A guest receivesa rejuvenating
massageatRancho La Puerta
in Baja, Mexico.
Your Own
Design
Retreat
Looking for the perfect getaway? Choose
from an à la carte menu of activities and
therapies offered at today’s leading spas
and wellness centers.
By LAUREL KALLENBACH
The Lodge
at the
Hollyhock
Retreat Centre
in British
Columbia.
A loon calls,
and I’m lulled by the gentle
lapping of waves as I survey the driftwood-strewn beach of Canada’s Hollyhock Retreat Centre from my
lounge chair. My journal falls into my lap as I nod off, my
worries of the last weeks forgotten. I feel perfect — even
with a cast on my foot.
I came to this magical British Columbia island even
though I’d broken my ankle and couldn’t kayak or
hike through its cedar forests. Fortunately,
Hollyhock has so many options that I was
able to shift gears and rejuvenate both
my spirit and my injured body. I had time
to relax in the organic garden, meditate,
and receive healing vibrations as didgeridoo players trained their instruments on my
ankle in the earthy sanctuary.
More than just self-pampering destinations, today’s spas and resorts are increasingly
becoming healthy-living centers where guests
learn take-home skills for creating a more fulfilling life. Many, like Hollyhock, offer “
design-your-own” packages and à la carte options
so you can customize your experience
and get exactly what you want (and
need) from your time off.
“People today want more than just
a resort vacation; they seek to be inspired
to change their life for the better,”
says Peter Jensen, marketing director for
Rancho La Puerta in Baja, Mexico, North
America’s oldest and most revered destination spa. At a regular day spa, you
have pampering services done to you,
explains Jensen. “Our philosophy is that
you initiate the action and take advantage of the educational component.”
Multiday spa visits blend active,
outdoor elements with health-savvy
staff members who guide your exploration into fitness or wellness. What you
A guest flies high during Peter Gold’s “Flying
Trapeze” workshop at the Omega Institute in
Rhinebeck, N.Y.
