5 Whole Body Wellness Experiences to Try
Remember when self-care meant binge-watching your favorite TV show while devouring an entire pint of ice cream? Those days, we’re pleased to report, are long gone. While you might still need a good, old-fashioned zone out from time to time after a long week, today’s definition of self-care is more about nurturing your entire self – body, mind and spirit. Whole body wellness is a growing global industry predicted to rise at a rapid rate. In fact, The Global Wellness Institute reports that the United States’ wellness economy is a nearly $2 trillion industry, which represents a third of the entire global wellness economy.
Even better? You can combine this holistic approach to health with travel. Wellness tourism is booming, and unbeatable experiences are popping up all over the country. If you’ve contemplated giving your health a more holistic tune-up, here are five transformative experiences you can put on your bucket list.
In This Article
Spas and Services
Traditional massages and facials are often associated with spas. But think of it more like a mini-vacation for mind, body and soul. These days, you can find top-rated spas offering everything from soothing hot stone massages to hydrotherapy, cold plunges and high-tech cosmetic treatments. Some even provide acupuncture, yoga, sound therapy and energy healing.
A quick search in your area is almost guaranteed to reveal a few great choices for an afternoon of pampering. But if you want to really up the ante and combine luxury with travel, these four spas around the United States will leave you feeling ready to take on the world.
- Canyon Ranch (Tucson, AZ): You’ll find more than 100 spa services at Canyon Ranch, but the Desert Ritual is a must-experience. Start by cleansing, exfoliating and hydrating with native white sage, prickly pear and honey, followed by a soak in waters infused with saguaro blossoms, aloe and jojoba. Wrap it all up with a full-body massage.
- Eau Palm Beach Resort (Manalapan, FL): Ranked a five-star spa by Forbes in 2024, you’ll find no shortage of pampering at Eau Spa. Submerge yourself in a heated Float Bed wrapped up in a Phyto-Power Sea Mask as part of the Redflower Hammam treatment, or enrich your skin from within during an hour-long Oxygeneo™ facial.
- The Lodge at Woodloch (Hawley, PA): Explore the healing benefits of contrast therapy at The Lodge at Woodloch. Choose from a Himalayan Salt Sauna, Tyrolean Bucket Shower or Snow Room, the last of which is a one-of-a-kind cooling therapy found exclusively at Woodloch. Benefits include inflammation relief, improved blood circulation, and stimulation of the immune system.
- Alyeska Nordic Spa (Girdwood, AK): Escape to Alaska for some much-needed R&R. Book a full-day pass of hydrotherapy at Alyeska Nordic Spa with unlimited access to outdoor pools, saunas, steam rooms and an exfoliation cabin. Evening hydrotherapy bookings between 5-9 p.m. are also available as part of the Twilight Soak offering.
Health and Wellness Retreats
If a day at the spa is like a mini-vacation, think of a wellness retreat like a boot camp. Rather than focusing solely on relaxation and stress reduction, retreats tend to offer one-of-a-kind experiences designed with optimal health in mind. Some are specifically for men’s or women’s health. Others are designed for people on a weight loss journey. Others might be focused on anti-aging or energy renewal. The options are almost endless, especially considering you can usually customize your experience based on your goals.
Want to go all in? This round-up of high-end wellness retreats are among the ones we would sign up for.
- Carillon Miami Wellness Resort (Miami Beach, FL): Anywhere from 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, which is why the Sleep Well Retreat at Carillon is worth the investment. Designed to reset your circadian rhythm with a customizable smart bed, sleep-centered spa treatments and a combination of movement and nourishment classes, this 5-day retreat in Miami Beach should leave you sleeping more soundly than ever before.
- YO1 Longevity & Health Resorts (Monticello, NY): Personalized wellness programs at YO1 range from those designed for classic R&R to targeted health issues. Weight management, insomnia management, and anxiety management are among the popular retreat offerings, but you can also sign up for packages focused on immunity boosting or fertility.
- Sensei Lanai (Lanai City, HI): Private wellness consultations are available at Four Seasons Sensei Lanai, honing in on movement, nourishment and rest to help you recover, grow and thrive. Choose from a curated, personalized stay or peruse their pre-planned offers, including a Sensei Sabbatical.
- Golden Door (San Marcos, CA): Spa aficionados will recognize Golden Door, a renowned wellness retreat destination designed for week-long stays, fitness classes, farm-to-table meals, spa treatments, meditation, time in nature, personal training and daily massages. If you’re looking for the pinnacle of luxury, this is it. Featured experiences include Enhance Your Health, Vitality, and Spirit; Unlocking Your Inner Purpose; and The Art of Presence.
- Miraval (Austin, TX): Miraval Resorts is all about luxury wellness, and their Austin resort is no exception. The Ultimate Wellbeing Package gives you access to almost every paid activity and workshop, as well as a nightly credit to apply towards spa treatments or private sessions. Archery, horseback riding, hiking, physical challenges and floating meditation are just a few activities included in this package.
Hot Springs
Hot springs are mentioned throughout history in all kinds of cultures, from the ancient Roman baths to the Japanese onsen. These naturally heated pools are rich in minerals and said to help with everything from sore muscles and stress relief to circulation and detoxification. The idea is simple enough: sinking into the warm water soothes the mind and body while the minerals work their magic.
Whether you want to float in a natural hot spring surrounded by nature (and possibly a few other interested parties) or indulge in a more private spa environment, here are some top picks to consider if you want to test out the hot springs this year.
- Ojo Caliente Spa and Resort (Ojo Caliente, NM): If you’re serious about your hot springs, Ojo Caliente should top your bucket list. It’s one of the only hot springs spas on the planet that features four healing minerals in naturally sulfur-free water. Choose from nine communal hot springs or a private tub for a rejuvenating soak.
- Castle Hot Springs (Morristown, AZ): Destress in the natural hot springs of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. Roughly an hour north of Phoenix, these particular waters are rich in lithium, magnesium, and bicarbonates, known for improving your mood, easing your mind, and relaxing your muscles. You can also find plenty of activities, adventures, and spa treatments during your stay at Castle Hot Springs.
- Solage (Calistoga, CA): People flock to Solage to unwind and detox, but the epicenter of this luxurious spa is its popular Calistoga mud and mineral water therapies. The Bathhouse boasts five different pools ranging from a cold plunge at 60-65 degrees to a warm magnesium-rich soaking pool and jetted mineral pool at 102-104 degrees.
- Chena Hot Springs Resort (Fairbanks, AK): Just when you thought it couldn’t get better, we’re dropping the mic on an Alaskan hot springs experience. Featuring a large indoor pool and an outdoor wading lake, Chena Hot Springs Resort is a top-notch spa destination that also boasts a reputation for being a popular open-air place to catch the Northern Lights in winter.
Forest Bathing
Remember when people made fun of tree huggers? Well, the joke is on them because the art of forest bathing, otherwise known in Japanese as Shinrin-yoku, is a therapeutic and straightforward way to feel more at peace by spending mindful time in nature. Preferably, as you might suppose, a forest. It’s not about hiking, trail running, or anything competitive. Instead, this practice is all about immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of nature to reduce your stress and boost your mental well-being.
While you can definitely reap the benefits of this practice on your own at a local park or green space, guided experiences take things to the next level. Here are a few options to explore if you want to dive a little deeper into forest bathing.
- The Swag (Waynesville, NC): Forest bathing in the Smoky Mountains? Sign us up. Nestled along a ridge line with beautiful views and access to hundreds of thousands of acres, The Swag is a beautiful resort that offers daily guided experiences or recommendations for going out on your own.
- Valhalla Resort (Helen, GA): One of the touted perks of staying at Valhalla Resort in the quaint town of Helen, GA, is the easy access it offers to a multitude of trails and scenic hiking spots, such as Dukes Creek Falls and Smithgall Woods. Immersing yourself in these nature-filled destinations is known to reduce anxiety and boost your mood. And when you’re done? Circle back to Valhalla to indulge in any of their top-ranked Solasta Spa services.
- Mayflower Inn & Spa (Litchfield County, CT): You’ll be surrounded by natural beauty in the Connecticut countryside at Mayflower Inn. But if you want a more personalized introduction to forest bathing, you can book a two-hour guided experience hosted in the picturesque Hidden Valley Nature Preserve.
- Mohonk Mountain House (New Paltz, NY): The outdoor programs at Mohonk Mountain House have included guided nature hikes since the very beginning. Today, these excursions, which can traverse any of the available 85 miles of trails, weave in mindfulness for the ultimate forest bathing experience. While these are group hikes, you can also book a private walk for a more intimate experience.
Silent Retreats
Attending a silent retreat is like pressing the pause button on life, if only for a few days. You can step away from the hustle and bustle of ordinary life and just breathe. These retreats have been around for centuries, often tied to spiritual practices focused on finding your inner peace. Today, the goal is often to clear mental clutter, reduce stress, and find your own voice again – without the distraction of social media, work emails and the daily grind.
You could practice silence on your own, and many popular self-help authors suggest you should make this a daily practice. But attending an organized retreat will likely give you better results and more time to reflect without the risk of interruption. Here are a few places to look for more on silent retreats.
- The Art of Living Retreat Center (Boone, NC): Silent retreats in the Blue Ridge Mountains are a weekly activity at The Art of Living Retreat Center. Known as Stepping Into Silence, this structured, four-night, five-day retreat is specifically designed to cultivate inner peace and a deepened sense of self-awareness.
- Silent Stay Retreats (Santa Barbara, CA): There aren’t many places better for a silent retreat than 35 acres in stunning Santa Barbara. Stay Silent Retreats include lessons on heart-centered silence, silent meals, and guided yoga sessions. If you love it, you can even up the ante next time with their six-day retreat in Assisi, Italy.
- CB Mountain (Jamestown, PA): Those looking for a more spiritually-focused silent retreat could benefit from the programs at Cloud-Bearing Mountain. From personal, individual and group retreats focused on daily prayer and spiritual direction to more specialized offerings like recovery from addiction and short-term residential contemplative trainings, the multitude of options at CBM are well worth exploring.
- Prama Institute & Wellness (Marshall, NC): Prama Institute & Wellness combines the healing effects of silence with the gentle movements of yoga to support your efforts to turn inward. The retreats are punctuated with short talks, nature walks, and gourmet meals to give you a uniquely whole body experience.