Where to go for National Wellness Month and beyond

Numerous studies have shown that exercise and time in the outdoors reduce stress, improve memory and attention, and promote feelings of calm. Exercise boosts endorphins, which can reduce stress hormones and alleviate mild depression. Exercise in the great outdoors is beneficial for so many reasons. With its ideal setting in a tropical dry forest bordering the Pacific Ocean, Las Catalinas in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, offers many wellness pursuits.

CORE by ChakFitness is a unique outdoor gym located on the beach (adjacent to Pura Vida Ride), offering a beautifully designed Flinstones-Esque strength-building experience with all weights and machines made almost entirely of wood, as well as a full schedule of classes led by owner and renowned longtime Miami trainer Chakiris Menafacio.

The Center of Joy is a new wellness retreat center with various stunning spaces in the heart of Beach Town, offering regular yoga classes, sound baths, and more, all focusing on mindfulness. Many individuals and organizations use this remarkable space for larger group retreats, though residents and guests benefit from its ongoing programming and rotating offerings.

Private rooms can also be booked for special therapies and services as well. There is a wide range of fantastic accommodation options in town at the boutique Santarena Hotel or any of their villa offerings at Beach Town Travel.

Las Catalinas has an exciting array of activities for all ability levels, an outdoor paradise for hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers, yogis, and water enthusiasts. With over 26 miles of world-class, single-track trails that feature stunning views of the coastline and valley vistas, Las Catalinas is the most prominent mountain biking destination in the American tropics.

All hiking and running trails feature spectacular viewpoints and opportunities to glimpse some of the area’s superb local wildlife, including monkeys, peccaries, and coatis, not to mention a wide variety of exotic birds. Trails vary in difficulty and length, from high-intensity hills to low-impact flatter tracks. The town is flanked by two of the best beaches on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.

Sheltered just enough from the southern swell, Las Catalinas is a haven for water sports enthusiasts. Consistent moderate waves make it ideal for body surfing, boogie boarding, standup paddle-boarding, and sea kayaking. For more information, visit www.lascatalinascr.com.

It’s known that there are numerous health and psychological benefits to being close to the ocean. For more than just beautiful ocean views and vistas, travelers continue to choose trips and vacations that bring them up close and personal with the sea. With the feel of salt water on the skin, the smell of the ocean in the air, and the soothing sound of the waves lapping in the distance, the sea is not only meditative but also reduces stress and allows for self-reflection and discovery.

Where beachfront means RIGHT THERE, Calabash Cove Resort and Spa is one of the most popular all-inclusive, adults-only boutique hotels in Saint Lucia, a Caribbean gem is offering seclusion, beauty, and mesmerizing views at every turn. Its 26 villas feature old Caribbean charm coupled with the luxurious resort amenities of today. From the heavenly Windsong restaurant and lively C-Bar overlooking the infinity pool to the peaceful Ti Spa, guests have everything at their fingertips when vacationing at Calabash Cove.

Ti Spa offers a wide range of treatments that combine European techniques with St. Lucia’s storied tradition of using plant- and food-based curatives. Every treatment is expertly designed to cleanse the body of stress, rejuvenate the spirit, and relax the mind. The exfoliation products are all organic and made from local products that are, in some cases, directly from the resort. Their therapists will be happy to demonstrate the different benefits between a coffee or papaya scrub and more.

Try their signature Spa Sampler (80 minutes/$140USD), a blend of holistic spa treatments fused to create the ultimate spa experience. Melt away the stress and tension from the back with a hot stone massage, followed by a deep tissue massage on the back of the legs.

To the front of the body with a mix of counter stretching. Aromatherapy facial massage is then performed to rebalance and induce even more profound relaxation, and we end this blissful experience with a revitalizing foot scrub. The resort’s outdoor pavilion is perched on a hill overlooking the ocean and is the perfect spot for a spa treatment while listening to the waves below. For more information, visit www.calabashcove.com.

How do we find our inner peace in a constantly changing world, pulling us in different directions and creating a collective culture of chasing dreams? With the pandemic and other life stressors, self-care is more important than ever, and wellness offerings worldwide focus on improving your mental and emotional wellbeing.

For anyone seeking inner peace and self-acceptance, Ananda in the Himalayas just announced its first-ever The Ananda Soul Detox Retreat – A Himalayan Retreat for Inner Healing and Self Discovery (October 30 – November 6, 2022).

By helping people release past toxic or traumatic impressions, this retreat aims to rediscover one’s true self while allowing you to invest in and connect with yourself. During this beautiful week together in the heart of the Himalayas, participants will revisit and release some of their biggest emotional blocks and rediscover their energy through powerful processes that combine Spiritual Hypnotherapy, Regression, Yoga, Meditation, and Energy Healing.

In a serene setting conducive to healing and transformation, the experience will combine profound Eastern Spirituality with Western behavioral sciences to help participants facilitate the ultimate journey - to their inner self.

The retreat includes luxury accommodations, wellness meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) at the restaurant, daily group sessions (morning and evening), one personal session on Emotional Healing per person (once during the retreat), airport transfers, two vouchers per person offering a 15% discount on spa treatments and early check-in and late checkout.

Located on a 100-acre Maharaja’s Palace Estate, Ananda in the Himalayas is a multi-award-winning luxury wellness retreat in the Himalayan foothills, surrounded by the majestic Himalayan Mountains, the birthplace of India’s ancient practices of yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda. More information is here. For more information, visit www.anandaspa.com.