One of the continuing growing trends in travel is wellness-based vacations, and this trend is gaining traction as people aim for a healthier life-style.
If you want to get on-board with a self-improvement vacation, but are unsure of where to begin, take a look at our breakdown of some of the categories in this healthy new vacation trend.
Weight Loss
The Biggest Loser spurred a long-lasting interest in weight-loss resorts around the world. At these gorgeous (and most often super posh) destinations, you’re treated significantly better than the contestants on The Biggest Loser. You’ll be served gourmet, healthy meals and will participate in fun, calorie-torching activities like hiking, obstacle courses or even rowing.
You can also learn first-hand how to make those healthy dishes taste delicious with on-site wellness classes that focus on healthy cooking, as well as ways to incorporate fitness into your everyday life! If you need to lose some weight and want to do it in style, a weight loss retreat may be your best vacation yet!
Spiritual Wellness
Meditation retreats are slowly gaining in popularity thanks to our crazy, hectic lifestyles taking over every minute of our days. At these resorts, you can expect quiet activities, lots of meditation and spiritual guidance and as much relaxation as you could desire.
Some resorts are women-empowerment based and some are even deemed “silent retreats” where you can find nice respite from the cacophony of everyday life. The idea is to forgo speaking so that you can focus entirely on your mind and soul, which many guests claim to be completely restorative.
Progressive Wellness
While some retreats focus on healing a specific part of yourself, progressive wellness resorts specialize in overall health. You’ll eat healthy, plant-based foods and learn about its effect on your body. You’ll take meditation classes to focus on your mental health and you’ll have your pick from a variety of self-improvement seminars and workshops to boost your confidence and feeling of self-worth.
If you’ve always felt like you were destined for greatness, but haven’t quite found your calling yet, a visit to a progressive wellness center could help you find what you’re missing in your life.
Eco-retreats
Going green is a movement that’s even taking the travel industry by storm. Being a conscious traveler is a big market right now, and many companies are taking advantage of that. There are resorts that specialize in eco-travel that reduce, reuse, recycle and teach about their mission in the process.
There are also travel companies which excel in providing their customers with the most environmentally friendly destinations, modes of transportations and activities in the area. If you want to see the world, but don’t want to impact it negatively while doing so, research some eco-trips the next time you’re itching to get away.
Wellness Resorts and Retreats
Vacationing at a wellness resort is one of the hottest traveling trends right now. No longer do people want to just come back refreshed from vacation; they want to come back as new and improved versions of themselves. Our vacation time is quite the precious resource, and more people like to multi-task by combining vacation and self-improvement at the same time. And it’s never been easier to accomplish this!
This multi-billion dollar industry has been growing in leaps and bounds, which translates to plenty of options for every budget, body and locale. If you’re overwhelmed by the choices and don’t know where to start, take a look at our list that breaks down the 4 different types of wellness vacations to help you find the one that best suits your goals, comfort level and frame of mind.
Traditional Wellness Retreats
Photo by Merlin Phuket / CC BY-ND
Traditional wellness retreats have been around for a long time and used to only cater to the mega-wealthy crowd. Thankfully, these classy resorts have realized that middle class travelers need truly relaxing vacation experiences, as well, and have become a lot more affordable in the past decade. These luxury resorts incorporate beautiful and peaceful locales with calming activities, an abundance of pampering and world-class presentations that encompass everything from health management to stress relief to massage technique.
Some of the best (and most affordable) to research are The Oaks at Ojai, The Cooperhood Retreat in New York, or the Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa located in Tucson.
Wellness Festivals and Cruises
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Wellness cruises and festivals have been gaining popularity for a few years now, and for good reason. Despite cruises being known for the gluttonous buffets, there are some that are shattering that stereotype. They combine healthy meals with informative lectures, food preparation classes and an abundance of healthy activities. Add in the beautiful ports of call and the rejuvenation of watching the water go by, and you have a fantastic all-inclusive vacation.
Check out SilverSea cruises for a posh choice or Windjammer Angelique Yoga and Wellness Cruise in Maine for a more relaxed atmosphere. If you can only devote a couple of days to a wellness vacation, or can’t splurge on a week-long cruise, festivals are another great option.
Wellness festivals are a bit harder to plan since they only happen in certain cities for set days, but they are worth it if you can fit them into your schedule. For some of the best, check out Wanderlust Festival which tours several cities throughout the year. Or, head to the Telluride Yoga Festival in Colorado and nature-immersive Breathe Festival in North Carolina.
Yoga lovers will thoroughly enjoy the Sat Nam Fest which is held twice a year on both coasts.
Adrenaline Fitness
Photo by Micah Craig / CC BY-SA
Although it’s hard to believe that a resort that specializes in adrenaline resorts could be considered a wellness retreat, it’s actually quite the genius pairing. More and more resorts are offering high-thrill activities such as circus schools, whitewater rafting, surfing and ziplining during the day, which are then coupled with relaxation activities in the evening. Those that frequent resorts such as these rave about the otherworld-like bliss they feel while on vacation. Pushing your body to its extreme and then relaxing with a massage or guided meditation produces endorphins and creates a beautiful feeling of calm.
For the best of the best, try Costa Rica’s Rio Perdido which seamlessly melds extreme thrills with calming hot springs.
Spiritual Wellness
For travelers looking to connect with the natural world more, as well as their own spirituality, a holistic retreat is your answer. Temazcal getaways are gaining popularity due to their ability to connect one to nature. Temazcal is an ancient ritual that involves a trained shaman using herbs, heat, steam and ancient prayers or chants to connect your physical and spiritual wellbeing.
If that’s too native, there are a variety of meditation spas that tout relaxed mindsets and better self-understanding upon departure. To experience the best of the best, head to Drala Mountain Center in Colorado or Esalen Institute in Big Sur.
