The Power Of Place

If there’s one place in the world where you could wear a tiara every day and no-one would blink an eyelid, it would have to be Ibiza. It’s the spiritual home of rich hippie kaftan chic – think Indian peasant style goes über-bling and you’ll know what I’m talking about. If you like floating about in chiffon and sequins, accessorised with jewel-encrusted sandals and sunglasses so big they could withstand a nuclear explosion, then Ibiza is the place for you.

Some places come into your life as if by magic and for me this is one of them. The laid-back island life and charming restaurants in secret coves accessible only by dirt track or yacht make it a place of constant surprises. It may be small, but there’s a lot to be discovered if you know where to look. I was lucky enough to be staying with a friend on the island who showed me some of its most hidden treasures and to be able to enjoy them before the summer crush began.
There were plenty of fabulous moments in my stay on the island, but the one that had the most profound effect on me was the afternoon we spent at the Atzaró spa. Set in orange groves in the middle of the island, Atzaró is a shining example of agroturismo, where rural properties are converted to offer peaceful surroundings, local food and contact with nature, in contrast to the impersonality of the large hotel chains.

The owners of Atzaró have taken an old, isolated farm and melded a fascinating mix of Spanish, Arabic and Asian architecture styles to create such a powerful sense of place that your body automatically relaxes simply by being there. The Asian temple-style entrance is enchanting, leading to the restaurant and boutique hotel, but the pièce de resistance is the spa. By the time you reach the bottom of the stairs you will never want to leave.

A long, slim lap pool designed like a Moorish water garden sits on the edge of the orange grove and Moroccan day beds encourage you to lounge about on sumptuous jewel-coloured cushions. Treatments take place in airy Indonesian huts, full of light and peace, and the practitioners are top quality, trained in many forms of Asian massage and therapy.

My friend Kata and I spent long, languid hours soaking up the atmosphere and doing gentle, lazy laps in the pool before indulging in one of the best massages we’ve had in years. We both had to be peeled off the table, as we could have stayed there forever. With that gorgeous Zen ambience and the chance to meditate in beautiful, natural surroundings with the scent of oranges and the sound of birdsong, I was in bliss. If heaven is a place on earth, it must be in Ibiza.

Now that I have probably driven you insane with envy, it’s time to turn your attention to the places in your life that have made a difference to you. Where have you felt at your most peaceful? What places did you instantly love, for no discernible reason? Where do you go when you need to find some peace? What place comes to mind when you need to recharge yourself? Where do you go when you simply need to stop?

You know what’s coming next … make time to go there! Before you start with the ‘I’m too busy’ routine, remember that rest makes you more productive. Running on empty is a creatively desolate place to work from. When you take time to refresh yourself, you can return with a fresh perspective and new energy.

Make a list of the places that are nearby and easy to get to, as well as the ones that are dream holiday destinations. This is about learning to balance activity and relaxation in your daily life, not working like a maniac so you can flop on the beach in total exhaustion. Something that regenerates you could be as simple as having tea and cake with a good friend in a sweet little café, taking a drive in the countryside or spending an afternoon at a day spa. Make sure you set aside time in your diary for rest, peace and restoration.

And before you start moaning that you can’t afford it, remember that an investment in your well-being is an investment in your future. If your energy is flat, your creativity will be too. Also, you’re less tolerant with people and your relationships suffer, both at home and at work. In a positive frame of mind, all sorts of synergy can come to pass and new opportunities can open up, just because you have a relaxed and open attitude.

Finally, the real secret is that the peace those places have given you is always available to you, wherever you are – you simply need to go within and remember how you felt when you were there. When things are tough on the outside, retreat inside and fill yourself with the peacefulness of your favourite slices of heaven on earth. I may only have spent an afternoon at Atzaró, but I’ll have it as my personal secret haven of bliss for the rest of my life. Isn’t that just fabulous?

Coach Fabulous is now online and updated every Thursday at http://coachfabulous.blogspot.com. You can also use the link in the Favourite Sites section on the right. For alert emails on new postings, with added inspirations and confidence tips, send a blank email to IAmFabulousCo@aol.com with 'Subscribe' in the title field. All material © 2006 Alison Porter. No article may be reproduced in full or in part without the express permission of the author. (Originally posted 22 May 06)