Need a post Christmas health break?

My last experience of a Health Resort was 20 years ago back in the days when they were called ‘health farms’. I remember feeling like one of a herd of cattle being shepherded to the weighing scales, ticked off,  and then waiting somewhere cold before being given a rather perfunctory massage in a clinical therapy room, which felt anything other than therapeutic. Lunch was a calculated affair and depending on how much weight you needed to lose was worked out to calorific values. Certainly no sign of gastronomic delight.

Somehow the beautiful sweeping drive of Champneys in Tring, Hertfordshire promised something different. I did have my visions of coiffured manicured ladies wearing  designer clothes, hats and possibly even matching gloves before they changed into their fluffy white robes, and I wondered if I’d actually get past reception wearing my charity shop chic.  I needn't have worried. The staff were friendly and my first vision was of very normal women of all ages and a fair number of guys walking around in either big white fluffy dressing gowns or casual workout wear.  

Champneys at Tring is a gorgeous elegant stately home, set in 170 acres of idyllic parkland, owned by the Rothschild family. It has a fascinating history though and was once owned by one Stanley Lief – a Naturopath. Way ahead of his time it seems, creating a ‘nature cure resort’ long before the Spa Hotel as we now know it had been thought of.  

My first stop was the Terrace bar where I sampled a smoothie to die for, while I gazed over the lovely stripey lawn, all set up for croquet, (I’ve only ever seen people actually playing that in films) and perused the many treatments and activities on offer. For anyone feeling active this is heaven. 

Being someone not tremendously used to much exercise, other than running around after 3 kids, I impressed myself by managing an early morning walk at a civilised 8am. I did Hatha yoga, Total Body fitness, an Aqua fit session and an exhausting but hilarious ‘Hula hoop for fitness’ class – crikey that got me sweating! Also on offer is Spinning, Fitball, Pilates, Tai chi, Aerobics, and much more. They even offer a Better Backs workshop and a guided visualisation for healing for a small extra charge.

If the gym is your thing then theirs is state of the art with regular Vibrogym demonstrations and the added incentive of possibly working out next to Frank Bruno. He’s a gym regular and was working hard the first day I arrived and not at all concerned about being clocked wearing fluorescent blue shorts!

What I really wanted to see was whether Champneys has truly embraced the holistic approach. I can honestly say I was impressed. When it comes to treatments this is world class. Where once you filed in one after the other to be pummelled, here you experience indulgence in the Japanese style spa with low lighting and classical music. You’ll feel better before you start in the waiting areas with water and lemon.  Your therapist comes to collect you and the ones I experienced seemed, not just fresh from beauty college or temping for the summer, but actually to have healing hands. Every treatment you can imagine is on offer from luxurious massages to healing therapies such as Reflexology and even my favourite, the Bowen technique- wonderful for backs and muscular problems.

I had a sensational scalp massage with borage, marjoram and other oils which smelt great. Such is the relaxed atmosphere that I wandered around with oily hair and it didn’t seem to matter. Had I wanted to look good they offer a hair salon, a nail bar and a fully stocked shop selling their own range of products and many others. I was impressed that they offer make-up workshops and sell the ID Bare Minerals range. Excellent mineral powder based bases and eye shadows which don’t contain the hair raising number of chemicals found in your average pot of ‘slap’.

Champneys have a full programme of special events and courses too, including a weekend course offering the ‘Shaw’ method of swimming. For resident guests they also offer evening talks on a wide range of subjects from Nutrition to Martial Arts.

The food was very good, lunch was a huge buffet where you could choose from complex salads with lentils and nuts and seeds,  curry, soup and bread and a selection of fresh fruits.  Dinner was superb with good vegetarian options such as the 
Artichoke salad starter with parmesan tuile and rocket. 
For dessert I had exotic fruits and mango sorbet, and washed it all down with some decent organic wine. Alcohol is served with meals only and they do request that you don’t bring alcohol onto the premises.

Champneys have lots of day guests and you can certainly pack a lot into a full day there. They also specialise in wellbeing breaks and I must say I felt more relaxed after 2 days there than I’ve felt in a long time. Dinner finishes by around 9.30 so early nights are de rigeur but after-dinner coffee is served in the drawing room and you can have a proper cappuccino, unusual for a hotel where it’s often filter coffee or nothing.

There’s a drawing room, games room with a huge pool table , a music room, internet access around the lounge and of course lots of open fires which I can only imagine are wonderfully cosy in winter.

Oh how times have changed from my first visit to a ‘health farm’!  Champney’s recognise that people now come for many reasons, not only to lose weight but also to relax, rejuvenate and escape, and as a Spa that is also a luxury hotel they’ve created the perfect environment for that to happen.Was it therapeutic?  Luxurious? Absolutely! Holistic? Impressively so! Eco friendly? Well, they have some policies in place and are looking at more sustainable practices. I must say I felt very decadent if rather guilty wallowing in the outside heated spa on the patio. That certainly won’t be reducing their carbon footprint but hey, my mantra is ‘Imperfectly’ Natural.

08703 300300

www.champneys.com

Oh Wow!

This prize is the ultimate in luxury and pampering! What a fantastic way to re-charge your batteries following Christmas and New Year. You could wina two night mid-week break for two people at Champneys Henlow, Champneys Springs or Champneys Forest Mere.

The prize includes:

All meals, unlimited use of the facilities, together with a Champneys body massage and a relaxing facial per person.

All you have to do to have a chance of winning is email Janey and tell her why you and a partner or friend deserve to win this fabulous prize. Remember to add your name and address and put "Champneys" in the subject line.

Email Janey to win