Six Senses resorts new wellness program promises biohacks just for women

Though the Six Senses Douro Valley, a 19th-century estate-turned-resort on the banks of the Douro River, is cradled in one of the world’s finest wine-growing regions in Portugal, its recently launched Female Wellness Program invites guests to focus on health rather than hedonism.Developed in partnership with functional health expert and best-selling author Dr.Mindy Pelz, the program is designed by women, for women to support the hormonal cycles of the female body through fasting, personalized nutrition, mind-body practices, quality sleep, biohacking, and stress reduction.In kind, slowing down and tuning in are twin tenets of the program. “For so many years we have been taught to just push through and be stronger, it’s ingrained in us,” explains Anna Bjurstam, Six Senses’ Wellness Pioneer. “But as women, we’re cyclical, we’re rhythmical.  If we can listen to our bodies and understand those cues, I think every woman on earth, from teenagers on, can benefit from this program.” Prior to arrival, guests complete a questionnaire to determine lifestyle, medical history, health goals, dietary preferences and hormonal cycle.

Onsite, the program begins with a comprehensive wellness and biomarker screening, which measures, among other criteria, autonomic response and vascular function. (As for myself, after an overnight flight, a sodium bender and a midday espresso intake on par with Pedro Pascal, my wellness score was 90/100, high enough to feel competent but short of smug.)Participants are given a sleep tracker and a private consultation with an on-site sleep expert.To enhance shut-eye, each of the resort’s 71 guest rooms is supplied with lamb’s wool mattresses, temperature-regulating pillows and duvets, and organic linens. Program participants are also outfitted with a continuous glucose monitor that is viable for two weeks, allowing them to observe how they respond to insulin beyond the duration of their stay. These offerings reflect Six...