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The big Four-Oh is neveran easy birthday to cometo terms with. So whena chance to escape to an

'energy spa' comes up just weeksbefore D-day (or rather, my B-day),[ don't need to be asked twice.Taking time out from schoolruns, deadlines and all the otherrelentless routines of everydaylife is just what [ need to preparefor this personal milestone.

And Lefay Spa & Resort Lago diGarda sounds like just the place-a spa in northern Italy offering restand rejuvenation, with holistictreatments inspired by TraditionalChinese Medicine (TCM). Inmy experience, spas tend to beeither the bracing-but-good-for-

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!!~~::::::::;;;::;;ii~i"'.!II~~~"f0u variety, or upmarket hotelsoffering beauty packages that arelittle more than indulgences. But

74 AUGUST 20 I0 www.spiritanddesti.ny.co.uk

Lefay merges a feeling of luxurywith treatments that actuallywork, and follows the principlesof TCM, such as massage alongthe body's 'meridians', or energypathways. The aim is to ensureguests de-stress, recover theirenergy levels, boost their flowof chi (energy or life force) andachieve overall wellbeing.

After flying in to BresciaAirport, a taxi takes me throughthe lush Lombardy countryside,past villas with terracotta roofsand eggshell-white walls. Asthe car climbs up the windingmountain road, fringed withalpine flowers, [ appreciate justhow awe-inspiring the locationreally is. Perched high in the hillsand overlooking the magnificentLake Garda, Lefay is set within27 acres of gentle hills, woodlands

and olive terraces on theLemon Riviera.

From the outside, the spalooks very impressive. Built intothe hillside using local and naturalmaterials, it's inspired by the'lemon houses' typical of thisfruit-growing area, and lookssleek and modern, yet naturaland airy at the same time. Thespa prides itself on eco principles,and has reduced carbon dioxideemissions by 510tons a year bybuilding a biomass plant. Thisburns wood chips to producearound 70 per cent of the resort'senergy needs for heating.

TURN UP, TUNE INAND FLOP OUTSinking into a leather armchairin the lounge after check-in, I sipa delicious fruity (non-alcoholic)cocktail and sit back to take in theatmosphere. It's all super-stylishfive-star sophistication combinedwith Italian good looks - despiteits eco credentials, there's nothingrough-hewn about this joint.

Then I'm taken to my room, aPrestige Junior Suite. A misleadingname in my opinion, as I can't seeanything junior about it. The roomis huge, bigger than my livingroom back home, light and airywith a balcony terrace. There'sa dressing room, a double bed

and a wonderfully decadentround bath. I note that myhusband and two children couldfit snugly in this room, too, andas I flop on to the bed smiling tomyself, I offer up a silent prayer ofthanks that this time they don'thave to. It really is just me-time.

All I have to do now is slip intomy swimsuit, don the fleecy robethat's been thoughtfully left on thebed, and go and explore.

The pools are the centrepieceof the Lefay spa, which will delightall water babes like myself. Theundulating pool starts inside andsweeps outside. An automaticdoor lets you swim out to aninfinity pool, but also keeps in thewarmth (again, very eco-friendly).Once alfresco, bathers can baskin the sunlight and look down onthe rolling hills and shimmeringlake below. There are underwaterjets for hydrotherapy, and a fewshort steps away there's anotherwhirlpool, as well as a 25-metreoutdoor swimming pool.

I swim 30 lengths, which provesto be a sensory delight ratherthan hard labour. The scent fromthe herbs and flowers dotting thehillside is delicious and honeyish,and the purity of the air isincredible. We're so high in thehills that the clouds appear to bealmost touchable, and as the heat

TRAVEL

from the pool steams gently, itfeels like I'm swimming throughthe clouds themselves.

Chilling out in the labyrinthof the spa rooms completes myworkout. There are aromatherapy,Finnish and steam saunas, a 'biosauna' panelled with olive woodand one sauna for women only.Lefay operates an uninhibitedEuropean spa etiquette. Once inthe sauna, costumes are strictlyforbidden, and, despite beingequipped with a Velcro-strippedtowel, many don't bother coveringup. Mixed nudity might seemeye-popping at first, but it's nottoo hard to adjust. And if you'retruly shy, you can relax in thewomen-only sauna.

The recommended treatmentshere are tailor-made to eachindividual, so before I book myslots with the therapists, I havea consultation with Or MaurizioCorradin, the spa's health director.He's a qualified medical doctor,as well as an expert in Chinesemedicine and sports medicine,but he doesn't speak English,so a translator asks questionsabout my health and wellbeing.When Or Corradin clocks mypoor posture, he recommends ~

www.spiritanddestiny.co.uk AUGUST 2010 75

TRAVEL

not only two energy treatmentstomorrow but also a sessionwith the in-house physio, whowill guide me through someback-straightening techniques.

Before then, I get a chanceto sample the Lefay cuisine atdinner - a five-course marathon.While the dishes are healthy,the accent is definitely on .delicious, and the chef sticks toseasonal foods in keeping withthe hotel's eco credentials. Ifyou're slimming, there's plentyof mouth-watering low-caloriechoice. Before I even sample thefive courses, I'm given free rein atthe buffet, where there's plentifulgarden-fresh salad and yummyItalian treats such as bresaola(a low-calorie air-dried salt beef).After that I feast on pappardellepasta with anchovies, followedby turbot, and then a scrumptiousBavarian berry parfait for pudding- a healthy option, apparently.This is all washed down withsome excellent local red.

UNDER PRESSUREAs I wake the next morning, I can'tstop a grin spreading across myface as I realise it's another toughday at Lefay. Breakfast is a feastof plenty, with a buffet loaded upwith anything you could possiblyfancy - fruit, cereal, croissants,cakes, smoked salmon and meats,as well as a hot plate where the

'" chef will scramble eggs for you as~ you wait. I load up with a plateful~ of melon, and then wolf down~ scrambled eggs with mushroom.~ No cake today, but I do allow

myself a warm croissant.~ After a brief lie-down on a sun;;! lounger, I'm introduced to Lefay's~ resident physio, who gives me a§ lesson in Feldenkrais Method,~ a system that incorporates similar~ methods to Pilates. It's designedo to improve posture and movement~ through self-awareness - justS what the doctor ordered. I've~ done Pilates before, but I'm still

Therapeutic Garden, a. lovely outdoor space with. five meditation areas, each

symbolising a differentseason and stage of life.

In woodland to the east,11Drago Verde (the GreenDragon) representsnew life, bursting withevergreen plants and

...••••••-=:.iiiiiiiiiiijj~~~~herbs, particularly therefreshing aroma of mint. Eacharea has its own colour andplanting scheme with aromaticor medicinal herbs, and evocativenames such as the Red Phoenix,the White Tiger and the BlackTortoise. I walk round them all,taking time to meditate at beautifullittle pit stops, before finishing in11Centro (the Centre), surroundedby the invigorating scent of lemonbalm. For the more energetic,there's a 2.5km running circuit,which winds through hills andwoods. Hmm, maybe next time.

The next morning is departureday, and I can't help but feel a littlesad that I'm about to be thrustback into the big, bad real world.But as I take another quick swimin the perfect pool, my body feelsso much more alive than it didwhen I arrived. My muscles andsinews are no longer clenchedtaut with city stresses.

Lefay is simply the loveliest ofplaces. The combination of freshair, breathtaking scenery andstate-of-the-art luxury is nothingI've ever experienced before. Nexttime I have a landmark birthday,I can't think of any other hillsI'd rather run to. SPIRI'MSl1IY

pleased to be taught a few newstretches to take home.

After that I enjoy one of Lefay'ssignature treatments - an energymassage, combining Westerntechniques with pressure onspecific acupuncture points.I have experience of acupuncture,and I can feel the familiar tinglingsensation when my energy pointsare stimulated. Or Corradin hasalso prescribed a facial massageusing a product line called YangMing, which means 'brightness,vitality'. The aim of the treatmentis to relax my muscles, smoothwrinkles and make my skinlook more lustrous.

At first I find the pressure toogentle, but the therapist is highlyskilled and before I know it I'verelaxed so much that half an hourhas gone by. I wake up feelingcompletely refreshed, and a peekin the mirror confirms that I doindeed look glowy and fabulous.

After all this blissing out, even[ realise that a little exercise is inorder, and another 30 lengths inthe almost empty exercise poolassuages my guilt a little. ThenI amble into the Energy and

• Formore information on theLefay Resort & Spa, visithttp://lagodigarda.lefayresorts.com

• Kuoni offers 3nights' half boardat the Lefay Resort & Spa in aPrestige Junior Suite, including

76 AUGUST 2010 www.spiritanddestiny.co.uk

British Airways flights fromGatwick. private return transfersbetween Verona Airport and thespa, and the use of an airportlounge in the UK.Prices forOctober 2010 start at £862 perperson based on two sharing, notincluding treatments. Call 01306-747008 or visit www.kuoni.co.uk

G01TADANCELeam some fancy moves thissummer; as well as getting in someyoga practice, on a Dance andMovement Week with HealthyOptions. The holiday takes place onthe sunny island of Lefkas, whereyou'lIleann salsa, contemporary andGreek dancing, as well as tai chi, alljust yards from the beach. Daily yogaand Pilatesclasses,a massage,herbalwalk, aqua-safari boat trip, and sailingand paddle-boarding 'tasters' areall included. The week costs from£549pp, room-only, based on twosharing, including tuition and retumflights from Gatwick. For dates anddetails, call 0844-499 2909 or visitwww.healthy-option.co.uk

SAFARI roR TIlE SELFTake a safari to your inner self withthe African Body Works packageat Kenya's luxurious Shompolelodge. The three-day schedule inthe Great Rift Valley takes you ona customised holistic joumey usinglifestyle consultations, meditation,yoga, and body- and breath-work

to help you deal with passivestress. Left unchecked, this canlead to health problems and evendepression. Why not add a wildlifesafari in the Masai Mara for theholiday of a lifetime? To Escape Tooffers four nights all-inclusive atShompole, including the three-dayAfrican Body Works programme,intemational flights and transfers for£2}50 per person, based on twosharing. Call 020-7060 6747 or visitwww.toescapeto.com for details.

GDYURTYYurts are the five-star crash padsof the camping world, and you'llfind a gorgeous selection inbeautiful settings at One Off Places.There are Uzbekistani yurts in anAndalucian olive grove in Spain,a yurt with a transparent dome forstargazing in Comwall, a Mongolianyurt on an organic smallholding inPortugal, and yurts with sea views inLanzarote. Don't forget to pack theyak. Prices from €245 (£205) for aweek. Visit www.oneoffplaces.co.uk