About wellness and sustainability, by Sabrina Giannini

Virginia Woolf wrote that there is a virgin forest in each of us, a place of the soul where, in the seeming silence of a nature that listens to our humanity, we learn to know ourselves.

There are few places where we can live in harmony with “our” virgin forest. It is no coincidence that the best facilities are to be found in the most spectacular panoramic and natural locations. Researchers have shown that even a walk in the woods can speed up recovery thanks to the release of small molecules invisible to us, called ‘terpenes’. They are produced by oaks, beeches, chestnut trees and at least ten other plant species present in the world and in Italy. We do not smell these molecules, but they still penetrate our nose and lungs. Forest Therapy is beneficial to the body and mind by boosting the immune system and, like Forest Bathing, has been shown to improve physiological and psychological health, resulting in a state of well-being. Moreover, breathing clean air also means no CO2.

The pleasant tactile sensation we experience when we enter the warm water of an outdoor pool in a scenic area near a forest or wood, as at Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti, is therefore enhanced by the chemical action of terpenes. It is a subliminal pleasure that activates our ancestral side and takes us back to the beginning of our evolution. It reminds us of the scents, the warmth of the water, the flavours, the pleasures that our hypothalamus recognises as reassuring.

This is what well-being is all about: it is a regeneration that takes us away from the hectic stress of everyday life, which alienates us from our most natural dimension. The only time worth living is the time we spend with ourselves, doing what we like to do and satisfying our deepest needs. For example, an aromatherapy session in a sauna or a full-body massage. Food is not just food, eating not just nourishment, but enjoyment of scents, aromas and flavours.

But there is another aspect that must bring us back to our sensory pleasures: sustainability. The sustainability of the raw materials on which we humans feed, often without thinking that their impact on the planet can deprive us of the ‘beauty’ of the universe, which we should be guardians of. To be consistent with this concept, hospitality must prioritise food with a low environmental impact, and be in harmony with our senses and generous nature. Hence, it is appreciated that hospitality facilities, such as Lefay, offer also plant-based and low-calorie menus, vegetarian dishes and a restaurant featuring local products. It is also no coincidence that Matteo Maenza, Lefay Group Executive Chef, wanted to meet me after watching one of my reportages on ‘really’ sustainable food. Coherence is harmony in our “virgin forest.”

Sabrina Giannini

Italian journalist, television author and presenter, known for her enquiries into social, economic and food issues, drawing attention to the sustainability and well-being of people and the planet.
She has worked as a journalist on the television programme “Report” since 1997.
Since 2016, she has been the creator, director and presenter of the investigative journalism television programme ‘Indovina chi viene a cena’ (Guess who’s coming to dinner), broadcast on Sundays in prime time on Rai3. This is the only investigative programme in Italy (and one of the few in Europe) dedicated exclusively to sustainability.
She has won numerous international awards, including the prestigious Banff Rockie Award in 2001 for her “Ipocrisia di stato” (State hypocrisy) enquiry into multinational tobacco companies.