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ila unveils first permanent wellness retreat in rural Southern France

05 Aug 2020 British natural skincare and spa brand, ilā, is launching Maison ilā, Le Trésor – a wellness retreat in the heart of the Aude, Languedoc Roussillon, France.

Set in blossoming gardens in the picturesque village, Maison ilā – also known as Le Trésor, translated into English as ‘the treasure’ – is home to a main house with five bedrooms, yoga and sound healing studio, a treatment room, snug and communal dining space.

A former chambre d’hôtes found in the village of Sonnac, the seven-bedroom property has been given new life as ilā’s first dedicated permanent wellness retreat location.

ilā’s French home is designed to be a sanctuary of healing based on the company’s core belief that healing starts from the inside, and that by giving ourselves space and time, the body and mind are able to rest, naturally rebalance and reconnect to its inner essence of health and peace.

Maison ilā offers a curated menu of face and body therapies and shamanic journeys, including Flexbeam red light therapy and treatments created especially for the new CBD collection launched at the end of July.

The brand is also due to unveil another new range in the latter half of 2020, called a Helping Hand with Hormones.

Company founder, Denise Leicester, and her husband, spent lockdown at the French property and used this time to bring the location to life.

The couple decorated the walls with powdered gems and essential oils, created the treatment room and yoga studio and planted a garden full of healing plants such as St John’s wort, roman camomile, geraniums, sage, verveine, lavender, jasmine and honeysuckle – which Leicester will be using in both food and treatments.

She commented: “As I have French heritage, I had always imagined having a home in the south of France. When we happened across Le Trésor, we knew we’d found our place; although a little unexpectedly, we felt it was too special to keep it to ourselves.

“There’s a magic here that lends itself perfectly to the creation of a dedicated ilā space and we’re so excited to welcome guests to escape here with us for heartfelt rejuvenation.”

Yoga, meditation and sound healing will be complemented by wild swimming in neighbouring natural pools, and wild movement specialist, Alli Suddaby, will guide guests through an outdoor practise that honours the fundamental movement of the body.

Guests can expect seasonal, predominantly plant-based, cuisine that uses the abundant local seasonal produce and is nutritious, nurturing and full of flavour.

In addition to its resident team, Maison ilā will also welcome visiting practitioners throughout the year to offer their expertise and wisdom to guests.