Succinct but superb wellness guide

Start where your body understands that today is a day of rest most quickly: in warmth. During the colder months of the year in particular, there couldn’t be a more fitting place than a sauna. At a sauna, warmth, fresh air, and soothing sunlight often come together, as many have an outdoor plunge pool. The alternation between hot and cold, indoors and out, sharpens the senses and allows one to effortlessly forget the daily grind.

With crisp mountain air and better prospects for sunshine away from the smog of the city, the experience is even more intense – at Le Grand Spa in picturesque Gstaad, for example. Set across 3,000 m², it is home to 17 different wellness areas: a variety of saunas ranging from herbal, hay, Finnish, and bio saunas to infrared saunas – tailored to every temperature preference and sauna experience. By the way: If you stay at Le Grand Bellevue Gstaad and pay with your American Express Card, access to the spa and a voucher to the value of CHF 150.- are included. The voucher is redeemable at the hotel’s bars and restaurants.

Rest isn’t stagnation, but a state in which everything falls into place. When external stimuli subside, the body starts listening to itself once again. This is best achieved at places specifically designed for this purpose. These include the 7132 Hotel & Therme in Vals: a retreat that manages the feat of being both spartan and luxurious. Nestling in striking natural scenery, it offers space for deceleration and privacy – and includes access to the world-famous thermal baths.

At THE OMNIA in Zermatt, retreat and privacy are paramount. Even the address speaks volumes: "Auf dem Fels" (on the rock). With the Matterhorn as its neighbor, the five-star alpine lodge perches high above Zermatt, offering understated luxury and a high level of comfort. The journey alone – 40 meters through the granite in a glass elevator –, the views of the imposing mountain scenery and the exclusive spa reserved for hotel guests make it easy for you to put everyday life on hold.

Nutrition does more than many people realize. It influences a person’s well-being, energy levels, and even their mood – making it a quiet but crucial component of a genuinely effective wellness program. In Ayurveda, the ancient Indian healing art, nutrition therefore plays a central role: with dishes tailored to your constitution designed to warm, ground or invigorate – depending on what your body needs most at that moment.

The Hide & Seek Restaurant at the Hotel Giardino Ascona provides compelling proof that "healthy" and "upscale" aren’t mutually exclusive. Here, Ayurveda isn’t interpreted dogmatically, but deliciously translated with Mediterranean flair – and served in a 5-star superior setting. Those wishing to dig deeper will find ample time and space on one of the retreats lasting several days at the Giardino Ascona, where they will learn about Ayurvedic nutritional principles and how to integrate them into their daily lives. The holistic program is complemented by detoxifying and relaxing Ayurvedic treatments, yoga and mindfulness training.