Wellness
GREAT MEDITATION RETREATS & SPAS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
With wellness becoming a super travel trend today, meditation retreats are a growing niche simply because they offer a way for visitors to truly unplug and get away from the daily grind. Here are some truly immersive ones to put on your calendar for this year.
THE CHOPRA CENTER, CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA
The Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, world headquarters for The Chopra Center, has a few “Weekend Within” getaways curated and led by Dr. Chopra himself. The retreat’s primary goal is to take guests on a mind journey through primordial sound meditation, the sound technique that helps create clarity of purpose. A Women’s Retreat will be offered for the first time from May 26-28 ($1,695 for single occupancy).
LE GUANAHANI, ST. BARTHS
This upscale island has a “Meditate ON... Sunshine at Le Guanahani” retreat from March 2-5 led by David Romanelli who made his mark creating yoga, chocolate and wine retreats for foodies. This sensory-friendly weekend retreat helps you slow down and really focus on the nature of food and elemental magic like the warm ocean breeze. There are yoga and wine sessions as well as guided meditation.
THE ALEENTA RESORT, PHUKET, THAILAND
At the Aleenta Phuket resort and spa in the Phang-Nga in southern Thailand, the location which borders the Andaman Sea with its limestone rock-like islets, is especially calming. The Ayurah Wellness Center hosts a seven-night Spirit Yoga retreat that is based on the pillars of weight optimization, anti-aging, mind balance and detoxification and will set you back roughly $1,500 per person, which is a steal.
CHILL’ASANA, SAYULITA, MEXICO
In the lush jungle of Mexico, you can experience a Chill’Asana, a week-long retreat that takes people on a journey of yoga, martial arts, movement and adventure that includes groundwork movement, twice-daily
COMO SHAMBALA, BALI
More than any other Bali spa resort, COMO Shambhala provides a completely immersive, 360-degree wellbeing experience. In addition to their comprehensive treatments, activities and healthful COMO Shambhala Cuisine, they believe adventure and cultural discovery should be part of the holistic approach.
yoga classes and social-building activities like a closing night bonfire. Add-on optional activities like horseback riding and snorkeling are available.
THE BODYHOLIDAY, ST. LUCIA
This all-inclusive property was founded on the key pillars of relaxation, restorative beauty and a nourishing diet. The BodyHoliday includes daily spa treatments like 50-minute massages, body wraps, a Thalasso therapy and a facial. If the sun feels particularly strong for your psyche, opt for an Aloe Yoghurt body wrap, or even a Far Infrared therapy that improves blood circulation and improves the immune system. As a way to truly be on top of the world, take a yoga class in the property’s Tree House Spin Studio.ut, imperdiet a, justo. Nullam etium. Integer tincidunt. Cras dapibus. Vivamus elementum semper nisi. Aenean vulputate eleifend tellus.
THE SAMAR VILLAS, CAMBODIA
Fly into Siem Reap, the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat, and practice yoga amidst its mystical temples and magical real of overgrown primordial trees. Siem Reap is home to charming old French shop houses, shady tree lined boulevards and colonial Chinese architectural buildings.
Treat yourself by staying at the exquisite boutique hotel, The Samar Villas, which has masterfully incorporated Khmer style aesthetics with a touch of modern design. An oasis of serenity, the property offers a luxuriant tropical garden and swimming pool, an extensive library, an elaborate cuisine, a lounge bar, and rejuvenating spa treatments. The resort offers sightseeing tours that include exploring the archaeological sites of Angkor, mountain biking, horseback riding, shopping and visiting art galleries.
NEELESHWAR HERMITAGE, INDIA
Arrive in Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) and hop on a short flight to Mangalore and continue by road to Neeleshwar Hermitage, a hidden tropical destination set in a secluded palm grove beside the Arabian Sea. The Hermitage is spaciously built on twelve acres of land and offers a tranquil and secluded environment. The buildings are made of wood and laterite and modelled on palm-thatched fisherman huts overlooking a serene beach.
The restaurant offers a great selection of
fresh seafood and vegetarian dishes. Great complement to your yoga and meditation sessions are the therapeutic treatments at their Ayurvedic wellness centre. Other activities include cooking classes and cultural sight seeing tours.
ITC GRAND BHARAT, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA
Lit like a jewel and set at the foothills of the Aravlis mountains is this ITC hotel which has a series of “Eat-Well Detox Holidays” which range from one night to 14-day experiences, starting at $430. The Ayurvedic Detox Wellness retreat has three daily Swasthya cuisine meals, a consultation with a doctor, personalized yoga, daily use of hydrotherapy and a dosha-balancing diet.
There are also unique and highly-personalized treatment sessions like the Kaya Kalp detox.
TIGER MOUNTAIN LODGE POKHARA, NEPAL
Arrive in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, and hop on a short flight to Pokhara, a charming town and base for many of Nepal’s popular trekking routes. Stay at the award winning property, Tiger Mountain Lodge, situated on a spectacular hilltop ridge a thousand feet above the Pokhara Valley. This exclusive property is an ideal sanctuary to practice yoga as you enjoy its panoramic views of Machhapuchhare and three of the world’s eight thousand metre high Himalayan peaks, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Mansalu.
The Lodge provides Ayurvedic and shiatsu therapy and serene places for meditation. Their restaurant offers a wholesome cuisine that ranges from Nepali dishes to continental specialities made from local fresh ingredients and home-grown herbs. Activities include bird walks and day hikes through the forests and villages escorted by trained local guides. For the more adventurous, paragliding and micro-light flights against Annapurna’s backdrop are also available.
MUM AND BUB RESCUE YOGA RETREAT, UBUD, BALI
“To be completely present is the greatest gift for you and the baby” reads the advertorial for this Nurture by Nature retreat, which creates a safe haven at the Maya Resort in Ubud for mothers and their kids. Guests stay in a private thatched villa with views of their own mirrorlike infinity pool, and get twice-daily Vinyasa yoga classes, a massage, and daily meditation sessions.