Gaia Spa launches new, inclusive wellbeing experience

The award-winning natural spa brand, GAIA Skincare, has launched the GAIA Affinity Experience at Gaia Spa at Boringdon Hall Hotel in Devon, bringing a new level of skill and inclusivity to spa treatments. The unique spa journey is suitable for anyone living with medical conditions ranging from cancer to MS, Parkinson’s, psoriasis, rosacea, anxiety and burns.

About the Affinity Experience

Focusing on natural wellness, the experience has been designed to last 45, 60 or 90 minutes, comprising a nurturing foot ritual and individually curated full body massage as well as home care and wellness advice.

Specially trained GAIA therapists conduct an intuitive consultation with each guest, adapting the experience based on a guest’s personal needs and preferences at that time, meaning each visit may offer a different experience. Duration, positioning, pressure and direction of flow are some of the considerations that will differ from individual to individual.

The training has been CIBTAC (Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology) accredited, and the experience is all encompassing and inclusive. It ensures that therapists have the knowledge they need to to give anyone with a medical problem the best treatment possible. The ability to adapt it mean that it could incorporate very different elements each time you have a treatment, and from one person the next; it hinges on the ability to tailor it to the individual.

The wellness benefits of spa treatments

Massage therapy and a focus on wellbeing has been found to have a wide range of physical and mental benefits, including:

• Reduced muscle tension
• Improved circulation
• Lymphatic stimulation
• Skin nourishment
• Reduction of stress hormones
• Increased joint mobility

Each of these benefits can have a profound effect on a person’s wellbeing.

“Everyone who visits a spa does so because they want to spend some time taking care of their physical and emotional wellbeing. None need it more so than those experiencing emotional distress and physical discomfort. Conditions like cancer affect one in two people in the UK[1], and MS and Parkinson’s affect one in 500 people. We wanted to create a wholly inclusive experience for those who are affected by mild, long term or life-changing concerns - whether visible or not - without alienation. It’s about focusing on wellness, rather than illness and providing a safe space to escape and feel looked after.”

– Diane Nettleton, Founder of GAIA Skincare

The Affinity Experience is divided into three categories: Nurture, Nourish & Thrive, which are then each tailored to allow for individual adjustments, such as positioning, duration, pressure and direction of flow.

Nurture being the gentlest, for guests that are fatigued, anxious or who may be too sensitive for extensive touch or firm pressure. Over the towel compressions, static holds and light product applications are gentle and slow, lasting no more than 60 minutes to prevent overstimulation.

Nourish allows for medium pressure, working on tension in the body and pressure point massage - lasting between 45 - 90 minutes, depending on the individual guest.

Thrive allows for medium to deeper pressure, with appropriate adjustments to direction of flow - lasting up to 90 minutes.