Benge and Sokolova have travelled more than 10,000 miles to try out sources of healing focused on natural elements for the book
Alla Sokolova and Sophie Benge, two industry friends, are collaborating on a ground breaking book that explores the culture of wellbeing in Eastern Europe.
Over the past 18 months, the pair have journeyed over 10,000 miles to uncover gems of knowledge and people of passion across 12 countries. They’ve assisted with the rose harvest in Bulgaria, rolled in snow in Estonia, slept down a salt mine in Poland, picked healing mushrooms from the hills of Serbia, been injected with gas in Czech Republic and bathed in naturally fizzy pools in Romania.
The book focuses primarily on natural elements as great sources of healing, which have also stood the test of time. Many treatments using mud or mineral waters, for example, have changed little over three centuries and are used today, just they always have been – to cure disease. Such potent approaches, Sokolova and Benge believe, can teach much to the global spa industry.
Healing Sources – Spas and Wellbeing from the Baltic to the Black Sea (working title) is due to be published in mid 2014 by Prestel.
Benge is a journalist from London and author of The Tropical Spa focusing on the South East Asian approach to wellness. Sokolova is co-founder and GM of Amber Spa Boutique Hotel in Latvia (see SB10/3 p56).
On their travels, they were accompanied by photographers and film makers Helen Abraham and Christian Banfield. As well as the book, the team are offering a library of over 10,000 images for sale, and advisory services, related to wellness in this part of Europe.
Details: www.thehealingsources.com
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Benge and Sokolova have travelled more than 10,000 miles to try out sources of healing focused on natural elements for the book
Alla Sokolova and Sophie Benge, two industry friends, are collaborating on a ground breaking book that explores the culture of wellbeing in Eastern Europe.
Over the past 18 months, the pair have journeyed over 10,000 miles to uncover gems of knowledge and people of passion across 12 countries. They’ve assisted with the rose harvest in Bulgaria, rolled in snow in Estonia, slept down a salt mine in Poland, picked healing mushrooms from the hills of Serbia, been injected with gas in Czech Republic and bathed in naturally fizzy pools in Romania.
The book focuses primarily on natural elements as great sources of healing, which have also stood the test of time. Many treatments using mud or mineral waters, for example, have changed little over three centuries and are used today, just they always have been – to cure disease. Such potent approaches, Sokolova and Benge believe, can teach much to the global spa industry.
Healing Sources – Spas and Wellbeing from the Baltic to the Black Sea (working title) is due to be published in mid 2014 by Prestel.
Benge is a journalist from London and author of The Tropical Spa focusing on the South East Asian approach to wellness. Sokolova is co-founder and GM of Amber Spa Boutique Hotel in Latvia (see SB10/3 p56).
On their travels, they were accompanied by photographers and film makers Helen Abraham and Christian Banfield. As well as the book, the team are offering a library of over 10,000 images for sale, and advisory services, related to wellness in this part of Europe.
Details: www.thehealingsources.com
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Interview: Helene Goetzelmann
L'Occitane's international spa director tells Rhianon Howells how the consumer retail company has become a spa operator with 60 facilities
Ask an expert: Profit & Loss
Hotel spas need to fight capital expenditure allocation said an investor panel at this year's Global Spa & Wellness Summit
Research: All rise
There's been an increase in the five top key performance indicators in the US spa industry shows the 2013 ISPA study
Company Profile Promotion: ESPA promotion
As ESPA's 20th
anniversary year draws
to a close, founder and
CEO Sue Harmsworth
explains how and why the
company is still evolving
Safari Spa: Animal instinct
Safari spas are the staple for Amani, one of South Africa's largest spa chains. Lisa Starr talks to MD Ronleigh Gordon
Trends: Brief encounters
We take a look at some of the most innovative spa pop-ups, a growing trend across the leisure sector
Interview: Paul Smyth
Something & Son designer shares his insights on creating pop-up spa facilities. Magali Robathan reports
Summit review: Upping the ante
Katie Barnes reveals the takeaway messages from the 2013 Global Spa & Wellness Summit in New Delhi, India, attended by 375 industry leaders
Research: Local news
Domestic travellers dominate the global wellness tourism market which has an economic impact of US$1.3 trillion. SRI's Ophelia Yeung reports
Research: Thai up
Prantik Bordoloi analyses a 2013 Thai spa industry study based on both spa consumer and spa operator opinions
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Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of
Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los
Cabos.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at
Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
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wellbeing innovation: Silent Loads, an approach designed to meet the needs of modern spa
guests with precision and depth. [more...]
