My husband’s nickname for me these past couple of years has been “Persian Heidi”! Now, for anyone who knows me, this would have probably been the most unlikely pet name for me not too long ago. And although I’m far from being a Heidi, since my move to Switzerland, land of the Alps, home to countless number of lakes and let’s not forget of happy Moo (= cows for our Urban mates!) I have changed quite a bit.
I lived in big cities all my life and never thought of myself as “a Nature girl” even when residing so close to water while in Los Angeles and New York. Water has always been an essential part in my spiritual evolution; it helps calm my “Monkey mind” as well as put things into perspective understanding how small I am in the big scheme of things. But shamefully I must admit that this was the extent of my connection to Mother Earth for quite some time.
Today things are different! I live by a beautiful lake surrounded by boundless mounts and valleys and I absolutely love it. So much that even this beauty is not enough anymore as I often find myself needing to reconnect with the source at the source itself – high up in the mountains.
Thanks to my lovely job for which I am forever grateful, I get to discover places that I didn’t even know existed or that I would probably not think of visiting otherwise. All of them so far have been exceptional in their unique offerings – from the architecture, to the rooms, the spa, the food and of course the surrounding nature.
This time, I got to discover a hotel which I had never heard about before – The Capra Saas-Fee a quaint luxury five-star establishment lovingly cradled by the mountains surrounding it near the Italian border. It is truly a unique location as nowhere else in the world, there are so many 4,000 metre peaks visible at a single glance. While the sun was shining and the temperatures rising, there was still a lot of snow in the mountains adding to the magic of the place. I truly felt embraced by the mountains. They made me feel safe, loved and hopeful almost like a parent’s embrace. Strange thing to say about mountains but so true!
WHAT MAKES THE CAPRA SO SPECIAL?
A love story
A few years ago, a bunch of friends set out to find their ideal home away from home. A place where they could escape their daily reality while rejuvenating and rejoicing in the nature.
After a while, they discovered an untapped jewel tucked away in the Swiss Alps called Saas-Fe. It was love at first sight. They found their perfect traditional Swiss hotel which they converted into a modern chalet hotel while keeping its rustic roots. Traditional elements combined with the latest technology result in a timeless classic that captures the relaxed spirit of chalet luxury. The soothing colours, organic materials, and rich textures are inspired by nature.
What does “The Capra” mean?
Capra is inspired by the Latin word for mountain goats. Unique to the Valais region, these adventurous creatures reflect the hotel’s authentic sense of place and respect for the natural environment. The two-tone goats also embody the ying-yang – the holistic harmony between man and nature, mind and body, also known as The Capra’s emblem.
WELLNESS PHILOSOPHY
I always say that luxury isn’t just about the price tag but about a life well-lived. Money without a holistic approach to life doesn’t serve anyone. Sure you can buy experiences but not those that will be forever engraved in your memory.
What makes The Capra unique other than their keen sense of aesthetics, is their overall philosophy around wellness.
The new owners weren’t satisfied with just having a hotel. They wanted to create a space where their clients could reconnect (or connect for some) with their mindful selves via nature, good nutrition and physical activities. They have understood that without the implementation of the important pillars (nutrition, physical activity, sleep and mindfulness) their message and mission would get lost.
From Farm to Table
I absolutely relished in everything I ate. Not once did I feel bloated, hungry or remotely guilty! The dishes I had were simple in essence, cooked with local and seasonal ingredients. But let’s not confuse simplicity and healthy with boring, on the contrary. Our plates combined different colors, textures and tastes which our sight and palates truly appreciated! The vegetarian dishes were so creative and delicious that I still dream about them.
Chef Eric Glauser, 15 Gault Millau points Chef, is a force to be reckoned with. He gets the true art of fine dining in my opinion – it’s not about how crazy intricate one gets with their creations but what emotions they bring forth in their customers.
PEAK HEALTH AT THE CAPRA
Given all that we just covered, incorporating a health retreat makes total sense for The Capra. Understanding our body’s potential, achieving life changing transformations by learning new powerful habits is becoming increasingly popular and in demand as our stress level and risks of burn outs have considerably spiked up in the recent years . Peak Health retreats’ goal is to impart a personalized and holistic approach to creating a balanced, healthy lifestyle around the four pillars discussed previously.
There, you will be taught how to boost your metabolism, increase your insulin sensitivity and help balance your body’s functions through diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. The goal is for their clients to improve their overall wellbeing and achieve their PEAK HEALTH.
And of course, a retreat would not be as fabulous without a Spa and all that it comes with! This one has all that one needs to relax and rejuvenate – treatments, sauna, steam and salt therapy rooms, indoor pool, outdoor hydrotherapy pool, fully equipped gym and mind-body studio for classes.
Good to know:
Peak Health Retreats will start running weekly throughout the Summer, from 22nd July to 1st September. Sign up now before it’s too late. The hotel will offer our readers a discount of CHF 200 on bookings for their summer retreats! Just mention “Discover Out Loud” at time of booking.
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