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Spas & Retreats

SPA TREKKER Italy’s Vigilius Mountain Resort

Sick of rip-off, half-arsed treatments? Spa journalist for Queen of Retreats Louisa Carter says her Sodashi treatment on a recent review trip to Vigilius Mountain Resort in Italy was one of the best she’s had

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I’ve had my fair share of massages over the years, some better than others, but very few have lodged themselves in my memory: a blissful aromatherapy massage at UK spa hotel Chewton Glen that sedated me into a near coma, a full-on naked rub down and pummeling at The Korean bathhouse in Sydney that I swear helped rid me of pneumonia better than the giant antibiotics I was taking at the time, and most recently, a sublime Sodashi Experience at Vigilius Mountain Resort, a luxurious holistic spa reached only by cable car in the South Tyrol.

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Already relaxed beforehand thanks to the remote mountainside at this posh and lovely place, I was in a good frame of mind when I pitched up for my Trehs Mountain Pine Peeling (an organic scrub that uses locally harvested pine oil) followed by a Sodashi Signature Massage and a Sodashi Scalp Treatment. The completely natural Sodashi spa products smell divine and work well; they’re also not tested on animals.

I was hoping for a decent massage with firm hands; what I got was also a deep emotional release and a near-transcendental experience.

My therapist greeted me with a genuine smile and solid handshake and I instantly knew I was in good hands. The treatment room was warm and dark, candles flickered on the windowsill with near-dark mountains beyond and the music was a just-right blend of gentle spa-type instrumentals interspersed with birdsong and the occasional howling wolf – this introduced a spiritual element to the treatments which I always long for at spas but find frustratingly elusive.

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Two hours of strong hands, soothing yet deep strokes, plenty of work on acupressure points and beautifully-scented products combined to move me deeply. The focus on my overly-tense back and shoulders unleashed a deep sadness and I found old wounds opening that I have previously only managed to connect with through meditation. I let the tears flow, and afterwards felt both completely chilled and strangely uplifted. Everything was expertly done – my therapist even tied my hair into an elegant French plait so I could leave the Sodashi products in overnight. I retreated to my room, got under the duvet and cosied-up for an hour before dinner. The treatment was exactly what I hope for and seldom find at spas.

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You can have Sodashi treatments all over the world of course but I feel sure the success of mine was helped by the healing vibe, awesome mountain setting and brilliant therapists at Vigilius. I will go back.

A stay at Vigilius starts from 190 euros (£160) for a superior single room. The Sodashi Signature Massage costs 109 euros. Read more or ask questions about Vigilius here.

q-pink-web-white-bgQueen of Retreats offers honest, independent reviews of spas and healthy holidays by journalists with a critical eye plus a booking service for retreats we would hand-on-heart recommend. You won’t find any retreats on the site we don’t have experience of and no one pays to be on it.  More at www.queenofretreats.com

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