediscover a good night’s sleep. Wherever you are in the world, start your day right as we share five healthy ways to energise your morning!

We all have those days—when we feel tired the moment we wake up and unable to resist crawling back to bed. Sometimes we feel mentally foggy or irritable, it’s no surprise that we go through a lull in the middle of the day when even a smidgen of energy seems impossible. Getting a quick natural energy fix can be really easy by switching up your daily routine or escaping on a sleep retreat to banish lethargy and rediscover a good night’s sleep. Wherever you are in the world, start your day right as we share five healthy ways to energise your morning!

Arrive at your destination rejuvenated...

Our hectic modern lifestyles need more than the average holiday, more than a simple flight and a swimming pool – they need something that will reset the balance between body and mind. That’s where one of our relaxing healthy holiday destinations steps in.

Having a good night's sleep is extremely important for us to feel refreshed and ready for the next day. Today, trouble sleeping is very common and can have bad effects on our health like weight gain and stress, but prolonged lack of sleep can also lead to more severe illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.  A study by the Mental Health Foundation in 2011 revealed these statistics:

There's nothing worse than stress getting the better of you. The endless list of things to do always seems to leave your own needs last and evokes a war zone between your mind and body. The numerous work deadlines, career dilemmas, and personal commitments generate a tolerance for migraines, bitten fingernails and bad eating habits; finding yourself indulging in too many naughty snacks or sometimes not eating at all. But don't allow stress to become a regular occurrence in your daily life, or worse the cause of bad health and unhappiness.

It’s time to get to know the quadruplets of happiness: Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin and Endorphin. Gain control of this fun foursome and you’ll gain control of your own happiness. Here, we look at how each one of them works and recommend a way to catalyse them into action on a wellness holiday to boost your happy hormones.

What is Six Senses Douro Valley and who is it for?

Six Senses Douro Valley is a true wellness haven, suitable for anyone looking to spend some time ‘away from it all’ sounded by lush green vineyards and blue waters. It’s the ideal place for anyone looking for tranquillity and a place to reconnect with themselves. The epitome of luxury and wellness where you can focus on both body and mind but also indulge in a glass of wine without feeling any sort of guilt.

Anandi (Alison Francis) was given her spiritual name, which meaning ‘in bliss’, by her guru in India in 2007. She has been in the wellness field for 30 years as an Ayurvedic practitioner, senior yoga teacher, yoga teacher trainer and a certified Chopra meditation teacher. Anandi is the founder of The Sleep Guru, the author of ‘Breathe Better Sleep Better’ which explains how to use the breath as a healing tool and the creator or Sleepology by Anandi®, a new wellbeing process and in-depth enquiry into the causes of stress, exhaustion and sleep issues.

In recent years there has been a growing focus on what our biological age, rather than our chronological age, can tell us about our bodies and overall health. Proving that age really is nothing but a number; someone with a chronological age of 35, leading an unhealthy lifestyle may have the health and body of someone in their early 40s. In contrast, someone of the same age with a healthy lifestyle could have the biological age of someone 5 years younger. Due to the way different habits can affect our bodies; our lifespan is determined in part by our telomeres, which hold our DNA together. Over time these shorten, eventually breaking down completely, but the rate at which this happens can be affected by our mental and physical lifestyles.

In recent years there has been a growing focus on what our biological age, rather than our chronological age, can tell us about our bodies and overall health. Proving that age really is nothing but a number; someone with a chronological age of 35, leading an unhealthy lifestyle may have the health and body of someone in their early 40s. In contrast, someone of the same age with a healthy lifestyle could have the biological age of someone 5 years younger. Due to the way different habits can affect our bodies; our lifespan is determined in part by our telomeres, which hold our DNA together. Over time these shorten, eventually breaking down completely, but the rate at which this happens can be affected by our mental and physical lifestyles.

Every year on Valentine's Day, our thoughts turn to relationships and so the longtime debate lives on—is it better to be married or single? Some say married life can be more meaningful, but others say singletons have all the fun. While the answer undoubtedly hinges on the individual, science has, time and again, weighed in through copious research to measure whether one is better than the other, at least for your health. When it comes right down to long-term well-being, which of the two paths fare better?

Having spent seven days in Thailand including a two night stopover in Bangkok, I was ready to begin my healthy holiday at Kamalaya in Koh Samui. Voted as Destination Spa of the Year in Asia and Favourite Spa in Thailand, I was looking forward to spending one week re-energising myself at this stunning Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa. 

From bootcamps to cycling breaks, a fitness holiday is guaranteed to help you shape up and get fit. Although you will be provided with all the advice and training you need when there, it is a good idea to prepare for your fitness holiday in advance. Working on your fitness levels and improving your diet before you head off will enable you to make the most out of your trip and ease into it without any problems. 

We all want to be great; to stand out within our company, to be the best partner, friend and loved one. The question is how do we have all of this and look after our own health, mind and being?