WELL, WELL, WELL

Treat yourself to a full blown healthy holiday at this luxury destination spa retreat with full spa facilities. Sometimes all you want is some well deserved pampering. You know the kind of thing - thick fluffy towels and robes, enticing pools and steams and saunas, delicious food, indulgent smoothies (or maybe the odd glass of champagne), lovely products and heavenly treatments. Take yourself off to The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa and you will not be disappointed. This wellness retreat allows you to indulge in the liberating feeling of picking something gorgeous to do each day, then float around enjoying some time alone or a bit of socialising if you so please.

As I checked in my eyes couldn’t help but feast on the grandeur of the lobby area with its main flower feature evoking a calming demeanour instantly. Set in stunning landscaped gardens, The Westin Doha offers a tranquil retreat for the weary global traveller and city dweller. Nothing seems a chore for the attentive staff as my bags were swiftly whisked off to my executive room. I was enthralled with the amenities after I placed the electronic room-key against the panel and walked in to be welcomed with homemade peanut granola bars, that I of course snaffled instantly and washed down with one of the complimentary healthy juices. Truly scrumptious! I also made a mental note of the deep bath and audio system that I would allow myself to unwind in later amidst a cloud of bubbles.

Heavenly® Spa proved to be impressive as I walked through their indoor garden prior to completing my consultation. I personally suffer from swelling on the back of my legs, therefore, their detox treatment was recommended and I’m eternally grateful as it proved incredible tackling the fluid retention in my stomach and legs, with the added benefit of reducing the appearance of cellulite. My therapist was extremely knowledgeable and she kept me updated of the process in an unobtrusive fashion. The cupping then does the second job of deep drainage, and the massage is the final blitz to ensure that your body is fully exfoliated and the lymph system is working at optimal level. My favourite part was after the body brushing and wrapping when my therapist placed a hot compress against my chest which felt like a warm embrace and I drifted off into a brief slumber. This treatment is finished off with a lovely rainfall shower and then you have time to unwind in their relaxation zone with a tea of your choosing. I felt revived, relaxed and most of all I felt that it had assisted me to get back to my best self after feeling tired and sluggish as of late.

On the evening I enjoyed an intimate low-carb dinner in Hunters Restaurant & Grill in the presence of World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist, Liz McGolgen who provided an inspirational and honest talk about her life and her work here in Qatar, alongside, what we can do to live a healthy and active lifestyle in Doha.

After enjoying a night of slumber on their signature Westin Heavenly® Bed I was invigorated for the day ahead. Today was the day that I was making my yoga debut with their in-house yoga instructor. What better way to start the day than breathing in the morning dew and unwinding. Although i’m a complete novice I found myself becoming more relaxed throughout the session and this is definitely something that I will incorporate into my daily routine.

All that exercise was hungry work so our detox breakfast in the Private Pool Villa proved perfect and was delicious. After indulging our taste buds, we then enjoyed a holistic medicine and mindfulness session with Evolve, a nextgeneration wellness company that incorporates modern day conceptions and ideologies based around health and well-being. Evolve’s culture embodies a ‘total lifestyle’ approach focusing on the mind, body and soul. There was a lovely lady called Farah whos background in chemistry and her experience working as a pharmacist for over 10 years in the UK led her to qualifying as a Naturopathic Nutrition Therapist. Naturopathy promotes wellness by identifying the unique aspects of each patient and then employing non-toxic, natural therapies to restore their physiological, psychological and structural balance.

Prior to check-out I had the privilege of experiencing a Crafted by Westin cocktail reception with their expertly mixed cocktails, infused with natural ingredients and fresh local flavours. I’d highly recommend their Artisanal Cocktails as the perfect way to end your stay as I left feeling completely revived and proud of the knowledge I’d taken onboard over my short stay.

I’ve already booked myself in for my next Westin Wellness Retreat in 2018 with a few of my favourite girlies and I admonish you to do the same, after all, you should truly embrace the whole “New Year, New You” approach and in surroundings like this, we won’t need the usual excuse for our impending New Year resolutions.

For more information please visit www.westindoha.com / @heavenlyspadoha