The interior of the spa suite at Fern Tree, the new spa at Half Moon Hotel, is one of the new features of the newly opened facility. - Contributed

WESTERN BUREAU:

Unlike the thrust that is made by Asia, Latin America and, perhaps, Cuba to attract tourists wanting to access lower costs for severe illnesses or cosmetic surgeries, Jamaica's Half Moon hotel's efforts are focused on wellness.

"Through Fern Tree, our spa, we promote not just spa therapies but a healthy lifestyle that includes fitness, rejuvenation programmes and wellness of the mind and body," states Marcia McLaughlin, the 400-acre Montego Bay resort's public relations manager.

Health and wellness months

The resort has gone as far as designating August and September as its health and wellness months. "We offer a variety of free and paid programmes that expose our guests to experts in the health and wellness fields. It gives us an opportunity to showcase the depth of expertise that we have available at the resort and also provides our guests with useful information that they can take back home to begin or continue their journey of a healthy lifestyle," says McLaughlin.

Launched in 2008, she said the health and wellness programme has seen more participants this year over last. And, to mark the occasion, the hotel invited a top-notch group of internationally renowned fitness experts, including Canadian fitness expert and founder of the Fitness Integrated Therapy and Training System (FITTS) Jay Kiss; Georges St Pierre, current mixed martial arts welterweight champion; certified personal trainer, nutritionist Brenda Horton, and pharmacist and herbologist Dr Diane Robertson, between August 2 and 30, to lend their expertise to the schedule.

Jay Kiss and Georges St Pierre took guests through their programme that covered osteopathy, podiatry and soft tissue techniques; along with postural evaluation and performance enhancement exercises to improve sports and fitness performance. Brenda Horton conducted indoor and outdoor group fitness, kick-boxing and muscle conditioning, while, Jamaica's herbologist Dr Diane Robertson introduced guests to Jamaican herbs and their medicinal and nutritional values.

In addition to sessions and seminars with the international experts, guests also took advantage of a comprehensive wellness schedule which included cooking demonstrations aimed at teaching them how to create and maintain healthy lifestyles.

That being said, for the resort, health and wellness is not just limited to those two months. It is an on-going promotion that is available to clients throughout the year.

Fitness programme

And the resort's resident 'spa elder', Stella Gray, ensures that this happens. Additionally, the resort boasts a fully equipped state-of-the-art gym, has certified personal trainers, yoga instructors and pilates experts.

"That helps guests continue their fitness programme that they started at home, or they embark on that journey with us. Gone were the days when travellers abandoned their fitness programme when they go on vacation. Fitness and wellness are very much a way of life and guests continue their programmes even when they are away on vacation," argues McLaughlin.

Janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com

Fern Tree Falls at Half Moon.