Iceland review - 2016, Page 46

44 ICELAND REVIEW
W E L L N E S S
COMMUNITY FEEL
Situated in a geothermal area, the clinic makes good use of hot
water. The on-site Kjarnalundur Spa has several hot tubs, a
Jacuzzi, sauna and kneipp therapy (cold and hot baths in which
patients alternately immerse themselves). At the pool, the pho-
tographer and I meet 50-year-old Kristinn Sæmundsson, who
previously worked in the music industry and on cultural events.
He’s in his final few days at the clinic after a month-long stay as
part of his recovery from an accident several years ago. “It’s the
only place in the healthcare system that I feel no prejudice from
the staff. You are really well-received with care and humanity
and they give you the encouragement you need to get through
your struggles. Not enough is done for people with depression
or anxiety. You have to think about the impact this has on the
individuals’ families and friends, too—the wider impact.”
Chatting with the others in the hot tub, Kristinn says meeting
other people is a crucial part of his treatment. “You meet people,
go for a walk and talk together. Maybe at home you’re just living
in an apartment block somewhere and rarely speak to people.
That’s a big problem in our society today and people end up
isolating themselves. People here ask how long you’ve been here
and whether you’ve been before, not why. People don’t really talk
about it, at least not until they are ready and want to.”
TAPPING INTO TOURISM
While guests must have a doctor’s referral to get subsidized care,
the clinic also offers up to 50 of its 176 beds to those who don’t.
Ingi Þór however emphasizes that NLFÍ is not a spa resort.
“Some people think this is a spa hotel but we’re actually a medi-
cal clinic which also offers service to those who want to come on
their own [without a doctor’s referral].” The clinic is increasingly
looking at also catering to the needs of foreign visitors and will
soon offer packages for clients from the United States, in coop-
eration with travel company Nordic Wellness. “They are people
who want to change their lifestyle, are around 40 years of age
and have money. They get an introduction to Iceland, too, so it’s
like killing two birds with one stone,” Ingi Þór says. Arnar Felix
Einarsson at Nordic Wellness says the packages will include
yoga, mindfulness, hiking, nutritious food and an opportunity
to see Iceland. “Guests will experience the country but also get
to relax and focus on their health.” The partnership aims to tap
into the growing health tourism industry and make use of the
low season at the clinic. “Wellness tourism is growing by ten
to thirty percent per year globally, on top of the already existing
increase in tourism. We want to take advantage of the infrastruc-
ture at the clinic in Hveragerði and introduce this to a bigger
market, especially to people coming from countries where a fast
lifestyle and a lot of stress is the norm. Winter is the peak season
for Icelanders at the health clinic but during the summer there
are available places so we would like to make use of this period,
which makes sense financially, too.” Ingi Þór is optimistic about
the collaboration. “The dream is to have health tourism here.
With our water, clay, vegetables and sixty-year history we think
we are in a great position to do so.” u