For several winters now, Val Thorens, high in the French Alps has been promoting a concept of My Serenity – where the focus of the stay is to extend the wellbeing felt by being stress-free, amongst inspiring scenery, lungs filled with clean air and physically tired at the end of a day of exercise.
Based on the stress management insights of Dr Philippe Rodet, the resort has developed a strategy to amplify and extend the wellbeing felt from being on the slopes and streets of Val Thorens. Methods to achieve this Nirvana include taking in the scenery & massive vistas, immersing oneself in sunlight (especially important during the winter), interacting with nature and enjoying classical music such as Mozart. I cannot tick off too much of this list as I recount recent sojourns in Ischgl, Méribel or St Anton and I suspect I am in the majority. That is not to say that ‘My Serenity’ isn’t lost on me or others, it is more a case of reminding oneself that what is there, isn’t in one’s everyday routine – to take to time to reflect those precious moments in Val Thorens and other locations.
The irony of this movement being championed by one of the après ski heavyweights is not lost on us! Yet it seems the 2 are set to co-exist as those enjoying the incredible slopes and après ski of Les 3 Vallées are similarly enjoying the lasting benefits of the mountain air and daily exercise. Perhaps for the hard core, table dancing, après skiing, Folie Doucer, the best idea would be to squeeze a bit of ‘My Serenity’ time into the end of the corporate ski trip and arrive back in the office in a mental & spiritual condition that would suggest time had been spent in a Buddhist Monastery. As they say in Val Thorens – live united. Après & serenity.