ANDRONIS CONCEPT WELLNESS RESORT SANTORINI

Blessed by the gods

European Spa heads to the Andronis Concept Wellness Resort on Santorini to meet Carla Sage, director of spa and wellness, who shares the passion behind the new Wellness by Andronis concept

REPORT BY SARAH CAMILLERI

Santorini is a gift. A place where you can feel truly alive and free under big skies that meet the deep blue serenity of the Aegean Sea. Uniquely, this small island owes its mighty reputation to being the only sunken caldera in the world. Its outstanding beauty makes it a natural wonder for international guests who flock to stay in scenic, white-washed villages perched on volcanic cliffs. A destination for celebrations, romance and escape, this island offering endless panoramic views of the sky and sea, is also the perfect backdrop for wellness travellers.

Suites at Andronis Concept Wellness Resort lit at night

Looking to bring the very best in wellbeing to the Santorini mix, entrepreneurial hotelier Miltiadis Andronis, who heads the Andronis Group, saw the opportunity to couple wellbeing with laidback luxury. The group currently operates seven boutique, five-star properties – five on Santorini and two in Athens – all of which provide understated luxury coupled with a strong sense of place.

Bringing wellbeing right to the heart of the Andronis vision has taken time but thanks to the pandemic reset and plenty of perseverance, the business is now ready to welcome a wave of new wellness seekers looking to experience its new, immersive programming.

Energy, volcanoes and wellbeing

Tasked to reimagine the Andronis spa offer, spa and wellness director Carla Sage has explored every opportunity to bring wellbeing right to the heart of Andronis’s barefoot luxury vibe. Her deep appreciation of Santorini’s special energy has defined every aspect of her approach to creating programming designed to recharge the soul and reset the body.

Contrast bathing in the outdoor Kneipp pool at Evexia Spa

“The Hellenic volcanic arc is very powerful and present at all Andronis properties,” she says. “It runs for about 270km through the Greek Islands and emits volcanic energy along its length. Uniquely, this little island is right by the eye of the volcano, and you can really feel how different the earth is here. We are not on land made of typical soil like other parts of the world, we are on the crust of a volcano, which brings a very different content to all the living things it supports.

“This natural infrared radiation perfectly combines with the restorative chi we aim to deliver through our treatments and warm hospitality.”

The spa’s decor reflects its volcanic surroundings

Andronis has three boutique spas that all feature natural materials and soft ergonomic design details reflecting the location’s volcanic foundation. The group’s flagship, Kallos Spa at the Andronis Concept Wellness Resort, has been a testbed for much of the new programming, now rolled out to the Evexia Spa at Andronis Arcadia on the edge of the village of Oia, and the bijoux Mare Sanus Spa at Andronis Luxury Suites.

“One of our biggest goals is to help people tune into the space and the special energy we have here, looking straight at the caldera. With this in mind, we have created an environment at each of our spas to help people just ‘be’ here. They can tap straight into this powerful place and really begin to relax,” Sage adds.

Wellness wisdom

Sage brings 25 years of wellness hospitality experience to Andronis, having worked for leading hospitality brands including Malliouhana Auberge Resorts, Sandals Luxury Resorts, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Six Senses Hotels Resorts and Spas. An alchemist of wellness, she also holds a degree in human biology and massage therapy, as well as having trained in medical aesthetics, balneotherapy, aromatherapy and Kundalini dance.

A de-stressing massage

“Correcting or healing body imbalances takes time and while we recognise our guests are on vacation, we want to give them every opportunity to start anew, with all the right tools,” says Sage. “But most of all, we want to support people to build on their own strength and resilience. Everything each of us needs, we already have inside – we are here to help them to access this wisdom. Our goal is to help our guests onto the path.”

Destress, rest and balance

Simplicity is key. Each Andronis spa has its own Wellness by Andronis menu, constructed to allow personalisation around three distinct pillars known as: Be Destressed, Be Rested and Be Balanced.

Each pillar has its own master scent, collectively known as the ‘thoughtful three’ blends, which have been crafted by Sage from Mediterranean flowers and herbs. Guests can select their preferred scent and then be guided through their wellness plan choices.

The view from an aerial yoga space

“Aromatherapy is a way of expression for me, and I have used oils for years to enhance my life,” Sage explains. “I created our three signature blends to help us to guide and create personalised journeys.

“I think for me, wellness has always meant nurturing ourselves and accessing the strength we all have within. The concepts of each of our spas, the menus, and our wellness sessions are all new. They follow my mantra that we all need to take care of ourselves, inside and out.

“When you are stressed, you need to destress, rest and then find balance. The path that people follow when they come to us usually takes these three steps, but you will be drawn to the scent your body really needs.”

The unique ‘thoughtful three’ aromatherapy blends

Selfcare, wellness tech and family time A menu of four signature massages, created with ila Spa, is enhanced by sessions devoted to breathwork, contrast bathing, sound healing, meditation and mindful eating. Movement and energy work can also be delivered through stretch-and-flex sessions, face mapping, Kundalini dance, yoga therapy, aerial yoga and meditation with Andronis’s own master practitioner of yoga, Eleni Ntagka.

Andronis’s Kallos Spa also offers a mineralised cave pool for therapeutic bathing experiences, as well as foot-rescue treatments for walkers. Families can enjoy time together in a dedicated art space.

Visiting practitioners and wellness screening

Sage’s mission to offer memorable experiences has led to the creation of a visiting practitioner programme. Celebrated British acupuncturist Ross J Barr, renowned for his fertility and women’s health expertise, has recently partnered with Andronis to bring Five Elements Acupuncture to the mix. Leading clinician Zulia Frost MD, founder of Recharge Health, brings her medical and TCM experience with diagnosis and the latest wellness technology treatments from InterX and FlexBeam.

Reaching for serenity by the Aegean Sea

Guests can book visiting practitioners to advise and treat a wide range of health issues, including stress and pain management, sleep optimisation and gut health. “Our visiting practitioners bring so much to Andronis. Ross J Barr and Dr Zulia Frost enrich our whole concept. Their specialist modalities really deepen what we can achieve for guests,” confirms Sage.

Wellness screening sessions with Sage herself also promise to ‘unlock your epigenetic potential’ through hair analysis and consultation.

The lost art of finding yourself

Sage believes events in recent years have left many people with trauma, be it mental, physical or spiritual. She says this has catalysed a unique opportunity for spas to step up and deliver wellbeing beyond the typical spa menu. “I feel that many people aren’t themselves just yet, and we are here to help them on the path to find themselves again – to love themselves and find a balance that works for them.” Sage says. “People are so caught up in life and worries, which is pulling them away from what is important in pursuit of trying to find things all the time – the next thing they think they need.

The leisure pool at Andronis Concept Wellness Resort

“In reality, the path is already here – it’s the one you’re already standing on, not the one you are heading towards. Humans are amazing and we have everything we need within us, we just don’t take time to go and find it within – we seek it all outside.”

Choices not ‘fixes’

Immersive wellness is certainly here on Santorini for all to explore, but Sage is crystal clear about the level of expertise her team offers. “We are not running spas that tell people do this, this, and this to achieve this. We are also not here to ‘fix’ people. Our approach is to help them find their way based on what they need to find within themselves – to really use their time with us to resurface the strength they once had, which they may feel has been lost,” she confirms.

“It might be a moment of realisation walking our Kneipp pool, or the freedom they felt discovering Kundalini dance, or an Intex or FlexBeam treatment with our physiotherapist when they felt the healing work of the infrared. Whatever it might be, I have tried to create a wellness offer that gives people enough choice to help them find balance.”

A relaxation space at Evexia Spa

SPA STATISTICS

Evexia Spa

Managing director: George Filippidis | Sales director: Anna Katsaneva | Spa and wellness director: Carla Sage | Spa investment: €2.1 million (£1.8 million) | Spa area: 700sqm | Spa team: Ten | Capacity: 19 | Treatment facilities: Five | double treatment rooms, outdoor treatment room, yoga studio, mani-pedi area, three relaxation spaces, changing rooms, gym | Wet spa: Kneipp pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor pool | roduct partners ila Spa, Cell Wellbeing, Homemade Products | Spa Suppliers: Technogym, LG Fitness

www.andronis.com | www.spaevexia.com

Kallos Spa

Managing director: George Filippidis | Sales director: Anna Katsaneva | Spa investment: €1.5 million (£1.3 million) | Spa area: 500sqm | Spa team: 9 | Full capacity: 17 | Treatment facilities: Five double treatment rooms, yoga studio, art space, mani-pedi area, hair salon, relaxation area, changing rooms, gym | Wet spa: Sauna, steam room, chromoshower, outdoor pool | Product partners ila Spa, Cell Wellbeing, Homemade Products | Spa suppliers: TechnoGym, LG Fitness

www.andronis.com | www.kallospa.com

Five Elements Acupuncture to unlock the heart

With a notable celebrity following for his women’s health expertise, Five Elements Acupunture specialist Ross J Barr describes his background and journey in wellness

"Often the path to wellness is first discovered when you are experiencing trauma or looking for recovery from some significant life event. This was also the way I discovered Five Elements acupuncture and set out on my own path into wellness.

"As a child I remember that my mother was very much into homeopathy, acupuncture and crystal healing. We were brought up with her complementary approach, not with antibiotics or the more traditional western approach to medicine.

Ross J Barr

"When I was around 20 years old our father died. Our mother asked myself and my brothers to go and have acupuncture sessions – many people don’t know but it is extremely good for grief, bereavement and heartbreak. Five Element Acupuncture is very heart-centred. I remember vividly the difference I felt when coming out of that first session – I thought that somehow, despite how awful everything was, I was going to be OK.

"After six months of treatment, I took the decision to change my job and train to become an acupuncturist. I fell in love with it, and I knew then I had found my path.

"Five Elements Acupuncture takes time to get to the root cause. We look at the emotional aspect of health and then use our techniques to rebalance the body back to its default settings – to bring balance back.

"Today I dedicate my time to optimising people’s personal health, whether its assisting with matters of fertility, helping to manage stress, sleep issues or simply creating an overall sense of wellbeing."

Energy harvesting and therapy at Andronis

We ask Andronis visiting practitioner Zulia Frost MD about the benefits of red-light therapy delivered by the latest FlexBeam technology

Why is energy medicine so important now?

Our modern lifestyle makes us connected online all the time, with information overload, instant communication and negative news – all that creates mental fatigue and anxiety. This combines with rising environmental factors that overwhelm our systems – various pollutants, EMF exposure and blue screens can all screw up our sleep-wake cycles. I sincerely believe energy should be our number-one priority – without it, you can’t rebuild yourself. True energy is your inner balance, feeling capable without agitation. It is a physical thing, so you must generate that energy within yourself.

Zulia Frost MD

Tell us more about FlexBeam technology

FlexBeam is a very potent red-light therapy device that helps the body to generate energy. It can be used as a treatment and added into a daily routine by placing it on the body to help you recharge and feel strong again.

Red-light therapy offers the body healing wavelengths of light. Through evolution our cells have managed to learn how to harvest energy from the sun. We have mechanisms to recharge each cell. This is the first step to recovery.

The number-one demand we use FlexBeam for is joint pain and mobility. We are also seeing a lot of gut issues including IBS, as well as other complexities such as hormonal imbalance, sleep problems and fertility issues.

How do your treatments switch on self-healing?

Natural healing cannot happen when the body is energy deficient. You could have all the elements present, like great nutrition, good hydration, various adjustment therapies, but if your battery is flat the body is unable to perform our evolutionary task of self-healing. Every cell responds to environmental signals and that is how your DNA can fix itself – this process is known as epigenetics. Scientists can turn genes on or off through your environment. By sending frequencies of light or electricity you can literally activate or shut down various processes in the body.

Also, when the body is inflamed, there is a huge demand on energy, yet mitochondria – the power stations in the cells – often malfunction or are even broken, so the body is unable to cope and inflammation becomes chronic, running in the background, syphoning your energy. Light can directly stimulate mitochondria and fix the energy supply at the cellular level. This is your first step towards recovery.

What is your role as visiting practitioner at Andronis?

Working with Carla is a simply joy. Her experience and deep understanding of wellness makes it easy to create such an advanced multidimensional vision, bringing all the elements of body, mind and spirit together. Individual wellness screening followed by guidance from a trained practitioner to address your needs can really recharge you with frequency-based therapies.

The whole Andronis team underwent a complete training course: from foundation to advanced. We also identified a few specialists who are delivering frequency-based neuromodulator InterX and red-light therapy FlexBeam. Education is the core value of the Andronis team, and it is ongoing. I continuously mentor these dedicated therapists.

From top: reaching for serenity by the Aegean Sea; the leisure pool at Andronis Concept Wellness Resort