UAE: Why you should try a wellness retreat on your next staycation – News

Many hotels and resorts in the UAE offer packages designed to promote health and wellbeing

The coast of the eastern region of the UAE has long attracted residents looking for a quick getaway, especially during public holidays. While the term “staycation” has become all too familiar among residents, there is a growing trend for “wellness vacations,” which cater to those craving a relaxing experience.

Many hotels and resorts in Fujairah, Khor Fakkan and Kalba offer packages around health and wellbeing. Although there are a handful of wellness resorts operating in the country, many hotel groups are incorporating such experiences into their strategies to offer new and unique experiences to tourists.

I would classify myself as one of those staycation enthusiasts who claim to have exhausted their regular weekend getaway options. However, my attempt at a “wellness retreat” at the InterContinental Fujairah Resort turned out to be a very enjoyable experience and I encourage readers to give it a try.

Instead of a regular weekend getaway, where people sleep in, indulge in a gourmet breakfast, and lie by the pool all day, wellness experiences offer a set schedule. That meant healthy meals, spa treatments, and early morning yoga sessions, as well as something I tried for the first time, a “cacao ceremony” with a campfire on the beach.

Packages vary as each resort offers its own specialties. A camp that recently concluded at Kingfisher Resort in Kalba featured a two-day “spiritual retreat journey” that offered a transformative experience through yoga classes, sound therapy and sharing circles.

The Relax and Rejuvenate Wellness Experience at InterContinental Fujairah Resort starts at AED 1,099 and includes two nights’ accommodation, a sunrise yoga and meditation session and a 60-minute spa treatment. The experience, they say, promises to relieve stress and help people relax and recover.

Upon check-in, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with the chef to discuss your dietary expectations, which allows the team to prepare a specially curated healthy meal plan for your stay. That way you can avoid the guilt of overindulging during such a popular breakfast buffet.

I have to admit that my flexibility level is low, and I often avoid yoga classes at the gym or the occasional class organized by the HR team. What a treat to wake up early and try to strike a pose while listening to the sound of the waves lapping on the beach and the chirping of the birds. It’s an hour-long group session with other “fitness folks” that helps ensure an uplifting start to the day. Although, I was not successfully persuaded to join the yoga bandwagon, there are real benefits to the practice as mentioned by Mukti Sangar, a yoga instructor at the Intercontinental Fujairah Resort, who says it helps to relax the mind and soul.

“According to research, just looking at beautiful scenery releases endorphins, which are feel-good chemicals in the brain. These lower cortisol levels, lower blood pressure and pulse rate, improve parasympathetic nerve activity, and decrease sympathetic nerve activity , reduces tension, anger and depression. Yoga becomes a physical and sensual experience when it comes to nature,” says Mukti Sangar.

It’s a past ritual dating back to the Aztec and Mayan times that causes spiritual awakening or provides creative guidance. As part of the itinerary we received, guests had the opportunity to participate in this ceremony at a fixed time after dinner, with a bonfire on the beach. Attendees meditated by the sea while sipping cacao drinks, which are a pure form of chocolate. This only lasted about 30 minutes, including a lot of breathing. Cocoa is considered to be stimulating, focusing more on blood flow and the heart.

It’s also led by wellness generalist Mukti Sangar, who says: “Sharing cocoa puts us on the same energy frequency. This often results in deeper, more intimate connections with those around us. When multiple people share cocoa together, Elevated mood, increased energy, heightened intuition and empathy, and a more open, present heart will be shared.”

The resort plans to offer this wellness package twice a month on weekends and weekdays, which could be an ideal gift or an opportunity to celebrate the occasion with an uplifting experience. After two days, I personally felt refreshed, away from the steering wheel and hustle and bustle of city life that most of us have in the city. Healthy eating options and early morning yoga classes help ensure a good start to the day, however, I personally prefer if the resort also includes group fitness classes, which will involve a quick cardio workout. Overall, this should be a delightful new offering that encourages travelers to return to their favorite vacation spot, this time for work for themselves rather than their usual vacation.