Lifescape attended the launch of new lifestyle book ‘SLOW LIFE’ this week.  It was held at an amazing venue, the National Geographic store on Regent’s Street in London.  SLOW LIFE has been created by Six Senses Resorts & Spas (www.sixsenses.com), who offer truly gorgeous holidays in eco friendly destinations.  Our favourites are in Thailand and the Maldives.

The book is a factual, informative guide to healthy and sustainable living at home, at work and in all aspects of living.  It is called SLOW LIFE to suggest Sustainable-Local-Organic-Wholesome Learning-Inspiring-Fun-Experiences; an acronym of eight words that encompass an holistic approach to individual and environmental health.

With chapters on food, your home, work, travel and even parenting all wrapped up in beautiful photographs, comments from leading contributors and the authority of author Kate O’Brien this is the first encyclopedic book about sustainable living we’ve found that is stylish enough to be worthy of a place on any coffee table.

Rajasana tells how she arranged a special treat for her grandmother!

For sometime I have wanted to treat my Granny to something special. She is 92, partially sighted and lives in a care home that, although nice, would make me go completely nuts to stay in. She is very into current affairs and discussing ideas so bingo doesn’t do it for her. She loves to treat me. Whenever I go to visit she wants to do something for me but it’s always been kind of hard to figure out what I could do for her. I mean, flowers, chocolates and the little things she likes are one thing but I wanted to really give her an experience she would love and be able to tell all her friends about, so I had to work out where we could go that would be different!

My plan!
Finally, in mid December, in a sudden rush of inspiration, I decided to book the two of us in for a Spa break at Champneys in Forest Mere. I gave my Granny a call and told her, “next week I am taking you away for the night to a Spa.” She has never been to one before and worried and fretted about it for the entire week, breaking one of her teeth and basically doing everything to make sure she would not be pampered. However, I arrived (late) to pick her up and off we drove towards Forest Mere. It was a good journey, we didn’t hit any traffic and my Granny, whose name is Rosary, was pretty excited. Although very partially sighted, (she’s been registered blind for many years) she managed to spot we were going through some quaint villages. Suddenly we were on a woody road leading us to the entrance of Champneys.

Forest Mere
I parked right next to the VIP entrance at Forest Mere and we got out and made our way in. Met at the door, we were welcomed so nicely that I could see Rosary starting to relax. We walked to our room, which was actually a suite overlooking the lake. We then both changed into the soft white dressing gowns provided. If you have ever gone out with any of your elderly relatives and been annoyed at the lack of care and attention they are given, or the impatience shown towards them, you will know how anxious I felt taking her somewhere new where she would be feeling uneasy. I didn’t know what kind of attention and service we would get. Anyway we changed and decided to walk down the corridor to have a quick tea before going upstairs for our treatments. My Granny was at this stage all comfy in slippers and cosy in just her dressing gown. We made our way along the corridor. I have never seen so many big smiles going in her direction. Maybe because everyone there is relaxed they have time for others but I could feel things were going to be very ok.

Time for pampering
We chatted and relaxed and drank some tea then popped upstairs to the treatment rooms where we split up. I had left the decision to Champneys as to what treatment would suit Rosary. They gave her a Reki treament for an hour and as I saw her being led away I hoped it was what she wanted. I had thought a massage might have been nicer, but they said Reiki  would be more gentle. I went off to have an aqua body scrub which was quite amazing. I really enjoyed the scrub and an hour to myself and to be honest, just wanted to hide away for days! When I was done I came out and waited from my Granny. After about 15 minutes I saw this blissful face coming along the corridor. Hugging me she said, “I can’t speak. I am at peace for the first time ever.” She just smiled and smiled. Now Rosary loves to talk, but for the whole walk back she just squeezed me saying “this is such a special time, and I’m so at peace.” We got to our room and changed for our evening meal. As we ordered and sat she was still very silent and blissful then I started to hear how lovely the lady who had treated her was, and how amazing she felt. It made me so happy that she had actually felt pampered and people were treating her with such respect and care. She was on top of the world. We slept early that night. Although tempted by the stunning swimming pool I thought we should stick together, so we just relaxed in our room and got plenty of sleep.

Smiles all round Breakfast at Champneys is amazing. We both enjoyed the wide range of fruits and Rosary loved the organic wholemeal toast and her porridge. We had a leisurely breakfast and chatted and basked in more of the friendly smiles all around, as well as the good service. As Rosary went upstairs for her hair to be set (with a backwash as she called it – ie: no bending over a sink for a change) she felt great. For my part I was appreciating that spas can actually be quite fun and not as boring as I might have imagined and that Champneys certainly do a pretty good job. I would have loved to stay there a week or two and just watched my Granny blossom more and more and for myself, enjoy the gym, treatments and no mobile phone or email.

But it was 11am and off we set.  Our little dream was over but we were both feeling happy, refreshed and in my Granny’s case, just a little bit more loved, I think. She probably wouldn’t spend the money to go herself but if I had it I would definitely take her again and again. Her smile said it all for me.

Prices: All nightly rates include unlimited use of all facilities, plus breakfast, lunch and dinner. From £129 standard twin to £279  Single Premier. Treatments offered range from Thalassotherapy and Rasil Mud Chamber to Aromatherapy, Massage, Reiki and Graphology plus the full range of Spa and Beauty treatments. Visit: www.champneys.com/resort_forestmere
or email: pthompson@champneys.co.uk