11 Wellness practices from Africa to Asia

Join in The Lux Collective’s wellness programme this Global Wellness Day. Follow one of the participating resort’s activities on their IGTV channel and join in if you can!

Words by Debbie Hathway

‘ONWARD AND DOWNWARD!’ For veteran marine biologist and oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle, it’s a motto for life, having dedicated an epic career to underwater exploration and raising awareness around ocean conservation. At 88, she’s a living legend, the first TIME magazine Hero for the Planet, a National Geographic explorer-in-residence and founder of Mission Blue, SEAlliance and DOER Marine (Deep Ocean Exploration and Research). She has led over 100 expeditions, logged over 7 000 hours underwater, authored numerous books and lectured worldwide – and she’s not stopping any time soon. What motivates her to keep going? ‘Reasons for hope.’

When people ask me “Why Mauritius?” I always say because of the way I feel when I’m there. Happy. Energised. And well. That sense of vitality, health and wellbeing sustains me for months between visits – except it’s been a very long 18 months to date, thanks to the pandemic.

It’s not even a romanticised view. I usually travel to Mauritius in the low season, about three times a year, when the weather is not perfect and I’m there to work, not play. My first visit to LUX* Belle Mare was during an anticyclone so most of the outdoor activities were curtailed. However, I was able to interview Mattias Rendefors, a former tennis pro who is also the resort’s wellness concierge, about the importance of sticking to a daily exercise regime.

Global Wellness Day

This year, friends of LUX* Resorts & Hotels, SALT Resorts and Tamassa Resorts will be able to get a little wellness inspiration online. The group will stream a 10-hour IGTV Wellness Festival in honour of Global Wellness Day on June 12. Would-be travellers can watch from their armchairs or join in at home, where possible. I’m up for yoga, stretching, relaxing and sega dancing. The bath ritual can happen later. Why not?

11 wellness practices

1. 7am Sunrise yoga on the beach – SALT of Palmar, Mauritius
2. 8am Wellness boot camp – LUX* North Male Atoll Resort & Villas, Maldives
3. 9am Stretch and relax on the beach – LUX* Belle Mare Resort & Villas, Mauritius
4. 10am Fitness tips for busy professionals – LUX* Le Morne Resort, Mauritius
5. 11am Paddle yoga – LUX* Saint Gilles Resort, La Reunion
6. 12pm Scenic tour of the village on bicycle – LUX* Chongzuo, Guangxi, China
7. 1pm Nature walk and stretch – LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas, Maldives
8. 2pm Bath rituals to try at home – LUX* Grand Baie Resort & Residences, Mauritius
9. 3pm Nature trail with mascot, Mazaki – LUX* Tea Horse Road Benzilan, China
10. 4pm Traditional sega fit dance – LUX* Grand Gaube Resort & Villas, Mauritius
11. 5pm Burning sorrows ritual – Tamassa Bel Ombre, Mauritius

Collectable experience

Each resort will also launch a wellness-focused, one-of-a-kind experience that is designed to change the way we travel.

Luxury outback

Subi Mungroo is one of my favourite chefs at LUX* Belle Mare. He’s usually in the kitchen at Amari.

Start your day with a sunrise horse ride before cooling off with “home-grown” coconut water at the LUX* Belle Mare Resort & Villas’ onsite farm, Aubergine. Pick herbs and plants to prepare your own body scrub and indulge in a 75-minute spa experience at the Farm Shed. The resort chef serves a delicious health lunch there afterwards.

Mindfulness the SALT way

Detox with a plant-based lunch at SALT of Palmar before having a rejuvenating SALT facial. A hike in Bras D’eau National Park is highly recommended for a little “nature bathing”. The resort’s wellness coach will lead a guided tour that incorporates meditation and gentle stretching to prepare you for the transformative Brahma Kumaris experience.

Hug me honey

LUX* Grand Gaube Resort & Villas’ in-house honeybee apiary provides honey for the resort menus and LUX* Me Spa. Visit the eight hives, with their 240,000 bees, and learn more about the resort’s beekeeping efforts. Create your own honey scrub followed by a signature honey cocktail before enjoying a honey-paired dinner curated by the executive chef. Guests will be given a beekeeping kit to take home.

The spirit of island living

A LUX* Le Morne Resort team member will guide guests to a snorkelling experience on a traditional Mauritian pirogue. There is an option to take a garden-to-glass cocktail class in the resort’s herb garden, followed by a course on making vegan desserts. You can also go plogging (jogging and picking up litter along the trail) at the Black River Gorges National Park, which is home to more than 700 species of endemic flora and fauna as well as endangered wildlife.

About LUX* Resorts & Hotels

LUX* Resorts & Hotels helps people to celebrate life by delivering consistently on the promise of a different kind of luxury – hospitality that is Lighter. Brighter.

For more information or to make a reservation, email reservation@theluxcollective.com