“I’m going to the spaaaaaa….”
Winding down the year and heading into winter hibernation can also mean that you gift yourself with a little “me” time…a little down-time, and the healthy choice of cleansing and nourishing and loving your body from the inside out.
Health spa vacations can last a day, a weekend, or longer and more people are taking them every year. There is growing popularity among women and men to slow down and build up a foundation for a good life with clean living, good eating, and a chance to jump-start their long-term health goals.
Hilton Head Health
Yoga on the beach? Count me in! Their specialties are weight loss and wellness. So what, exactly, is in their “wellness” offerings? Those who have struggled with maintaining a healthy weight, heart health, cancer, diabetes, and aging may find something to meet their needs at this destination health resort. They say that living well is a journey. You can jump-start yours here.
What about the food? Their healthy kitchen is available to teach you about food. How to cook healthy, how to eat well, and how to eat right. From meal planning to fine dining you can learn that healthy eating is not boring, or bland, or hard. It just takes the right knowledge and you can learn that!
Did you say inner peace? Welcome to The Indigo. Walk into the doors of the spa and the stress and worries of everyday life blow away like a sea breeze. If you’re like many people, especially women, you may find your “self-nurturing” time has been ignored. We are so busy taking care of everyone else, we often forget to take care of ourselves, right? A trip to The Indigo can change that and help put everything back into balance.
photo attribution: flickr.com/photos/domestictimes/3230339797/
Shankara Ayurveda Spa, Art of Living Retreat Center
Where does hatred turn into love? In a place in the mountains of North Carolina that was meant to welcome miracles. Some believe the Ayurveda traditions have been passed down from the Gods, to sages, and then to mere mortals. No matter how the practice arrived, yoga, meditation, massage, and other holistic approaches are used to bring the body into balance.
Where can you go to find silence that is breathtaking? If you ever want to put things into perspective and realize just how small life’s daily concerns are in comparison to the beauty of the world around you, go to a mountain top. Among the programs available at the Art of Living Retreat center, which include Yoga, Meditation, Happiness, and Panchakarma, you can spend your time in silence at the Silence Retreats. It’s here where you can quiet the noise from the outside world and calm the chatter of your inside world. And, as Eckhart Tolle says, understand the Power of Now.
Where’s the Beef? Not here. The menu celebrates vegetarian cooking. You can enjoy fruits of the garden (and vegetables too) which is located at the Retreat Center. The meal may start with pumpkin soup, or sweet potato and sage soup (a wonderful combination), and then delight you with a warm Tuscan bread salad with sundried tomatoes and pesto.
Photo Attribution: flickr.com/photos/tim_lumley/15123902824/
Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
Where do Yoga teachers go to learn? Right here! Although you don’t have to be, or aspire to be, a yoga instructor to enjoy Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. In fact, they offer a variety of options and you can create your own experience aligned with your goals and desires for this season of your life. You can relax and de-stress with yoga and movement classes, or choose to jump-start an improved “You” with a fitness routine which includes hiking and nutritional education. The choice is yours.
Where is my Destiny? You may discover it’s beyond your DNA. The Center offers various programs which are designed to educate and inspire you to a more full, more rich, and more healthy life. Past programs and presentations include subjects like: Make Peace with Food Now, Yoga and Lower Back Pain, Your Destiny Beyond your DNA, The Power of Vision, and Refilling your Well.
Is there a place for my appetite? It’s true. Man (and woman) cannot live on “om” alone. At some point, we must eat. Your appetite is connected to the value of nourishment you receive. Ayurveda teaches that “true nourishment is determined by what we eat, how we eat, and when we eat.” If you’re like many of us, you may have eaten a meal or snack in your car during rush hour at some point in the week. Or, you picked it up in a paper sack as you whipped through the drive-thru. Convenient? Yes. Best option? Probably not. In the Ayurvedic Kitchen you discover how to include healthful meals into your life which enhance digestion.
New Life Hiking Spa
Summer in Vermont? That’s the best time to visit New Life Hiking Spa because that’s the only time of the year it’s open! You can enjoy hiking and spa services from the middle of May thru October 1st. Why the limited season? That’s when you can enjoy the most scenic hikes without the winter weather. You’ll find trails that are flat to rolling, wooded to steep. There’s many routes to choose from so you’re sure to find one that matches your current fitness level.
What happens when I work up an appetite? We shall eat! The food choices are delicious and the variety emphasizes cleansing of the body to release toxins and impurities from your body. The natural state of the human body is to be healthy. The holistic approach to whole body health is a blend of intake and output. We strive to take in the best foods with the most nutritional value and release the stress, toxins and blockages that, literally, stop the flow of positive energy, bringing pain and illness into our lives. “Exercising” in a beautiful environment in a way that doesn’t really feel like exercising (no treadmills needed here), and then fueling your body with good choices encourage your body to lose weight naturally,.
Can I spaaa? Of course! The services include a variety of massages such as: Ohashi Method massage, Reflexology, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, and Myofascial Release. You won’t know how tense you were until the expert hands of the attendants begin to open up your meridians and release restrictions which have caused the stiffness and soreness you have been “learning to live with.” Ah…unlearn it!
Photo attribution: flickr.com/photos/nickerwin/36865530585
Where can I enjoy a magical romantic getaway…and be pampered in beer? This destination resort features over 500 acres of woodland gardens, docks and waterscapes, and a 40,000 square foot spa. It’s all about luxury…and a soul connection. You won’t get lost in the labyrinth journey; however, you may have a transformational experience as you take a meditative stroll. Then, before you enjoy a cold one in the lounge, indulge in a “renew and brew” body polish which is a blend of essential oils, hops and barley.
Where can I learn to cook? In addition to dining in the TREE Restaurant with its floor to ceiling windows which welcome in natural light and stunning views, you can partake in one of the many culinary classes offered. There are cooking demonstrations, wine tasting, garden dinners, and adventures in wine and chocolate pairings.
Is it possible to have it all? I suppose that depends on what your definition of “It” is. At The Lodge at Woodloch you can enjoy active pursuits each season of the year. During the summer months, you can enjoy the golf course, biking, hiking and fishing in the lake. Fall may draw you in with its colorful landscape as you paddle your kayak or pick up a good book. Winter’s snow won’t deter the adventurer who straps on snow skis and glides cross country. And spring, when the world wakes up again, may find you waking up as well with yoga, fitness classes, or tennis. Many activities can be enjoyed year-round. After all, healthy living and embracing life fully is a year-round pursuit!
Photo attribution: flickr.com/photos/jorgeq82/10180353496
When you Go:
Hilton Head Health
http://www.hhhealth.com/
14 Valencia Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843-785-3919
Shankara Ayurveda Spa, Art of Living Retreat Center
639 Whispering Hills Road
Boone, NC 28607
800-392-6870
https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/
Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
57 Interlaken Road
Stockbridge, MA, 01262
413-448-3100
https://kripalu.org/
New Life Hiking Spa
2617 Killington Road
Killington, VT 05751
802-353-2954
http://www.newlifehikingspa.com/
The Lodge at Woodloch
109 River Birch Lane
Hawley, PA 18428
570-685-8500
https://www.thelodgeatwoodloch.com/spa/
Photo attribution
Cover photo
