One of the key things that attracted us to Kip and Nook was the wellness experiences on offer. While we love living on the road and travelling to new, exciting places far and wide, living in a constant state of movement means sometimes all we crave is some stillness. So, we couldn’t think of a more perfect way to reset and refresh ourselves to be ready for this year’s big European road trip.
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First Up, The Breathing Room
The first wellness experience we tried was The Breathing Room. Nestled along wooden corridors with a distinctly Nordic feel, we hit the changing rooms and got changed into the fluffiest, cosiest robes. Next, we headed to a room that was home to two large ice baths. Don’t worry; that’s not all; there’s also a toasty sauna to get you started.
The idea is that you spend 15 minutes in the sauna, then brave the ice bath for 3 minutes. Repeating this pattern several times can give you a real high. After the fun of jumping from one to the other, you’re sure to feel refreshed. We rehydrated with the ice-cold flavoured water on offer, along with some juice shots. The extra health boost was certainly appreciated.
We then moved on to the experience namesake, The Breathing Room. This cosy, dimly lit space is a designated chill-out area. Spending some time here after your treatment before heading back out into the “real world” is such a nice touch, as it lets you really reap the rewards of the experience as you allow the hammock chairs to gently rock you.
Yoga with Rachel at Kip and Nook
The second yoga class of the stay was expertly led by Rachel. I went straight into this after enjoying The Breathing Room while Liam stayed to relax some more. After getting so loose, I felt I was in the perfect headspace for yoga. The practice certainly did not disappoint. The class was full of mixed abilities, and Rachel certainly catered for everyone while ensuring the flow was challenging enough for those who wanted a little more.
She then closed the class with some yoga nidra. When staying at Kip and Nook, this is an experience you don’t want to miss. This yoga practice went beyond the flow and was truly transformative. You are sure to leave feeling rejuvenated, whether you’re a regular yogi or not.
The studio itself is light and airy, with plenty of natural light. They offer yoga mats, blocks, props and cleaning sprays, ensuring anything you could need has been taken care of. During our practice, we had a gentle rain shower. The droplets bouncing off the windows as the sky turned to dusk really added to the calming atmosphere.
The Kirami Wellness Experience
This wellness experience, The Kirami, was one we were particularly excited about. With an outdoor/indoor feel, you can really enjoy being immersed in nature. While for some, this may feel less private than its counterpart, for us, the limitless views and huge glass windows were part of the appeal.
First, you’ll see a large outdoor ice bath and cold shower, as well as a cosy seating area where you’ll find your robes, towels, water and juice shots. The indoor seating area then leads you into a sauna. The flames slowly flickered away, and we let the heat hit us. While this sauna can get hotter, the majestic views give you something to focus on, to divert your attention away from the heat, making the minutes fly by!
Of course, after the sauna comes the ice dip! Personally, we love wild swimming, and after spending a winter in Scotland, we’re certainly no strangers to freezing cold temperatures. However, it never seems to get easier, does it? The large bath is big enough for two, so we braved the plummeting temperatures together. After three minutes of being submerged, we rushed back into the sauna to warm up again. Following this pattern reawakens your senses and leaves you feeling so fresh!
From the Kirami Sauna and Ice Bath, a small path leads you even deeper into nature, where a fire pit has been stoked. Wrapped up in our robes, surrounded by nothing but bird song, we sat around the warmth of the fire, basking in the afterglow of the experience.
After ventures such as these, you’re certain to leave Kip and Nook feeling like a whole new person; we certainly did…then started planning our next visit!