Latest news with #TheHighlands
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
The immersive spa experience created by Lush with themed music, scents and drinks
If you're looking for a spa treatment with a difference, Lush's spa in Covent Garden takes you on a complete sensory experience. You may not already know this, but Lush (the brand famous for its bath bombs and Sleepy Lotion) also have a number of spas where you can have an immersive treatment like no other. Complete with music created by Lush's in-house musicians and choreographed with the spa treatments, each of their 13 treatments are designed to take you on a journey and care for your mind as well as your body. Each of their 13 treatments are designed to take you on a journey and care for your mind as well as your body. (Image: Emily Davison) The Covent Garden store opened in the summer of 2025 and it's one of two spa stores in London, the other being in Oxford Street. I was booked in to try The Highlands treatment, which is one of their newest treatments that takes inspiration from the breathtaking Scottish Highlands and Celtic traditions. The Highlands treatment is one of their newest treatments that takes inspiration from the breathtaking Scottish Highlands and Celtic traditions. (Image: Emily Davison) I first began by making my way through the shop to find the Lush Spa, which is located on the basement of the shop, and after filling in a brief questionnaire I was introduced to my lovely therapist Katie. Each of the spa's rooms are named after a different flower, and I will just say Lush Spas feel like being in someone's cosy and well-appointed home, complete with flowers, bowls of fruit, and artwork on the walls. Lush Spas feel like being in someone's cosy and well-appointed home. (Image: Emily Davison) The Highlands is a 60-minute full body massage that uses hot stones that originated from volcanoes, which mean they retain their heat for a longer time. Like all of the spa treatments at Lush, it begins with a little creative flair where you are given a unique stone reading. The treatment uses hot stones that originated from volcanoes, which mean they retain their heat for a longer time. (Image: Emily Davison) You begin by selecting three stones from a bag which feature Celtic symbols, and from there you whittle it down to one and are given a reading, which indicates how you may be feeling or want to feel. The treatment is timed alongside a soundtrack featuring Gaelic artists, soundscapes from the Highlands and beautiful vocals from Julie Fowlis, whose voice you may recognise if you've watched Disney's Brave. The treatment is timed alongside a soundtrack featuring Gaelic artists, soundscapes from the Highlands and beautiful vocals from Julie Fowlis. (Image: Emily Davison) As for the treatment itself, this would be perfect for anyone who feels the cold like I do, or if they play a lot of sport or have quite a physically demanding job. The treatment tackled every knot I think I'd built up over the past year from my back to my feet and head. The massage technique is specially choreographed to the pace of the music, beginning with rhythmic presses to mimic the sensation of ascending a hill, to slow and gentle touches as you arrive by the seashore at the end of the music track. The treatment tackled every knot I think I'd built up over the past year from my back to my feet and head. (Image: Emily Davison) Finally the treatment finished with a cup of Scottish black tea, which you can drink on comfy armchairs, taking as much time to relax and unwind as you'd like if you're not ready to brave the outside world just yet. I left feeling like I'd been blessed with a new body and was more than ready for an evening in bed, enjoying my knot-free back and un-aching feet. The Highlands Spa Treatment is available to book for £150 a person at ten Lush spas across the UK, including Covent Garden in London, or if you fancy treating yourself and a loved one then couples rooms are also available to book too.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Energy company drastically reduces home electricity costs with groundbreaking development: 'Available to all types of ... consumers'
A groundbreaking energy development in Maine is making solar power more accessible than ever, allowing thousands of residents and businesses to cut their electricity costs while supporting a cleaner grid. Ampion Renewable Energy has launched five new community solar farms across the state, injecting nearly 25 megawatts of clean energy into Maine's power system. This expansion brings significant savings to subscribers — households and businesses alike — who can expect to see up to a 15% reduction in their electricity bills, all without the need for rooftop solar installations. The farms, located across Franklin, Aroostook, Penobscot, and Washington counties, will generate more than 28 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Residents in the Versant Power and Central Maine Power territories can enroll in the program and receive credits on their electric bills, making renewable energy an easy and cost-effective choice. Would you live in a city where every road was underground? Sign me up Depends on how it looks Only if you paid me No freaking way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What makes this initiative stand out is its accessibility. Community solar removes the financial and logistical barriers of traditional solar panels, offering direct savings while contributing to a more resilient and sustainable power grid. As energy prices fluctuate, these projects can help insulate communities from rising costs while reducing dependence on polluting energy sources such as gas and coal. For Ampion CEO Nate Owen, this initiative is deeply personal. Having grown up in Maine, he understands the value of keeping energy affordable and sustainable for local communities. "Community solar is an invaluable state program that provides Mainers with many benefits," Owen said. "It bolsters the local economy, improves grid resilience, and is available to all types of electricity consumers." Beyond individual savings, these projects contribute to Maine's clean energy transition. The state had installed 1,415 megawatts of solar energy as of late 2024 and is projected to nearly double that within five years. As demand for sustainable energy solutions rises, community solar is proving to be a scalable and effective way to meet those needs. Local organizations are also embracing the shift. The Highlands, a senior living community in Topsham, has partnered with Ampion to bring solar savings to its residents. "We feel good about supporting local jobs and helping to make more clean energy available to the grid, all while helping our community members save money on electricity," said Troy Chapman, operations director at The Highlands. By making cleaner energy cheaper, easier to access, and more widely available, Ampion's expansion marks a turning point for Maine's economy and environment. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
