The Big Chill

Reconnect with your inner calm through The Boca Raton’s wellness and spa amenities.

THERE’S NO BETTER TIME than a new year to reclaim our sense of peace and calm. With a slate of innovative fitness and spa treatments at The Boca Raton, plus a team of dedicated practitioners ready to dispense their golden touch and expertise, the property is looking to reboot our mental wellness. Dive into a nourishing journey for the mind and body this spring and beyond.

Paula Bernstein, director of fitness and wellness, says alleviating stress and anxiety can come in a very accessible form: exercise. As Bernstein explains, no matter a person’s fitness level or restrictions, any form of exercise can be the right remedy for the stresses that accompany today’s complex world. As part of the body’s response to exercise, we release hormones called endorphins that coincide with excitement and euphoria. These “feel-good” hormones are oftentimes what the body needs to help the body respond to tension.

“There can be conditions that cause me stress and anxiety, too,” Bernstein says. “And when I go for my morning workout, those same issues still exist, but my perspective on them is different after I have done my workout. Things feel better. When we feel really worried and anxious, it’s hard to see another perspective, but exercising and allowing your endorphins to be released can be a huge help in controlling and responding to the situation.”

Bernstein has revamped the slate of offerings at Fitness Club, adding a variety of group classes for various fitness levels. They include high-intensity interval training that encourages participants to use maximum energy for certain periods of time, to the more gentle yet effective movements of Tai Chi. Several of the classes are also taught outdoors, including yoga, which coincides with studies that indicate that sunshine can naturally increase serotonin, a hormone that affects your mood in a positive manner. In addition to physical exercise, Bernstein has included more workouts for the mind, like meditation. “Meditation can be great to lower anxiety levels,” Bernstein says. “Being still, changing your mindset, and being at peace with yourself are core concepts of meditation that bring the stress levels down.”

Bernstein has also created opportunities like Ladies’ Night Out, where female members can build a community through shared experiences. These events include a special speaker or group activity (such as personal safety, home organization, personal styling, wellness, and more), which can create a sense of belonging—a key factor in encouraging a positive outlook.

“Here at the Fitness Clubs, we want a positive cycle of getting out and moving, and nourishing your body and mind,” Bernstein says. Exercise isn’t the only proven way to reduce tension. Recent studies have indicated that massages at settings such as The Boca

Raton’s Spa Palmera can significantly decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol—about 31 percent—while increasing levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin (28 percent) and dopamine (31 percent), both of which contribute to feelings of happiness and well-being.

Spa Palmera, the 50,000-square-foot oasis at Cloister, will not only transport members and guests to the majestic kingdom of the Alhambra; it also serves as a sanctuary for stress relief.

Vanessa Carter, the spa director, says the decadent spa is resplendent with massage options that benefit both body and mind. She suggests the Warm Himalayan Gemstone Massage, a 90-minute service that harnesses the power of precious gemstones and aromatherapy, and engages the therapeutic benefits of heat to align the energy points of the body. The result? A renewed state of balance and well-being.

Carter also suggests the Sound Therapy Massage, which allows the guest to disconnect, relax, and drift into a harmonious and meditative state through the vibrational rhythms of singing bowls for 90 minutes. This sound therapy treatment supports mental clarity and mindfulness, and further aligns the mind with the body, as guests enjoy the beneficial qualities of warm body butter in this deeply relaxing and hydrating massage.

In addition to massages, Spa Palmera is home to the unique Ritual Baths, an ancient practice that has been modernized by The Boca Raton. Spagoers enter a serene indoor bath area with Swiss showers, soaking, deluge, and hot tubs. Carter says one bath in particular, the Mizner Ritual, is just the right prescription to alleviate stress and anxiety. This 90-minute treatment is a restorative bathing ritual rich in CBD-infused properties, which has been known to reduce anxiety and insomnia. The treatment invites guests to relax and unwind inside an oversize tub filled with healing properties of hemp-derived CBD. To enhance overall skin health, soak up the aromatic waters before applying the textured body scrub that is rich in active botanical ingredients. Finish off the treatment with an ice-cold mint facial compress that contrasts the warm waters and instills a deep sense of harmony.

So no matter what stresses ail you, a prescription of exercise and spa treatments at The Boca Raton might be the best remedy to soothe and nourish your body and mind.

We thrive on our patients’ successes and are dedicated to providing the highest level of preventative care every step of the way. Our personalized and transformative therapies are designed to prevent and reverse age-related disease and leave patient’s feeling better than ever.