Zulal Wellness Resort: A Different Kind of Holistic Retreat…
Not just another spa retreat, the recently opened Zulal by Chiva-Som is changing the face of wellness in Qatar
The world’s most famous wellness resort thanks to a slew of celebrity guests who ‘found themselves’ there during the nineties and early noughties – Kate Moss, David Beckham and Madonna included – Thailand’s Chiva-Som is the pinnacle of a haute health retreat, and remains at the very top of the list for the globe’s most dedicated detox devotees.
Now with a new sister resort a lot closer to home in Qatar that is set to become the region’s own premiere wellness destination, Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som has been tweaked to include ancient Middle Eastern wellness philosophies and therapies at its core, combined with cutting-edge treatments and state-of-the-art technology, all artfully wrapped-up in a stylish retreat.
Introducing Zulal Wellness Resort…
But Zulal isn’t just another wellness resort – it is a metaphor for the bigger picture of where Qatar hopes to be in the future, and it is no accident that it has been founded at a time when the country is undergoing social, political, human and economic development as part of Qatar’s National Vision 2030. That might sound extreme – what impact can a spa possibly have on a population? – but the retreat is taking its role in educating its guests seriously, using its experts and expertise in health – mental and physical – wellness, and sustainability to bring about positive change that impacts not only the current generation, but future generations too; through diet, exercise, meditation and even planting mangroves.
One major difference between the Thai and Qatari destinations is that the latter offers both adults-only (Serenity) and child-friendly (Discovery) sides to the resort, where families can retreat to embark on a wellness journey together, and where both kids and parents are armed with the tools to make healthier lifestyle choices through the wellness programmes on offer that are tailored to each individual’s needs.
“Qatar’s National Vision 2030 starts with the education of children, and educating them on how to eat healthily from a very young age is a big part of it,” says Zulal’s Health and Wellness Director Sandie Johannessen. “At Zulal, we encourage family activities such as cooking classes together, yoga together, planting mangroves together, which is all a part of creating a healthy lifestyle together, as a family.” And far from forcing children into an unrealistic diet of massaged kale salad morning, noon and night, the menu has been adapted to encompass all the things they love, burgers and nuggets included, but in a healthier, more sustainable format. Fries not included.
Of course, education may start with children, but with past statistics having suggested that up to 70.1 per cent of the population are overweight, with 17 per cent diabetic and 44.9 per cent at risk of cardiovascular disease, adults also have a lot to learn.
“The biggest focus in this region is always weight loss – detox and weight loss,” says Sandie. And while the demographic of travellers visiting the Thai property are deemed wellness travellers – the type that are already fit but looking to maintain it – Zulal offers facilities for guests looking for something a tad more life-changing. “Zulal has more guests that require medical attention. Fortunately, we have a medical director on board – they don’t have that at Chiva Som, but for us it is required 24/7.”
For those interested in making a big lifestyle change, the resort advises a minimum stay of seven nights, however 14 days is sufficient to make a significant change in weight and overall health. “It’s really quite remarkable when we follow guests over a number of weeks and we see the transition,“ shares Sandie. “We measure their blood pressure every single day, and we see things go back to normal when they shed those extra kilos and are able to move. That is very rewarding for us. It’s the best advertisement.”
The resort also prides itself in introducing alternative therapies that weren’t available in the region before now, such as craniosacral therapy, and offers retreats with visiting therapists or consultants around once a month, demonstrating treatments like hypnotherapy, Reiki and emotional release therapy. Past practitioners have included Ivana Daniels, the body postural alignment therapist, who teaches you how to sit, and the hypnotherapist Tim Stoneman. There is also a Fit for Championship retreat in the pipeline that is a combination of physiotherapy and fitness-focused treatments and activities, combined with daily massages and nutrition and wellness consultations designed to fine-tune aspiring athletes – no doubt inspired by the German football team that has chosen Zulal as its basecamp during the World Cup.
Retreats aren’t, however, created on a whim, they are developed via intricate research and feedback, says Sandie. “We have Cornell University around the corner where we have access to medical statistics. Once a week we have a Doctors roundtable and have a dialogue surrounding statistics that is very interesting. It’s very progressive. It helps us to develop new retreats, to see which ailments and health-related illnesses we should focus on healing.”
Another key focus of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 that Zulal is honouring is the preservation of tradition through its championing of Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM). Ancient rituals such as Hijama, a blood-letting therapy similar to cupping, designed to rid the blood of impurities, has proven to be very popular with local Qataris, apparently great at assisting pain relief.
“We additionally offer the following TAIM-inspired treatments such as Facial Hijama therapy, Traditional Qatari Hamiz (traditional Qatari deep tissue full body massage with the use of heated stones), Massage Al-Batin (holistic abdominal massage), and Massage Al-Ras (holistic head and facial acupressure massage),” shares Sandie.
It’s not all super serious though. Zulal is home to state-of-the-art facilities that will equally address health issues by targeting stress – the root of all health evils – through good old R&R, walks on the beach, exercise and spa. Hydrotherapy pools, sauna, steam, Himalayan salt room and arctic cave – in both male and female areas – are an education in relaxation, there is also an aesthetic centre to buff skin back to optimum health so the outside of each guest leaves as refreshed as the in.
With a team 130-people strong, and a treatment menu so extensive and designed to address a myriad of health issues, Zulal is the perfect starting-point in Qatar’s wellness journey, if not as an entire nation, than certainly for the detox devotees within it.
Lead image by Vladimir Marti