I met an Olympic speed skater in the treatment waiting area at SHA Mexico. We struck up a conversation, discovered an immediate connection, and before long were talking like old friends. It was one of those delightful, spontaneous encounters that remind me how much I love what I do—and it also taught me something remarkable about this cutting-edge destination.
She was there to experience SHA’s approach to human performance. I was there to discover what this leading longevity center offers for a longtime spa expert.
And, as it turned out, we were both in very good hands.
But first let’s get something straight: SHA Mexico is not a destination spa and it’s not an Olympic training center either. Nevertheless, it’s a bit of both, and long before either of us had arrived on Mexican soil, SHA had already begun getting to know us. Telephone consultations preceded our arrival, allowing the team to learn about our concerns, interests, and objectives. And by the time we checked in, a thoughtfully personalized agenda awaited us. I must confess that her goals and concerns were a bit different than mine. And yet the result for me was extraordinary—and she seemed happy, too.
My Path
SHA Mexico on Costa Mujeres at the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula
I was enrolled in SHA Mexico’s four-night Rebalance & Energize program, designed to address stress, restore energy, improve physical and mental balance, and build resilience. Over the next several days, my schedule would take me from advanced health diagnostics and functional medicine consultations, to acupuncture, cryotherapy, nutritional counseling, physical performance assessments, and an array of other holistic treatments.
One of the things I immediately appreciated about my SHA schedule was how easily it was altered. For example, I was scheduled for hyperbaric oxygen therapy but I know from experience that the pressure hurts my ears, so I opted out. Likewise, a physician noted my particularly small veins, suggested against the proposed IV infusions, and I was relieved. For me, the value of a personalized health program lies not in how many treatments one can fit into a schedule, but in how thoughtfully those treatments are selected—and whether they make sense for the individual.
What particularly impressed me was the interplay between disciplines. I met with physicians, nutritionists, fitness professionals, and therapeutic practitioners and each brought a different perspective to the table, and they also talked to each other—contributing to a much broader conversation about my health. I learned new things about my aging body. And, perhaps more importantly, I would leave with practical ideas I could put to use long after returning home.
The First SHA
SHA was pursuing this philosophy long before longevity became the wellness industry’s favorite buzzword.
The original SHA opened in Spain in 2008, the vision of entrepreneur Alfredo Bataller Parietti, whose personal experience with serious illness helped inspire a radically different approach to health. I then met his son, Alejandro Bataller, Managing Partner of SHA and AB Living Group, at a long-ago Global Wellness Summit, and he told me that the family’s ambition was not to create another luxurious retreat, but to bring conventional medicine, nutritional science, and complementary therapeutic practices into a coordinated approach to prevention and long-term health.
He has described SHA as more than a company—as a vision. And that distinction matters.
A Deluxe Plus Suite at SHA Mexico
SHA’s vision sounded so intriguing that I wanted to go to Spain, but it never worked out. Then I was invited to SHA Mexico on Costa Mujeres, at the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, and the prospect of experiencing this level of sophisticated, integrative healthcare without crossing the Atlantic was too much to resist.
Nevertheless, nothing quite prepared me for the setting.
Imagine an enormous, gleaming structure designed to evoke the double helix of human DNA rising from a sea of green, surrounded by lush, largely undeveloped coastal landscape, with the impossibly beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean beyond. It’s simply striking. And yet its interiors are warm and inviting, with natural materials, soft tones, and a wonderful sense of openness.
I felt as though I’d boarded an interstellar cruise ship bound for some utopian fantasyland— a place where everyone was healthy, happy, energized, and seemingly in possession of the secret to living well.
And then there’s the water.
That Caribbean water. Those extraordinary hues of green and blue that seem to exist nowhere else. From my private terrace, I watched pelicans swoop overhead, their ancient silhouettes gliding across the sky. Outside the spaceship, I spent precious time walking along the beach, practicing my walking meditation, breathing in the salt air, and simply appreciating where I was.
SHA’s most sophisticated technology would mean considerably less without the people who bring its philosophy to life.
The Human Element
Like the setting, the staff is exceptional. Not simply well-trained, but engaged, knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely interested in the people entrusted to their care.
My schedule was thoughtfully coordinated by Brenda, with whom I experienced one of those instant, inexplicable connections. We smiled at each other the moment we met, as though we were picking up a conversation begun long ago.
I jokingly told her I suspected we’d fought a battle together in another life—and won.
She agreed wholeheartedly.
That spirit of connection continued throughout my stay.
The unique design lends itself to quiet contemplation
Miguel, my acupuncturist, deserves special mention. A native of Cozumel, he and I bonded over memories of the island before development transformed it. He recalled riding his bicycle everywhere as a boy, which brought back wonderful memories of doing precisely the same thing with a friend decades earlier.
Miguel was extraordinarily generous with his time. After learning about some of my health concerns, he devoted additional attention to me over two consecutive days. His treatments were thorough, incorporating acupuncture, heat, and manual techniques. And yes, some of those needles were impressively long. But his manner was gentle, assured, and deeply reassuring. His treatment room, with its sweeping views of the property and sea, didn’t hurt either.
Then there was Fernando, who performed my Abhyanga massage, the traditional Ayurvedic treatment featuring warm oil and rhythmic, flowing strokes. A former marketing student who found his calling in therapeutic touch, Fernando was delightful company as well as a skilled therapist.
I met so many individuals whose stories stayed with me.
And I found myself thinking, repeatedly, that SHA’s most sophisticated technology would mean considerably less without the people who bring its philosophy to life.
The Science & Sensuality of Longevity
Make no mistake: there are wonderful spa treatments at SHA Mexico. But they’re only one part of a much larger—and considerably more sophisticated—approach to health and longevity.
A Hydroenergetic Detox Cure, incorporating hydro-aromatherapy, phyto-fangotherapy, and powerful hydrojet therapy, was another standout. We could all use a good hosing these days. The Sobada Detox Ritual, A Mayan-inspired abdominal treatment that incorporated warm ginger compresses, was particularly intriguing.
And then there was the science.
Health optimization diagnostics and a general medical exam are part of the program.
My four-night Rebalance & Energize program began with advanced health optimization diagnostics and a general medical examination, establishing a baseline from which SHA’s team of specialists could evaluate my health and individual needs.
Over the following days, I moved between consultations in functional and revitalizing medicine, anti-inflammatory nutrition, physical performance assessments, and a fascinating array of therapeutic disciplines. The breadth of expertise under one roof was impressive, but what interested me most was the opportunity to examine my health from multiple perspectives.
My consultation with Dr. Mariana Riveras was particularly illuminating. Young, exceptionally bright, and wonderfully attentive, she reviewed aspects of my medical history and previous test results, offering insights that surprised me and prompted me to reconsider some earlier health advice. I left with a three-phase protocol that I am following.
Nutrition, of course, is fundamental to the SHA philosophy. My consultation with Dr. Alejandra was both informative and practical, and I picked up several ideas I could easily incorporate into my daily routine. The emphasis wasn’t simply on what to eat—or avoid—but on understanding how nutrition can support the body’s ability to function at its best.
Physical performance was another important component. My assessments and training sessions offered an opportunity to examine strength, conditioning, and the relationship between movement and long-term vitality. Adrian, my excellent personal trainer, was a charming optimist.
Whenever I made a disparaging remark about my abilities, he’d gently admonish me: “Don’t be rude to yourself!”
Five little words.
What an excellent prescription.
Favorite Places
One of my favorite places was the hydrotherapy circuit. Elegant and beautifully arranged, it became something of a sanctuary during my stay. I particularly enjoyed moving between the steam room and cold plunge, with time afterward simply to relax. Natasha, the attendant, was consistently gracious and helpful, making an already pleasurable experience even better.
The serene SHApel
One of the most unexpected discoveries was the outdoor SHApel. A beautifully conceived contemplative space, the SHApel offers something that no medical device, however advanced, can provide: an invitation to be still. I found myself returning to its simple beauty, appreciating the quiet and the opportunity to sit with my thoughts. It struck me that there is something profoundly reassuring about a place that understands the importance of both science and silence.
The Art of Healthy Living
At SHA Mexico, education is as much a part of the experience as treatment. Its Healthy Living Academy offers an impressive calendar of activities designed to encourage healthier habits, stimulate curiosity, and bring guests together.
During my visit, the offerings ranged from sunrise meditation, pranayama, and yoga to fitness boot camps, mobility classes, aqua biking, and paddle boarding. Culinary enthusiasts could explore everything from superfoods and healthy pastry-making to medicinal teas and therapeutic cooking. There were walking meditations, nutrition discussions, and evening films, too.
I particularly enjoyed a medicinal-tea class led by Dr. Alejandra, whose enthusiasm for nutrition was infectious, and a wonderful cooking session with Chef Daniel Quesada whose culinary talents deserve a story of their own.
Food as a Form of Care
At SHAmadi, SHA’s principal restaurant, nutrition is central to the experience, but pleasure is never an afterthought.
A great companion: SHA’s cookbook, The Power of Healthy Food
The cuisine is inventive, beautifully prepared, and satisfying in ways that challenge the tired notion that healthy eating must involve deprivation.
I loved the sea bass served on my first evening, the fish tacos, the delicate soups—including gazpacho and cauliflower—and the wonderfully flavorful hummus and guacamole.
Miso soup at breakfast became a favorite ritual. As did exploring the teas: lotus, Mu, shiitake, and SHA’s own Balance blend. Alcohol and caffeine were absent from my daily routine, and I hardly missed them.
The Longevity of Performance
In September, two months after my visit, SHA announced that two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso had become its Global Brand Ambassador. The appointment was a fitting expression of the company’s belief that longevity is as much about sustaining performance and vitality as it is about extending life.
“To compete at the highest level for this long, I’ve learned that performance starts with health,” Alonso said in the announcement. “It is not only about what happens on the track, but how you prepare, recover, and look after yourself every day.”
For Alejandro Bataller, Alonso exemplifies the discipline, resilience, and commitment to recovery required to perform at an elite level over decades.
The news brought me back to my chance encounter with the Olympic speed skater in the treatment waiting area. An Olympian and a Formula 1 World Champion—two very different sports—and a common understanding that lasting performance is built on sustained attention to health.
Of course, one needn’t be an Olympian or a Formula 1 champion to appreciate the principle.
Regeneration Reimagined
The Biotech Bank at SHA Mexico
Always looking ahead, SHA Mexico is taking its commitment to longevity medicine a step further with the introduction of its new Cellular Regeneration Program. At its heart is mesenchymal stem cell therapy, supported by an on-site stem cell bank and GMP-certified laboratory—a sophisticated combination of clinical capabilities that places SHA at the forefront of regenerative medicine within the luxury wellness landscape.
But this is no quick fix. True to SHA’s integrative philosophy, the four-night, physician-supervised program brings together advanced diagnostics, biomarker analysis, personalized nutrition, and regenerative therapies, including exosomes, with protocols tailored to each guest’s individual biology. Guided by SHA’s Scientific Advisory Board, the initiative marks an ambitious new chapter for the wellness destination as it continues to explore the evolving science of longevity.
Mary Bemis
A pioneering voice in spa and wellness journalism, Mary Bemis has spent four decades chronicling, championing, and helping shape the modern spa industry. As Founder and Editorial Director of Insider’s Guide to Spas, she brings a distinctive editorial perspective informed by a career that has helped define the language and landscape of spa media. Mary launched American Spa magazine in 1997, co-founded Organic Spa, and helped launch Luxury SpaFinder and NewBeauty. Her industry leadership extends to board service with ISPA, NYSPA, and WSPA, the latter two organizations she helped establish. She has also served as Special Advisor to the Balneology Association of North America. Today, she serves as Special Advisor to Global Wellness Day and sits on the board of the International Sauna Aid Foundation. Recognized among Medika Life’s Top 30 Influential Voices Transforming Wellness, Mary is also a recipient of the prestigious ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award, an inaugural Folio Top Women in Media honoree, and an American Spa Wonder Woman of Wellness. Her mission remains as steadfast as ever: to keep spa culture alive and relevant, honor its roots, challenge its shortcomings, and inspire an industry to live up to its promise.
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