6 Top Wellness Vacation Spots
Whether you’ve way fallen off the resolution road—or never really hopped on the bandwagon—here are some worthy springtime retreats to help get you fit, healthy and feeling good before bikini season hits.
By Jenna Mahoney
The Ranch at Live Oak, California
This four- or seven-day program, which is actually housed at a posh Four Seasons an hour outside of LA, promises to get you back on track—no matter how far you’ve strayed. Meals are strictly veggie sans gluten, dairy, sugar, caffeine and alcohol; you’re limited to 1,4000 calories a day. (Trust us, that apple mid-hike is the absolute best apple in the world.) And activities are just as regimented with 10-to-12 mile morning hikes mile hikes in the mornings as well as a robust post-lunch schedule. Daily in-room massages are also part of the package, as are rise-and-shine and evening yoga sessions, plus serious bonding with fellow campers. (Bonus: Our own Editor-in-Chief is a huge fan!)
Vana Malsi Estate, India
While there are certainly plenty of opportunities to stretch and meditate at this retreat in the foothills of the Himalayas, the experience is ultra luxe—including crazy-sumptuous beds. All of the resort’s programs, which include diet and activity regimens, are personally customized to each guests’s individual dosha (Ayurvedic energy). Spa treatments and in-room bath amenities are also crafted to balance your energy points, as well as overall wellness experience. Fitness activities include tennis, swimming, miles of walking trails and, of course, plenty of yoga.
Related: Up Your Metabolism With These 10 Superstar Foods
Canyon Ranch, Massachusetts
Founded when headbands and leg warmers were workout wear and wellness was something hippies only were concerned with, the original Canyon Ranch outpost has been hosting guests for 35 years. Specialized programs such as Tai Chi master retreats and beauty bootcamps are on the docket throughout the year, guaranteeing a unique experience with each visit. However, the general approach is self-guided and regulated. You choose the fitness classes that most speak to you—yoga abs workouts, TRX, African dancing—and you select your meals from menus that boast all nutritional information. French press coffee is available, as are cookies. Alcohol is allowed, but not served, so use your discretion. (Like, pack that bottle of Pinot Noir.) There’s also a metaphysical aspect to stays at Canyon Ranch with Tarot card readings, Feng Shui sessions and astrology charts.
The BodyHoliday, St. Lucia
“All in good measure” is a tenant at this all-inclusive Caribbean hideaway where spa treatments are part of the daily experience and wine is on the dinner menu. Sure there’s the dizzying array of fitness activities from Pilates, yoga and swimming to fencing and Spinning (in an awesome treehouse studio), but the new BodyScience offerings in the recently added medi-spa facility have had wellness seekers coming in droves. Blending Eastern and Western medicinal traditions, programs are customized to your desired results—Destress, Detox, and more—based on at-home testing. Post vacay consultations are part of the package, too.
Related: The 10 Best Stretches For Better Flexibility
Miraval Resort & Spa, Arizona
Nestled in the Sonoran Desert, this Tuscon retreat feels more like a luxurious, health-minded, sleep-away camp—minus the teenage angst. Equipped with an array of dynamic fitness programs—think trail runs in the nearby Santa Catalina mountains, aerial yoga classes and a multitude of meditation workshops—you’ll also find a world-class spa, delicious, healthy cuisine and Casita-style rooms, including some with epic outdoor showers. With thematic programs often running (such as the upcoming Hiking Week), there’s never a shortage of things to do—only time (and dollars) spent.
Parrot Cay by Como, Turks & Caicos
Turks & Caicos, a collection of 40 islands and cays in the Caribbean, is one of the few places on earth where the crystalline water is so pristine that it’s virtually transparent. And the T&C’s Scuba, snorkeling, and endless miles of sugared sands are the makings of vacation daydreams. Situated on its own island, Como Parrot Cay delivers all that plus the wellness amenities (think: island fresh juices, beachside yoga and winding cycling paths) for which the Asian hospitality brand is known. Massage therapists are trained at the chain’s home base in Bali and accommodations are the embodiment of rustic luxe.
Now if only we could book all six trips…
(Photos: Courtesy)
More from SELF:
The One Food Nutritionists Eat Every Single Day
6 Moves To Resize Your Butt and Thighs