Hands up if you've ever felt a bit overwhelmed by life? If your hands aren't up, we'd hazard a guess that you're not being entirely honest with yourself! We have all become master jugglers: always switched "on", always multi-tasking and rarely taking a moment to pause, take stock and reset. That's something that we should all really be doing far more often but stopping isn't something that comes naturally to any of us anymore. As an entrepreneurial business owner, our own Katie can attest to the fact that there is an overwhelming need to slow down every once in a while. As she hurtled towards a burnout, Katie recognised the need for time out and in order to do so, she booked herself on to a luxury wellness retreat in an attempt to recharge her batteries, refresh and reset.
“After a winter of hibernating from the cold (and probably eating far too much) I needed to reset and recharge. So often I go away and indulge in great food and drink, but I decided I really needed a break away without feeling the excesses of my trip when I got back. It was like my body was screaming for a time out from, well, everything! The main appeal of a wellness retreat were the exercise options on offer - I like doing stuff when I go away so the idea of being able to pack my day with hikes and yoga sessions really appealed to me. There was no pressure. If you didn't want to exercise excessively, you didn't have to - you could do as much or as little as you wanted. It turned out that my energy levels that week were so high that I signed myself up for everything I could. It completely rid my head of the stresses of everyday life and I came home feeling very zen, ready to tackle my workload with fresh eyes. It will certainly not be my last retreat, " says Katie.
A healthy mind and body is the not-so-hidden secret to a long and happy life. If you're feeling the pinch of modern life, in need of some breathing space, a luxury wellness retreat may well be the answer! We've done the hard work for you and made an edit of our favourite five:
1. Experience True Luxury in St Lucia
The team at BodyHoliday St Lucia say, “Give us your body for a week, and we’ll give you back your mind.” You can choose from a variety of week-long wellness retreats, based on either yoga or weight-loss, staying in BodyHoliday’s new luxury villa, Firefly. Overlooking the stunning luxury Caribbean resort, these restful retreats let you enjoy the resort’s activities in your free time.
Firefly is set in beautiful gardens, with a swimming pool, Yoga lawn (yep, a lawn dedicated entirely to yoga sessions in the sun), and an oversized wrap-around terrace. BodyHoliday retreats have a healthy eating focus, so the villa’s grand kitchen is the perfect setting for the hands-on sessions.
BodyHoliday’s Prana Life Yoga Retreat is suitable for yogis with any level of experience, from beginners to advanced. Encompassing Hatha, Yin/Yan, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Pranayama, Sivananda and Yoga Nidra, the daily workshops will give you improved flexibility, tone, strength and posture.
Meanwhile their Stronger Me Weight Loss Retreat is a holistic programme that will teach you about balanced nutrition, with weight management tools and tailored exercise classes to ensure you feel fit, healthy and strong.
With additional retreats in the pipeline, we can’t think of a more beautiful location to improve our wellness than this stunning Caribbean retreat.
2. Retreat to the Portugal Hills
You don’t have to travel as far as St Lucia to discover a hidden gem of a luxury wellness retreat though: Six Senses Douro Valley is tucked away in a beautiful area of Portugal. With a spa, wine library, swimming pools and organic garden on offer, this beautifully renovated 19th Century manor house is set on a hill, overlooking vineyards and a river.
The wellness experts at Six Senses have crafted a wide variety of retreats, all designed to restore your body and soul. Six Senses say,
“You’ll enjoy a natural hand-made mattress and cotton bedding, nourishing bathroom products, and energy boosting snacks. Our chefs prepare delicious low-sugar, low-gluten, low-soy and low-lactose meals, which are as clean and sustainable as possible, while sourcing many ingredients locally. At our spas, you can discover more about your health with a bespoke wellness screening and movement efficiency test. Ultimately we aim to enhance every aspect of your experience so you feel immediate, real benefits however long your stay.”
With a variety of programmes to choose from, plus Yoga, Aerial Yoga and Pilates, you’re sure to come home rested, recharged and relaxed.
3. Experience American Hospitality in Arizona
In our experience, American hospitality is hard to beat, and when you visit Mii amo destination spa in Arizona, you’ll be made to feel right at home. With the incredible red rock of Sedona as a backdrop, Mii amo means “one’s path or journey”, and is steeped in the sacred Native American culture of the desert Southwest.
Mii amo say,
“Whether it’s creating new life strategies, designing a more inspirational environment, removing the things that block you from achieving success, and a number of other life altering discoveries, you’ll come back inspired, renewed and refreshed.”
Mii amo’s all-inclusive luxury retreats last from three, to seven days. Whether you want to improve your mental, spiritual or physical health, by reducing stress and regaining balance, there is sure to be a programme that suits you.
You can learn all about juicing, attend cooking demos, join fitness, wellness, and yoga session, or gardening. There are also lots of outdoor activities including Sedona hiking trails with views of the gorgeous red rocks.
With retreats on such subjects as ‘Manifesting Peace & Joy’, ‘Disconnect to Reconnect’ and ‘The Happiness Factor’ you’ll be well on your way to gaining a true sense of peace and reawakening.
4. Get Peace and Tranquillity in Sri Lanka
If you need to completely relax and unwind, the Santani wellness retreats in Sri Lanka offer unrivalled peace and tranquillity. Santani say,
“Santani takes a lifestyle approach to wellness with two essential components: we pamper your body in an environment designed at every level to revitalise you, and we educate your mind so that you leave with healthy habits and practices which allow you to sustain greater mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing for years to come.”
Santani offer personalised luxury wellness retreats, after assessing your body composition, lifestyle, fitness, stress and emotional state. Their team of wellness professionals will then customise your bespoke programme. They may include Ayurveda, Detox, Sleep, Spa, and Re-balance elements, plus lots more.
With Yoga, and excursions to incredible local sites such as the Bambaragala Cave Temple, the Hanging bridge of Narampanawa and the Galmaduwa Temple, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
5. Be at One with Nature in Bali
Our final choice for luxury wellness retreats has to be Como Shambala Estate in beautiful Bali. With unrivalled luxury accommodation, sumptuous yet healthful food, and an incredible location just north of Ubud, Como Shambala offers the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation.
With specialists in Yoga, Pilates and Qigong, and guides specialising in mountain biking, hiking, climbing, and white-water rafting, all tastes are catered for. Como Shambala have a range of wellness programmes, including ‘Cleanse’, ‘Be Active’, ‘Ayurvedic’ and ‘Bespoke’ which allows you to choose your own bespoke programme.
The team at Como Shambala take care of everything. Their top-notch facilities include a 25 metre chemical-free swimming pool, natural spring water pools, tennis court, Pilates studio, outdoor hydrotherapy area with vitality pool, treatment rooms and a climbing wall.
They also offer personal assistant, airport transfers, a resident doctor, babysitting services, guided walks and excursions and secretarial services. This is the ultimate wellness retreat, with space for your whole family.
If this has inspired you to book your own luxury wellness retreat, let us get it booked for you. Just get in touch and we’ll guide you to the wellness retreat that will help you feel yourself again!
Images courtesy of each resort.
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