Health by Melissa Reynolds

The life guides

Mind and body rebirth centre proves beauty is not only skin deep

Cosmetic surgery might now have become the norm in the fight against the physical effects of ageing and telltale signs of lifestyle excess, but it has no place at Therapolis, the first one-stop shop for ‘mind and body rebirth’ in Cyprus.

This new ‘spa’ concept in Limassol offers a range of traditional, yet technologically advanced, beauty treatments along with a dazzling array of complementary mind and health therapies. Therapolis focuses on healthy bodies, minds and beauty, a business model that owner Andy Stylianou is reluctant to pigeonhole.

“It’s not technically a spa, can we start with that?” he asks good naturedly. “We call ourselves an alternative health and advanced beauty centre simply because we are. We’re specialists in those two areas and that’s really the differentiation point between us and other establishments. We are constantly evolving,” he says, waving a hand around the centre’s plush, comfortable foyer.

It took just seven months for Andy, a former nightclub entrepreneur, to create the new health and beauty centre which opened in October last year. Aiming to avoid the common pitfalls of many conventional spas, he promises an inclusive experience for customers from all walks of life
“Sometimes you don’t feel welcome or that you are looked down upon, and people don’t go to certain places because of that. What we’re all about is making people feel comfortable – whether it’s a man coming for a manicure or somebody who has a serious condition. It takes just conversation and the whole vibe of coming into the place to make people comfortable,” he explains.

Andy, 34, has almost completely turned his back on the nightclub industry, yet he describes his ten years working in Brighton’s chaotic clubland as the catalyst for his new occupation as a Mind Consultant, working with clients to overcome addictions, phobias and psychological problems.
Having trained with a number of the world’s top mind gurus, including successful TV personality and author Paul McKenna, Andy decided on a complete career change once he hit thirty.

“Working in clubs was absolutely amazing training in all aspects because I used to get 1000 people and speak to every one of them that came into the place. I was very active as I was at the front of the club where you meet a massive array of people and learn how they operate whether normally or under the influence of alcohol and drugs,” he says. “It was a very good training ground and I’m a firm believer that every life experience is necessary for where you are currently at. I firmly value that, and know in my heart that it was superb training for what I’m doing now and what I’m going on to do.”

The building housing Therapolis has undergone a rebirth of its own. The former hotel apartment block was inspected by an ‘energy’ consultant to assess its positive vibes before undergoing extensive remodelling last July to create a tranquil space incorporating a juice bar, yoga studio and nine treatment rooms. Therapolis offers an eclectic range of mind-boggling therapies from Reiki and Chinese medicine to more unusual restoratives such as Angel therapy and Pranic healing provided by expert practitioners from a range of ‘new-age’ fields.

Money has been no object in creating the perfect space for the centre which is to be extended to accommodate 17 therapy rooms in the future. “A lot of money, a lot of zeros, we are talking over a million pounds of investment for everything, and adding up every day,” Andy admits.

A major factor in the high start-up costs has been the state-of-the-art beauty equipment personally sourced by Andy to provide what he describes as ‘advanced beauty’ treatments.

“We are advanced because of the level of the equipment that we have in order to facilitate the changes that people want. It’s been heavily researched and we have very high quality products. Whatever we have is the very best there is possible – whether it comes to an anti-ageing facial machine or even when it comes to the basic stuff like pedicure. I don’t know if you saw the chair,” he asks referring to Therapolis’ pedicure chair installed in one of the treatment rooms. It was difficult to ignore or fail to be impressed with this futuristic, multi-tasking machine imported from the United States which reputedly offers one of the most intensive and hygienic pedicure treatments available on the island.

Many conventional treatments and massages are offered, some benefiting from scientific advancements, whilst others offer something a little more spiritual, such as a detox package provided by Angel healing practitioner Helen.

Consisting of a toxin-draining foot spa and massage along with an ‘Angel reading,’ – a little like a seraphic tarot – Helen believes that we each have a guardian angel watching over and protecting us. Scepticism aside, if you keep an open mind you will find Helen, like all of Therapolis’ therapists, is an excellent listener. She has the kind of easy manner that leads you to unload your troubles and feel as if you really have cleared away some of the accumulated mental and physical garbage we all collect as we plough through life.

Cynicism is clearly an obstacle that Andy, also a qualified Angel therapist, has to overcome to ensure the centre’s success, but he is realistic about his plans to educate Cyprus in the benefits of the more unusual therapies available at Therapolis.

“We’re really looking towards educating the market place, that’s one of our missions because a lot of people in Cyprus haven’t been as exposed as the UK to these types of possibilities.”

Whether people describe the therapies offered at Therapolis as complementary or alternative is irrelevant to Andy. “Ultimately our treatments can help. There’s a massive culture here in Cyprus of prescribing drugs, and I’m not against that. They have their place, as does going under the knife.”

Andy believes, however, that these often extreme procedures are prescribed before other possibilities have been explored. “That’s all we are saying is to give it a go and allow your experience to decide,” he says. “The ethos, our main ethos is authenticity and integrity. When I was speaking to everybody that was coming on board that was the main thing I said. We’re not here to sell things to people, we’re here because we believe in what we do and we know that we can get results. So when someone comes in we suggest something we genuinely believe will help them. You can do the standard massage if that’s what you want, but if you want to take it further, then you can.”

To help reinforce the message, the Therapolis therapists are now offering ‘experience days’ as a taster of what they can do. “We really want to take therapy to the people because we know when someone has experienced it they will know it is of value,” he says.

Andy will also hold a series of seminars on confidence, motivation, weight loss and addictions such as smoking, in addition to his one-to-one sessions. He’s quick to state, however, that Therapolis is a helping hand rather than a cure-all for those who truly desire positive improvement in their lives.
“We work on all levels. We help bind the process, but I think ultimately everybody is responsible for their own journey. We’re the guides along the way. A lot of the time people need an external source to help them at least with the early steps,” he says. “You begin it like a spark and it starts in one place and affects everything else. Because of that you are more confident and motivated – it just permeates every aspect of your life.”

Food for thought for those who made New Year’s resolutions and are already lambasting themselves for failing to see them through to the end of January 1. Help could be on hand in our search for a little balance without destructive self-criticism for our small remissions. “Life is supposed to be joyous. It’s a journey, so it should be fun,” says Andy. “Ultimately I’m a firm believer that you never know until you truly experience, and that’s just the way it is. Give it a go, give it a go.”

For more information visit www.therapolis.com or call 25 328585. Therapolis, 3 Pergamou Street, Potamos, Yermasoyia, Limassol