The decadent festive period may have given way to January diets and exercise plans, but healthy New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be about horsehair shirts and eye-wincing procedures. We prefer a softly, softly approach, with plenty of sun and indulgence. With that in mind, we’ve picked 10 boutique stays that offer just that.
YogaMagic Eco retreat, Anjuna, Goa
This yoga retreat, set in a tourist-free part of Goa, does exactly what it says on the tin – and more. As well as having relaxing Ayurvedic massages and lessons in Iyenga-style yoga, you’ll have the opportunity to become a certified Ayurvedic masseuse thanks to their 10-day residential course. And you get to stay in beautiful Rajasthani tented lodges or spacious boutique suites.
Insolito, Buzios, Brazil
Insolito may be hip and slick, but there’s still plenty of opportunity for a full body MOT. The excellent spa has a range of heavenly treatments carried out with the sound of the waves in the background, as well as frequent yoga classes. You can also explore the impressive 26 beaches lining the peninsula or admire them from one of the 2 infinity pools ( freshwater and saltwater), before returning to the beautifully appointed rooms.
Until mid-March you can bag yourself a ‘Relaxing Week Package’, which includes daily yoga and 3 massages to kick start the new you.
Kamalaya, Koh Samui, Thailand
Once a popular spot for revellers seeking a different kind of escapism, stunning Koh Samui is now a destination for world-weary spa-seekers. This reinvention has been spearheaded by Kamalaya, a secluded ‘wellness sanctuary’ which offers a range of treatments and activities unmatched by other hotels in the region. The food is a particular triumph and manages to be gloriously healthy without being remotely dull.
Soukya, near Bangalore, India
As healing retreats go, few come as illustrious, accomplished or restorative as Soukya. Founded by health guru Issac Mathai and visited by the likes of Sting and Prince Charles, it’s one of the best Ayurvedic and holistic centres in Asia. The team of world-class healthcare professionals make it their mission to deliver your personal programme expertly and with wonderful results. It’s not a walk in the park, so expect some work with the pampering – but trust us: it will be worth it.
Gaia Retreat & Spa, near Byron Bay, Australia
This supremely relaxing retreat (co-owned by Olivia Newton-John) is just a short drive from popular Byron Bay and prides itself on doing things a little differently. If you’re a bit bored of the usual spa treatments, you can try something a little more exotic like iridology or a craniosacral massage, while spa-shy partners can forego it all in favour of the beach. This is a rejuvenation mecca and your body will thank you for making the trip.
Cowley Manor, Gloucestershire, UK
The grandeur of this magnificent hotel and its 55 acres of parkland mean you may not expect the slick facilities and contemporary interiors within, but that’s part of its success. Equipped with an award-winning C.Side Spa and a list of treatments as long as your arm, it’s the perfect weekend bolthole for the world-weary or the relaxation-inclined. This is not only a stately home with charm and character, but also a spot for a hedonistic but oh-so-righteous ‘Cloud 9’ experience – we urge you to try it.
SwaSwara, Gokarna Beach, Goa
This boutique yoga hotel, located beside a palm-fringed beach in Goa, has been described as a life-affirming stay – and it seems the visitors who return year on year would agree. You’ll find personalised yoga and meditation sessions, as well as a delicious menu of fresh local produce to be enjoyed at communal meals (it’s perfect for solo travellers). If that all sounds a bit much, you can spend lazy days by the beach or swimming pool, before indulging in an Ayurvedic massage.