WELLNESS
TA K E A W E L L N E S S B R E A K I N
JAMAICA By Janice Tober
YOGA BY THE SEA
While some people are looking for new ways to travel, others are aching to simply get back to the familiar. Whichever way you sway, in the age of COVID, we could all use a little bit of self care, when it comes to wellness, Jamaica’s a natural. CONNECT WITH NATURE Jamaica is a natural paradise on earth with stunning beaches, lush mountainscapes and pristine beauty. It’s good for you. Research shows that spending just 15-20 minutes a day al fresco has noteworthy health benefits, from reducing stress to lowering the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, visitors have ample opportunities to embrace the outdoors in the island destination. Most travellers to Jamaica picture Dunn’s River when they think of cascading waterfalls, but if you’re looking for unspoiled, natural beauty that’s more secluded, the seven-tiered YS Falls is the spot. The falls flow down into natural pools that, up until recently, would only be accessed 32 • Vacations ® • Winter 2020-2021
CULINARY EXPERIENCES AT STUSH IN THE BUSH
© STUSH IN THE BUSH.
To state the obvious, these are stressful times. Besides dealing with life’s everyday pressures, you’re also worrying about how best to work from home and when we will be able to go back to our regular activities.
by dedicated souls, but now there are wooden paths that take you to the pools so that you can float in the crystal clear water, immersed in the sounds of the rushing water. For those feeling a bit more energetic, consider asking your resort to pack you a picnic and head to the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park. There, you can follow the nine-kilometre Blue Mountain peak trail to the top. This endurance walk generally takes more than four hours to complete at a sprightly gait. If your pace is more leisurely than swift, time your trek to catch the sunrise peeking through the mist over the mountains. Before heading back to civilization, stop at Café Blue for some of Jamaica’s famous coffee. FIND YOUR INNER PEACE While you’re getting in touch with nature, it’s also important to get in touch with yourself. Yoga, meditation and mindfulness are all ways to help you, as they used to say in the 60s, ‘be in the now.’
