Self-care becoming more accessible; here are five options
Increasingly, self-care has become accessible to everyone, whether that’s through a free meditation app or a bikeshare program.
Plenty of seasoned travelers think that a sunny, unplugged vacation full of healthy food, feel-good exercise, and quality hammock time is solely for folks with private-jet money. Don’t believe it.
Check out our five favorites below.
Note: Some hotels may be limiting capacity or not offering certain amenities due to the pandemic. Be sure to check with the hotel before booking, and also follow all travel restrictions at the destination.
1. The Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort, Costa Rica: Costa Rica’s Nosara region could rival Los Angeles for number of yoga studios per capita. This surfing mecca has drawn the healthy-living set in droves, and they’re often making a beeline for The Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort. The resort offers no fewer than six yoga shalas (both open-air and air-conditioned), a modern fitness center with classes like barre and Pilates, and a restaurant and juice bar serving up organic foods. While guests can keep active with workouts and surf lessons, they can also doze by the pool or grab a hammock for the afternoon. Double and triple rooms with shared bathrooms keep rates lower than a roadside Holiday Inn.
2. Aqua Wellness Resort, Nicaragua: Nicaragua might not be the first destination that comes to mind when you’re hunting for a healthy getaway, but this affordable, eco-friendly resort should change that. The property itself is a “Swiss
Family Robinson” fantasy complete with treetop rooms and a white-sand beach. Group yoga classes, included in rates, make the most of this backdrop with a platform overlooking the coastline. Freshly squeezed juices and plant-focused dishes are served at Bromelia Restaurant, but there’s still plenty of room for indulgence, as the on-site bakery turns out banana bread and cinnamon rolls. Guests can also treat themselves to lavish spa treatments such as a scrub made from local cocoa beans, yogurt, and honey. Rates are inexpensive enough that a private studio is less than the average airport hotel.
3. Natura Cabana Boutique Hotel & Spa, Dominican Republic:Parked on one of the Dominican Republic’s best beaches, Natura Cabana would be a restorative getaway just for its location alone. But combined with outstanding fresh food, regular yoga classes and a fantastic spa, it’s hard to top. Guests can either get active — rolling out their yoga mats in the open-air pavilion, horseback riding on trails, or trekking to waterfalls — or they can nap on the beach or wander down garden paths. Both camps fuel up on dishes like airy pancakes and local coffee for breakfast and ceviche or sandwiches for lunch and dinner. Every room here comes decked out with a hammock or swing, and rates are regularly below the $200 mark.
4. Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, Bahamas: Sivananda Ashram is the real deal — an old-school retreat with 5:30 a.m. wake-up calls so guests can gather to focus on meditation, chanting, breathing and (of course) yoga poses.
And that’s perfect for travelers looking for a serious, structured reboot. For them, Sivananda’s program and fees can’t be beat. Guests can expect two free (mandatory) yoga classes per day, each two hours long, plus two more sessions of spiritual lessons and meditation. Lacto-vegetarian meals are also included in rates, with plenty of homemade yogurt and granola at brunch and soups and salads at dinnertime. While the itinerary is rather set, there’s still time to put your toes in the sand of the property’s beach, take a dip in the pool, or book a Thai massage or other spa treatment. Rooms are basic, which translates to extra low rates, particularly in dorms which are under $100. An even cheaper option is to pitch your own tent for half the price.
5. Maya Tulum Resort, Mexico: Tulum is tops when it comes to wellness retreats, with top resorts, top beaches and often top prices. But that last one isn’t the case at this mid-range resort, where sunny seclusion doesn’t come with hefty nightly rates. Everything at Maya is set up for maximum relaxation. Even the grounds — with lush vegetation crisscrossed with sandy pathways and dotted with thatchedroof huts — prompt a deep exhale. Traditional temazcal saunas here give a spot to sweat out the stress, and the on-site spa doles out the usual treatments along with ones that use Mayan medicine. A beachside labyrinth also provides a scenic spot for walking meditation — or a striking selfie.