Review: Marbella Club’s ‘Food For Beauty’ Retreat

Marbella club

Review: Marbella Club’s ‘Food For Beauty’ Retreat

Once known as the playground of the rich and famous, in more recent years Marbella has become associated with visits from Essex’s reality TV stars (and their declarations of ‘no carbs before Marbs’). From Champagne fuelled yacht parties to pitchers of sickly sweet sangria at beach clubs, while Marbella’s visitors are diverse, they’ve generally visited for the party. But times are changing and while alcohol-fuelled holidays may still be popular, demand for wellness holidays has risen exponentially in recent years. In response to the demand, one of Marbella’s most luxurious resorts, the Marbella Club, have been carefully crafting their new wellness offering, due to launch in 2020.

I was invited by Marbella Club to be one of the first to experience their inaugural ‘Food for Beauty’ retreat, exploring the connection between inner health and outer beauty. A concept I am particularly passionate about. Here’s what you can expect to experience at Marbella Club’s new wellness retreat:

THE FOOD & DRINKS

Naturopathic nutritionists work closely with Chef Andrés to tailor your menu to your individual needs. The food is, of course, sourced locally wherever possible and changes according to what’s available seasonally. We enjoyed a beautiful variety of colourful dishes combining vibrant produce with freshly caught fish. André has also created three unique infused waters: step aside cucumber and mint, the exciting, flavourful combinations on offer included:

  • Cucumber, green apple, thyme sprigs and lemon peel.
  • Mango, lime, juniper berries and basil leaves.
  • Pineapple, strawberry, ginger, mint leaves and star anise.

And the food that got us the most excited? Cake – for breakfast no less. Gluten, dairy and added sugar free, while being nutrient dense and rich in fibre, naturally.

THE TREATMENTS

Marbella Club have teamed up with natural skincare brand Votary to offer facials that will leave your skin glowing for days afterwards. Votary products are based on natural ingredients, proving that you don’t always need harsh, synthetic chemicals for skincare to be effective. In addition to the facials we were treated to massages (genuinely one of the best I have ever had) and full body seaweed wraps. Marbella Club’s therapists are on a different level.

THE ACTIVITIES

Health and wellness activities on offer at the club feature tibetan bowl rituals, aerial yoga and reformer pilates along with a comprehensively equipped gym. Outdoor activities make the most of the beautiful surroundings. Take a guided hike in the nearby woodland and get your exercise while also benefiting from connecting with nature. Or hop on a bike and cycle along the waterfront towards historic Marbella old town for a spot of sightseeing. The wide range of activities on offer means there’s something to appeal to visitors of all ages.

THE BALANCE

While there are many destinations focussed exclusively on their health offerings, there are benefits of a wellness programme existing within a traditional holiday environment. The inclusive ethos of Marbella Club means that you don’t have to extract yourself from your family or friends if you want to experience a different type of holiday to your loved ones. It’s worth noting here that Marbella Club has a fantastic Kid’s Club offering a range of fun activities for children. There is also the option to come along for an indulgent weekend with friends and then stay on afterwards to restore and rejuvenate.

THE STAFF

A review of Marbella Club would be incomplete without mention of the talented team of staff. It’s clear to see the connection they share with one another and their mutual passion for taking care of their guests and delivering an exceptional service. I’ve no doubt that this lovely team will ensure that visitors are keen to come back time and time again.

THE PERFECT HEALTHY LONG WEEKEND

I visited for three nights in November when the weather in Marbella was 18 degrees and the skies were blue. Significantly more pleasant than the weather we left behind in the UK! Just a short fight from London, it’s the perfect destination for a healthy escape in darker months. Visit for a weekend and you’ll feel as though you have been there a week, relaxed and with a sense of inner peace.

BOOK IT

Marbella is easily accessible from London with a multitude of different flight options from all of the main airports.
Rates start from €390 / www.marbellaclub.com

Looking to lose weight in a healthy, sustainable way that’s tailored to your unique needs? Find out more about our Intelligent Weight Loss method here.



SARAH LAW

Sarah has worked with hundreds of clients over the past decade to help them live in a healthy body that they feel confident in.
Sarah spent a large part of her teens and 20’s as a professional dancer battling with orthorexia and an unhealthy relationship with food and her body. This created a desire to understand the human body more so she could finally cut through the confusion and end the cycle of yoyo dieting. This fuelled her passion to help other women do the same.

 

Sarah May specialises in supporting women who are struggling to lose weight due to underlying health issues. She’s helped many women manage their weight during and after the menopause, as well as clients with thyroid disease and immune system dysfunction. Sarah May loves food and sharing healthy recipes with her clients. Her aim is to ensure that clients don’t feel deprived and instead, achieve their weight loss and health goals in a positive and sustainable way.

 

To enquire about working with Sarah, please contact us.

AILSA HICHENS

 

Ailsa is one of our most experienced practitioners. She specialises in helping clients to lose weight, develop a healthy relationship with food and finally feel comfortable in their skin. Ailsa’s mission is for everyone she works with to enjoy the journey and that working with a nutritionist should not be a punishment, but your access to a new possibility.

 

Ailsa is not only an experienced weight loss nutritionist, she is also a skilled coach. She helps our clients overcome emotional eating, destructive habits and self-sabotaging behaviours that have prevented successful weight loss in the past. Ailsa has spent years in clinic working with clients who have experienced yo-yo dieting and have discovered that long term weight loss is not just about eating less until you can stand it no longer.

 

Working with Ailsa you will be comprehensively supported, not only in improving your nutrition and lifestyle, but also your eating habits and your relationship with food. When you work on all these elements together, the results can be truly astonishing.

 

To enquire about working with Ailsa, please contact us.

Test Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team of practitioners and heading up the day-to-day running of the business. Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, coming from a strong business background in town planning. A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 with her husband and two children.

NIKKI ANDRIANI

 

Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team of practitioners and heading up the day-to-day running of th clinic.

 

Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, coming from a strong business background in town planning.

 

A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 with her husband and two children.

STÉPHANIE ACHAR

Stéphanie is a skilled nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner with additional training in eating disorders, disordered eating and obesity. She believes that working towards both physiological and mental health is key in achieving optimum wellbeing.

 

Stéphanie’s personal experience of emotional eating and the ongoing struggle to find the right support led her to combine the science of nutrition with behavioural coaching to motivate and empower her clients. She specialises in helping people who struggle with their weight and their relationship with food. She helps them develop a healthier and more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.

 

To enquire about working with Stéphanie, please contact us.

INNA WEARN

Inna is passionate about supporting women on their journey to improved health and wellbeing. She believes that the solution to effective weight loss does not lie in ever more restrictive diets, but a more sophisticated approach that optimises health and vitality, as well as promoting effective weight loss.

 

Working with Inna you will benefit from her in-depth knowledge of female health and hormones. She will support you in developing a healthy diet, lifestyle and mindset that ensures you reach your ideal weight and maintain it in the years to come.

 

Inna is passionate about food with a wide repertoire of delicious healthy recipes and meal ideas to ensure your weight loss journey is as enjoyable as possible!

 

To enquire about working with Inna, please contact us.

ANIA MASON

 

Ania is a firm believer that improving your health and losing weight should be a positive, empowering journey, not one centred around deprivation.

 

After being diagnosed with two autoimmune conditions in her twenties, Ania spent several years educating herself on the power of food and nutrition. She put it all into practise and changed her diet and lifestyle, reversing her endometriosis and thyroid disease. After experiencing such a significant improvement in her health, Ania had a big desire to help others. She embarked on a four year journey to study nutrition, graduating from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition with distinction.

 

Ania specialises in autoimmunity and works with clients who have underlying health issues preventing successful weight loss. Her expertise enables her to successfully support our clients with conditions such as hypothyroidsm (underactive thyroid), PCOS and diabetes. 

 

To enquire about working with Ania, please contact us.

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