THERAPY
The operator’s view The Grayshott Health regime
launched in January 2013 in response to a growing demand from visitors to experience more than just pampering. They wanted take-home health benefi ts. The seven-day programme is offered every week of the year and typically has eight to 16 participants at a time – some come from as far afi eld as Kuwait and the US. A basic package starts at £1,500 (US$2,500, €1,800) per week. Jackie Phelan, Grayshott Spa’s
marketing director, says: “We often
Stephanie Moore
The gut health package at Grayshott Spa starts at £1,500 a week
get compared to the Mayr clinic but only because so few places look at digestion. Our programme is unique to us.” The health protocol was devised by the spa’s director of natural therapies, Elaine Williams and
resident clinical nutritionist
Stephanie
Moore. “We have all kinds
of people on the regime from type 2 diabetics to those who want to lose weight and many others who have digestive issues like IBS, diverticulitis, infl ammatory bowel disease, acid refl ux and bloating,” says Moore. “It’s also really great for people who are highly stressed, as digestion often suffers when stressed. “I call everyone from the regime two weeks after their stay and I get such
really encouraging feedback including statements like ‘it changed my life’ and ‘it’s the best money I’ve ever spent’. “We teach people how to
eat well for life and how to support their bodies rather than exhaust them. This was never designed as a weight loss programme but 95 per cent of people lose impres- sive amounts of weight too – typically 5-6 pounds in a week.”
If participants truly act on all the advice they absorb over seven days, I believe it can be a life-changing regime
W
e were a mixed bunch gathered at Grayshott Spa to experience the gut health regime – 16
of us, ages ranging from 30s to 80s, all female apart from one man with his wife. One lady, a type 2 diabetic, was trying to avoid more medication, while another wanted to take some care of herself after nursing her elderly mother. Two ladies were returnees, delighted with the results they’d experienced on the regime last year. Food, and the removal of certain food
groups, is a major part of the programme. So complex carbohydrates such as grains, dairy and starchy vegetables are out, as they require a lot of digestive energy. As is sugar, which we’re told feeds undesirable pathogens in the gut and must be avoided. We were all surprised to fi nd that the
food – served in a sunny conservatory – was mouth-wateringly delicious. Each meal started with some digestive aperitifs of sauerkraut and herbal bitters to get the stomach juices fl owing, while lunch ended with the taking of probiotics to improve gut fl ora. In between, who could complain
Grayshott Health Regime
First person experience:
Julie Cramer
about piquillo pepper and spinach omelette for breakfast, carrot and coconut soup with Thai spiced chicken breast and salad for lunch, and Barbary duck with salsify and hazelnut crumble for dinner? Portions were small and controlled, so in
the fi rst few days I felt the edge of hunger before each meal, but at least this made the semi-fasting days less of a shock. On Mondays and Fridays, breakfast is skipped, the group have lunch together and a bowl of broth is served in rooms in the evening. The regime also includes a personal
health consultation with blood and body composition analyses, a nutritional
62 Read Spa Business online
spabusiness.com / digital
therapy session, therapeutic abdominal massage, a hydrotherapy bath and castor oil compresses to aid detoxifi cation. However, the stand-out element for me was the very comprehensive range of daily talks delivered by resident nutritionists and visiting lecturers, who were always available after the sessions and during lunch to answer further questions. They covered topics like stress manage-
ment, which fats and carbohydrates to eat and which to avoid, and the healing nature of deep breathing. None of the talks were dumbed down, but instead delivered the latest scientifi c thinking on diet and health combined with loads of practical tips to try out at home. If participants truly act on all the advice they absorb over seven days, I believe it can be a life-altering regime. I personally arrived home feeling very
rested, armed with fresh knowledge and new healthy eating resolutions, my skin was glowing and I’d dropped three pounds. ●
Julie Cramer is a health, hospitality and travel journalist Email:
juliecramer@me.com
Spa Business 2 2014 ©Cybertrek 2014
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100