Citius Retreats, a specialist in sports medicine and wellness, is set to launch a series of high-end retreats at Six Senses Ibiza in 2025.

Aimed at those passionate about sports, fitness and holistic health, the doctor-led programmes will integrate fitness, specialised medical care and wellness practices, while promoting a sense of community.

As the UK’s physical activity market celebrates reaching a £38.7 billion (US$50.4 billion, €45.8 billion) valuation and becoming the country's leading wellness sector, the British-based retreat brand shared its vision and expansion plans with Spa Business.

The concept

Citius was founded by sports medicine consultant Dr George Bownes FFSEM who has spent more than 15 years working with elite athletes in the UK’s high-performance sports network, including Premier League football, international rugby, Wimbledon and the Olympics.

Bownes has now tapped his network of specialists to curate a team to lead retreats which help guests advance in their health and fitness journeys.

Programmes will delve into fitness, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, sleep health, nutrition and a range of wellness modalities to equip attendees with the right tools to improve their lifestyle by reshaping their approach to maintaining their health and wellbeing.

“Attendees will be offered a wraparound level of multidisciplinary care from highly experienced professionals who’ve worked in high-performance sport daily for years,” Bownes explains.

He says that by complementing the rehab process with wellness modalities such as breathwork, hot/cold exposure therapy and yoga, “you return people to activity as better players and better athletes”.

The team also plans to equip guests with Lingo glucose monitoring devices prior to arrival and during the retreats to help educate them about blood sugar levels and their role in a healthy lifestyle.

"Our goal is to provide guests with the opportunity to enhance their performance, prevent injuries and achieve overall wellbeing in spectacular settings,” Bownes said.

“We believe that by combining exceptional doctor-led care with a supportive community, we can truly make a difference in our guests' lives."

Partnering with Six SensesCitius’ first four-day retreat at Six Senses Ibiza in May 2025 will feature two tracks: sports medicine and women’s health.

Both will embrace a holistic approach emphasising the importance of physical, mental and social wellbeing. Activities will include coastal hikes, paddleboarding, cold-water therapy and educational workshops on recovery and nutrition.

Guests will also benefit from tailored physiotherapy sessions, yoga, breathwork, strength and conditioning and mindfulness practices.

The experience will be rounded out by massages, cryotherapy and access to the Six Senses’ Rosebar Longevity Centre, ensuring a comprehensive approach to active recovery and wellness.

Capped at 150 attendees, this first programme will serve as a preamble to a property-wide retreat in October 2025, accommodating a maximum of 220 guests.

Prices will start at £6,500 per person (US$8,466, €7,685).

Formats and expansion plans

Bownes plans to introduce a new series of two-and-a-half-day rehabilitation retreats over the next 12 months, specifically tailored for individuals recovering from ACL injuries and knee arthritis. Each retreat will range from £2,575 to £2,875 (US$3,354 – US$3,745, €3,045 – €3,400).

"A key part of our mission is fostering a sense of community," Bownes explained. 'We aim to create a supportive environment where people with similar experiences can connect, helping them feel less isolated on their recovery journey."

More intensive five-day programmes will launch later in 2025, in addition to recovery-focused retreats and bite-size holistic experiences around health, fitness and wellbeing.

Future partnershipsBownes’ team will kick off 2025 with a programme at UK countryside retreat Wilderness Reserve in January 2025 and begin providing sports medicine and wellbeing services to the Founders Forum’s Founder’s Health event.

Bownes also told Spa Business that the brand is exploring exciting collaborations with high-profile UK operators in the health club industry. More details will be released in the coming months.