What's even better than a New Year's detox? A New Year's detox in sunny Melbourne.
With summer still in full swing in the southern hemisphere, it's no surprise that well-being is front-of-mind when the New Year rolls around in Melbourne.
Chances are, the good times of the past few weeks of indulgence have given way to a level of lethargy and sluggishness not seen since the beginning of 2015. Get the New Year started right with a juice cleanse. The streamlined store design by Travis Walton at Greene St. Juice Co. is enough to inspire a commitment to minimalism, but the cold-pressed juices, nut mylks, and elixirs with names referencing owner Natalie Warner's hometown of New York City—the Hamptons has watermelon, orange, pink grapefruit, and passionfruit—certainly strengthen the will power. There are six styles of cleanses, including ones suitable for anyone who doesn't want to skip the exercise, lasting between one and seven days (from $50).
Resolutions often involve becoming more active, but for those who want to combine movement and an overall sense of well-being, there is a new pooch on the block. At Humming Puppy, in Prahran, four different levels of yoga—from a gentle, restorative class to a medium-to-high intensity workshop that focuses on a different style each month—are conducted in a shala (yoga space) that literally hums. One of the world's leading acoustic engineering firms, ARUP, has designed a way of combining two noise frequencies.
The first, at 7.83hz (the Schumann Resonance), is the frequency of the earth and helps practitioners remain grounded; the other, at 40hz, is associated with gamma brain waves and integral for achieving peak performance for people in all fields, from elite sports to the creative industries. Apart from all the scientific benefits, the humming just feels great. The studio itself is a contemporary, relaxing space, more akin to a spa than an exercise space, right down to the post-workout chilled coconut water ($18 per class).
Some people swear by colon hydrotherapy, especially for those who suffer from constipation, bloating, and gas. Others think there is some benefit in "flushing" the system of any bad bacteria and waste to maximize detoxing and cleansing rituals. For anyone thinking of going slightly hardcore in the name of New Year nirvana, a seven-day detox package at Aqua Health (with clinics in the Central Business District and St. Kilda), includes four colonics, supplements, and nutrition advice ($218).
Those who believe the adage "no pain, no gain" have never spent time unwinding at ISIKA Day Spa. Situated on the 27th floor of Crown Metropol hotel on the banks of the Yarra River, it boasts an indoor infinity pool with stunning city views, a hydrotherapy area, expansive gym, and treatment rooms. Somewhat of a secret among the spa cognoscenti, however, are the 15 residential rooms with private staircase leading directly to the day spa. The overnight Revive package includes a wellness consultation, two water therapy rituals, Stress Fix massage, customized facial, either an hour-long yoga or personal training session, breakfast at the private guest lounge on level 28, lunch and dinner at Mr. Hive, and valet parking. There's no better way of kicking off a program of renewal ($639 per person, or $1,079 per couple).
