With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and a decade of that as the head therapist-trainer and practitioner of Six Senses Spa at The Alpina Gstaad, Antonis Sarris knows a thing or two about wellness. The world-renowned expert in Tibetan medicine, Chinese Tuina and Universal White Time healing hones his craft at the ultra-luxe Swiss spa hotel. Guests can experience unique wellness therapies under the guidance of Sarris and embark on dedicated wellness programmes and retreats guided by ancient Tibetan philosophies.
Compare Retreats founder Dervla Louli sits down and chats with the wellness practitioner on his personal journey to healing, how to implement healthier practices into your everyday life, and more.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your professional wellness journey?
I’ve always been very curious about how the body and mind work together. In my youth, I faced some problems of my own dealing with anxiety, stress and panic attacks, and I was working like crazy, trying to achieve everything. And then, of course, I felt the price. I saw doctors who tried to help but I decided that I needed to find the answers myself which guided me to this journey of healing and understanding the body and the mind.
See also: The Alpina Gstaad: Swiss Heritage & World-Class Wellness With A Six Senses In The Alps
In addition to this, I was always curious about the meaning of life. I read poetry and philosophy to understand the Western mind, but realised that the Eastern mind was a little bit more to the point. I studied different philosophies, Eastern and Western medicines including Chinese and Tibetan medicine as ways to heal the body and mind. And my journey is still continuing today.
How did you begin your journey with Six Senses?
My opportunities with Six Senses sort of happened by chance. One day, while I was doing Tai Chi, a friend of mine asked me, “Why you don’t try working with Six Senses? They’re always look for wellness practitioners, they teach Tai Chi, yoga and more.” I listened to my friend’s advice and that’s pretty much how my journey with Six Senses started.
You have been the head trainer and therapist at the Six Senses Spa at The Alpina Gstaad for the last 11 years, and you are also an integrated wellness practitioner. What makes the Six Senses Spa in the Alpina Gstaad unique?
Six Senses and The Alpina Gstaad are both hospitality brands that focus on holistic living and sustainability. The retreat packages and wellness programmes are uniquely influenced by holistic and effective Tibetan practices, TCM, technology and healing techniques. The hotel and spa are incredibly calm, tranquil and stress-free environments which makes this place particularly effective for guests looking for respite from sleep-related problems.
What’s one treatment you recommend that represents the spa?
The Ku Nye massage with Hor-Me. It’s actually a Mongolian technique that the Tibetans embraced a long time ago. In today’s world, there’s a lot of anxiety, insomnia problems and stress. People are always on the move, so their minds are all over the place. This is a very beautiful treatment to bring the mind back into the body to help you relax, feel calm and sleep better.
I like the Tibetan programmes because we work a lot with the mind and the body. This is achieved through techniques that help cleanse emotions, but we also integrate yoga and other ancient practices. So it’s a combination of very rich traditions. We do a lot of cleansing with chanting, movement and breathing treatments as well. Benefits include a balanced nervous system, improved skin quality and released tension in the muscles.
See also: Why The Chedi Andermatt Is The Ultimate Alpine Wellness Retreat In Both Winter & Summer Seasons
Can you tell us about the sleep treatments and retreats you created?
Sleep enhancement is a very important offering for us at Six Senses and The Alpina Gstaad as sleep is a fundamental pillar of health.
For those looking to immerse themselves in a sleep-focused retreat, I’d suggest our sleep suite. This unique accommodation comes with a special temperature-controlled bed from Freshbed and different treatments and practices like Yoga Nidra and Tai Chi that use oils and natural remedies for the perfect nights’ rest. Black-out blinds and blue light blocking glasses are also provided. The bed and the room are prepared to help you sleep better in every way possible.
We also have treatments at the Six Senses spa that are designed to support better sleep. Depending on the client’s preferences, we personalise these treatments to their specific needs and goals. What’s more, guests can make the most of our nutritious meals available throughout the hotel and people can eat food thats created to enhance sleep.
How important is sustainability to both brands?
Sustainability is at the very core of The Alpina Gstaad and in everything Six Senses’ does. In fact, The Alpina Gstaad was the first company in Switzerland to receive the Gold certification by EarthCheck. From the locally-sourced menus, and reclaimed and renewed energy sources throughout the hotel, to our fleet of hybrid and electric cars, everything is carefully curated to promote a better way of eco-conscious living.
From an everyday practical point of view, what are some essential healthy habits that people should be doing every day?
There are many things you can do to keep a healthy state of mind. For example, try to set a standard time for sleep to teach your body to know when to wind down and when to wake up. Practice some kind of meditation or breathwork everyday, ideally twice, once in the morning and once at night, for your mind and body. Whether it’s meditation and breathing or a bit of exercise, this is great way to focus on something while moving and burning energy.
Can you share some top nutritional tips?
It’s very important to listen to your body and find out what makes you feel good and bad. One thing that I would suggest is that if you notice something that is not good for you or feels negative on the body, then you should avoid it completely.
See also: Family Wellness & TAIM Retreats At Zulal Wellness Resort With Sandie Johannessen
Your body tries to talk to you so it’s important to listen to it. Listen to your body, listen to your mind.
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