This page contains information to help you with planning your health retreat at Fresh Start. We’ll discuss what to wear and pack, and much more. If you still have questions after reading this, feel free to contact us. We want your visit to be stress free and completely relaxing.
Planning Your Stay
What to Wear
During the program, you may feel colder than usual, because your body redirects energy from heating itself to cleansing and healing of tissues and internal organs. Take this into consideration when packing clothes for your stay. A pair of socks from real wool and in cooler season a wool sweater are some of the best items to take along since most synthetic materials and cotton cannot provide similar warmth when you feel cold on the inside. Choose comfortable and casual clothes, and plan to dress in layers for comfort in fluctuating outside temperatures. Take some warm, loose clothing, such as sweat pants and a warm waterproof coat.
Also, take into consideration that there are quite a few rainy days on the Island, so do not forget waterproof shoes and a raincoat, no matter what season you come.
As a guideline, here are average outdoor temperatures in the area:
- Winter: +5 to +10 C/ 40 to 50 F, sometimes can go down to -11 C/7 F
- Spring: +13 to +17 C/ 55 to 62 F, sometimes can go down to 0 C/ 32 F in March
- Summer: +20 to +23 C/ 67 to 74 F, sometimes can go up to +30 C/86 F
- Fall: +7.5 to +19.5 C/ 46 to 67 F
What Else to Pack
These are other items that you may wish to bring to ensure a comfortable stay:
- Outdoor shoes for walking
- Indoor Shoes or non-slip slippers for inside the building
- Runners for indoor fitness classes
- Comfortable activewear for yoga and fitness
- Swimsuit/trunks for steam bath
- REQUIRED – Thongs or non-slip shoes for steam bath
- Please bring adequate clothing for your stay. A self-serve laundry room is available at the hotel
- Personal Journal. We provide a binder and handouts for lectures.
- Though all bedding is provided, please feel free to bring your own pillow, if you would be more comfortable with it
- As our program is very structured, it would be helpful for you to bring your watch
- Raincoat and waterproof hiking shoes and an umbrella
- Hot water bottle – if desired for your comfort (optional)
Fragrances
Please do NOT wear any fragrances such as perfume, cologne, after-shave, essential oils, and aromatherapy. We want to be sensitive to all our guests and team members who have allergies to fragrances.
Computers/Cell Phones
To assure maximum benefits from the healing experience, we aim to create a relaxing and peaceful environment. With that purpose in mind, we request you to have cell phones off most of the time and not to bring laptops with you unless you absolutely have to.
We understand that you may once in a while want to talk with your family over the phone. We highly suggest leaving the cell in your room and check messages and calls once or twice a day, rather than having it on you all the time. This will give you a chance to experience a cell phone detox, which most of our guests enjoy so much. Without constant ringing around you, you and your group will rest so much better and will feel at least, for once, free of the constant demands of having to be available to the surrounding world at any given moment.
If you still need your digital devices in the healing space
If you absolutely need to have your cell phone with you in the Health Centre, you are welcome to, provided you do your best to minimize distractions for other guests. We request that you 100% turn off your phone for classes and treatments. When you are in the dining room, which is a common group hang-out area, please set your ringer on the vibe, and in case you need to give a call to step out on the balcony or into the hallway. While we do not want to impose any additional limitations, we ask you to use your common sense and abstain from constant texting or business calls in the healing space, as it may prevent other people from relaxing. If you have to do some business while with us, your room is an excellent space for this. When you are with others, we encourage you to be present and give them your undivided attention.
You might be wondering why we suggest abstaining from computer work or frequent calls during the retreat? For your mind to focus on healing, it has to have the least possible amount of distractions to allow your eyes and brain to rest. If you have to continue doing your business while on a health program, think twice about whether you are actually getting the return on the investment in terms of your health.
Let your mind, eyes and body rest from the computer. Give yourself a break. You deserve it.
Disclaimer: If you have concerns with other guests using their devices, please feel free to respectfully talk to them directly. We do not interfere with group dynamics and cannot strictly control digital device use, while we count on everyone’s mutual respect and thoughtfulness.
Sightseeing Plans
If you are visiting or sightseeing on the island, plan those activities for after, rather than before or during, the program.