Spring 2019

44 Mar19117 A HarmoniousWellness Retreat Nestled in County Wexford’s archetypal countryside, Creacon Wellness Retreat is an award-winning destination for self-care, relaxation and rejuvenation that specialises in services that balance and revitalise. Earlier this year, the retreat was recognised as one of the ‘Leading Health & Wellness Retreats’ by LUXlife Magazine. Following this recognition, we spoke with Creacon’s Alisa Canavan, who discussed the retreat’s outstanding services and ethos. “At Creacon, wellness is not just a buzz word.” The health and wellness sectors have flourished over the last decade on the back of a growing need to prioritise personal wellbeing over other pursuits. Today’s technology-driven age has sprouted a resistant counter- movement as digital noise is replaced by yoga retreats and meditation sessions. It’s no surprise then that wellness retreats the world over are enjoying new life, rejuvenated on the back of renewed interest. It is here that Alisa chooses to start the interview, as she discusses the explosive growth of the wellness sector. “More and more people are realizing the importance of wellness in their everyday life. Not only for the body, but also for the mind. Meditation and mindfulness used to be unheard of, but now people are starting to slow down and look at their routines and how auto-piloting through life is affecting them. There is still an existing challenge of people using the ‘hippie’ title for mindfulness and sometimes it is hard to illustrate the bigger picture that is the reality of wellness: it is spirit, mind and body working in harmony resulting in happiness.” It is clear that Creacon Wellness Retreat has positioned itself as a stalwart of this newly emerging goliath, as Alisa explains more about their breadth of treatments and services. “For those looking for a getaway, we provide a variety of retreats and packages to choose from, including yoga and meditation retreats, a three-day juice cleanse, a weekend getaway or just a B&B break. All of which allow guests to escape the stresses of everyday life and enjoy a tranquil atmosphere, deluxe accommodation, wellness activities, nutritious meals and therapies. “Creacon also welcomes locals and day visitors for treatments such as a facial, massage, reflexology, acupuncture, psychotherapy, daily yoga, meditation and mindfulness classes, as well as specialised wellness workshops hosted by local, national and international facilitators on all topics of ‘well-being’.” Ultimately, Creacon Wellness Retreat has found enduring success through a dedication to guest services. “Creacon prides itself on the quality of service we deliver and extremely positive feedback we get from our guests and visitors across all platforms, both online and in-house. Customer feedback allows us to alter, add and tweak anything that we might need to ensure all of our guests are happy and relaxed. At the end of the day, the retreat needs to be a home away from home, with an easy-going and comfortable atmosphere for everybody.” The driving force behind this client-centricity remains Creacon’s staff, who embody the retreat’s ethos to provide a service that is guaranteed to exceed expectations. Alisa agrees: “Creacon would not be what it is without the team that we have on board. Everyone from reception to the floor staff, to facilitators, therapists and to management is treated equally. The team is highly trained and works towards the same goal – the wellness and satisfaction of everybody that walks through our doors. Staff are also welcome to enjoy Creacon’s facilities and services if they feel they need to – that way they also have wellness surrounding them and know how fabulous it is to be on the receiving side of Creacon.” Finally, Alisa takes the time to comment on Creacon’s future and how it plans to grow their burgeoning client base. “Creacon is still very much at the growing stages. We hope to spread the word and get more well- known both nationally and internationally. As well as attracting more and more footfall through our doors, Creacon also attracts outside facilitators from all over the world wanting to host their retreats with us. There are also talks of getting another Yoga studio to make more room for our regular classes as well as hosting outside retreat facilitators and their guests.” Creacon Wellness Retreat Address: Creaken Lower, New Ross, Y34 NH61, Wexford, Ireland Website: www.creaconwellnessretreat.com Telephone: +353 (0) 51 447 666 Retreat