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Le Tigre Spa Monte Carlo Beach opens a spa as unique as the hotel By NICOLE RUSKELL
Le Tigre Spa at the Monte Carlo Beach © MCSBM
estled in a little enclave just past the border of Monaco, sits the Monte Carlo Beach resort and hoteL (MCB). A Relais & Chateaux property and part of the glamorous Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, the MCB is surrounded by trees and birds - a world away from the glitz and glamour of the Principality and its overwhelmingly grand hotels. However, this little 40-room jewel is perhaps their most unique and intimate property, offe-
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ring 5-star luxury while still maintaining the feel of a private bungalow getaway. This is what attracted élodie Garamond when she was scoping out a new location for her spa in the French Riviera. Le Tigre, her unique yoga spa has been a massive success in Paris, offering stressed visitors a truly relaxing, spiritual getaway. Focused on yogic philosophy, chakra balancing and healing both body and spirit, Le Tigre is a new concept in the luxury spa experience. “I’m very careful of places for their energy,” élodie told Riviera Insider on the phone from Paris. “There is a very special energy at Monte Carlo Beach – very different from the centre of Monte Carlo.” élodie has travelled the world and lived in many countries, including India and Bali, to hone her spiritual practice. when she returned to Paris, she couldn’t find a suitable place to do yoga. In a sea of yoga studios and classes, she couldn’t find a true yogic, spiritual practice. So she decided to create a place of her own. Le Tigre encompasses strict yoga practice with rigorously selected instructors, Auyrvedic principles for spa treatments, including chakra balancing, detoxifying massage, oil treatments and more. Her signature Le Tigre Oil is a special recipe she spent a year creating, with almond, sesame, rooibos and essential oils. It is soothing and nourishing, rich in vitamin C and E and unlike other oils post-massage, this you doesn’t feel greasy - it feels amazing. élodie’s final decision to open at MCB came after meeting with the hotel’s Managing Direc-
tor, Daniele Garcelon. élodie was struck by Daniele’s care and compassion after overhearing her speaking with her staff. “[Daniele] has such a good humanity towards her guests and her staff,” she pointed out. “They are so caring and want to give the very best. She’s such a beautiful person and so in love with her hotel.” The two women instantly “clicked” and élodie jokingly describes their meeting as a “coup de foudre”, or love at first sight. The only woman hotel director at SBM, Daniele Garcelon runs a tight ship with “obsessive attention to detail,” Daniele tells Riviera Insider during an interview on the MCB patio. “I am very picky,” she says, “and I like élodie very much. It’s difficult to find someone with the right spirit - she’s very open-minded and her concept is different. This is why she has been so popular in Paris.” Daniele describes her hotel as “very different” because of their setting secluded amongst the trees and the sea. She considers both her staff and her repeat customers “a big family” and welcomes the unique and nourishing services of Le Tigre Spa. Opened since March 2019, Le Tigre Spa offers all traditional spa services plus yoga, meditation and Pilates in both private, group and child classes. The signature chakra balancing ‘Le Tigre’ massage is designed to fit your energy needs, changing based on whether you need to relax or energise. For their spa treatments, they use Tata Harper, a line of 100% natural, eco-certified beauty products.
Hästens beds Waking up to good sleep ood quality sleep is one of the most important facets of life. Many of us live in a constant state of exhaustion and though we may wonder why we feel so tired, we often don’t think about the quality of our mattress. Hästens knows this perhaps better than anyone else. They have been making some of the world’s best mattresses since 1852 and six generations later, it is still a family-owned business. Their slogan, “wake up world” may seem an unusual slogan for a company specialising in sleep, but Hästens contends that without good sleep, you’re not properly awake. Riviera Insider speaks with Eric Sturma, owner of the Hästens store in Nice. He describes the company culture as being “driven by a passion for providing the best sleep.” when asked if these mattresses really make that big of a difference, he replied: “It changed my life. when I discovered Hästens, I found the perfect bed.”
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The classic look of a hand-made Hästens bed. © D.R.
He explains that the intricate layering of the natural materials allow your bones and your muscles to rest, relax and recharge during the night. “I wake up without any back pain and with a fresh mind,” he adds. So what makes these mattresses so special? Every Hästens’ bed is made to order and handcrafted by expert artisans in Sweden. Every detail from the firmness to the fabric design are chosen by the customer. Each mattress is made entirely of natural materials from the Swedish pine frame to the Swedish iron springs to the cotton, flax and wool filling. The secret to their award-winning beds, however, is horsehair. Originally a saddle maker, Hästens created mattresses from horsehair, which
provides exceptional breathability, temperature balance, resistance to moisture, and dries quickly. To this day, their mattresses are among the last in the world to continue this tradition. “All layers work and breathe together to provide a healthy and ambient temperature good for sleeping,” Eric explains. Hästens offers an exceptional range of beds, including the iconic Vividus and their top-of-theline, 2000T. Visit their store in Nice so you can test these amazing mattresses for yourself. Hästens Nice 44 Rue Gioffredo, 06000 Nice +33 (0)4 93 79 87 94 www.hastens.com