SPAS
Wellness Wonderland
Reboot at Lake Austin Spa Resort in Texas Hill Country.
On the Water: Guests arriving by boat PHOTO: © LAKE AUSTIN SPA RESORT
LAKEHOUSE SPA LAKE AUSTIN SPA RESORT 1705 S. Quinlan Park Road Austin, TX 78732 tel 512 372 7300 lakeaustin.com
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BY BECCA HENSLEY
n the grassy shores of Lake Austin, my husband and I spar — with swords. Don’t worry. We’re not really in danger of slicing one another if we take a misstep, which frankly happens each time I step forward when I am supposed to move backward. In fact, we’re wielding bokken, wooden swords used primarily for martial arts weapon training. Along with other guests, we attempt to follow the footwork and bokken swings demonstrated by our instructor, who softly leads us in bokken practice’s most elementary steps. “It takes hours a day for years to become an expert,” he reminded us when we faltered. The swords, meant to represent real weapons in shape and weight, play a large role in Japanese martial arts training, disciplines from kendo to aikido. We’ve joined this class on a sunny morning just as the emeraldgreen lake begins to glimmer and a light wind caresses the leafy realms of the trees that edge it. As if wanting to witness our clumsy
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dance, a blue heron ceremoniously circles above us before landing on the adjacent floating yoga platform. Joining it to stare, a family of ducks waddle from the water. There’s no sound but the soothing repetition of waves tickling the lake’s lips like whispering bells — and our unharmonious grunts as we heave our bokken upward to slice the air. Not as easy as it looks but strangely satisfying and wholly calming in the end, this outdoor class, Bokken-do, one of Lake Austin Spa Resort’s abundant litany of daily complimentary activities, reigns as more than a workout. It’s meant to bring participants to a state of mindfulness, a union of mind, body and spirit, a place of inner power and tranquility. Attempting it, albeit oafishly, works. We finish calmer, with our curiosity satisfied and our biceps firmed. The pursuit of contentment on some level brings most guests to Lake Austin Spa Resort, which for decades has garnered a top spot on every annual, worldwide spa and resort “best” list.
