SHA Wellness: The secret getaway the A-list flock to in winter

The ultimate social media flex in the winter months? Posting a picture of an ice-cold margarita or glass of champagne held up to a liquid orange sunset used to do the trick. But not any more. A shot of green juice or a cup of miso soup grasped after a morning Pilates session is the ultimate sign that you’re doing the cold season right. And the hottest destination for a reboot right now is SHA Mexico in Cancún.

The city on the Yucatan Peninsula has long been known for its party credentials, but it’s getting an image overhaul thanks to the opening of the second outpost from celebrity-loved health retreat SHA Wellness. It threw open its doors last summer — and has already emerged as the place for those vying to get that winter glow from within.

Many A-listers have made their way to the original SHA Spain retreat near Alicante since it opened in 2008. And while some choose to stay there stealthily (anonymity can be part of the service), actors such as Kate Beckinsale, Lily James and Mark Strong are known to have taken health journeys there, as have It girls such as Poppy Delevingne and Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark, as well as Google’s Vanessa Kingori and model Amelia Gray. And soon a wave of famous faces will make their way to the Mexico outpost. Its picturesque jetty and a glass-fronted spa overlooking the sea and mangroves are already all over Instagram, with influencers such as Lucy Williams singing the praises of the “magic of SHA”.

Sitting imposingly above the Caribbean Sea, the futuristic new medical spa has idyllic views of white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and offers guests the all-important addition of year-round tropical temperatures. It boasts a prime location on the beachfront in Costa Mujeres and the 101-room hotel, spa and clinic are all clean lines, sprawling suites and hi-tech treatment rooms, in which some of the world’s most advanced wellness procedures and biohacking take place. Importantly, the facilities are easily reachable from the airport, but a tranquil distance from Cancún’s popular hotel district.

The well-heeled clientele come for the much-hyped programmes, which can cost in excess of a thousand euros a night and last between four and seven days. They all use the eight pillars of the SHA Method: nutrition, preventative medicine, cognitive and emotional health, inner balance, natural therapies, aesthetic enhancements, physical performance and healthy lifestyle skills. And whatever the concern of the time-poor, modern life-addled patient, there is a course which caters to them. There is one for “leaders” looking to optimise their performance; advanced detoxes for those with weight or health concerns, and another which promises rejuvenation with “a preventive approach to slow cellular aging”. All take inspiration from Japanese and Mediterranean ways of life, as both countries are known for the long lifespans of their natives. And the staff are a renowned mix of everything from neurocognitive specialists to pranayama teachers and nutritionists to personal trainers.

Health at the cutting edge

Guests can expect a diverse range of techy treatments, from lymphatic drainage appointments in space-like pants, to IV drips or sessions on a sci-fi-esque machine called Icaros, which uses VR to strengthen the core by suspending patients from the air and having them shoot at imaginary targets.

Then there are more traditional wellness pursuits: morning Pilates on your balcony, or on the gym’s terrace; a hydrotherapy circuit for sauna, steam room, Roman bath and ice plunge sessions; plus acupuncture and moon-lit breathwork or sound baths.

This is not a place that is evangelical to the extreme about diet. While nutrition is a key pillar, food served across its two restaurants (one focused on seafood cooked in an open-fire) is still delicious and colourful as much as detoxing. Though there are new habits to adopt for most — those miso soups first thing in the morning, and meals that come with balancing or detoxing teas. But equally, if you want a glass of wine, no one is going to stop you.

Longevity has increasingly become a buzzword in wellness in the past few years, and the appetite for wellness programmes which deliver results is clear in the fact that the industry is projected to be worth a staggering £7 trillion by 2029. So what has earned this hotel its cult-like status amid the noise? Wellness editor Lisa Oxenham has visited SHA twice and insists the group is far ahead of the competition in terms of expertise. “SHA Wellness is a pioneer in this field, consistently driving innovation forward. The retreats masterfully combine cutting-edge medical research with natural therapies. Its unique focus on nutrition, genetics and anti-ageing sets it apart from other wellness centres,” she says.

SHA is a family business, founded by Spanish real estate developer Alfredo Bataller Parietti and his two sons. He grappled with his own health issues for more than 30 years and credits diet, natural therapies and the latest advancements in medicine for his seemingly miraculous recovery from a troubling diagnosis. Ergo he decided to launch SHA, so people could experience the same benefits of natural and scientific medicine in one place. The latest retreat was bound for Florida originally, but an impromptu trip to Mexico by Bataller Parietti and his eldest son led them to the new location. And they have another SHA planned already, with an Emirates outpost at Al Jurf launching next year, on the pristine coastline between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The future of wellness

Escaping to Mexico for a week-long reset might sound like just that, but those who visit say SHA’s beauty lies in the fact that while the retreat offers sci-fi level wellness, there’s plenty of ways to bring the healthy lifestyle home — and maintain it. “They’re not just treating symptoms — they’re redefining the future of wellness. For those looking to make long-term health changes there’s no better place to visit,” says Oxenham. “Everywhere you look, there’s a sense of learning and growth, which completely changed my perspective on my body. It’s not just about physical appearance — it’s about feeling well and that’s something no beauty product can offer.”