Six Senses Fiji Wellness review

Wellness programs have been around since the 1960s when employers including Boeing, concerned about their staff smoking, introduced programs to encourage workers to quit the fags for a healthier lifestyle. Since then, and with the increase in stress and other non-communicable diseases, we are all encouraged to enrol in wellness courses – whether they be a lunchtime yoga session, meditation at home or a full-blown holiday at a wellness camp.

More and more Australians are choosing wellness holidays over sipping cocktails by the pool, but the expense of such holidays can be prohibitive to many. And not just the financial cost – who wants to devote their entire leave time and holiday budget to diet and exercise?

Certainly not me. Last year I went on my first wellness retreat, to Bali. It was five days of gluten free eating, yoga, Pilates, counselling, holistic healing and mindfulness. In order to prepare for this, I tacked on an extra couple of days before and after the retreat for what would be my real holiday cocktails by the pool with a girlfriend. We in fact arrived at the retreat after downing a couple of margaritas over brunch, it’s fair to say our commitment was questionable.

However, after the initial shock of the schedule and rules sunk in, I left the retreat in a much better state of mind, body and overall wellness and thought there is something to this whole mindfulness thing.

Since then, that same friend and I have scoured magazines and websites looking for another wellness experience, this time one which allowed the freedom to still have a cocktail by the pool if desired and absolutely not restricted to gluten free food only.

The Six Senses brand has been synonymous with wellness whilst on holiday since its inception. Their philosophy is simple. “Relax, be curious or commit to a complete refresh. Your wellness journey can be anything you want it to be; we’re here to offer you the best base possible to flourish.” So with this in mind, we booked a stay at Six Senses Fiji (on Malolo Island) and signed up for a wellness program. Six Senses does wellness differently. You can lock in to several programs, from sleep to eat to spa to mindfulness to growth. Or you can tailor your own program to suit your needs.

Our Man Johnny

The program really does start in your villa, ours a beachfront pool villa, complete with block out blinds, thermostat controlled air-conditioning, nourishing bathroom products and energy boosting snacks.

Our Guest Experience Maker, Johnny took us through ‘check-in’ in our villa and explained how everything worked, from the well-stocked minibar with gorgeous tonics and bottles of wine, champagne and spirits (yay – it’s not one of ‘those’ wellness retreats), to the lighting, the indoor and outdoor bathrooms and our own private pool.

Johnny made appointments for a wellness screening for me, an alchemy lesson for us both and a massage for my friend. We had his direct number for the duration – no need to call reception, guest services, housekeeping or the Spa – Johnny was our go-to for everything.

Order a Cocktail and Make Plans

Walking from the lounge room out to the pool, the view is breath-taking. The gorgeous hues and views of the Mamanuca water out the front are stunning. We quickly change and head straight past the pool and down to the beach.

We have it to ourselves. The only sounds are the occasional bird chirping and gentle waves from distant boats passing beyond the reef.

With my wellness screening not scheduled until day two, we decide to take it easy; order a cocktail and plan for sunset yoga.

After the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years, thanks no doubt to the natural hand-made mattress by Naturalmat and cotton bedding, I head towards the spa, a gentle five minute walk from the villa for my wellness screening.

Six Senses Spa is in a tranquil ‘wellness village’ of its own, sprawled out over 3300 square metres. You’re greeted with a refreshing lemon-infused water and taken to a small room overlooking the spa gardens by the spa’s wellness coordinator. The wellness screening process is explained in detail, monitors are applied to your temples and chest; your hands and feet placed on sensors.

This non-invasive analysis measures your key biomarkers and helps to understand what your body really needs. Created by the Six Senses Spa team along with respected medical doctors who form the Six Senses Wellness Board, each guest’s personalised program may include spa treatments, exercise, yoga, meditation, Eat With Six Senses or Sleep With Six Senses.

Not surprisingly, for a journalist who spends what seems like half her life on aeroplanes and the other half juggling two kids, deadlines, an ex-husband and possibly, occasionally over-indulging in the good things in life (eating and drinking with family and friends and the like), my wellness screen results showed room for improvement.

My stress levels were in the danger zone it seemed. Sleep more. De-stress. Take Vitamin D and probiotics. Be mindful. Practice yoga and meditation. Try a gluten free diet … and a few others I won’t mention.

But the wellness screening is not a test nor is it designed to make you feel bad. Instead, the wellness co-ordinator at Six Senses, Niranjan Das speaks with such dulcet tones you instead feel relaxed and happy after being told you have a cardiac age four years older than your actual age.

Armed with advice and support, Niranjan suggests how to maximise my time at Six Senses and get the most out of my wellness experience. “We’re not here to tell you not to enjoy a cocktail or avoid dessert, we’re here to make sure you leave more relaxed than when you arrived,” he says.

My Kind of Wellness Co-ordinator

First up, he explains the activities on offer that would help me sleep better (yoga and meditation), feel better (gluten free offerings on the menu and probiotics) and look better (treatments at the Spa, an array of low-medium impact activities including walking, swimming, stand up paddle boarding (SUP), trekking, kayaking and more yoga).

He encourages me to join the walking meditation group, rather than jump straight in to regular meditation, assuming correctly, I’m not a person who switches off easily.

“And when you feel like it, join me for yoga, or simply relax by your pool. This is your holiday.”

Niranjan is my kind of wellness co-ordinator. So leaving the Spa feeling four years younger than my cardiac age, I join my friend at the bar and share my results.

“Probiotics you said?” She asks. “Yes, apparently I have to add them to my daily routine.” “Well look at this – the drinks menu has a whole section devoted to cocktails with added robiotics!”

Six Senses is my kind of wellness retreat.

Over the next few days I ensured I added plenty of probiotics to my diet, my favourites included the Old Spice Living Cocktail and the Living Colada Cocktail, I joined yoga in what has to be Fiji’s most stunning pavilion, attempted to SUP, walked the length and breadth of the resort and dined on the recommended gluten-free offerings as much as possible.

Our final day at Six Senses, I realised sitting alone on the beach that I could not recall a time in recent years where I had been so relaxed. I’m not a relaxed person, I don’t do relaxing holidays. I’d slept well each night, ate well each day, exercised, was pampered and yes, I’m quite sure I’ve had enough probiotics in my system to last me several months.

Six Senses Fiji offers 24 spacious villas and suites all with private pools. Resort villas and suites range in size from 1,200 to 1,600 square feet (110 to 150 square meters) including interior and exterior space. There are five food and beverage areas, a kid’s club, watersports including diving and surfing, tours, cooking classes, alchemy classes, an ice creamery, outdoor cinema and open air yoga pavilion all set out on over 120 acres of tropical beauty.

Getting There

Check the Six Senses website at sixsenses.com or call on + 679 666 5028 or email: reservations-fiji@sixsenses.com

There are flights to Fiji from Australia, New Zealand, Pacific islands, the USA and Asia serviced by Fiji Airways, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Air Vanuatu, Aircalin and Nauru Airlines among others. A four-month visa is granted automatically to most visitors and you’ll need six months validity on passport from your return date and a return ticket.