VOYAGE

of

The Art

WELLNESS

SET AMIDST QUAINT VILLAGES AGAINST THE BACKDROP

OF THE ALTEAN MOUNTAINS, SHA WELLNESS CLINIC IS
AIMING TO TURN HEALTHY LIVING INTO AN ART.
PRIYANKA PRADHAN DISCOVERS HOW DETOX THERAPIES
AND MACROBIOTIC DIET MAKE FOR A LUXURY GETAWAY
TO THE SOUTH OF SPAIN

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VOYAGE

o added, No eggs, no oil, no preservatives or

articial colors and of course, no tobacco. He had a
monk-like expression with the practiced ease of
someone who is accustomed to seeing gawking faces.
Welcome to the SHA method, he smiled.
I found myself at SHA Wellness Clinic, perched high
atop the scenic Altean Mountains near Alicante,
anticipating what my dinner would look like, not without
a feeling of trepidation.
The macrobiotic diet forms the crux of the wellness
program at SHA, which aims to offer a unique and effective
approach to wellness and beauty- also known as the SHA
Method. When founder, Alfredo Bataller Parietti realized
how this diet cured his digestive ailment in less than two

months something western medicine could not do in his

30 years he decided to share the benets with others.
SHA meaning luminosity in Japanese was born out of
his passion to propagate this therapeutic diet, aiming to
offer a healing and rejuvenating experience for the body.
Its not just a diet; its a complete lifestyle, says master
chef Foraida Llamas. We tailor and personalize the
macrobiotic menu according to our program for each guest.
We also have specically targeted diets for certain
deciencies that are common, such Vitamin B12, or
cholesterol problems as well as various lifestyle diseases.
For instance, the Kushi diet is prescribed for those on the
strict Detox and Weight Loss Program, based heavily on
grains and vegetables with an intake of less than 500
calories a day and no use of oil. The more intermediate,
Biolight diet is meant for guests on anti-stress, anti- tobacco
or rejuvenation programs, while the most lenient menu is
the SHA diet, which offers a healthy alternative to every-day
eating and general wellness.

I CALL US A LUXURY,
FUNCTIONAL WELLNESS CLINIC
AND SPA, RATHER THAN A MEDSPA BECAUSE WE ARE RESULTORIENTED AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE
AND UNIQUE

A dip in the pool offers

an invigorating pause
Above: An exterior view
of SHAs outdoor terraces

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Left: The stunning

outdoor pool
Below: A view of the
surrounding town of
Alicante, Spain

Programs are tailor-made for guests after medical and

nutritional consultations with in-house doctors. Along with
a specic diet, guests are offered an array of services such as
massages, beauty and aesthetic treatments and exercise
modules with a personal trainer all picked specically, as
per a guests health assessment and preference. The
hydroenergetica therapy, for instance, is one of SHAs most
popular treatments for relaxation, combining the effects of
hydro massage and the therapeutic qualities of a seaweed
body wrap and even color therapy, together. Other
treatments such as Indiba Therapy target cellulite and
water retention on the face and body, while the BDR Facial
aims to offer a luminous, even-toned complexion with the
help of mechanical and chemical peeling.
The oriental therapies of Acupuncture and moxibustion
are also offered at SHA, along with various massage
techniques from across the world, in an effort to offer
guests a wide spectrum of options to best suit their
wellness needs. We recommend a two-week break to
rejuvenate and detox here, says Pedro Catarino, Director
of Wellness at SHA Wellness Clinic. Not only does that
give time to actually relax and take the mind off daily life,
but it also gives you time and space to adapt to the SHA
method. Moreover, to enjoy full benets of the treatments
and see results, two weeks is ideal. We also have 7-day
modules and a 4-day Discovery program for those who
want to try our facilities for an overview of SHA a
wholesome approach to wellness. He adds, I call us a
luxury, functional wellness clinic and spa, rather than a
med-spa because we are result- oriented as well as
exclusive and unique.

The luxury element of SHA is manifested best in its

suites, particularly in the Royal and Presidential suites.
Offering unrestricted, sweeping views of the Atean
mountains as a backdrop to the quaint Spanish village below
and a view of the gin-clear sea in the distance, the suites do
elevate the SHA experience by a few notches.
Besides, sunny Alicante offers a lot to explore outside of
SHA as well, says Catarino. Experience the outdoors on a
biking expedition, kayaking in the sea or even a leisurely
walk across the neighboring villages all of which add value
to the healthy holiday here. My own wellness vacation
wrapped up with a master class in macrobiotic cooking
indoors, but adventurous, nonetheless.
Lets try and take something back home from SHA
perhaps a certain healthy habit cultivated here or even a
resolution, says Chef Llamas. I opted to take her marinated
tempeh and miso-dressing recipe, along with a slice of the
SHA philosophy and a helping of simple dos and donts for a
much-needed alternative healthy lifestyle. In all, Id call it a
sweet deal, even without the articial sugar.
shawellnessclinic.com

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