These past two years have definitely taken a toll on our mental and physical health, so it’s no wonder wellness continues to grow as a top trend – both in travel and in general. After staying home day after day, spending hours on the couch, binging Netflix and snacks, we could all use a little pampering and some healthier habits.
But, instead of making resolutions, it’s time to make plans. There are so many great programs and tips you can follow at home, as well as amazing resorts and retreats you can visit whenever you’re ready to travel again – all of which will give you the kickstart you need to stay healthy this year.
Here are some of my personal favorites.
Away: Miraval Arizona
A visit to Miraval in Tucson is so healing, it should be covered by health insurance. This oasis in the Arizona desert is all about mindfulness, and the nightly room (or, more appropriately, casita) charge includes meals and snacks, many fitness classes and activities and a credit to use for spa treatments and fee-based extras like their renowned Equine Experience.
Miraval is that rare place you can feel comfortable coming by yourself. In fact, so many people do that there’s always a welcoming table for singles in the restaurant so you can meet others if you want to. It’s low-key yet luxurious in an understated, make-yourself-at-home way, and you always leave feeling better and more connected to the world and to yourself.
Away: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai Thailand
This five-star resort offers everything you want in a wellness vacation, from the gorgeous surroundings and accommodations (splurge on the Private Residences for a truly unforgettable stay) to the freshest food and impeccable service to the unique experiences that pamper you physically and help you grow spiritually.
Immerse yourself in the local culture by participating in the morning temple ritual or planting rice. You can also take a cooking class (the khanom khrok – coconut rice pancakes – are delish!), learn to tie-dye or spend hours at the spa indulging in the Peace & Purification Therapy to release negative energy, the Rice & Spice Scrub to exfoliate skin and boost circulation, and the Samunprai Massage to detoxify your body and uplift your spirit. You will never want to leave this magical place.
Away: Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows
This lovely Scottsdale resort, hidden away in the Sonoran Desert, is a great place for a weekend getaway that’s as enriching as it is relaxing. With its focus on well-being, Andaz offers daily fitness classes, as well as the Create & Cultivate series, which lets you learn new skills like mixology and aromatherapy. For the more adventurous, there’s hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. And, of course, there’s the spa.
Because art is so good for your mental health – take time to explore the artwork showcased throughout the property – Andaz has partnered with local venues that are must-visits. In fact, they’ll drive you to Cattle Track Arts & Preservation for a VIP tour and to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, where your admission is free as a resort guest. While you’re downtown, check out some of the galleries and soak in the beauty.
Away: The Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia
I know this may seem like a weird wellness choice but sometimes there’s nothing like a staycation in a city to refresh and re-energize you. Philadelphia – underrated and easy to get around, with top restaurants and museums – is just the right city for that, and there’s no better place to settle into than the Rittenhouse Hotel. Located on beautiful Rittenhouse Square, it’s easy to walk almost anywhere or just park yourself on a bench and take in the scenery.
And, if you don’t want to leave the hotel, that’s understandable, too. Rooms are generously sized and well-appointed (love those Acqua Di Parma products!), and a view of Rittenhouse Square makes it easy to stay in all day. But, trust me, you don’t want to miss out on the spa or the pool and fitness center, and you definitely don’t want to miss a meal at one of the hotel’s highly-acclaimed restaurants. If Eloise lived in Philadelphia, this would have been her home.
Away: JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa
Paying homage to its local culture, every day at JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass starts with the Mitakuye Oyasin ritual on the Salud Terrace, featuring the traditional burning of sage and a Native American flute serenade. This focus on authenticity and wellness continues in the AAA Four Diamond Hashani Spa, through ancient techniques and treatments inspired by the region’s Indigenous people who incorporated the healing properties of the Saguaro cactus.
You’ll want to stay on property for meals to get a taste of the mouthwatering dishes made with fresh, sustainable ingredients hand-selected by the chefs – like James Beard Award winner Chef Kelly – and including herbs from the resort’s own garden. And, yes, you should join in the complimentary Tequila Toast, “The Legend of Arriba, Abajo,” every evening and drink to your health.
Home: Lose the excess weight
If, like me, you gained the COVID 19 – the pandemic’s equivalent of college’s Freshman 15 – you may want to consider Jenny Craig’s new Max Up program, on which I lost that same 19 pounds in 9 weeks. It’s not some quick fix – it’s actually taught me healthier habits, like drinking lots of water, and kept me satisfied with fewer snacks and just one Diet Pepsi (my #1 vice) per day. And it’s miraculously cured my sugar addiction.
What I like best about it is that you don’t have to do any cooking at all (other than microwaving), although you certainly can add some creative touches to their frozen meals if you want to make them more substantial. You can customize your weekly menu and the food – which is very good and appropriately portioned (read: small) – is delivered right to your door. You speak to your coach once a week and you get a scale that syncs with an app on your phone so they have access to it, which keeps you accountable.
I can’t recommend this program highly enough and will be continuing it myself into the year.
Home: Get off the couch
If there’s one thing doctors keep stressing while we’re home, it’s that we still have to move. We’re sitting around so much these days that experts have called sitting “the new smoking.”
Luckily, you don’t have to go to a gym – or even outside – to start moving. With so many fitness apps available, your home – or garage – can be turned into an impromptu exercise studio. You don’t even need a lot of space.
Two of my favorite online programs – the ones that have kept me motivated (which is probably why they’ve been around for so long) – are Jazzercise On Demand and Leslie Sansone’s Walk at Home, whose videos are available on YouTube. They’re fun to do, they get me out of my chair (I do a couple of 15-minute Walk at Home workouts each day), and they work.
Home: Do a jigsaw puzzle
When the pandemic began, I found myself doing jigsaw puzzles – something I never even considered before. They became a kind of meditation for me, making me stay present and focused, and distracting me from all the bad news out there. Millions of other people also turned to jigsaw puzzles and are still doing them as new, exciting brands – many of them female-founded – continue to pop up, offering unique images that are a far cry from the ones we did as kids.
The science shows that jigsaw puzzles aren’t just fun, though. They’re also really good for your brain. Puzzles help improve memory and visual-spatial reasoning, reduce stress and build problem-solving skills. Plus, in a world that seems so much out of your control, it’s very satisfying and empowering to actually be able to complete something, one piece at a time.
Home: Learn to play pickleball
Over the past year and a half, I – along with millions of other people – discovered pickleball, turning it into the fastest growing sport in the country. It was such a delight to find this game with the funny name that’s challenging and competitive, yet so much fun.
A combination of tennis and ping pong, pickleball is played on a smaller court, using paddles instead of rackets and a plastic ball similar to a wiffle ball. Pickleball courts are opening everywhere and you can always join open play or take lessons. There are few sports as welcoming, easy to learn, and where players are so friendly. It’s an ideal way to socialize and get in a great workout.
Home: Practice kindness towards yourself and everyone else
Between unruly airline passengers and people fighting over, well, everything, it seems that kindness is at a premium these days. That general incivility has taken its toll on our national mental health, and writer Robin Raven is determined to change that. Her new book, “The Kindness Workbook: An Interactive Guide for Creating Compassion in Yourself and the World,” is filled with thoughtful exercises and tips on everything from how to silence your inner critic to calling out the good.
Reading this guide and completing the prompts – remember, you practice kindness – has the power to affect real change both in yourself and the people around you. As you start to notice the positive impact kindness has on your mood, your relationships and your daily life, you just may feel compelled to write a note to the author to express your gratitude – which is an act of kindness in itself.
