SPIRITED AWAY

Post Ranch Inn

3 indulge-yourself destinations to relax, renew and de-stress

WHEN IT'S TIME TO SLOW DOWN, CLEAR YOUR HEAD AND CATCH

your breath from the busyness of life, you could always go on a Netflix

binge. But why settle for a quick virtual escape when you can make

your next getaway a mind-, body- and soul-pampering wellness re-

treat, somewhere you can vacation and achieve your health goals at

the same time? These three resorts offer exotic settings combined

with relaxing body renewal treatments, exercise, sightseeing and

meals prepared by professional chefs. No binge-watching allowed!

Commune with nature in Big Sur

Post Ranch Inn: One of the most luxurious and iconic properties in the

country, Post Ranch Inn inhabits 100 glorious acres in Big Sur, Calif. Set 1,200 feet above the Pacific, you'll take in plenty of scenic serenity from the

ocean and mountain views — including those from your very private cliff-

side rustic room.

What to do: In addition to hiking the grounds, you can take daily yoga

classes in the resort’s yurt, which is in the middle of the redwood forest.

Recover your muscles by booking a soothing treatment at the intimate

spa, maybe craniosacral therapy or a vibrational resonance that uses

Tibetan bowls to help balance the chakras. Then there are the California

inspired fine-dining dishes at Sierra Mar, a restaurant with a patio that’s

prime for stargazing with the high-tech Meadetelescope. For more info,

visit: postranchinn.com.

Miraval Arizona

Chable Yucatan

Check into a jungle retreat

Chable Yucatan: This 40-room Mexican resort, in the state of Yu-

catán, near Mérida, is the ultimate wellness retreat. Besides the grand

18th-century hacienda, lushly landscaped gardens and tropical swim-

ming pool, the star attraction is the gorgeous spa. It overlooks a natu-

ral “cenote,” or fresh water spring – a setting that transports guests to

a state of relaxation as soon as they arrive.

What to do: Yoga classes are held daily in a variety of styles (including

hatha, vinyasa, ashtanga and aquatic) and can be practiced at various

spots around Chable’s 750 acres – overlooking the spring, say, or in

the midst of the verdant green forest. Cap off the movement with a

Mayan-inspired treatment in the spa or with an immersion into a tradi-

tional temazcal, a heated hut, guided by a temazcalero. Come

evening, sample the world’s largest private tequila collection, and savor veggie-heavy dishes made with ingredients from the on-site

Mayan gardens. For more info, visit: chableresort.com.

Clear your head in the desert

Miraval Arizona: A mainstay destination for travelers in search of a

luxury wellness vacation, Miraval Arizona is situated on more than

400 acres of land at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, near

Tucson. Here, even the room décor is designed to help you unwind

with calming earth tone color schemes and amenities like a pillow

menu and cellphone "sleeping bag" to encourage you to unplug your

device and tuck it away.

What to do: Hit the 30,000-square-foot spa and after a day of salt

scrubbing, hot-stone massaging and curative clay wrapping treat-

ments to renew the body, settle into a spiritual workshop created to

soothe the soul. There's also yoga, catering to all levels, including the

new aroma-flow style, which combines the use of soothing essential

oils with healing postures. And when you’re not in the flow, other

popular activities are therapeutic horseback riding to help you iden-

tify communication barriers and frequent demonstrations of healthy

cooking. For more info, visit: miravalarizona.com.