By Lisa Brown

BodyHoliday nestles in a truly idyllic setting on the exclusive north west tip of St Lucia, tucked away in secluded white sand bay – strewn with swaying palm trees, blessed with jaw-dropping sunsets.

“Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind” is BodyHoliday’s motto. It’s a tall order, but the thing is, if you really put yourself in their hands and immerse yourself in the wellness offerings (it’s not hard, believe me), it does exactly what it says on the tin.

With wellness at it’s heart – including daily treatments and a plethora of classes, activities and water sports included in its basic package, the retreat has won numerous awards and is often cited the top spa and fitness destination in the Caribbean.

Virtually everything you need for a ‘life re-boot’ is on hand – from the detox juices at the Wellness Cafe to the daily inclusive massages and facials, to the meditation and yoga classes to kayaking, snorkelling and diving in the bay, to the personal training and endless choice of fitness offerings – this resort is a wellness cocoon.

If you’re looking for a ‘chic retreat’ then BodyHoliday may not be for you – don’t expect private pool suites and Carrera Marble bathrooms laden with Bulgari products – it’s a well-executed, laid back luxury wellness destination that embraces its West Indian culture. The thing that really stands out about The Body Holiday is the magical ambience. Everywhere you look you’re either wowed by a view or greeted with a smile. Not only do you leave feeling completely rejuvenated, yep, as they promise – in body and mind – you’ll likely to have made some new friends along the way.

The Wellness Centre

Towering over the bay, the vast Moorish-style Wellness Centre is the hub of the resort. A multitude of treatments rooms surround the cool atrium pool along with a tranquil Ayurvedic centre, where holistic offerings include Chakra Cleansing, Spiritual Eye Gazing and Meridian Healing. Daily included treatments range from Elemis facials to holistic massages and scrubs – all are of a good standard

There’s also an impressive skin clinic where a la mode treatments include a Caci Non-Surgical Facelift, Oxygen Facials, Microdermabrasion and the creme-de-la-creme Dr Prager Iluminator facial (Prager visited the resort and taught the therapists personally).

Other facilities at include a hydrotherapy circuit, relaxation areas, a nail bar and hair salon, a yoga deck, dance and exercise rooms and a state of the art gym.

The Treatment

The Shiatsu Massage is performed lying flat on the floor and begins with an abdominal massage to relax the organs followed by a yogic stretching of the limbs. A pressure point massage is used to realign the spine, open energy pathways and relieve any knots of tension. Assisted stretching and rocking movements are used to open the back. The treatment finishes with a rotation of limbs and a pressure point foot and head massage. My whole body felt like someone had opened it up, taken out the tension, and put it back together again and my head felt clearer than it had done for a long time. I actually felt like I was floating on air.

Other Treatments

The SkinCeuticals Resveratrol Facial combines the highest concentration of resveratrol available, with clinically proven antioxidant vitamins to help restore skin’s natural repair potential. The dryness, dehydration and redness from a little too much sun are alleviated and my skin looks healthy and refreshed.

The Programme

The Body Science Clinic.

A fairly new addition to the resort, The Body Science Clinic uses state-of-the-art technology and Ayurvedic principles to analyse physiological and biochemical information. There are a choice of Body Science dedicated programmes and packages to choose from such as Better Ageing and Weight Loss but you can also use the clinic for general check ups i.e. blood pressure and blood tests. Tests are performed using non-invasive equipment to study Heart function, analysis of oxygen uptake and 3D visualisation of internal organs, body composition & vascular age.

The diagnostics make it possible for the doctor to assess a variety of factors – including nutrient, hormone and stress levels, heart health and circulation–and establish the best course to better living. The de-stress programme uses scientific lab tests to discover your bodys stress status. Based on the results, BodyScience provides a unique nutrition and lifestyle plan to help the body handle stress and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

I’d definitely recommend a check up at the clinic whilst your at The Body Holiday – I discovered that I had slightly high blood pressure, which I followed up on when I returned home – but also that my vascular age is ten years younger than my actual age!

To Stay

Luxury Oceanfront Suites are colonial-luxe in style and lavishly furnished with a lounge area leading through to an (extremely comfy) four poster bedroom. A large balcony runs the length of the suite and has day beds to take in the glorious ocean views. There’s also a good range of single rooms for the large clientele of solo travellers and all rooms have included mini bars, a generous selection of Ren products, iPod dock, free WIFI, pillow menus and – to ensure complete relaxation and escapism – zero TVs.

To Eat

There are five healthy eateries at BodyHoliday – offerings range from east-west fusion fine dining at TAO, to healthy wraps, salads, smoothies and fresh juices from the Wellness Cafe to international buffets at Cariblue, casual, organic fare at Pavilion Gril and posh tasting menus at Cariblue Windows.

New to the resort is the I-Tal dining experience. This takes place in the kitchen garden, where you pick your own ingredients from an array of vegetables, herbs and fruits (all grown using pesticide-free, non-GMO and sustainable farming practices to protect the environment) and take them up to the I-Tal dining room at the top of the hill. Once you’ve washed and prepared your harvest the chef rustles up a delicious organic vegan lunch which you eat while taking in the panoramic views of the Cariblue bay. It’s an unforgettable experience and one not to be missed.

Facilities and Activities

The extensive programme of classes and activities – around 50 a day – include a full daily range of yoga classes, including ashtanga, hot and hatha, tai chi, zumba, windsurfing, kayaking, water skiing, diving, archery, tennis and golf.