Discovering the Chenot Palace, Azerbaijan

Only a mere 2.5 hours from Dubai lies a much colder, greener landscape in Azerbaijan. Green farmlands and foggy hillsides are prevalent, with a 25* drop in temperature from Dubai. Where both Russian and Arabic influences are clear, but there’s a real hint of Europe across it too. We set off on our 3 hour road trip to the brand new Chenot Palace wellness resort by car. The road is winding, long and yet somewhat peaceful too. Instead of the constant hooting you hear at home, it’s a controlled chaos here on the roads.

After passing a Mishka (black bear) along the way, we knew we were headed out of Baku and towards Gabala where the wilderness resort was situated. It felt like Christmas almost, walking into their brand new foyer, with wooden design features everywhere and strong smells of burning log fires, knowing we were the first to experience everything this hotel has to offer. We enjoyed a few bio-lite evening snacks before heading up to bed. The schedule for the next two days promised only 1200 calories per day, with an extensive overview of the treatments the Chenot Health Wellness Resort is famous for in its native Italy.

DAY 1

Starting the morning off with a delicious spelt porridge and fruit, we headed into a barrage of nutritional, health and wellness check-ups so that we could identify areas that needed to be worked on across the two days. The first was a nutritional consult, which also provided information about our BMI, weight to muscle ratio and total body hydration, as well as giving us insight into our metabolic age.

Next followed a more detailed body assessment with their diagnostics screening doctor, (nothing invasive though) with collagen tests and arterial elasticity checks, followed by a full body element check, which tells you if you’ve got too much mercury or selenium in your system for example. I really wanted to get my iron count checked (being a veggie) but the medical lab for blood tests was still under construction for the weekend.

Once the more medical side of things was taken care of, I headed into a VERY interesting consultation with a Bio-Energetic doctor Mr. Ferucas. A predominantly Chinese form of energy balancing, you are asked to hold onto two golden probes whilst currents are transmitted throughout your body to find blockages. Once these blockages are found, he is then able to give you an incredibly in-depth translation. It was so interesting to listen to his account of elements in my past which had clearly shown to cause energy blockages in the meridians of my body. He then adjusted the computer to ensure that the waves going through a second time would unblock and re-energise me going forward. I almost hugged him when I left, an incredibly enlightening experience!

In order to compliment this, I was then shown straight in to the High-Tone treatment. Pads were placed on my five key pressure points and electricity flooded through me very gently, wave after wave, literally. I had on some earphones and it wasn’t long before I was fast asleep.

Up next was something a little more my style… the BEST jacuzzi bath I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing! Disco lights and jets that held you still for half an hour. This was my introduction into hydro therapy.

Escorted next door in a towel, I was covered in a detoxifying mud and wrapped up like a burrito in cling film, so far so good. Then the bed I was lying on sunk into itself with me in the middle. It feels a little bit like being born… it’s snug to say the least and the layers of covers that help aid the detoxification keep things very warm in there. Once your 20 mins of sweating it all out (literally) are done, you then move across to the shower room. This part felt a bit more like a dog-grooming parlour than luxury spa, you spread ’em against a wall whilst being hosed off of all the mud from a distance. The overall feeling is actually quite nice, you have to just get your head around the prison-esque position you’re in.

What i’ve realised here is that actually i’m not craving sugar. The food we’re given sustains you with enough energy to get through the day, sans hunger snacking. Must take more note of this when I get back home…

Day 2

As if a full day of diagnostics and treatment wasn’t enough, day 2 at the Chenot Palace started with an Energetic Massage. Implemented using NASA designed technology, their cupping treatment is enhanced by manual muscle stimulation along the meridians of your body. Not like other cupping treatments either… there’s no red rings or sore bruised muscles afterwards. This treatment uses a method that stimulates the area to bring out the toxins in a more natural pulsating movement, less chance of hickey-esque bruising and still as effective.

Moving from the full body treatment onto a more deep cleansing facial, the cups were used again but a much smaller pair. A full facial detoxification through their uniquely combined creams and cleansers left me feeling tight-skinned and totally rejuvenated. As with most facials too, you expect to bare rather red, raw skin after a good treatment, a sign I assume of thorough cleansing, but this one left you feeling healed not hurt.

The Chenot Method is found world wide in various establishments, but Azerbaijan being only its second fully owned operation. There’s rumours of a Dubai location due before the decade is out too, but I thoroughly recommend visiting the Azerbaijan hotspot, especially around January when there’s snow outside and the ski resort will be fully open.

Think of it as your New Year’s detox sorted.

*This trip was an incredible experience and all thanks to MichiDe International Luxury Hotel Representation