SIX SENSES IBIZA, SPAIN

Healing & vitality

A state-of-the-art new longevity concept underlines the innovative dedication to wellness at the debut Spanish property from Six Senses

INTERVIEW BY LAUREN HEATH-JONES

The hotly-anticipated Six Senses Ibiza resort, a 116-room property on the northern coast of Ibiza overlooking Xarraca Bay, was conceived by architect and developer Jonathan Leitersdorf as a loving tribute to the island and its values of community, spirituality and celebration.

The resort’s 1,200sqm spa has five treatment rooms with another nine set to open in April 2022, as well as four ‘biohack’ and IV stations and a thermal suite with a steam room, an infrared sauna, a hammam and a caldarium hot bath. Hair and nail services are offered and extensive fitness facilities include an outdoor boxing ring, a rooftop yoga deck and a functional training studio.

In addition, a new ‘longevity clinic’, overseen by Dr Tamsin Lewis, offers personalised programmes backed by state-of-the-art diagnostics and modern healing techniques.

“By channelling the destination’s unique attributes, we have created a truly transformative environment where guests are invited to meaningfully connect with nature, each other and themselves while discovering the elements that make Ibiza unlike anywhere else in the world,” says Leitersdorf.

We asked Anna Bjurstam, Six Senses’ wellness pioneer, more about the property’s ethos and overall approach to wellness.

Team members wait to greet guests in the spa’s reception area

How does the new Ibiza property differ from other Six Senses resorts?

Six Senses Ibiza was a match made in heaven between the visionary of the project, Jonathan Leitersdorf, and Six Senses. When Jonathan discovered the property perched on a hill overlooking the Xarraca Bay, he saw its unique potential. Together, we wanted to capture an authentic Ibizan experience in a sophisticated yet quirky setting that’s unique to Six Senses. It’s also an inspiration for future retreats to offer a different kind of luxury experience, a place where people come together, laugh together and grow together.

A hydrotherapy pool at Six Senses Ibiza

What’s new and innovative about the offering?

Six Senses Ibiza has three main differentiators. The first is that the classes and experiences differ dramatically from those at our other locations, with holotropic breathwork, dance, sunset ceremonies, underwater meditation and more. Ibiza is a hot spot for healers and wellness experts, and we’ve been able to attract world-renowned teachers to deliver these classes weekly.

Secondly, we’re offering an extensive mix of retreats throughout our ‘cool’ season. Our signature immersive retreats aim to lead guests to greater consciousness, passion, reconnection and a renewed sense of self. We have ‘Grow a New Body’ with Dr Alberto Villoldo and Dr Mark Hyman; ‘Journey to Profound Transformation’ with Marisa Peer; ‘Yogaflow’ with James de Maria; and ‘Bodyflow’ with Shlomo Dharma.

The outdoor pool overlooking Xarraca Bay

Thirdly, we’re launching the Rose Bar longevity clinic, in partnership with Jonathan Leitersdorf and advanced genetics company Orgnesis. The Rose Bar offers impactful longevity programmes combining diagnostics, nutrition and modern healing methods to optimise health. Our clinicians use advanced diagnostics to determine guests’ ‘true’ age and pace of ageing, while genetic and epigenetic testing shows how genes, lifestyle and biomarkers can impact their longevity.

The Rose Bar will be expanded by an extra 410sqm in 2022 and is our crowning glory. It is designed to reverse the ageing process and inspire a healthier life. Following diagnostic testing, our in-house doctors recommend a programme to help guests unleash their full potential. Some of these programmes include biohacking treatments such as IV infusions, cryotherapy, CellGym Hypoxic Training, and PEMF therapy, as well as functional nutrition and advanced beauty treatments.

Tell us about your other signature treatments?

Each Six Senses resort and spa has locally inspired signature treatments. At Six Senses Ibiza guests can choose from several, all designed around the spirit of Ibiza. The After Party Detox combines a citrus body scrub with a stimulating full-body massage, with particular attention paid to feet tired from dancing. The treatment is completed with a soothing facial massage with cooling gua sha tools for fresh and radiant skin.

The brand’s Body Balance treatment helps guests reconnect with their bodies through modalities including singing bowl vibrations

The Nóttnuit Frequency Facial combines corrective skincare with innovative techniques including face cupping and tuning fork frequency. Vibrating at a frequency of 528Hz, the ‘DNA repairing’ frequency, the tuning fork and face cupping work synergistically to soothe the nervous system, increase lymphatic flow, stimulate circulation and encourage product absorption.

How does Six Senses Ibiza reflect the brand’s philosophy more generally?

Six Senses offers a layered approach to wellness that unites a pioneering spirit with treatments that go beyond the ordinary. Guests will find an intuitive mix of science and human awareness, where a high-tech and high-touch approach defines a service that is crafted entirely around the individual.

Our signature massages, wellness screening and programmes are all available at Six Senses Ibiza. These are complemented by the Rose Bar, our visiting practitioners, a comprehensive wellness activity calendar and a full range of immersive retreats.

Six Senses Ibiza offers a wide range of classes and immersive retreats including ‘Yogaflow’ with James de Maria

Does the resort synergise with Six Senses’ increased digital programming?

We launched At Home With Six Senses to offer proactive ways for people to care for themselves. The content is structured around the brand’s key wellness pillars and is available online to everyone, regardless of whether they’ve stayed at a Six Senses property or not. At Home With Six Senses has evolved into an online portal where people can sign up for complimentary masterclasses delivered by wellness pioneers from around the world, wherever they may be.

The sweeping outdoor pool

How has the pandemic influenced the offering at Six Senses resorts and spas?

These unprecedented times have highlighted the importance of physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. That’s why all Six Senses resorts offer rituals that encourage guests to take a moment to reflect and give thanks,reconnection experiences to help them rediscover a sense of adventureand wellness days to build stronger bodies and boost brainpower.

We’ve also launched Body Balance, which helps guests reconnect with their bodies through crystal placement, aura cleansing, singing bowl vibrations, breathwork, gentle stretching and visualisation.

Our extensive biohacking offering also has proven benefits for any of our guests wanting a completely touchless experience.

A relaxation room with a distinctly Ibizan flavour

EXPLORING LONGEVITY IN THE ROSE BAR

Dr Tamsin Lewis (below) is the resident medical doctor at the Rose Bar. Having graduated with honours from King’s College London, she trained at Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital, London and has a BSc in Neuroscience and the Biology of Ageing. Dr Lewis is a specialist in psychiatry and sports medicine as well as nutritional and functional medicine.

Dr Lewis supports guests through their Rose Bar journey using advanced longevity diagnostics, biohacking therapies, IV infusions and advanced beauty and fitness consultations to create perfect individualised longevity programmes.

Six Senses Ibiza’s new concept that aims to ‘reverse the ageing process’ and provide guests with increased vitality

SPA STATISTICS

Six Senses Ibiza www.sixsenses.com/en/resorts/ibiza

Owner: Jonathan Leitersdorf General manager: Mathias Gerds Wellness and spa director: Andrew Barge Spa manager: Tania Alves Architect: Jonathan Leitersdorf Design and interiors: Six Senses Spa team: 27 Spa size: 1,200sqm Treatment rooms: Five including three couple’s suites Additional wellness facilities: The Rose Bar longevity clinic and a beauty space for nail and hair services Wet experiences/sauna: Caldarium hot bath with jets, hammam, steam room, infrared sauna and bucket showers Pools: An outdoor swimming pool overlooking the sea and a rooftop pool Fitness facilities: Indoor yoga studio, black box studio for functional training, rooftop yoga platform, 24-hour state-of-the-art gym, outdoor boxing ring and wellness library Suppliers: Lemi, Hotelar, Technogym Product partners: Biologique Recherche, Nóttnuit, Morjana Uniforms: Fashionizer Spa

“By focusing on renewable energy production we reduce our carbon emissions by almost 40 per cent and by filtering and bottling our own still and sparkling water, we reduce the carbon footprint associated with the packaging and transporting of drinking water. By using only glass water bottles, we eliminate all plastic bottles from the resort as part of an effort to be plastic-free by 2022.

SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFIED

Wellness and spa director Andrew Barge discusses how Six Senses Ibiza’s sustainability practices led to the resort becoming the first in Ibiza to be granted BREEAM certification

“Powered by its own renewable energy source and with ambitious zero waste and zero single-use plastic targets, Six Senses Ibiza has sustainability at its core. The result is we are the first resort in the Balearic Islands to achieve BREEAM certification.

“Our commitment to sustainability guides all our actions and underpins our decision-making at all levels, whether it be how our land is used to grow food, or how we manage our energy and waste. It informs our efforts to conserve water and source local and seasonal ingredients for the resort’s menus, as well as the promise we made to our local community to employ hosts from the island.

“We have a full-time sustainability manager dedicated to driving our sustainability efforts and a dedicated sustainability fund, which supports local organisations and companies that make a positive social and environmental impact.”