Escape to bhuti
In preparation for the party season that lies ahead, Sophie Farrah takes some time out at wellbeing hotspot bhuti in Richmond
When I was invited to spend a day being pampered at Richmond’s super stylish wellbeing retreat bhuti – well it would have been rude not to, wouldn’t it?
Having celebrated its first birthday earlier this year, bhuti describes itself as an ‘eco wellbeing spa, studio and café’. Nestled on Richmond Hill, it is the brainchild of yoga teacher and Richmond resident Samantha Trinder, who also owns the nearby Bingham Hotel. The name, in case you were wondering, is in fact a Sanskrit word with no direct translation but is described as a ‘sense of well-being’, and so it makes perfect sense that bhuti offers services that cater to the mind, body and soul.
From the outside this pretty retreat may look small but pass through the shop, filled with organic beauty products, tempting trinkets and snazzy yoga clothes, and you’ll discover a cosy café serving up vegan and organic dishes all made from scratch in house. Venture further still and you’ll find two light and airy studio spaces that host an impressive 60 weekly yoga, pilates, meditation and fitness classes, a chic members’ lounge and several treatment rooms where you can indulge in over 50 holistic rituals. Join as a member and you can enjoy unlimited classes and a monthly treatment, or you can simply pop in and pay as you go.
I am greeted warmly by friendly staff and quickly escorted to the members’ lounge, which I am to enjoy as my base for the day, as part of the Winter Escape package. Shoes aren’t allowed ‘backstage’, as it were, so as soon as I am past the café I happily kick off my winter boots and immediately feel at home. The members’ area is modern, cosy and oh so comfortable and provides a sense of instant tranquility; there’s Moroccan mint tea on tap, hanging wicker chairs to swing in, bean bags to crash out on and woolen blankets to curl up under.
My day starts at 10am with a ‘Mind, Body, Cleanse’ yoga class taught by yoga and meditation whizz Chris James, whose practice is breath-focused and designed to energise. The studio space is beautiful – wooden floors, two mirrored walls, and stunning stained glass windows framed by the tall, vaulted ceiling, so natural light comes pouring in. Not exactly an expert yogi myself the class is perfect for me – lots of lovely stretching and satisfying twists (to stimulate digestion, I’m told) and deep breathing techniques that immediately calm both my body and my busy mind.
After the class I potter back to the member’s lounge and marvel at how relaxed I already feel having only been in the building for less than 2 hours; I cradle a cup of mint tea and stare through the windows at the pretty terrace, filled with plants and swaying bamboo. After 10 minutes or so a smiling face curtails my moment of Zen; it is bhuti’s head therapist Renata, who explains that I am to have a Hot Stone Massage followed by a Therapi Honey Radiance Facial. Bliss.
I follow her up to a luxurious and delightfully peaceful treatment room at the top of the building; I hear only the occasional ‘ommmmm’ floating up from a yoga class below. I climb into a heated bed, which in itself is indulgent enough, but things were about to get even better…
The massage was expertly carried out with just the right amount of pressure, delightfully scented oils and the warmth of the smooth, hot stones melted away all muscular tension. Next was the facial which unusually started with Renata placing her hands over my ears and asking me to hum like a bee - the soft vibration is said to encourage deep relaxation, but I was not entirely convinced. Therapi’s beautiful organic products, which combine honey with active botanical extracts, were then liberally poured, drizzled and gently rubbed into my face and neck.
I was cleansed and exfoliated before Renata performed an expert facial massage to stimulate lymph flow whilst toning and rejuvenating the skin, and this was followed by a mist of pure organic flower water and a final application of a rich, honey-based moisturiser. All of the lotions and potions smelt and felt absolutely glorious, and my skin, already rather dry due to the change in seasons, was left feeling smooth, soft and well and truly nourished, as did I.
I floated back to the members’ lounge, curled up under a blanket and had a little snooze in a gently swinging chair, only disturbed by the occasional rumble from my stomach. Ah yes, lunch. I ordered a nutritious vegan ‘bhuti bowl’ which arrived filled with brown rice, tangy ratatouille and spiced roast cauliflower, topped with a spicy bean burger, house hummus, pumpkin seeds, pomegranate and a turmeric cashew dressing. I could not have enjoyed it more.
After a quick digestion it was time for my final class of the day – a soothing Restorative Yoga session expertly led by Sona Sharma, who took us through various poses and stretches using props such as cushions and blocks to release any tension, not that there was much tension left in me by this point. I then treated myself to a freshly squeezed juice from the café and had one last peaceful swing in a hanging chair, before reluctantly heading back towards the station/reality.
To describe bhuti as a spa would be an injustice, as it is so much more than that. The interiors are stylish and modern without feeling sterile, inspiring classes are expertly led but not intimidating, and treatments feel completely luxurious whilst also being functional and beneficial to both mind and body. It is cosy, comfortable and thanks to its wonderful staff and cheerful members it is a genuinely friendly environment too.
We are frequently told how important it is to be mindful and to take time out of our busy, sometimes frazzled lives to de-stress, and my Winter Escape Day was just that - it felt almost therapeutic. Sometimes I find treating myself to a massage or a yoga class can make me feel guilty and self-indulgent, but at bhuti you are encouraged to be kind to yourself and in their words -‘find your inner bhuti’ - and it’s impossible to resist. I left feeling calm, restored and ready to face the winter that lies ahead, and with the chaos of Christmas just around the corner I would highly recommend a bit of bhuti-fying to anyone.
Winter Escape Day £120 (£99 Mon-Fri) includes unlimited yoga and fitness classes, use of the members’ lounge, Therapi Organic Honey Facial and Hot Stone Massage; bhuti.co. Published online at Essential Surrey and SW London
