Real Men Relax

The Apprentice star Reece Donnelly from Glasgow joins the campaign to highlight the benefits of the spa for stress. Reece comments “Since leaving The Apprentice, I was juggling lots of different roles and responsibilities and so I started using spas to manage the workload of being a CEO and business leader. Steam rooms, saunas and Jacuzzis have all helped me to manage external pressures.”

After being thrust into the spotlight through a viral image taken on an evening out, The Four Lads in Jeans have suffered intense online trolling which has had an impact on their mental health with one of the lads only recently completing counselling from the experience three years on. “When our picture first went viral we received huge amounts of abuse online - everything from hate speech to death threats. It had a big impact on us and spas were a place to escape the noise, scrutiny and just take a moment to breathe.”, the lads commented.

Newport County striker Will Evans joins the line up having recently scored against Manchester United in The FA Cup this season. Having turned pro following being a farmer for many years, Will uses the spa to aid his performance “I regularly use spas to support my performance on the pitch. From the gym and massages to ice baths and saunas, it all helps me to prepare for matches. It’s the fine margins that you invest in off the pitch that make the difference when it comes to the big games”, commented Will.

Darren Harris takes part in the Men’s Health Week campaign, opening up on how the spa has offered him freedom both mentally and physically. Having competed at the London 2012 Paralympics, won 12 world and European medals and made 157 appearances for his country, Darren is Team GB’s most capped blind footballer. Whilst the spa is an escape for some, it is also a place of inclusion for others. Darren finds inclusion and freedom in the spa “There are no barriers at a spa and no judgement, everyone is there to relax and enjoy some much-needed peace and relaxation.”

David Slater takes part to highlight his running journey in support of two charities close to his heart. David has been running 10km for 500+ consecutive days to support suicide prevention Papyrus and childhood cancer charity Candlelighters. He comments “Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35. I run to raise awareness of this and aim to highlight the support networks available. Spending time using spa facilities has been integral to my ability to keep running – supporting me both physically and mentally – which I think is something we all need.”