Leaderboard Banner

Sha Wellness Clinic

by Organic Spa Magazine

Sha Wellness Clinic Virtual Tour

The sleek, stylish design may make you think you are visiting a luxury spa, which, in part, you are. White chaises beckon from the rooftop pool, and the suites offer dazzling views of surrounding hilltop villas and the azure-blue sea.

Although SHA Wellness Clinic in Alicante, Spain, may look like a chic Mediterranean playground, it is really a place to get serious health and wellness work done. Most international guests book a week to 10 days, or more, to lose weight, detox, relieve stress, quit smoking, improve sleep or seek treatment for chronic illness.

And it seems to be working. SHA just doubled the size of the wellness area to accommodate its unique blend of natural Eastern healing modalities and cutting-edge Western medical treatments ranging from acupuncture to genomic and telomere testing, chelation, ozone therapy, bio-ophthalmology, cryotherapy, neurofeedback and more. Legions of doctors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, nutritionists, spa therapists and psychologists on staff will keep you busy throughout your stay.

But the centerpiece of SHA is the macrobiotic food plan, which SHA’s founder credits with helping him recover from a bout with cancer. Born in Zen monasteries in Japan and refined by Michio Kushi, macrobiotic means lots of whole grains, vegetables, sea vegetables, beans, fish, but no meat, and some fruit, but not a lot.

Day One starts with a General Health Examination. A nurse checks weight, blood pressure, BMI, muscle strength, dehydration levels and runs a series of blood tests. Next up, a medical consult with a doctor, who reviews the test results, followed by an evaluation with a personal trainer. A nutrition counselor assesses your goals and chooses the proper food plan for you.

My “Kushi” breakfasts—the most restrictive plan for weight loss or detox—included whole grain cereal (brown rice, millet, etc.), with fruit (umeboshi plum, fig) and an apple, carrot, ginger detox juice. The plan was extremely satisfying, and easily kept me going until lunch. The “Biolite” menu is less restrictive and the “SHA” is a true gourmet experience. No cheating allowed: The waitstaff will hold you to your plan.

Be prepared to abandon coffee and embrace a range of therapeutic teas: shitake mushroom (detoxes the liver), moo (good for bones) and daikon (breaks down fat), prescribed specifically for you. Organic wine is allowed, but not encouraged. Though it takes a day or two to get used to, the food is absolutely delicious, and the presentation delights the eye and palate.

A daily activities sheet is fully loaded with lectures, walks, yoga, Pilates, meditation and cooking classes, to schedule around your treatments. I began mine with an early morning Hydro Energetic Detox Cure, a relaxing color therapy bath with jets that gently massage the body. My therapist painted me with detoxifying algae, helped me onto a hi-tech waterbed and wrapped me up for the detox. The water (inside the bed) pulsed and flowed, rocking me into a dream-state. To finish, shots of water hit me from a hose in a hydrotherapy room, rinsing off the body mask and providing a vigorous muscle massage.

After breakfast, I met with clinical psychologist Dr. Bruno Ribeiro, head of the new SHA Cognitive Program. Using neurofeedback and diagnostics, Dr. Ribeiro assesses cognitive function and recommends brain exercises, foods and nutritional supplements—and a new 3D theater of brain-stimulating images based on the latest research—to help keep your mind sharp and running on optimal.

Off to acupuncture, where my treatment focused on the gut, to stimulate my digestive organs to work efficiently, and help with my weight loss goals. In the afternoon, I hit the hydrotherapy circuit, followed by a detox massage. With steam, sauna, thermal Roman bath and ice stations—plus relaxing warm beds—it is stellar.

Why travel all the way to Spain, when there are plenty of excellent programs in the U.S.? I lost a kilo—2.2 pounds—and enjoyed spending time in a place where you can take daily beach walks along the shores of the Mediterranean. SHA offers a fresh, European-style alternative, and costs the same—including the price of a plane ticket.

Bring your motivation, and the staff will show you how to keep it going when you get home. “The common goal for everyone,” according to VP Alejandro Bataller Pineda, “is achieving the best version of themselves, to their best potential.” It certainly worked for me. shawellnessclinic.com

Terminal Wellness

Before you cruise through the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport on autopilot, take a mindful moment, put yourself on pause and spend some of that layover time at the new Esenza Spa by SHA, a satellite of SHA Wellness Clinic, which just opened in Terminals 4 and 4s. The light, airy haven offers deep tissue massage (in a private room), express massage (I had a 20-minute version by Martin and immediately felt so much better), facials, hair styling, cuts and blowouts, and manicures and pedicures.

Of course, you will find a selection of the types of macrobiotic snacks—almond milk, dried fruit, rice cakes—that will keep you healthy, even in the airport.

You may also like