Pulse July 2015 | Page 54

FEATURED SOURCES launched its first-ever Optimum Wellbeing 50 Plus program, which is a fully inclusive five-night retreat designed to help older guests take a preventive approach to health and well-being. Fullybooked with 60 guests in attendance, the retreat featured five 90-minute seminars, which included Dr. Ross Walker, one of Australia’s leading cardiologists, among its wellness expert speakers. “Discussions centered on ways to support the body to age functionally and gracefully with quality of life being the end-goal,” Willis says. Aside from teaching guests meditation and visualization techniques, the retreat also included treatments like live blood analysis, acupuncture, skin care, massage treatments and nutritional consultations. To consolidate post-retreat education, Gwinganna further offered a 10-week online wellness at-home program to guests. Movement is another huge concern among those over 50 years of age. “Joint, back and neck pain can prevent them from moving sufficiently to maintain a healthy body composition and be able to interact with life to the fullest,” Willis says. To address this, Gwinganna incorporates Alexander Technique on their programs as well as offers Pilates, yoga and one-on-one postural analysis, followed by an at-home corrective exercise program. At St. Gregory Spa, there’s a focus on offering older guests a mix of strengthbuilding exercises in order to build adult muscles and increase metabolism, which in the process helps to keep weight and blood sugar in check. “Our group classes, such as yoga and Pilates, help with balance, which builds leg muscles and helps to avoid disabilities that could result from falling, as well as provide more freedom of movement to keep active in senior years,” Ling says. n Wee Wei Ling Tracy Willis Jocelyne Horst Chief Operating Officer St. Gregory Spa at PARKROYAL on Beach Road The Plaza, Singapore Marketing and Public Relations Director Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat Tallebudgera Valley, Queensland Australia Vice President Global