Free DeRoemer bag with every £200 voucher

As a special Christmas treat, we’re giving everyone* who buys a £200 Wahanda gift voucher a free designer handbag, worth £140. The perfect party piece, this luxury leather bag with satin lining is guaranteed to put a twinkle in anyone’s eye this season - especially if there’s a wonderful Wahanda voucher waiting inside! Or if you’re feeling more naughty than nice, why not give the voucher as a gift and add the bag to your Christmas collection instead?

Taken from De Roemer’s latest range, the coveted brand was launched four years ago by Tamsin de Roemer (former business partner of model and designer Jade Jagger) and Justin Packshaw. Since then the label has continually received rave reviews and now features classic cashmere designs for both men and women, alongside striking jewellery and the sought-after bags. A cult classic amongst A-listers and the like, these are a must for anyone who moves in haute couture circles - you won’t want to be seen clutching anything else.

To view the entire De Roemer range, visit www.deroemer.com

*until stocks last. The bag will be sent out separately directly from De Roemer.

With two top spa day prizes up for grabs and six product goodie bags on the cards, our Champneys champs were full of glee when we revealed their fate, especially seeing as though neither of our first prize winners have been to a Champneys spa before. Not that they’re spa virgins of course, Cierra – our very own jet-setter last visited the spa at The Ritz in Bali and is a regular at Kinesis pilates studio in Notting Hill, whilst fellow first-prize winner and sun-worshipper LizzieH also likes to spa when she’s on her hols. She’s already got a trip to Longleat’s Centre Parc’s spa in her diary for next year and this summer made the most of Madeira’s spa scene – jealous yet!?

But it’s not just our number one winners who like to indulge - all of our runners-up have a penchant for pampering too which is why they all have such superb pre-party preparation rituals. Billygilly (pictured) swears by a good exfoliation so her skin doesn’t become dull, followed by lashings of moisturiser to get her skin ready for the fake tan that follows and Nickintven loves nothing more than sweating it out in a sauna before the party starts. Sticking to their more regimented regime, neither visioneer nor Chris will leave the house without moisturising with the latter opting for a spritz of his favourite after-shave to finish.

It’s not all about the moisturisers and the massages though – it’s clear our Wahanda winners like to party as hard as they like to spa (both LizzieH and Kat40 (pictured) admit they’re suckers for a glass of wine), which is why all of their New Year’s Resolutions seem to centre around drinking less, eating better and exercising more – luckily for them, Wahanda has everything they need to become fitter, happier and healthier in 2009!

For detox deals and inspirational ideas look no further, and if you’re desperate to win more Wahanda prizes, make sure you visit our Wahanda Advent Calendar – we’re giving away fabulous spa prizes every day from now until Christmas!

If you’ve never heard of
[ comfort zone ], here’s why you need their yummy product in your life:

Emotions, thoughts, concerns, the capacity to act and communicate are all linked to countless muscular contractions, which day after day place a strain on your skin, leaving deeper and deeper expression signs, particularly around the mouth, eye and neck. The [ comfort zone ] research laboratories have come up with an exceptional formulation for immediate visible lifting effects that will reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Glorious Skin, available from spas and salons nationwide (30ml/RRP £78), is a natural and lifting skincare product for the face that gives you the effects of botox but without the needles. This innovative botox-like serum is designed to reduce expression lines and wrinkles with an immediate tensor effect, revealing amazingly younger-looking skin. Used morning and evening for 30 days, Glorious Skin will reduce fine lines and wrinkles by a massive 40% with its antioxidant properties: hyaluronic acid and wheat proteins which counteract premature ageing.

This instant tensor is ideal as a make-up base and can either be used on areas of the face and neck that you are concerned about or applied all over, no matter what skin type you are.

For stockists, call Grafton International on T: 01827 280080 or visit www.graftons.co.uk. For more information on [ comfort zone ], please visit www.comfortzone.it

Spa Secrets magazine is packed full of all the latest spa news, destination and spa reviews, health and fitness advice, celebrity interviews, fashion and lifestyle.

To subscribe call 020 7253 9909 or visit www.spasecretsmagazine.com

It seems adults aren’t the only ones who can benefit from regular yoga classes. It’s becoming more and more evident by the number of classes popping up around the country that the latest post-pregnancy craze is ‘Mother and baby’ yoga classes. These classes give new mums a chance to connect with their babies on a spiritual, physical and emotional level, and if truth is to be believed - it’s highly beneficial for both parties.

Classes vary from place to place but all will incorporate core yoga moves including hip asanas, spinal twists, holds and balances and for the younger audience - singing and rhymes to stimulate the babies senses.

For mum’s the classes are an opportunity to strengthen their pelvic floor and core abdominal muscles following the birth, as well as enabling interaction with their baby and increasing their confidence in handling their bundle of joy but it’s claimed that babies benefit tenfold. Not only does the exercise encourage the development of supple joints, it stimulates brain development and balance, leading to a better posture and more satisfactory breathing. In addition it can relieve common ailments such as colic, wind and constipation.

With all these wonderful benefits, it’s no surprise that these classes are on the increase. Two such centres offering ‘mother and baby yoga classes’ in London are The Life Centre in Kensington and Complete Coaching in Wanstead. The latter serving up a host of classes and nutritional programmes for pregnant and post-pregnant women, including pilates and body massage.

And it’s not only mother’s and babies enjoying the perks, toddlers to teenagers are also getting wise to the supple trend, and yoga classes to music can increasingly be found nationwide to cater for this sweeping youth movement. Head to our main site to see exactly where you can send your little darling for their dose of children’s yoga and await the transformation!

Adding to our Wahanda wall of fame this month are six lucky ladies that came up trumps in October’s Sanctuary spa competition. With all of our competitions now receiving thousands of entries at a time, being announced as a Wahanda winner is no mean feat. Picked entirely at random, our latest Wahanda winners come from all over the UK, with one of the top prize winners residing in sunny Lancashire - but when there’s such a treat in store, show us someone who wouldn’t be willing to travel to the famous southern spa.

In case you missed what was on offer, we had two super-duper spa days up for grabs for two champs and their friends, whilst four runners-up received goodie bags overflowing with the coveted Sanctuary products. Already fans of the spa brand’s boutique range, they’re a welcome gift in winner Wilbur’s house, while Boonbetty is a lover of the Spa Essentials body lotion and foaming bath soak. IrisD (pictured) on the other hand has only heard of the product range in the past year so can’t wait to get her mitts on the goodies.

But Iris isn’t the only one that’s not had the chance to experience such spa delights, one of our first prize winners – LauraJ has never even been to a spa, or tried a treatment, so we’re hoping this will be the first of many. Treatments she’s keen to try out include a massage, facial and a session in a floatation tank, but most of all she’s hoping Wahanda will help her find a much-needed dose of relaxation. We couldn’t think of a better starting point than a spa day at The Sanctuary!

Someone else who could give her a few tips and pointers is runner-up Calliope who last visited Thermae Spa in Bath and The Hair Inn in Bangor, and is a sucker for a facial. Also no stranger to life in the spa lane is Wilbur who recently took a trip to Life Spa in Ealing, while Boonbetty even tries to get in a spot of spa-ing when she’s on her jollidays and last visited the Club Armonia Hotel in Turgutreis - all proof that Wahanda welcomes everyone from spa virgins to self-proclaimed wellness warriors.

If you want to be in with a chance of winning an indulgent Wahanda prize, make sure you keep checking back for our latest and greatest competitions. Right now we’ve got Champneys spa days and pamper packages up for the taking and you’ve got until the end of November to enter - miss it, miss out.

Well almost! Last month our fabulous Four Seasons competition had almost 3000 entrants, but there could only be one winner, and that lucky Wahanda citizen was Aj7722. Picked at random, our extremely excited winner – who’s never been to a Four Seasons resort before - has bagged herself a prize package worth £700, even we’re jealous! Including full use of the facilities, our Wahanda winner plus one will get treated to foot therapies, E’SPA scrubs and body rituals, as well as a bite to eat when they need to take a break from pampering. And if they fancy forty winks, they’ll have the option of heading to a relaxation area, or trotting on up to their Four Seasons bedroom because this prize lasts more than 24 hours. Oh yes, it’s a mini spa break, and what a perfect time to re-boot – just as the nights draw in, who doesn’t need a little TLC?

Already a lover of spas, Aj7722 last visited Spa 6 near Cirencester and top of her treatment list is a back, neck and head massage – we couldn’t agree more – is there a better way to unwind? But that’s not to say she wouldn’t like to try out a few new treatments and high up on her wishlist is laser hair removal or an eye treatment of some sort so she’s left bright eyed and bushy tailed (well maybe not that bushy tailed after all that hair removal)!

We can’t wait to see what our winner has to say about Four Seasons, but if you’re feeling blue that you’re not the champ, chin up - we have a super-duper spa competition every month. This month it’s packages and prizes from The Sanctuary whilst November will bring you tempting treats from health farm hero’s Champneys- watch this space…!

Leaving us feeling positively queasy, the first of our discoveries was none other than a snake massage. Yes, you heard us – forget a four-hand massage, why not let a slippery snake do the work instead? Already causing quite a stir in spa circles (understandably), this reptilian form of relaxation is the brainchild of a small Israeli spa in the village of Talmey El’Azar. Located on the eccentrically named Ada Barak’s Carnivorous Plant Farm, the snakes were originally used to feed the carnivorous plants, but were put to work massaging clients when the farm owner realised what a big a hit they were with people visiting the farm.

So how do you get from snake to spa? Once you’ve stripped off, a tangled mass of non-venomous snakes (California, corn, milk and Florida snakes) are placed on the body and left to squirm, but don’t worry about any escapees, the snakes are all braided to prevent an easy getaway – how reassuring! At $80 a pop, Ada (the farm owner) believes the snakes could hold some therapeutic value and that as soon as you get over any initial misgivings, you’ll find physical contact with the creatures soothing. However while we openly admit we’re no Indiana Jones when it comes to snakes, the thought of a writhing mass of reptiles slithering all over our body is still one step too far.

But one man’s poison is another man’s pleasure and there’s no stopping people in their quest for eternal beauty and flawless features. Enter the bird dropping facial – our second insane find. Revealed as Victoria Beckham’s secret to sexy skin, the £100 facials use a paste made from nightingale excrements to combat problem pimples. Packed full of guanine – a healing amino acid, the droppings are mixed with Japanese white clay, spread over the skin then you’re left under a UV light to strip away any bacteria. Also known as a geisha facial, (they use it to remove make-up and brighten their skin), it’s now an everyday therapy in Japan. New York salons have also started to catch on to the healing properties and we wouldn’t be surprised if the new facial fad flew into the UK someday soon!

It’s more than likely that the start of October isn’t exactly the time of year your thoughts will be turning to detoxing - after all, they’re usually saved for New Year resolutions or pre-holiday preparations. However SPA SPC at Stoke Park Club have gone against the grain and have decided to hold their first ever luxury Detox weekend between 10^th and 12^th October, with another one already booked in for 23rd - 25th January if you need a few months to get used to the idea of a good old detox!

Just the tonic if you’re suffering from IBS, digestive problems, fluid retention, muscle ache, dry skin, cellulite, poor circulation, insomnia or depression, Stoke Park have put all their efforts into focusing on the luxury aspect of the weekend as much as the detox side of things - who wants to get bogged down with all the bad bits?

Led by detox guru Jane Scrivner – author of ‘Detox Yourself’, guests can expect 5-course gourmet dinners brimming with healthy food, cookery demonstrations, lifestyle consultations, yoga classes as well as the more indulgent pampering experiences SPA SFC is famed for.

Loved by musicians and actors alike, the Alexander Technique has long been used as a tool to improve posture, movement and breathing technique in the Dramatic Arts. Created in the late 19th century by an obscure Tasmanian actor F.M Alexander, to cure himself of an inexplicable complaint (he lost his voice every time he went on stage) its use has been prolific in stage and ballet schools around the world, including The Julliard School of Performing Arts in New York and RADA in London.

The end of August 2008 saw a study released in The British Medical Journal, suggesting the Alexander Technique is a more effective treatment for long-term back pain than painkillers, physiotherapy or exercise alone. So if your back is acting up, why not try out a little complementary magic. You’ll be following in the esteemed footsteps of a host of celebrities including Sir Paul McCartney, Kevin Kline, Jeremy Irons, Dame Julie Andrews and the King and Queen of suppleness and all things holisitc and yogatastic themselves, Sting and our ‘Lady’ Madonna.

For such a little known therapy there are a surprising number of teachers in the UK, a whooping 900 in fact! You can source out one of these therapeutic maestros by looking online, alternatively, selected branches of Neal’s Yard Therapy Rooms offer workshops in the Technique as do all of Champneys destination spa’s. For other listed spas in London that offer this posture correcting therapy check out Wahanda’s ever growing list.

And remember, the better your posture the taller you look, and aren’t we all looking for a little elevation in life?

At Wahanda we not only know everything about UK spas, but you can grill us on our overseas knowledge too. Yes, we’ll show you exactly where you can indulge in wellness therapies the world over, which is why we’ve teamed up with British Airways and their brand new website – Metrotwin.com.

Showcasing the best of London and New York in one easy place, Metrotwin takes the idea of ‘town twinning’ to the next level, linking restaurants, bars, shops, neighbourhoods and of course spas and salons from two of the most buzzing cities known to man. And who better to give them the lowdown on said spas and salons than the experts – us of course.

Each week, Wahanda will be adding new content to Metrotwin, and we’ve already been squirreling away to provide a comprehensive list of five-star spas, contemporary salons and fabulous fitness centres, as well as the perfect yoga retreats, men’s spas and hotel hideaways. Twinning as we go, you can find Mandarin Oriental and Bliss spa’s in the Big Apple and the UK capital, alongside spas that mirror one another’s strengths and amenities, despite not being linked by name or brand – think roof-top swimming pools and A-list facials!

To see our recent recommendations in New York and London on Metrotwin, click here but keep checking back for our updated lists and top tips.