Non-touch therapy is becoming an increasingly popular talking point in spas. It helps minimise therapist time while also attracting a new demographic of spa guests. I was therefore excited to experience the Welnamis during a visit to the beautiful new Sakura Spa at Gisborough Hall Hotel in North Yorkshire.
I had a basic understanding of the experience beforehand but decided to go in with an open mind and not read too much about it. Looking back, I’d actually recommend doing a little homework first. As with many non-touch therapies, understanding how the Welnamis works beforehand helps you appreciate just how clever the technology is and why the benefits can be so profound.
The Benefits
I’ll start with the part that impressed me the most.
I’d been up really early that morning, so I was already feeling tired. I also had a long train journey ahead of me, followed by a gym session later that evening. Let’s just say my energy levels were going to be tested.
However, after just a 30-minute session on the Welnamis, I genuinely felt as though I’d had the perfect power nap.
Not only did I have enough energy to tackle the journey home and enjoy a hard gym session afterwards, but I didn’t feel remotely tired for the rest of the day. Instead, I felt refreshed, energised and, dare I say it, full of joy.
Even more surprisingly, those positive effects seemed to stay with me for a couple of days afterwards.
The Experience
The treatment itself is wonderfully simple.
You lie fully clothed on a gently curved lounger, wearing an eye mask (optional) and headphones. It feels a little like having your own personal sound bath.
As the programme begins, you experience carefully designed sound frequencies and gentle vibrations through the bed. Everything feels incredibly subtle.
Initially, I wondered whether I’d be able to relax for the full 30 minutes, but before I knew it I had drifted into that lovely in-between state of consciousness where you’re not quite asleep but not fully awake either.
Then, what felt like only a few minutes later, the session had finished.
At first, I wasn’t entirely sure what had happened because the treatment itself isn’t dramatic or intense. But as I’ve already mentioned, the after-effects were definitely noticeable. I genuinely felt as though my body had reset itself. It was almost as if my internal clock had been recalibrated, leaving me calmer, clearer and noticeably less stressed.
Who Is It Best Suited To?
I think the Welnamis would particularly benefit people who:
• struggle with sleep
• experience chronic stress
• find it difficult to switch off and relax
• want deep relaxation but don’t enjoy hands-on massage (although it’s important to note this isn’t a massage)
• need to improve focus or mental clarity – it’s almost like giving your brain a well-earned holiday.
The Science Behind It
The Welnamis has been developed by Gharieni Group following research into its earlier SpaWave concept bed. The latest technology combines carefully designed different sound frequencies with gentle vibration therapy to encourage different brainwave states associated with relaxation, recovery and mental focus.
There are four treatment programmes, each designed with a different outcome in mind:
• Stress Relief – Ideal for first-time users, helping to create a deeply relaxed yet alert state of mind.
• Mindfulness – Designed to encourage creativity, insight and a meditative state that’s often associated with dreaming and REM sleep.
• PowerNap – Focuses on promoting the deeply restorative state linked to the most refreshing stages of sleep.
• Awareness – Aims to support concentration, learning, problem-solving and mental clarity.
Final Thoughts
The Welnamis isn’t the sort of treatment where you’ll walk away saying, “Wow, that was intense.” In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
The experience itself is gentle, understated and almost deceptively simple. But for me, the real magic happened afterwards.
I left feeling rested, clear-headed and energised in a way that genuinely surprised me. If you’re looking for an effortless way to press pause, calm your nervous system and recharge both your body and mind, it’s well worth experiencing.
Experience at Sakura Spa, Gisborough Hall Hotel and other leading spas worldwide.