Rancho La Puerta
WELLNESS WHERE YOU ARE Spa directors and wellness experts from hotels and resorts around the globe share easy-to-implement ways to pamper yourself at home. Written by Victoria Chase Countless feature articles in Sophisticated Living have extolled the benefits of indulging in spa treatments at resorts around the world. Today, "wellness" means so much more than a rejuvenating facial or massage. "Self-care is so important right now," said Kristi Dickinson, Spa Director at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in Rancho Santa Fe, California (ranchovalencia.com). "Instead of buying into fear and feelings of hopelessness, it's important to focus on what we can do, and that's building our immune system," she added. From diet and exercise to designing our home environment, take these tips from the pros until we can once again experience the restorative serenity offered by our favorite spa. One of the most important things that we can do in a stressful time is ensuring that our homes are a comfortable, calm place," said Amelia Hill, spa director at Spa Terra at Little Palm Island Resort & Spa in Little Torch Key, Florida (littlepalmisland.com). She emphasizes that it's essential to keep your home clean and free of clutter to create an open feel that will contribute to a feeling of calm. You can make a concerted effort to begin each day on a positive note by adopting the Morning Ritual from Eden Roc Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic (edenroccapcana.com). Start with five minutes of meditation followed by 15 minutes of guided yoga to help stretch out your body (short guided yoga sessions can easily be found on YouTube or different apps). "Follow this with a 'silent breakfast' - we call this culinary meditation," explained Pedro Castillo, the resort's spa and wellness director. "Listening to how you chew your food and following it from the moment 50 slmag.net
you put it on your plate to the swallowing process allows you to appreciate what you are putting in your body." A five-minute 'wellness' meditation finishes off the ritual to refocus your mind and set intentions for the rest of the day. An even simpler start, according to Cherie Rodriguez, director of the spa at Pendry San Diego is a cleansing glass of lemon water first thing in the morning. "As the body sleeps, we go into 'rest and digest' mode, mentally and physically processing everything from the day before," she explained. Lemon water "is the perfect morning ritual to wash everything away and has the added benefit of boosting the body with vitamins." She added that by throwing in a daily affirmation, such as I let go of all that no longer serves me, you're both mentally and physically ready to take on the day. Livia Reddington, Director of Spa Montage, Palmetto Bluff (montagehotels.com/palmettobluff ), recommends pulling out candles, oils, or other bath products picked up while traveling to take your senses on a journey to your favorite destinations. She's a fan of Lola's Apothecary products, carried at Spa Montage, and in particular, their "Sweet Lullaby" scent. "To quote Lola's, they call it their 'hug in a bottle,'" she said. Ilana Alberico, CEO and Founding Partner of ISM SPA, which oversees all signature Poseidon Spas within Kessler Collection hotels (kesslercollection.com), says that soothing sounds can be a salve for the spirit. "Soaking in a tub (trying to relax) can get boring quickly, so have some gentle music or a guided meditation playing in the background," she said. She
