is home to one of the brand’s signature Pürovel
Spas. The centerpiece of the full-service, first-class
spa is the Turkish hammam, a steamy, mosaic-tiled
room where heated benches are used as massage
tables. Although the experience is offered in spas
around the world, there is something uniquely special
about experiencing it for the first time in its country
of origin. If you are only going to book one spa
treatment in Turkey, it must be a hammam, the
cleansing and social tradition that is so deeply
ingrained in Turkish culture. Plus, you will never
feel so squeaky clean.
Included in Pürovel Spa & Sport at this Swissôtel
is a comprehensive fitness center with over 60 pieces
of equipment from cardiovascular and strength
training equipment to accelerated full-body workout
devices from Kinesis, Maxuvibe and Reformer. The
property also includes two swimming pools and
a tennis court. Also available to guests are daily
fitness classes such as Zumba, Sixpack, Body Sculpt,
Aquaswiss, Yoga, Stretching and Spinning.
In the “good for the soul” category, an eclectic
collection of art from larger-than-life sculptures to
brightly painted canvases and ceramic masterpieces
is spread throughout the public areas of the hotel,
plus guest rooms.
Whatever your special interest and ambience
preferences for your spa vacation, you are likely to
find it in Europe.
Macrobiotic consultants, a cardiovascular
specialist, dentists, a psychiatrist, a psychologist,
a naturopath, general practitioners and experts in
genetics are all part of the SHA Wellness team.
The cornerstones of SHA Wellness are diet,
exercise and relaxation, and the goal is to extend
life free of illness. When I visited in 2014, on-staff
naturopathic and macrobiotic counselor Kenneth
Prange pointed out that “in just one week, guests
can change the condition of their blood plasma that
leads to cells becoming healthier and in turn promotes
a positive feeling of well-being.”
At one end of the scale, customized programs
target sleep disorders, detox, smoking cessation,
weight loss and countless other health concerns,
while at the other end, there are medicinal esthetics
such as Botox and fillers. On the anti-aging front, the
spa offers genetic testing, such as the Telomeres Test.
SHA Wellness is one of the few clinics in the world to
offer this biological aging assessment.
A LUXE CITY CENTER SPA MIXES
FITNESS AND ART IN IZMIR, TURKEY
An impressive fitness component plus more than 800
pieces of original art are the distinguishing features of
Swissôtel Buyuk Efes in Izmir, Turkey.
Located in a multi-cultural harbor city on
Turkey’s Aegean coast, the luxury city-center resort
ABOVE
The rooftop
terrace and
Pürovel Spa &
Sport at Swissôtel
Buyuk Efes,
Izmir are ideal for
relaxation. Guests
have the chance
to indulge in a
calming massage
before a dip in
the outdoor
hotel pool.
Well-Being
|
SUMMER / FALL 2015
205
