Spa retreat. Health vacation. Wellness retreat. Yoga, weight loss, hiking, detox. The choices are endless.
With so many wellness inspired programs and destinations around the globe, it can seem daunting to know what distinguishes one from another. The question is: how do you find and plan the perfect health vacation?
Truth be told, you do not need to travel to a specific wellness retreat to experience a health vacation. For many of us, long walks on the beach or in the mountains or maybe a trip without any electronic devices can satisfy our need to re-energize. In fact, one of the most relaxing vacations I ever had was a trip to Grand Velas all-inclusive resort in Nuevo Vallarta, where my days consisted of reading books on the beach and enjoying sumptuous spa treatments before eventually feasting on gourmet cuisine each night.
There is something to be said though, for planning a purposeful health vacation or retreat – a trip that is focused specifically on your inner or outer wellbeing.
For those that want a bit more focus and structure to their getaway, here are a few questions that are worth considering when you start researching the wide assortment of programs that exist all over the world.
7 questions to ask yourself to find the perfect health vacation
What is your purpose?
I first dreamed of visiting a wellness retreat when I was 18. I had a notion of going to a decadently luxurious resort, being pampered and magically losing pounds and inches through osmosis in my sleep. Ok, not quite – but you get the idea. My original thinking was that a health vacation would be the perfect setting for a mother-daughter trip with my mom – a place where we could bond and get over all the angsty days of my childhood. Fast forward to over 20 years later, although my reasons and motivation had changed – I am even more convinced of the health benefits from a yearly investment in a health vacation.
The reasons to take a health vacation are just as varied as the types of programs that exist.
Any purpose is a good one. Solo getaway, girls’ trip, mother-daughter, anniversary celebrations, milestone birthdays, couples’ retreat, detoxification, weight loss and pampering – each reason has its own unique qualities and needs. For instance, if you are traveling with your spouse – the availability of activities that interest both of you are key whereas a trip to celebrate your milestone birthday puts the focus of what you love squarely on your own shoulders.
Some programs offer specialized weeks or designated packages that appeal to specific groups whereas others offer the same lineup every week. For example, Mountain Trek steps away from the weight loss and metabolism boosting focus of its British Columbia program for an adventure trek each year. Rancho La Puerta, in Tecate, Mexico on the other hand, opens its doors to families once a year for family week – offering daytime camp-like activities for kids while adults take advantage of the adult programming. Another thing to keep in mind is that some programs offer a strict activity schedule, with no choice in the activities while others provide multiple options for each hour of the day. Depending on your purpose, these two extremes will appeal to different people.
What is your goal?
Depending on your purpose, the best way to make the most of a health vacation is to set a goal for your time. Maybe that means you want to unplug. Maybe your goal is weight related or maybe you want to take a fitness class or hike each day.
Although you can easily wade your way through one week without a goal, having an intention will help you prioritize the aspects of specific programs over others. If your goal is to spend a week deepening your yoga practice, it makes sense to find a destination that focuses on yoga as opposed to one that offers it once a day among a long list of other activities. If your goal is to lose weight, it is crucial that you ask questions about food and meals – especially whether they are buffet style or served in calorie-controlled portions.
Food is a critical component for a health vacation. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are calorie controlled at Mountain Trek.
Although breakfast and lunch are buffet style at Rancho La Puerta, dinners are delicious and calorie-controlled.
Case in point: Although I ranged from 18,000 to 28,000 steps each day during my week at Rancho La Puerta – as well as taking several fitness classes each day – I only lost 1 pound. Why? With a buffet for breakfast and lunch, and the opportunity to ask for a “combo” at dinner (when I could not choose between the two options) – my portions exceeded 1,200 calories/day. Since weight loss was not a goal during my week, this was not a problem – but it is worth paying attention to.
What do you love?
I always look for health vacations that include hiking. A sunrise hike at Rancho La Puerta was a perfect way to start each day.
This sounds obvious, but it is important. What do you love? Do you prefer to be outside while exercising or in the gym? Do you prefer kayaking or snowshoeing? Are you an aspiring artist or yogi? Ever wellness program offers a different line up of activities – some with more choices, some with less. This also goes back to goals and purpose as some programs restrict the choices of activities to ensure that you can meet your goals through researched and intentional experiences. Having experienced both a structured and non-structured approach, I realize that there is a time and place in ones life for both strategies. Be sure to research sample activity schedules on websites and take a peek at the destination’s Facebook page or Instagram account for a glimpse into daily life.
What would you love to try but never make the time for?
I have always avoided art because I’ve never been a confident artist. At Rancho La Puerta, I was able to take a sculpture class – which turned out to be one of my favorite activities.
I played tennis in high school but never play at home – so taking a lesson as part of the wellness program at the Resort at Longboat Key made me happy.
As important as it is to find a program that fits your interests, it is equally as important to seek out a destination that pushes you past your comfort zone. Maybe that means more challenge, but maybe that means activities that you normally would never try at home. In my case, I know that I am NOT an artist. Having said that, the idea of stretching my brain in a new creative modality – in a safe and comfortable setting – appeals to me. So while I may not try a sculpting class at home, allowing myself to spend an afternoon in the art studio at Rancho La Puerta – under the tutelage of a skilled artist, was just what I needed to flex a few brain muscles that I otherwise would ignore.
How far do you want to travel?
As much as I would like to travel to Bali to the COMO Shambhala Estate or find my inner yogini at Blue Osa retreat in Costa Rica (I could go on and on) – there is a reality when it comes to travel time for a working mom. (Not to mention the financial implications of flying longer distances.) Instead of spending the majority of my week traveling by plane, I would rather maximize my time at the wellness retreat.
In an ideal world, I always try to arrive early on the check-in day and leave late on the checkout date, which sometimes means flying in the day before and flying out the day after (with an overnight in a nearby city) – especially if I am traveling to the West coast (from Washington DC). Of course, when criss-crossing countries or continents, it is important to factor in jet lag. One perk for traveling to the West coast (from my perch in the East coast) is that the time change helps me get an early start for early morning hikes or sunrise yoga.
The good news is that with so many retreat destinations, there are often great choices within driving distance or short flights without even changing time zone. Many large or luxury hotels and resorts offer getaway packages that are ideal for a weekend wellness retreat for anyone that is short on time or wants to stay closer to home. When looking for something closer to home, I try to make sure there is a spa that offers not just massages – but energy or intuitive healing services (reiki, chakra balancing, etc…).
Are you a frequent flyer type or do you crave change?
For some spa retreat goers, once they find a place they love – they make return visits a tradition. During my recent trip to Rancho La Puerta, I met many women that have come to the ranch for more than twenty years. They found it through a friend, or sometimes their mom – and despite the variety of other destinations, choose to return to the ranch each year.
I get it. It is a bit like going to the hairdresser – where loyalty and trust in the experience matter. As much as I love to explore new places, there is something comforting about going back to the same incredible program where you know and love the activities, staff and food. Maybe it is my sense of wanderlust, but as much as I would like to go back to the same place each year – a part of me wants to explore and try new things. For returning guests, many wellness retreats offer incentives to book your next trip at a discounted rate before you even leave the property.
Do you like to explore or are you happy to stay in one place?
A health vacation take place anywhere. From idyllic retreat properties that are designed for the purpose of being a one-stop shop to an oceanfront or mountain village where nature provides the opportunities – it is important to consider whether you like to stay in once place or if you have a wanderlust soul that prefers to seek out your own experiences. Structured programs with offerings that resemble a menu or a set schedule often mean that there is little time for exploring, whereas destination based health vacations focus on the overall setting – allowing you to create your own itineraries. For instance, a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for a few days of hiking could make an ideal health vacation for someone that is happiest on mountain trails or paddling along a lake in a kayak whereas others would prefer to stay in a “campus” type environment where fitness classes, lectures and mind/body programming is at your fingertips.
Is there really such a thing as the perfect health vacation?
In my mind, we need different things at different times in our life. Going to a wellness retreat once will not change our life if we are not ready or able to integrate changes in lifestyle and habits in our daily life. Depending on your goals and purpose – that may be ok with you.
The key to finding the perfect health vacation is to be mindful and aware. I know that although I craft realistic and attainable goals for my retreats, I often have an underlying ulterior motive – a “wish” – that I hope to also achieve. It is important to listen to those secret wishes and find a location that will enable you to soar past your potential.
Whether you have the time and resources to take a health vacation every year, several times a year or once every few years – every new experience has the opportunity to be re-energizing and life-changing. For me, the experience does not stop when I leave the retreat. One of the aspects that make health vacations so empowering is to bring what you learned home – finding ways to integrate those healthy habits into your daily life.
How to Find the Perfect Health Vacation in 7 Steps appeared first on Live.Do.Grow by Elena Sonnino