Wander Magazine Early Summer 2022

T H E F O O D + D R I N K I S S U E

$6.95

VOLUME 8 •wander-mag.com ISSUE 1

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WANDER / LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

T H E F O O D + D R I N K I S S U E PUBLISHER & CO-FOUNDER Matthew Ross EDITOR & CO-FOUNDER Kristina Smith WEST COAST BUREAU Mark Stanton SOCIAL MEDIA Maddy Ross ADVERTISING SALES adsales@wander-mag.com CONNECT editor@wander-mag.com

CONTRIBUTORS Sandy Bornstein Keisha Blair Chantal Houde Cherie Julie Jill Kantor Lisa Kroft Jessicka Nebesni Desiree Nielsen Henry Small Kelley Wolf Special Thanks Tara Benson MARKETING & CREATIVE Springfed Creative Inc. design@springfedcreative.ca

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the warming weather feels like a fresh breeze, washing away the cobwebs. I am still digesting lessons from lockdowns, but I don’t think I am alone in feeling tired of the same old stories portrayed in media and social media alike.

It feels time for a new outlook, a new approach. Slower living, slower eating, slower travel; less about self and more about building community.

Being outdoors; (re)discovering the natural world; drawing power from the earth that has been supporting us all along.

We themed this issue Food & Drink because it speaks to community. We look forward to embracing (literally) friends and family around a table, a picnic blanket, an evening fire. In this spirit, we find ourselves eating mindfully, from a sacred monastery in Quebec to a farm in Belize to the vineyards of Tasmania.

To live well, we explore managing worry and anxiety, holistic wealth and finding silence. Since we are all touched by cancer in some way, we are honoured to feature two stories in this issue: travelling after a terminal diagnosis, and people coming together to offer Oncology Aesthetics for those undergoing treatment. Again, community.

If you are ready to travel, we have expert advice on workcations, a fresh line-up of our popular Reading Retreats, staying active and well on road trips, and an interview with Veggie Hotels. And of course, our ever-popular Essentials section, with a brand new look for the conscious traveller.

Eat well, and wander well, friends.

Kristina Smith

Springfed Creative is a strategic content company specializing in travel and destination marketing.

Wander is published by Springfed Creative Inc. and distributed through partners. No part of this publication may be copied or distributed without the written consent of the publisher. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor, or partners.

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WANDER / TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIVE WELL

EAT WELL

08 Connect to Calm to Ease Anxiety 16 FLOW: Finding Love Over Worry 22 How to Plan Your Dream Sabbatical 28 10 Ways to Hygge in Spring & Summer 34 How Parrots Taught Me Inner Peace 38 The Beauty Barn Project 43 Oncology Esthetics 101

46 Food for Thought: Discovering Mindful Eating 54 Fire Cider, a History 58 Good for Your Gut 68 Mayan Farm to Table Dining 74 Guide to the Wine Regions of Tasmania

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WANDER / TABLE OF CONTENTS

TRAVEL WELL 85 Reading Refuge: Best for Retreats 92 Road Tripping: Ultimate Canadian Adventure 100 Travel While Coping with an Incurable Disease 106 Sustainable, Ethical, VeggieHotels 118 Ask a Travel Advisor: Workcations 125 Essentials for the Active, Conscious Wanderer

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WIN a Wellness Getaway!

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Help us help you with your future wellness travels!

Respond to our 2022 survey and you will be automatically entered to win one of the following prizes: 1. Any three-night Pathway experience for one person at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Lenox or Woodside. Retail value $2,850-$4,125 5

2. A two-night stay for two at The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, including access to 25 geothermal mineral pools. Value $1,000 3. A two-night Relax & Revive Wellness Escape for two at Art of Living Retreat Center in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Value $1,378 4. A two-night stay for two at Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado, including access to the fitness center & classes. Value $2,000 5. A gift bag from The Ranch Malibu, California including products such as the wellness resort’s latest cookbook. Value $250

Take the quick survey before June 30, 2022 wander-mag.com

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WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE S E N S E O F T H I N G S , M AY WE LEARN TO MAKE PEACE WITH THINGS.

- MORGAN HARPER NICHOLS 7

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CONNECT TO CALM

IMAGE: © PRISCILLA DU PREEZ

PRACTICES TO EASE ANXIETY

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Most of us are familiar with the experience of being anxious: unsettled sensations in the belly, a quickened heart rate, shallow breathing, sweaty palms, looping fear-based thoughts, and other manifestations of worry are something we’ve all likely experienced at one time or another.

BY CHANTAL HOUDE 9

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his physiological state is a natural reaction to change or challenge and is a result of a shift in our autonomic nervous system to a sympathetic, or fight or flight, state that allows us to access stored energy and mobilizes us to act to overcome an obstacle. However, when stress and anxiety are chronic or overwhelming, they may begin to cause distortions in our behaviour and health.

Without tools to manage and release stress, the chemicals and hormones that flood the body can create a feedback loop that intensifies anxiety even more over the long term. Left unchecked, anxiety can become a barrier to sound mental and physical health, achieving your goals, connecting with community, and even living your day-today life.

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Luckily, there are several ways you can practice processing stress and shift out of an anxious state in both the short and long term. With time and practice, you may find that you more often default to states of ease rather than fear, and your thoughts begin to be more intentional and supportive of the life you want to live, rather than detracting from it.

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GET INTO YOUR BODY Body-based practices can reverse-engineer a more regulated state by gently nudging you from the activation that typically accompanies anxiety towards a socially engaged, adaptable, present, and regenerative state within your range of regulation.

Gentle movement like a yoga asana practice can be a great starting point for practicing mindful presence with yourself and teaching your body to be regulated in various shapes and movements. It can also help start to unwind some of the physical tension in the body to create ease.

The focus on pranayama, or breathwork, is another benefit of yoga practice and is a powerful tool that is accessible to everyone at any time. Taking a few slow, deep breaths can sometimes be enough to initiate a shift away from panic and unease. Inhaling through the nose, and then releasing the breath through your mouth is one option; you may also try lengthening your exhale – up to double the length of the inhale – as you breathe slowly through your nose.

Sighs or yawns may also accompany the breath and can help release tension as well. Creating any vocalizations, including humming, singing, and chanting, are all great options and have the added benefit of creating tone in the vagus nerve. This ‘wandering’ nerve, the longest of the autonomic nervous system, is responsible for relaying information from the body to the brain. Supporting its health can create a sense of overall well-being.

IMAGE: © MADISON LAVERN

Tapping, shaking, dancing, somatic movement, walking, massage therapy, acupuncture, and other body-based practices can also help support nervous system health and reduce anxiety.

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FIND YOUR FLOW One of the best ways to manage anxiety over the long term is to practice what I consider to be the opposite: a state of being fully immersed in the present moment with what I am engaged in.

Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi has characterized this as “flow state,” which he suggests can equate to more happiness, productivity and creativity when practiced regularly.

IMAGE: © MARCOS PAULO PRADO

Engaging in this state of being has allowed me to separate my Self from my thoughts of the past and future, and to observe them with greater impartiality. From this space, I can see when I am getting pulled into circular thinking and how these patterns move me further from my power to make healthy decisions for myself.

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There are endless ways to achieve a state of flow, and theoretically, it’s possible to experience it doing any activity. Csíkszentmihályi suggests that a certain level of skill and challenge must be involved, though not more than allows you to feel confident about engaging in the task.

Any activity or hobby you enjoy that brings you into a focused state may have the power to tune you into the flow, including creative pursuits like drawing or reading, socializing with family or friends, or playing a sport or board game.

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IMAGES: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT © BENJAMIN CHILD; © PRICILLA DU PREZE; © JOICE KELLY; © JAMIE FENN; © SANDIE CLARK; © PABLO ESCOBAR

GET OUTSIDE Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities to practice any of these suggestions at home or while travelling to reduce anxiety. The key to seeing the benefit is in doing them consistently, as a practice. Framing a new habit allows for selfcompassion, time, and curiosity, which are all key to diminishing anxiety.

Ecopsychology is a relatively new body of thought that considers the implications of the web of interdependence between humans, the rest of nature, all of life, and even the inner life of life on our individual and collective psyches and thus, our overall well-being. The health of the natural world is seen as a prerequisite for human health and vice versa, and it encourages cultivating a deeper personal relationship with the Earth to help heal the mental health crises many western cultures are experiencing.

If your anxiety ever feels unmanageable on your own, please know there is help available; you can reach out to a trusted friend or family member, a therapist or counsellor, or a telephone helpline in your area.

IMAGE: © MARCOS PAULO PRADO

Forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku as it’s called in Japan, where physicians routinely recommend its practice, is the simple act of spending time in the forest. Being amongst the flora and fauna of the woods has proven to be beneficial for both physical and mental health, including anxiety.

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Chantal is a Yoga Alliance-certified 500-hour therapeutic yoga teacher. When she’s not travelling, she offers nourishing, trauma-informed classes in Ottawa, Ontario, that invite students to cultivate self-compassion while releasing tension and balancing the nervous system. Her systems-based teachings draw on elements of several yoga lineages learned from practice and from over 900 hours of teacher trainings around the world, as well as on principles of ecopsychology.

Connect with her on Instagram @naturespacepractice.

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IMAGE: © RYAN WEST

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FINDING LOVE OVER WORRY

Kelley Wolf is a globally recognized certified life and personal development coach, author, speaker and spiritual thought leader. She is also the founder and CEO of coaching methodology FLOW - Finding Love Over Worry™. Kelley became a sought-after life coach to many high-profile clients, leaders of Fortune 100 companies, C-level executives, stay-at-home moms, small business owners, and nonprofits, among others looking to find more peace in their life.

She uses FLOW in her practice to help hundreds of individuals and companies challenge their own thoughts and change their behaviour patterns. She is also formerly part of the cast on the groundbreaking hit MTV series, The Real World: New Orleans, as well as the winner of the Real World/Road Rules Challenge, an opportunity that led her to New York City where she met her husband, actor Scott Wolf.

Outside of her coaching work, Kelley commits much of her time to philanthropy, having visited many nations globally to provide aid and care. She connected deeply to Africa during her travels, inspiring her to co-create The Chier Foundation in 2005. Her new book FLOW: Finding Love Over Worry: A Recipe for Living Joyfully is available now.

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Wander: We enjoyed your book immensely and identified with many of the stories. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer some of our questions.

Kelley: I sincerely appreciate your kind words.

Thank you.

This is the first book we have encountered that really dives deeply into worry itself. We tell ourselves not to worry, but we worry anyway, and then we really don’t talk about worry and how damaging it is. How does one differentiate between worry and fear?

I am on a mission to challenge the worry we are all experiencing so it doesn't become our main operating system. I love this question because it is at the heart of the FLOW method. In FLOW, we want to understand the difference between worry and fear.

Fear is a gift and a guide. Fear will feel like an immediate sensation in your body. It is your brain and body working in tandem to keep you safe. Worry is the sneaky little bugger that likes to masquerade as helpful but is quite damaging.

Worry shows up as ruminating thoughts, usually based on concerns about a negative outcome.

When you are on the worry roller coaster, your body may feel an elevated sense of anxiety, that is certainly uncomfortable. Fear will show up as a full-body response to alert you to danger and typically comes and goes when the danger is no longer present. Worry sticks around, doing nothing but making you unhappy.

We talk a lot about meditation here at Wander and definitely agree that many people are tired of hearing they should start! So we love your notion of perhaps “rebranding it” as Quiet Time and aiming for just five minutes of sitting. How did you find your way to transcendental meditation?

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I hear this! We are burnt out on the meditation mandate but whether we like it or not, it is a true game-changer. I am like most people; I find that a longer mediation practice is out of reach and then I don’t do it at all and then I feel like I failed.

This is what happened when I was trained in Transcendental Meditation. I loved the practice, but I struggled to commit.

Sound familiar?

In my book, I offer different strategies to integrate meditation practices that are doable throughout your day.

You may consider them more of a mindful practice, instead of classic meditation practice. The reason meditation is so beneficial is because it gives your brain (and body) a reprieve from the onslaught of incoming stimuli. We were not made to absorb the level of attention-grabbing content we are offered throughout the day. It falls to us to find a way to clean out the clutter.

In the book, I use the metaphor of dirty dishes. You can absolutely leave the dishes in the sink; nothing will happen other than your irritation at looking at them and maybe a little stink. If you take 10 minutes to clean the dishes, you will feel exponentially better about your day. The same is true for meditation and cleaning out your mind throughout the day. Until we have a brain dishwasher, we have to roll up our sleeves.

Anxiety is a topic that is gaining attention the world over.

In your work, how often do you find anxious people are actually people pleasers? Interesting how people-pleasing is rooted in fear as well.

You hit the nail on the head! Of course, you can have anxiety without being a people pleaser but you are likely TO have anxiety if you are a people pleaser. It is in the title: If your focus is on pleasing people then your focus is likely not on pleasing yourself first.

I sound like my grandma, but you cannot pour from an empty cup. You can see where this would lead to chronic anxiety.

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IMAGE: © PRICILLA DU PREEZ

WORRY STICKS AROUND, DOING NOTHING BUT MAKING YOU U N H A P P Y.

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In FLOW we focus on taking care of ourselves first so we can be of service to the world around us. The goal is service, the practice begins with putting your oxygen mask on first.

On anxiety, you note that “...even as we live through the easiest of lifetimes, as measured by world violence and access to goods, services and modern medicine, we are unsatisfied and chronically anxious. We may fabricate danger when there is none.” Do you find that anxiety goes hand in hand with dissatisfaction?

These two are part and parcel of the other. When we believe the answer lives outside of ourselves, we immediately drop into dissatisfaction and scarcity. If I don’t like my house and I begin to fixate on that dissatisfaction, I will see all the things that are wrong. The same is true in any category.

IMAGE: © FUU J

In the FLOW practice, we begin to see what we love. You may love the closet in the house that you don’t care for, focus on that to begin. This doesn’t mean you have to stay in the house you hate, it means you are driving the car of your peace. We want to stay conscious of what is taking us away from peace. Peace will always be driven by what you think and how you feel, not what you have or don’t have.

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IMAGE: © OMURDEN CENGIZ

You talked about your experience with a postpartum breakdown, a severe form of depression that is unfortunately still not discussed or shared enough. How can we support breaking this silence?

That would be a dream come true! We have talked about doing a joint project for years. He is my best friend and my co-pilot; I could not imagine a better day at work!

Finally, we love how you included your beautiful recipes throughout the book. This isn’t a question, but we wanted our readers to have this gem of yours because it spoke to us: “I have a simple rule: People need to eat. No matter what. If someone is going through something, never say, “What do you need?” When someone is struggling, they don’t know what they need, but you do.”

When I was in the throes of PPD, it was the most terrifying time of my life. I am grateful I had access to therapy and a supportive partner. I cry for the women who are navigating that world without any information on how to get help. I believe it starts with things like this. I tell my story in the hopes that another woman will see that I am okay, and she will be okay. I am okay today. I made it through, and you can too.

Thank you! Bring food! That is my motto: when someone needs help, bring them food.

On a few occasions, I called a suicide hotline. It is free and it helps. There are free services you can find through a Google service and you must not be ashamed to make the call. I tell you that I called so you know we are all in this together.

There is nothing broken when a woman suffers from PPD, it can happen to anyone and it WILL get better.

BUY THE BOOK book.flowbykelleywolf.com

Scott joined you on the podcast recently, and we found you have a powerful shared outlook. Any chance of writing a book together in future?

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HOW TO PLAN YOUR DREAM S A B B AT I C A L

IMAGE: © CASPAR RAE

(WITHOUT GOING BROKE)

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BY KEISHA BLAIR 22

After my husband died suddenly from a very rare and tragic illness, just eight weeks after I gave birth to my second child, I decided to do some soul searching. I had two young babies and was now grieving the loss of my husband at age 31. There wasn’t one singular moment that stands out but a series of prescient moments that gave birth to the idea that the answers to my questions would come after significant soul searching. I knew I would have to take a break from work for a while, and I would have to plan around that. I knew that I had to do this for my health and wellness and to chart a new path forward in life.

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IMAGE: © IRUII MELENTSOV

survey by recruiting firm Robert Half Canada found that 38 percent of Canadian HR managers planned to offer a leave of absence or sabbatical as a benefit in 2022. The result compared with a report in August 2020 that said 30 percent of Canadian HR managers would offer this kind of benefit in 2021.

With record rates of mental health issues, depression and a loneliness epidemic stemming from COVID-19, if you are thinking about planning your dream sabbatical, I have some tips for you. The benefits of my sabbatical were life transforming.

As I wrote in the new Holistic Wealth Expanded and Updated: 36 Life Lessons To Help You Recover From Disruption, Find Your Life Purpose and Achieve Financial Freedom, “A sabbatical can ignite your passions and help you find your true purpose in life, as it allows you the free time to explore creative endeavors and helps you to sort through your goals. A sabbatical helps you to take a break from the day-to-day routines and design the intentional life you want. It allows you to discover your unique talents and to seek your higher self through spiritual self-renewal (daily yoga, meditation, prayer), as it allows you to disconnect from your routine and encourages new lines of thinking and challenges you in new ways, by giving you the time to explore your inner thoughts and desires. Once your passions are ignited, it becomes easier to find success in whatever field you embark on”. wander-mag.com

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IMAGE: © ANDREW COELHO

PLAN WELL IN ADVANCE I planned my sabbatical to Jamaica a year in advance. A one-year sabbatical abroad can mean a lot of logistical work, so planning ahead is critical. At the Institute on Holistic Wealth, we have a sabbatical planning course that’s available to everyone. I also train my Certified Holistic WealthTM Consultants to factor in sabbatical planning to their client’s Holistic Wealth Portfolio.

Many things can go awry on a sabbatical abroad, so engage the help of someone who has done this successfully and has had life transforming results. Without proper planning, it’s possible to get into too much debt, spend unnecessarily and come back with few outcomes and success metrics fulfilled.

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IMAGE: © BROOKE CAGLE

DEFINE WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE TO YOU Of course, defining what success means to you is also critical and that’s also something I help clients with through coaching. With the Great Resignation wave and people making career transitions, this is also helpful in charting a new path forward.

Holistic Wealth Expanded and Updated: 36 Life Lessons To Help You Recover From Disruption, Find Your Life Purpose and Achieve Financial Freedom offers great financial, emotional, and professional insights for people who are considering taking a sabbatical and how to tackle this momentous part of their life.

I focused on my own holistic healing and honing in on my passions, which also allowed me to find my life purpose.

Once I was settled, I found meaning by helping others, developing my own recipes, meditating every day, tuning in to my own intuition and much more.

BUY THE BOOK Amazon.com wander-mag.com

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IMAGE: © TOWFIQU BARBHUIYA

HAVE A “SABBATICAL FUND”

Keisha Blair is an award-winning, international bestselling author of Holistic Wealth: 32 Life Lessons to Help You Find Purpose, Prosperity and Happiness. Founder of the Holistic Wealth Movement and the Institute on Holistic Wealth, and host of the Holistic Wealth podcast, Keisha has been profiled in the New York Times, Real Simple Magazine, Forbes, the Harvard Business Review, and Essence Magazine. Her viral article “My Husband Died At Age 34. Here Are 40 Life Lessons I Learned From It” was viewed by more than 50 million people globally.

Call this pot of funds your “sabbatical fund” and set up a budget and a way to build it up to a figure that can sustain you. If you are thinking about renting your home and car while you are away, start planning for that and think about how you will manage any assets (like real estate) and business responsibilities while you are away.

I would advise anyone considering a sabbatical to take my free quiz at instituteonholisticwealth.com/take-the-quiz to identify your financial identity before you start planning. It will help you become more self-aware to plan ahead in a way that’s authentic to you.

Visit her at keishablair.com 27

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1 0 WAY S T O H YG G E

IMAGE: © TABITHA TURNER

IN SPRING & SUMMER

BY JILL KANTOR & LISA KROFT,

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CO-FOUNDERS, HYGGE IN A BOX

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While we don’t come from Scandinavia, we are Canadians living in Winnipeg, Manitoba, known as one of the coldest provinces – in fact, it's one of the coldest major cities in North America. Because of this, we understand what it means to fully enjoy the warmer spring and summer months while we can.

Hygge (hue-gah) is the Danish concept of feeling cozy, content and an everyday togetherness that is often associated with the wintertime. That said, Meik Wiking says in The Little Book of Hygge, “hygge is the pursuit of everyday happiness – and that means summer just as much as winter.” Wiking says you can experience it in the summertime by “making use of the sun and the warmth of nature.”

Hygge is possible any time of the year, anywhere on earth. Spring and summer are no exception to the rule. But instead of cozy sweaters and flickering candles, spring and summer hygge means enjoying the great outdoors. Whether it's paddling in a nearby lake, a laid-back BBQ with friends or toasting marshmallows on a campfire, this is the time for creating memories and enjoying the warm evenings under the starlight sky.

IMAGE: © MOJO MOVIES

The best part of spring and summer hygge? So many hyggeligt (hue-gah-li) activities can be enjoyed for free! A joyful day at the beach while hunting for shells, sea glass and driftwood; a glass of wine on the dock; reading a book in the sunshine while swaying lazily in a hammock.

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IMAGE: © SIXTEEN MILES OUT

10 IDEAS FOR BRINGING MORE HYGGE INTO YOUR LIFE IN THE WARMER MONTHS 1. DINE OUTDOORS AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN.

2. START A VEGETABLE OR HERB GARDEN.

Meet friends in the park for a picnic or set a hygge-inspired dining table in your yard with flowers and plenty of candles.

Prepare your food on wooden charcuterie boards and use stemless wine glasses for your wine (plastic cups are not hygge!). It takes a little more preparation, but it makes the overall experience more special.

There’s something so hygge about growing your own food and knowing that it will be sustainable and delicious. If you don’t have the space, start with a small herb garden by a sunny windowsill or balcony, and enjoy the excitement as you watch them grow.

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IMAGES: (CLOCKEWISE TOP LEFT) © ANNE PREEBLE; © DEREK SUTTON; © ANNEMARIE GRUDEN

3. VISIT A FARMER'S MARKET.

5. OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT.

Look for items like local produce, eggs, cheese, baked goods, honey, vintage goods, crafts, and bouquets of flowers.

Supporting those at farmer’s markets is hygge because it is all about the experience, and you can find products that are in season and ethically produced.

Get a projector and screen, invite some friends, make popcorn, bring out cozy blankets, hang plenty of fairy lights and turn on some of the classics. Make hot cocoa for when the air turns cool.

HYGGE IS ABOUT SLOWING DOWN, BEING MINDFUL AND FEELING HAPPY FROM THE INSIDE OUT. SUBSCRIBE TO THE QUARTERLY HYGGE IN A BOX AND BRING MORE HYGGE INTO YOUR LIFE EVERY SEASON!

4. GO BERRY PICKING AND MAKE DELICIOUS JAM. Making homemade jam is one of the best hygge ideas as it is a great way to use summer berries. Better yet, build a bonfire and make some traditional Snobrød which is a Danish campfire bread on a stick.

VISIT HYGGEINABOX.CA 31

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IMAGES: (CLOCKEWISE TOP LEFT) © JESSE GARDNER; © CHRISTOPHER BURNS: © RANDY FATH

6. ENJOY THE VIEW. Get up at the crack of dawn to watch the sunrise while opening your windows to let the fresh air breeze in. Sit on the deck or patio and watch the sunset with a cocktail or fruit-infused sparkling water in hand. Enjoy the warmth against your skin.

7. SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN NATURE. Enjoy plenty of forest hikes, walks, or strolls along the beach. Be sure to leave your technology behind and just be in nature. Pay careful attention to the sights, sounds and smells around you. You can have some of your greatest hygge moments in nature whether alone or with others. wander-mag.com

8. DON’T FORGET TO SET UP YOUR OUTDOOR HYGGEKROG. If you have an outside space, whether a garden, patio, balcony, or front porch, transform it into a summer hyggekrog! This is a cozy nook where you can curl up in a chair with a beverage and enjoy the view.

Fairy lights, blankets, pillows, and lanterns are hygge additions to any outside space. Perhaps treat yourself to a hammock as there’s something special about being able to lie in a hammock while gently swaying under a hot sun or star-filled sky.

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9. GO ON A ROAD TRIP AND GO CAMPING. Camping must be one of the most hygge things that you can do in the summertime! So pack a tent, gather a group of friends or family and go camping somewhere new. Have fun playing games and laughing around a bonfire and waking up surrounded by nature and the sound of birds chirping.

10. PERHAPS RENTING A CABIN IS MORE YOUR STYLE.

IMAGE: © PARS SAHIN

Scandinavians love going to a cabin, not only in winter but in summer too! Getting into nature is one of the most beloved Scandinavian traditions and renting a cabin in the woods is one way to feel all hyggeligt.

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IMAGE: © JAX

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H OW PA R R OTS TA U G H T M E I N N E R PEACE

I’M UP AT 4:30 AM TO VOLUNTEER AT AN ECOLOGICAL STATION IN THE COSTA RICAN RAINFOREST.

Theo and I are headed on a macaw survey, which consists entirely of sitting down and counting parrots. Our destination is the nearest town: San Francisco, accessible only by canoe.

We are looking for Great Green macaws, a parrot endemic to Latin America. They have a green body and dazzling tail feathers. In Costa Rica, they are critically endangered, with an estimated population of only a few hundred. The almendro trees they nest in have been felled to make way for logging and crops like bananas. For these human needs, they have lost around 90% of their habitat.

As the canoe glides across placid water, the roar of a howler monkey reverberates all around. A heron is perched on a log, dreaming of fish. Arriving at an abandoned hotel, minutes later, three mongrels greet us, who usually bark to announce intruders. However, on this fragile morning, they respect the silence.

On the riverside we have an open sky, giving us a better chance of spotting a macaw. Looking for them, however, is not an active process. We don’t have camera traps, just a pair of binoculars and plastic chairs to sit on. For the next four hours. Phones are banned. No stimulation and nothing to do.

Our journey spans coconut-covered beaches and crosses webs of tree roots. The sky is unfolding in layers. Blackness drips into baby blue, then yellow, green, and an intoxicating orange horizon. Jupiter and Saturn shine down on us, the last trace of nighttime.

The beginning is the hardest. I am like an encaged pigeon, squirming in my seat. The minutes drag on, and my surroundings refuse to entertain me. The trees stand still.

The river flows, in the same unoriginal manner it has been for thirty minutes. I am lost in thought: planning, reminiscing, fantasizing about the future.

San Francisco is a ramshackle town of tin roofs and wooden fences, with the occasional mural of a turtle. Cockerels and stray dogs stir in the golden light, but there is no one to be seen. We reach a dock overlooking a wide river that connects canals to the ocean.

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IMAGE: © SAMUEL CHARRON

Strangely, the thought never occurs to me to talk to Theo until then, so I open up to him. I learn about his passions.

We both adore nature and aspire to save it. We have more in common than I realize, but we had not had the time to discuss it. An acquaintance becomes a friend.

The minutes are moving faster now, and I notice a shift. My mind is smoothing out. Three more hours doesn’t seem so bad. My energy has shifted from the restless tempo I sat down with to the rhythms of my environment. I listen to the flow of the tides and feel the wind in my hair. Suddenly, the world is invigorating.

Then, the impossible happens. The air is assaulted by a piercing “RAAAK,” the unmistakable call of a macaw.

We spring into action, binoculars aimed, and there they are. Two glorious green beauties fly in unison, like a royal procession, returning to declare their sovereignty over the rainforest. They fly high and mighty, blue wings flapping frantically. Just as we expect them to fly past, they turn, and land in the tree beside us! wander-mag.com

The child-like wonder one feels when seeing a wild animal is unique. You can’t help but grin like an idiot. The Macaws bicker like brothers, fighting over nothing at all. They scratch and scrape and spin and squawk while hanging upside down. They are the most ridiculous and wonderful animals I have ever seen.

The Macaws eventually leave, but the warm glow we feel stays with us for a while after. The peace of the stillness and the joy of the sighting combine into a deep satisfaction with the world and our place in it. Theo and I have shared a special experience. I realize that if you stop rushing around, you can deeply connect with your environment.

To recreate the calm I felt that day, I practise the 'do nothing' meditation. Try it yourself. Set a timer for ten minutes, sit down somewhere comfortable, and just do absolutely nothing. Breathe, think your thoughts, feel your body, but there's no need to try at all.

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IMAGE: © ZDENEK MACHACEK

What struck me when I did this was how restless I was, and how easily my thoughts controlled me. I would think of ten different tasks to do just as an excuse to get up. The truth is, I found my own company intolerable. But as time went on, I became more comfortable with myself. When you do nothing, you realize how much noise there is beneath the surface, and noticing this relieves some of that burden.

In a rapid society, with the Gods of TikTok and Snapchat commanding your attention, it is a superpower to be still.

When you are waiting in line or on a bus, you won’t reach for your phone, and you can see the world instead. You might notice some beautiful scenery, or talk to a stranger.

Henry Edward Small is a freelance writer from Oxford, England. He writes about the relationship between nature and human wellbeing. He also discusses conservation and philosophy and loves travelling and cooking vegetarian food. He currently lives in the French Alps.

Without the discomfort of doing nothing, I never would have appreciated that day in Costa Rica, and would not have gotten so close to Theo. Survive the initial boredom of stillness, and there is peace on the other side.

Read more of Henry’s stories at henryedwardsmall.com.

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IMAGE: © WENDY ALANA PHOTOGRAPHY

THE BEAUTY BARN PROJECT

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Entering The Beauty Barn boutique spa feels as welcoming as owner Corrie Gallant’s radiant smile. Located in smalltown Ontario, Canada, in a country setting, this unique space—it was literally a barn lovingly converted by Corrie and her husband, Mark—is quiet, peaceful, and feminine.

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he spa’s outdoor space features bunkies for stays and private treatments, a labyrinth for contemplation, and an ample deck space for yoga and events – which brings us to Beauty Barn’s “Awakening to Better Beauty” story.

Corrie trained in Oncology Esthetics with industry leader Morag Currin (read our interview in the sidebar) and is a licensed Medical Oncologist Esthetician. Passionate about safer beauty, she was invited to Washington to attend private meetings with Congress members to speak on product regulations for the beauty industry. Many mainstream product ingredients can be toxic to those experiencing cancer and related treatment protocols.

The Beauty Barn invited these women to join them for a complimentary pampering spa day using safe products approved for people who are hormonally compromised.

Pre-2020, the event offered beauty, hair, make-up, wigs and manicure services. During the pandemic, they shifted to internal wellness with yoga, breathwork, reiki, and reflexology, which worked so well that future events will combine the modalities.

You might be familiar with the "Look Good Feel Better” program from the inserts in women’s magazines over the past 30 years. Sponsored by major cosmetic, beauty and personal care brands like Proctor and Gamble, Unilever, and Estee Lauder, LGFB holds workshops led by trained cosmetic advisors and hair alternative specialists where women with cancer can learn how to manage the appearance-related impacts of cancer and its treat­ment.

Volunteer photographers were on hand to capture the moments, many joyful, some tearful, all emotional.

Corrie volunteered her time for these workshops for many years but felt the brand involvement was becoming increasingly stringent, where certain cosmetic lines (the brands donate the product) were the only ones allowed to be used, regardless of whether they were best for the client’s skin or needs.

So she sought to do something herself. And do something she did.

She rounded up volunteers, photographers and other local businesses and founded the ‘Awakening to Better Beauty’ event in 2014. The spa invited the local community and oncology department nursing staff to nominate a friend or loved one going through cancer treatment. The response was overwhelming (and as they had to cap attendance it was hard to turn anyone away).

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“It’s about the whole person, reducing stress. No guilt, just let me do this for you,” says Corrie. “It takes a village to pull together such a special event. I like to think that the ladies are able to forget about the stressors of treatment just for one day. We want to create an event that allows these ladies to focus on nurturing themselves by experiencing a day of fun, laughter, indulgence and memories.”

The Beauty Barn will host their private 2022 event during World Wellness Weekend (Corrie is the WWW ambassador for Brantford & Brant County, Canada). They have also been at work with plans to expand this incredible event concept to other spas that offer oncology esthetics.

If you are or know of a clean beauty spa that would like to get involved, please visit thebeautybarnspa.com/ awakening-to-better-beauty-event or email Corrie directly at corrie@thebeautybarnspa.com.

All event images are courtesy of volunteer photographers who generously donated their time: • Freckleface Photography • Bre Photography • Box Photography • Delicate Impressions Photography

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WITHOUT CANCER, I W O U L D N E V E R H AV E KNOWN MY INNER COURAGE. N O R W O U L D I H AV E M E T SOME OF THE NICEST CARING PEOPLE, WILLING TO GIVE OF THEIR TIME AND THEIR C O M PA S S I O N . I N S O M E WAY S , MY LIFE IS MUCH BETTER. C A N C E R H A S TA U G H T ME TO LIVE. I WA S V E R Y B L E S S E D TO H AV E B E E N C H O S E N TO PA R T I C I PAT E I N T H I S A M A Z I N G E V E N T. N OT O N LY WA S I T A F A B U L O U S PA M P E R I N G D AY I T A L S O ALLOWED ME TO TURN MY WORRIES OFF AND MEET OT H E R WO M E N T H AT H A D O R WERE GOING THROUGH THEIR OW N J O U R N E YS . AWA K E N I N G TO A B E T T E R B E A U T Y WA S A N U P L I F T I N G E V E N T T H AT M A D E YO U R E A L I Z E T H AT YOU ARE NOT ALONE. J U DY P O RT E R

IMAGES: © BEAUTY BARN SPA

AWA K E N I N G TO B E T T E R B E A U T Y E V E N T G U E S T

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IMAGE: © BEAUTY BARN SPA

ONCOLOGY ESTHETICS 101 AN INTERVIEW WITH MÓRAG CURRIN Mórag Currin, Founder, International Director and Educator of Oncology Training International (OTI), pioneered the only Oncology Aesthetics® certification for salon/spa professionals to be inclusive of cancer and has set the standard in many countries since, including her home country of South Africa.

She is the author of "Oncology Esthetics: A Practitioner’s Guide" and "Health Challenged Skin: The Estheticians’ Desk Reference." Going beyond the world of aesthetics, Mórag also reaches those suffering from various health challenges through Equine Facilitated Wellness.

Wander: What was the impetus for your creation of oncology esthetics?

At the time, I was working at a laboratory that manufactures skin care products. Many, many estheticians used to call the lab and ask what ingredients and products could safely be used on people undergoing active chemotherapy or radiation therapy?

Mórag: The salon/spa industry schools have been teaching (and some still do) that providing services to cancer survivors is contraindicated. Why? The myth is that “massaging a person with cancer will spread the cancer.”

Is Oncology Training International™ (OTI) the only one of its kind in the industry?

This is mostly based on ignorance as in recent years there are hundreds of studies that clearly indicate that massage cannot spread cancer since it is a mutation in the DNA of the cell itself.

Oncology Training International is the pioneer of Oncology Aesthetics. We started in 2007, and training began in 2008.

Today, a few similar organizations exist, including Wellness for Cancer, which was started by one of my students using OTI material.

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How did the spa and personal care industry tend to deal with clients who had cancer previously? Were they simply refused service/treatment?

What are the main barriers or concerns you hear from spas and salons around becoming trained and offering services to people living with cancer?

Yes – or they ignored the fact the client had cancer and proceeded as usual. Intuitive estheticians would have communicated with the cancer survivor and between the two of them, they would have discussed and possibly done safe modifications, but for the most part, many spas saw this as an added liability without exploring what modifications can be made.

Liability, mainly, or – and this may blow you away – estheticians will say they don't want to work on sick people!

Many people with cancer do not want to be defined by their diagnosis or disease. Many do not want to be called or considered 'sick.'

Cancer survivors need estheticians more than ever; cancer treatment is invasive, so spa services should be noninvasive.

Cancer treatments can mess up a person emotionally and physically. If we are adequately trained, have empathy and care about the client, we need to communicate with them and modify their service so it is still highly beneficial but safe, even if it means temporarily modifying and only using gentle, short services.

When the person has completed treatment, and they start to recover emotionally and physically and as their body starts to regain its normality, then one can explore being more aggressive with spa services.

How many have been trained in Oncology Esthetics by OTI? Approximately 11,000 to date.

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What is important for our industry to learn is not to 'lump' cancer survivors into one group. Some cancer survivors might have surgery, and they are considered “cancerfree.” Others may have metastatic cancer but could live for another 30 years. Some cancer survivors have slowgrowing/non-aggressive cancers, so they require minimal monitoring and taking low-dose medications, therefore having fewer side effects. Others may have aggressive cancers requiring constant monitoring with aggressive treatment and many side effects.

Just because the client says “cancer,” the spa and estheticians should not just stop in their tracks but take the time to see where the client is before making a rash decision to say no.

Equine therapy is something we love to talk about here at Wander! Can you tell us a bit about Being Among Horses?

We find people instantly relax when they come to our farm.

We have a fairy (for kids) or nature trail where we have sit spots to be aware of sounds, a labyrinth, yoga and meditation areas, and with some groups, mental health professionals offering art therapy, movement, and equine therapy.

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WE SHOULD ENJOY F O O D A N D H AV E FUN. IT IS ONE OF THE SIMPLEST AND NICEST PLEASURES IN LIFE.

IMAGE: © MAE MU, UNSPLASH

IMAGE: © TANGERINE NEWT

JULIA CHILD

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

IMAGE: © LE MONASTÈRE DES AUGUSTINES

D I S C OV E R I N G M I N D F U L E AT I N G AT L E M O N A S T È R E D E S A U G U S T I N E S

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Think back to your last meal. Do you remember what was on your mind when you took that first bite?

If you’re like me, you’d want to say the smell and texture of the food, the gratitude you felt, the very essence of being nourished.

But if you’re also like me, in reality, it was more like the next thing you needed to check off your to-do list, the dishes piled up, the email you forgot to respond to.

Could the Mindful Eating approach at Le Monastère des Augustines in Quebec, Canada, be the reset I needed?

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IMAGE: © LE MONASTÈRE DES AUGUSTINES

A RICH HISTORY

A MINDFUL APPROACH

Located in the heart of bustling Quebec City, the monstery represents nearly 400 years of history. The Augustinian Sisters were a small community of nuns who settled here in 1639 to care for the bodies and souls of those living in “New France.” This was the birthplace of modern healthcare in North America.

Le Monastère today carries on the Sisters’ mission and vision based on the four pillars of health: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. They are all in relationship and therefore must be in balance to thrive.

The monastery was endowed by the Sisters to the people of Quebec in 2013, an extraordinary gift consisting of a heritage building dating back to the 17th century, as well as some 50,000 artifacts and one kilometre of archives.

Following major renovations, Le Monastère opened its doors as a non-profit organization in 2015 with a cultural, wellness tourism, and social mission (to provide support and respite to those who care for others).

The feelings one experiences inside its walls are hard to describe. It is at once both old and new, with sloping, creaking staircases and modern glass enclosures. It is soulful, inviting contemplation. It is entirely secular, and yet the spirit of its history speaks to something deep inside, with reverence, respect, and knowing.

You slow down to its pace. Within these solid walls, witness to almost four hundred years of service, you feel the sacred.

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Mindful, or conscious, eating speaks to all aspects of wellness and is the cornerstone of Le Monastère’s philosophy of food. Eating in a state of relaxation, slowly, without rushing, and without guilt (nothing is “good” or “bad”). Being kind to ourselves.

After all, how you do one thing is how you do everything.

Le Vivoir, a relaxation and mindful eating space for the guests of Le Monastère, was inaugurated on March 23, 2022.

The restaurant’s Mindful Eating guide, available to peruse with your meal, rightly points out, “For years, we’ve been battling a double standard when it comes to food. On the one hand, social media bombards us with an endless stream of diet trends. On the other hand, our newsfeeds are filled with foodies prompting an overwhelming array of decadent meals. How can we possibly find a balance…in this world of excess and extremes?”

The answer, in a nutshell, is mindfulness. Connecting with your own instincts, paying attention to how you are feeling inside. Observing, being in the moment. Not rushing.

When you eat mindfully, you feel your hunger, you truly taste your food, you savour its nourishment, and you notice your satiety.

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IMAGE: © LE MONASTÈRE DES AUGUSTINES

WELLNESS IS ALWAYS ON THE MENU expertise of food and plants to speed the recovery of those in their care, the focus is on fresh, seasonal products, mostly local and organic.

The restaurant’s vibe is peaceful, welcoming, and pleasurable. Conversations are quiet, broken up by occasional laughter (breakfast is in silence in keeping with the monastery’s traditions).

Supplier relationships are carefully chosen and cultivated; in fact, Executive Chef Christophe Penny co-founded a local food co-op program (Le PRÉ) in 2017 to connect local producers with restaurant operators in the region for short supply chains (with no intermediaries) and exceptional fresh products.

A beautiful vertical garden wall of plants purifies the air while a counter garden provides fresh sprouts for the restaurant's dishes.

Flexibility and diversity are forefront at Le Vivoir (and its sister take-out counter), offering a wide array of mains and side dishes that guests can combine according to personal preferences, dietary restrictions, hunger, or values.

I was able to chat with chef Derek McCann whose passion for bold, clean food, and experimentation was contagious.

The food is truly beautiful, the presentation being just as important as the preparation, which is done in ways that preserve nutrients.

Inspired by the Augustinian Sisters who began cooking here centuries ago who, as healers and apothecaries, used their

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“LET FOOD BE THY MEDICINE.” HIPPOCRATES

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IMAGE: © LE MONASTÈRE DES AUGUSTINES

IMAGE: © LE MONASTÈRE DES AUGUSTINES

The kitchen here does a lot of slow and sous-vide cooking to minimize vitamin loss. The salad bar is bountiful with raw foods, sprouts, nuts and seeds along with incredible fresh soups, prepared salads and breads (I fell in love with ghee here and will never go back to regular butter!).

The menu choices are always evolving, focusing on seasonal variations, with vegetarian mains (the butter tofu was superb), locally-caught fish, and meat from free-range animals raised humanely. You may be surprised to learn the menu is not vegan or vegetarian (they have coffee as well, which is pretty much contraband at many wellness centres). But again, the philosophy is on choice, not restriction, dogma, or judgement.

But rest assured, if you are vegan, or plant-based, or gluten- or dairy-free, there is an incredible selection for all here, including a variety of beverages, alcoholic and non.

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HOW CAN YOU START TO EAT MORE MINDFULLY? Advice gleaned from my experience at Le Monastère for fostering your own practice: • Notice your hunger • Observe the ingredients and be come aware of their origin, smell, and colour • Look at your plate before eating, pausing to feel gratitude for all who made your meal possible • Eat slowly, noticing the taste and texture, and whether you enjoy them • Become aware of your feelings as you eat; connect within • Paying attention to how your body feels as you digest – are you feeling energized, nourished, bloated, too full?

IMAGES: © LE MONASTÈRE DES AUGUSTINES

ROOTED IN CENTURIES OF HOSPITALITY The health benefits of eating mindfully align with the values of the Augustinian Sisters, who devoted their lives to caring for the sick in what we would now call a holistic approach to healthcare.

They maintained huge gardens near the monastery to feed both themselves and those under their care, cultivating orchards, a variety of vegetables, walnut trees, herbs, and medicinal plants for the apothecary as well as keeping bees. From their arrival, these devoted women embraced a healthy lifestyle that was in harmony with nature and the environment, with the responsible use of resources.

My takeaway? Since returning, I have consciously incorporated mindful eating into my daily life. I have experienced much better digestion, less guilt and more ease when making choices, and a more grateful mindset overall. You don’t need to visit Le Monastère to find mindful eating, but you may just find yourself here.

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AN ADVENTURE WITHIN Rest and rejuvenation – words that truly mean something here. In the morning, a contemplative walk is offered in the surrounding streets steeped in history.

Late afternoon, gentle yoga and breathwork allow the chance to refocus before transitioning to evening. Health consultations and body treatments complete the experience here with a spirit of kindness and compassion.

[We Recommend] 1639 Massage In honour of the first Augustinian Sisters who came to Québec in 1639 is a massage treatment featuring the signature 1639 Whipped Shea Butter. A full-body relaxation session to soothe tension and muscle pain, you just might doze off! Extend the experience at home with the shea butter, with a scent that conjures the tranquillity of Le Monastère.

Visit monastere.ca to plan your experience.

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IMAGE: © MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS

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FIRE CIDER, A HISTORY (AND HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN!)

Fire cider is a staple in the pantries of herbalists around the world. Invented by Rosemary Gladstar and her students in 1979, the herbal preparation is as common as elderberry syrup or calendula salve to those who walk the path of natural wellness. It is supportive of the immune and digestive systems and provides warmth and circulation to the belly. The golden liquid is one of the handiest elixirs to have in your wellness kit.

“Like most herbal recipes, it wasn’t fully original but rather was based on several other old folk remedies,” Gladstar recounts, “I added my own touches, a few new herbs, a little something hot, and a little honey for sweetness. When my students and I strained and tasted that first batch of herb-infused vinegar several weeks later, a perfect merging of flavors exploded in our mouths. We knew we had created a winner, which we promptly and proudly dubbed fire cider.”

And so, fire cider was born unto a small group of herbalists and it rippled like wildfire from there.

A few decades and many variations later, interest in the recipe continues to increase. It’s accessible, tasty, functional, and fun to make. And while suitable for the sprouting herbalists, many professional herbalists and holistic practitioners reach for this faithful fiery preparation, year after year.

Here are two time-tested recipes that the Mountain Rose Herbs team has used for decades. Hopefully, these recipes will ignite a passion for natural paths to health and further herbal exploration.

BY JESSICKA NEBESNI OF MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS 55

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CLASSIC FIRE CIDER RECIPE Makes about a quart.

INGREDIENTS • 1 medium organic onion, chopped • 10 cloves of organic garlic, crushed or chopped • 2 organic jalapeño peppers, chopped • Zest and juice from 1 organic lemon • ½ cup fresh grated organic ginger root (or organic ginger root powder) • ½ cup fresh grated organic horseradish root (or organic horseradish powder) • 1 Tbsp. fresh grated organic turmeric root (or organic turmeric powder) • ¼ tsp. organic cayenne powder • 2 Tbsp. dried rosemary leaves • organic apple cider vinegar • ¼ cup raw, local honey, or to taste DIRECTIONS Place prepared roots, fruits, and herbs in a quart-sized glass jar. Pour the apple cider vinegar into the jar until all of the ingredients are covered and the vinegar reaches the jar's top.

If using a plastic lid, place lid on jar. If using a metal lid, place a piece of parchment paper underneath the metal lid to avoid the metal getting corroded, then screw lid on jar.

Shake well.

Store in a dark, cool place for a month and shake daily.

After one month, use cheesecloth to strain out the pulp, pouring the vinegar into a clean jar. Be sure to squeeze as much of the liquid as you can from the pulp while straining. Stir in the honey until thoroughly incorporated.

Taste your cider and add more honey until you reach the desired sweetness.

IMAGE: © MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS

Store in a cool, dark, dry place (or fridge) until gone.

Enjoy daily or at the first signs of the sniffles.

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IMAGE: © MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS

TIP P R O re ciders e in re tim ical fi

SPEEDY FIRE CIDER RECIPE WITH DRIED INGREDIENTS Makes about 1 quart.

Typ r mo this nth o e found o m e. W ick after ire a requ before us k r ty of a bit the ja had plen 'd like it t u e n recip eks. If yo to ferme e e w u just 2 er, contin eeks. w g stron r 2 more fo

• 2 tsp. organic astragalus root powder (or a few astragalus root slices) • 1 tsp. dried organic orange peel • 4 organic star anise pods • 4 organic whole bird’s eye chilis • About 4 cups raw apple cider vinegar • ¼ cup raw, local honey, or to taste

INGREDIENTS • ¼ cup organic horseradish root powder • ¼ cup organic ginger root powder • ¼ cup dried organic minced onion • 2 Tbsp. dried organic rosemary leaf • 1 Tbsp. organic turmeric root powder • 3 tsp. organic garlic powder • 2 tsp. organic black peppercorns

DIRECTIONS Place all herbs and spices in a quart-sized glass jar and fill with apple cider vinegar until all ingredients are covered and the vinegar reaches the jar’s top. If using a plastic lid, place lid on jar. If using a metal lid, place a piece of parchment paper underneath the metal lid to avoid the metal getting corroded, then screw lid on jar. Shake well.

Store in a cool, dark, dry place for 2 weeks. Remember to shake daily. If it's got the kick you're seeking after 2 weeks, strain the ingredients through cheesecloth and pour the vinegar into a sterilized glass jar for storage. Squeeze out the cheesecloth to get every last drop of the liquid. Stir in the honey until thoroughly incorporated. Taste your cider and add more honey until you reach the desired sweetness.

Store in a cool, dark, dry place (or fridge) until gone. Enjoy daily or at the first signs of the sniffles.

There are so many interesting and unique variations of fire cider to explore. In fact, Rosemary Gladstar published a whole book on the topic called Fire Cider! 101 Zesty Recipes for Health-Boosting Remedies Made with Apple Cider Vinegar, which we highly recommend.

And for those who would prefer to try fire cider before making it, Mountain Rose Herbs also offers two types of small-batch organic fire ciders.

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IMAGE: © MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS

GOOD FOR YOUR GUT

If you have gut health issues, you’ve definitely wondered, “What should I eat?”

Meet your brand new friend: Good for Your Gut: A Plant-Based Digestive Health Guide and Nourishing Recipes for Living Well.

Written by registered dietitian and bestselling author of Eat More Plants, Desiree Nielsen, this guidebook was made for you.

The Pumpkin Oat Pancakes and Lentil Niçoise offer glutenfree and low FODMAP recipes to support those with IBS, intense bloating or gluten intolerance and celiac disease to Heal the gut. And the Curried White Bean Dip, and Mango with Salted Coconut Cream are gluten-free and easy-todigest recipes for the most irritated guts, helping to Soothe and help those dealing with significant digestive issues to build up a tolerance to plant-based eating.

Understanding how our gut impacts our overall wellbeing has grown to the point that better digestive health is essential for everyone—not just for those with digestive conditions. In Good for Your Gut, you’ll learn how to fuel gut health with anti-inflammatory plant-based foods and lifestyle strategies for a holistic approach to health and wellness.

Featuring more than ninety illustrated, plant-based recipes created to protect, heal, or soothe your gut, Good for Your Gut explains the gut health and mind-body connection and offers strategies to heal your gut when it’s imbalanced. The recipes are packed with flavour and delicious to eat (even if you don’t suffer from digestive distress).

The book also offers foundational principles of good gut health: how the gut works, everyday gut issues such as constipation and reflux and how best to handle them, and Desiree’s own core nutrition philosophy and what the science says about how to eat to protect your gut. She deep dives into therapeutic lifestyle and nutrition as well–the gut microbiome and gut-brain connection, common digestive conditions, and low-FODMAP dietary guidelines and how you can put these into practice if you’re suffering.

Recipes are divided into Protect, Heal, and Soothe categories to address three core areas of digestive help. For example, the Creamy Mushroom Lentil Toast and Cherry Pie Nice Cream are high in fibre and/or fermentable FODMAPs to support elimination and a healthy microbiome to Protect the gut.

To whet your appetite, Desiree has generously shared four of her recipes with us. We guarantee you’ll love each and every one!

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A WELL-FUNCTIONING GUT MEANS A HEALTHY BODY AND A HEALTHY LIFE.

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CHICKPEA OMELETTE WITH CURRIED SWEET POTATO AND SPINACH Serves 4 When I was transitioning to a plant-based diet, dairy substitutes came easy to me, but I could not figure out how to recreate my favourite egg-based dishes. Then some genius figured out that chickpea flour—a staple in many South Asian kitchens— would work. Chickpea flour offers filling protein and plenty of minerals to make it a truly nutritious substitute. This omelette is one of my favourite breakfasts and it also transitions into a terrific dinner. Once you master it, you can stuff this omelette with any of your favourite fillings—from spinach and tofu feta cheese to roasted red peppers and onions.

ROASTED VEGETABLES 1 large sweet potato, scrubbed and chopped into ¾-inch cubes (about 3 cups) ½ red onion, thinly sliced into half moons 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp avocado oil, divided, plus more for the pan ¾ tsp curry powder, divided ¼ tsp garam masala ¼ tsp salt, plus more for seasoning 4 cups packed baby spinach CHICKPEA OMELETTE 1 cup chickpea flour ¾ tsp salt ¼ tsp baking powder ¼ tsp ground turmeric 1¼ cups water

Tip: You can make these omelettes ahead of time, which makes them great for meal prep. Keep the roasted vegetable mixture separately in an airtight container in the fridge. Store the omelettes, separated by parchment paper to avoid sticking, in a large airtight plastic bag in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat the omelettes in a nonstick skillet, covered, for a minute or so.

1. Roast the vegetables: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, toss the sweet potato and red onion with 1 Tbsp of the avocado oil, ½ tsp of the curry powder, garam masala, and salt. Spread the vegetable mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, ensuring that the red onion is not close to the edges of the sheet to avoid burning. Roast until the sweet potato is fork-tender, 23 to 25 minutes.

3. Toss the spinach in the same bowl with the remaining 1 tsp avocado oil and ¼ tsp curry powder, and a pinch of salt.

Place the spinach on top of the vegetable mixture and roast for 2 minutes more to wilt the spinach.

4. Make the chickpea omelette: In a medium bowl, whisk together the chickpea flour, salt, baking powder, and turmeric.

Whisk in the water and let sit for 10 minutes to hydrate the flour.

5. Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat and brush with a bit of avocado oil. When the oil is hot, pour ⅓ cup of the batter into the pan. (You should hear it sizzle. If the pan is not hot enough, it might be harder to flip the omelette.)

Cook for about 1 minute. You’ll see little bubbles on the surface, and it should look dry. Carefully run a spatula under the edges of the omelette, flip, and cook for 30 seconds. Transfer the omelette to a rack lined with parchment paper or keep warm in the oven. Cook the remaining 3 omelettes.

6. To serve, divide the roasted vegetables among the omelettes along one side and fold over.

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PLUM AND RADICCHIO SALAD WITH TAHINI YOGURT DRESSING Serves 4 This salad is full of flavourful Mediterranean ingredients like bitter radicchio, tart plums, crunchy walnuts, and creamy yogurt. We really do not eat enough bitter vegetables because our palettes tend to be overly used to salty and sweet foods.

Bitter greens such as radicchio and rapini stimulate digestion and are a wonderful balm for someone who craves sweets.

Mint adds another layer of flavour to this special salad and helps to soothe the gut.

TAHINI YOGURT DRESSING

½ cup coconut yogurt 2 Tbsp tahini 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 small clove garlic, grated ½ tsp salt ½ tsp organic cane sugar ½ tsp ground sumac ¼ tsp red chili flakes PLUM AND RADICCHIO SALAD

1 small head red radicchio, finely shredded 4 firm black or red plums, pitted and sliced ¼ cup raw walnuts, chopped ¼ cup Medjool dates, pitted and chopped ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced into ribbons 1. Make the tahini yogurt dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, cane sugar, sumac, and chili flakes. If needed, add 1 to 2 Tbsp water for desired consistency. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. (It makes a great veggie dip.)

2. Make the plum and radicchio salad: In a medium bowl, toss the radicchio with half of the dressing. Layer the plums, walnuts, dates, and mint over top of the radicchio. Serve with the remaining dressing on the side.

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CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER CARAMEL SHORTBREAD BARS Makes 16 bars These bars are a decadent, satisfying treat made from wholesome ingredients like almond flour and peanut butter. Inspired by millionaire bars, the cookie base is made from protein-packed almond flour and the caramel layer is melt-in-yourmouth decadence. Even with the three layers, these bars are quite simple to make and well worth the bit of extra effort. Yes, low-FODMAP treats can be zero compromise.

SHORTBREAD BASE

CARAMEL LAYER

2 cups almond flour ½ cup refined coconut oil ¼ cup pure maple syrup 1 tsp pure vanilla extract ¼ tsp salt

1 cup natural peanut butter ¼ cup pure maple syrup ¼ cup refined coconut oil, melted 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract Pinch of salt CHOCOLATE LAYER

¾ cup dairy-free dark chocolate chips (at least 70% cocoa) 1 Tbsp coconut oil Flaky sea salt (optional) 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with coconut oil. Cut a length of parchment paper long enough to line the bottom of the pan with extra hanging over the sides.

2. Make the shortbread base: In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt. Evenly press the mixture into the baking pan and lightly prick the base all over with a fork. Bake until the edges start to firm up and turn golden, 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes while you prepare the caramel layer.

3. Make the caramel layer: In a small bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla, and salt.

Spread the caramel mixture over the shortbread base, then place the baking pan in the fridge while you prepare the chocolate layer.

4. Make the chocolate layer: In a small pot, bring 2 inches (5 cm) of water to a simmer over medium heat. Stir the chocolate chips with the coconut oil in a small heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over the simmering water. Ensure that the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water.

5. Gently and continuously stir until the chocolate and coconut oil are melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and let sit for a few minutes to thicken slightly. Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the caramel layer. Sprinkle some flaky sea salt over the chocolate, if using. Place the pan in the fridge until firm, about 30 minutes.

6. Remove from the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

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CHICKPEA UMAMI BURGERS Makes 6 burgers I turned to the power of umami to make what I think are my most delicious burgers yet. The word umami in Japanese roughly translates to “savoury deliciousness,” which comes from a few amino acids naturally found in foods like sundried tomatoes, garlic, and soy sauce. Omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts and flaxseed help fight inflammation, while soluble fibre from beans and oats help regulate digestion and support beneficial bacteria in the gut. These soft, squishy, flavourful burgers are sure to be a hit with the family.

2 cups tightly packed baby spinach 1 medium shallot, roughly chopped ½ cup raw walnuts ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and patted dry 2 cans (14 ounces each) no-salt-added chickpeas (or 3 cups cooked chickpeas) ½ cup gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp garlic powder ¾ tsp salt ½ tsp onion powder 2 Tbsp water, more if needed 3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1 Tbsp gluten-free tamari Zest of ½ lemon For serving (optional) Gluten-free buns Spring salad mix Vegan mayonnaise Olive tapenade 1. Place the spinach in a colander over the sink. Slowly pour boiling water over the spinach to wilt it. Let sit to cool.

2. In a food processor, add the shallot, walnuts, and sun-dried tomatoes. Pulse until finely chopped. Add the chickpeas, rolled oats, nutritional yeast, flaxseed, cumin, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, water, 2 Tbsp of the olive oil, tamari, and lemon zest. Carefully squeeze all of the excess water from the spinach and add to the food processor. Pulse until about half the mixture looks like a paste, but you can still see plenty of distinct ingredients. You should be able to form a nice patty with ease.

If the mixture is crumbly, pulse a bit more or add 1 to 2 Tbsp water, a bit at a time.

3. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Place the burgers in the pan and cook until a golden brown crust forms on the bottom, 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully flip and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. The burgers will be soft and pleasantly squishy when warm, but they will firm up as they cool.

4. Serve the burgers with or without buns, layered with greens, a bit of vegan mayonnaise, and some olive tapenade, if using.

Tip: If you want a more traditional, firmer burger texture, add ⅓ cup gluten-free bread crumbs. These burgers can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before cooking.

BUY THE BOOK desireerd.com

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IMAGE: COURTESY OF GAÏA RIVERLODGE

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IMAGE: COURTESY OF GAÏA RIVERLODGE

M AYA N

FA R M T O TA B L E DINING

Nestled atop the Five-Sisters Waterfall in Belize’s Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, GAÏA Riverlodge is a testament to travel and sustainability not having to be mutually exclusive.

The on-site organic garden accounts for ninety percent of the produce used at the property, and the open-air restaurant and lounge offer breathtaking scenic views of the Belizean rainforest.

From dawn to dusk, the full-service restaurant serves Belizean and international cuisine reflecting the various influences in local tropical fruits, vegetables and spices, with a twist of fusion and international flavours.

Produce is harvested on-site by Sam, a Maya farmer who oversees GAÏA Riverlodge’s organic garden. We caught up with Sam to learn more about this style of farming and GAÏA’s farm-to-fork approach.

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IMAGE: COURTESY OF GAÏA RIVERLODGE

Wander: Thank you so much for your time, Sam. Can you tell us a bit about your story, how did you come to be at GAÏA Riverlodge?

Sam: I was born and raised in the nearby Maya community of San Antonio. Growing up in the village, my father owned a farm where I got my first experience as a farmer. Our family did a lot of subsistence farming. I learned a lot about agriculture, from techniques to produce grown by watching my father.

Upon his passing, I inherited his farm. After working the farm for many years, I had the opportunity to get formal training as a certified farmer under a program sponsored by the Belize and Taiwanese governments. I also became a member and served two years as the president of the Maya Green Growers Cooperative.

Following my training, my brother, Calbert, who works at GAÏA Riverlodge, told me that they were looking to create an organic garden onsite at the property. I offered my time, and it has now led to my full-time position maintaining our organic garden. wander-mag.com

How would you describe Mayan philosophy around growing and eating?

Local Maya families do a lot of subsistence farming; we eat what we grow. Farm to table was our way of life before it became trendy. Organic farming is the method we use as pesticides and chemicals were all foreign to our village, instead, we create our own fertilizers using natural ingredients and compost food waste.

What are you growing in the on-site organic gardens?

Our organic garden is flourishing and we continue to grow, adding new additions of produce and fruits.

On-site we grow bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, lettuces, eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, lines, habanero, and pineapple adding in seasonal produce, herbs and fruits. All of this produce is used at our Five Sisters Restaurant at GAÏA Riverlodge and our sister property Matachica’s restaurants Mambo and Mambo Bistro.

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IMAGE: COURTESY OF GAÏA RIVERLODGE

FARM TO TABLE WAS OUR WAY OF LIFE BEFORE IT BECAME TRENDY.

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IMAGE: COURTESY OF GAÏA RIVERLODGE

IMAGES: COURTESY OF GAÏA RIVERLODGE

GAÏA’s overall approach to sustainability is impressive.

How are local gardeners and farmers selected?

in our garden, they are able to taste and smell all the fresh produce and learn about our irrigation system firsthand.

Our gardeners and farmers are selected from the Village of San Antonio since agriculture is predominant in this local Maya community. All gardeners and farmers at GAÏA have worked in the agriculture sector; I am the lead in the department. We also provide the necessary training for new additions to the team.

We use the drip irrigation system as it is a low-volume watering system, which allows us to conserve and use water as needed. It’s important for guests to know where their food is grown, and what to look forward to on the menu.

We also hope that we can teach guests some techniques to take back with them!

Are the guests able to get involved at all in the gardens? Is there an educational component to dining at GAÏA?

What does the future of the farm-to-fork approach look like for GAÏA?

Yes, at GAÏA Riverlodge we offer a tour of the organic garden, led by me. On this tour, guests can fully immerse themselves

The future plan is to expand and fully cater to the core crops of both GAÏA and our sister property Matachica Resort.

We hope to continue to learn new techniques to maintain sustainability – after all, we are a Green Globe certified hotel!

Experience GAÏA’s farm-to-table dining approach firsthand.

Visit gaiariverlodge.com to explore accommodations and wellness packages.

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IMAGE: © MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS

THE WINE REGIONS OF

N O R T H E R N TA S M A N I A AN INSIDER’S GUIDE

BY CHERIE JULIE wander-mag.com

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Welcome to Tasmania – Australia’s premier destination for gourmet food and wine.

Situated south of the mainland, Tasmania is separated by the Bass Strait and boasts some of the world's cleanest air and water. It is these pristine conditions and the cooler climate that have led to the production of award-winning wines. With over 160 licensed wine producers calling this region home, the number of cellar doors just keeps growing.

So when it comes to finding the perfect wine to pair with your meal in Tasmania, you are spoilt for choice.

Not sure where to begin? We’ve curated a list of six incredible vineyards to help you plan your trip around northern Tasmania. You will be relaxing with a glass of sparkling and admiring the scenic views of the north in no time.

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IMAGE: © LUVI PHOTOGRAPHY

THE NORTHERN COAST OF TASMANIA If you search for things to do in Tasmania, the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail will show up as a must-see for foodies.

This is a guided map of the northern region that helps visitors discover each of the town's finest food and wine.

So why the northern region? While the island state only produces 1% of Australia's wine, it truly is a case of quality over quantity.

The exceptional quality of Tasmanian wines has shown immense growth in domestic and international markets, with some of the best varieties produced in the northern part of the state.

The tasting trail recommends stopping by Eastford Creek Vineyard and Ghost Rock Wines, two of the best in the state.

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IMAGE: © LAUREN BATH SERVICES

EASTFORD CREEK VINEYARD

GHOST ROCK WINES

With vines planted as recently as 2018, Eastford Creek Vineyard creates award-winning handcrafted wine on-site.

Located in the mountain region on the northwest coast of Tasmania, if you’re looking for a vineyard tour where you can sample the wines from the barrel, book a tour and enjoy the gourmet food and wine with a view.

Nestled in the far north of Tasmania, surrounded by incredibly fresh, organic, local produce, the Ghost Rock Wines Cellar Door & Eatery is the place to stop on your Cradle Coast journey. Just one hour's drive from Cradle Mountain, the vineyard is a tranquil spot to try a selection of gourmet wines. With over 27 hectares of vineyards, you can enjoy Ghost Rock Chardonnay and Pinot Gris varieties paired with the restaurant's seasonal menu.

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THE TAMAR VALLEY Home to over 30 different vineyards, there is no shortage of wine cellars and tastings to explore. Many of Tasmania's award-winning sparkling wines are made here, including Tasmania's exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The Tamar Valley Wine Route is considered one of the top 10 in the world, producing premium wine and local organic cider.

Stretching from Launceston to the Bass Strait, the Tamar River is surrounded by organic farms, vineyards, parks, and native forests. This scenic region is stunning to explore, and there is no shortage of places to taste some of the state's finest wines.

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IMAGE: © ADOBE STOCK

This area is so special because a number of the vineyards and boutique wineries are still family-owned and operated.

You won’t have time to visit them all, but if you get a chance, try to stop by either the Swinging Gate Wines or Loira Vines in Sidmouth.

IMAGE: © M A CARRUTHERS

LOIRA VINES

SWINGING GATE WINES

The selection of handmade gourmet products here is exceptional, from vintage wines to pale ale and apple cider.

You are sure to be taking home a few bottles of their Pinot Noir. Imagine a boutique vineyard where you can stay overnight; at Loira Vines Hideaway, you have precisely that.

Accommodation at the vineyard is available in a charming studio apartment where you can truly relax.

Swinging Gate Wines has reopened with a fresh start and is now producing wine again after 15 years of restoration.

The vineyard offers visitors an experience not to be missed in Tasmania – the chance to sleep overnight in one of the bespoke glamping domes. Each dome is fitted with all the luxury comforts; enjoy the wines and gourmet menu to the fullest without having to worry about a thing.

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PIPERS RIVER Leaving the Tamar Valley and travelling towards the Pipers River in the far northernmost region will lead you to some of Tasmania's most renowned wines. In the state's northeast, grapes are grown in healthy red ferrosol soil, an ancient Australian soil from basalt volcanic rock.

Thanks to the breeze from the Bass Strait and the additional hours of sunshine, this is the ideal location for producing single-grape varietal wines.

IMAGE: © DELMARE VINEYARDS

If you are visiting the Pipers River wineries, visit Delamere Vineyards in Pipers Brook and Bay of Fires Wines.

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IMAGES: © DELAMERE VINEYARDS

DELAMERE VINEYARDS There is so much to say about Delamere Vineyards it’s hard to know where to begin. 100% family-owned and run plus 100% grown and bottled on-site at the estate, Delamere Vineyards exclusively produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Enjoy a wine tasting, book a tour, or stay for lunch and pair a glass of wine with the chef 's local produce platters of gourmet meat and cheese.

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The crystal clear blue waters and the picturesque scenic views of the Bay of Fires region are among the most popular tourist destinations in Tasmania. About 150 kilometres out of the bay, you will find Bay Of Fires Wines. The Cellar Door offers unique tasting experiences designed to be enjoyable and educational. For the full experience, indulge in a bespoke flight over the vineyards with Tasmanian Air Tours. wander-mag.com

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IMAGE: © ANDREW WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY

IMAGE: © ANDREW WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY

BAY OF FIRES WINES

IMAGES: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) © ANDREW GIBSON; © ANDREW GIBSON; © SEAN SCOTT; © ROB BURNETT

WHEN TO GO

HOW TO GET HERE

Tasmania experiences four seasons like the rest of Australia: Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. This means clear blue skies and relaxing summers yetcontrasting winters with cold, cozy mornings and even snow on the mountains.

When to visit really depends on your preference for the season but for vineyards and wine tours Autumn is perfect.

It is also the time of the Devonport Food and Wine Festival.

You can fly from the mainland from all major cities to Tasmania. The capital city is Hobart, located further south, so if you are planning to explore the northern region, fly directly to the city of Launceston.

Alternatively, you can take the ferry across the Bass Strait with the Spirit Of Tasmania departing from the port in Melbourne.

This is a popular way to travel with the benefit of bringing your car or camper across with you. Raise a glass for us!

Cherie is the Founder of Travel For Change Collective, a freelance writing company that works exclusively with travel and lifestyle brands. Passionate about sustainable tourism, the environment, plant-based wellness, and soulful adventures, Cherie has called many places home. She has published ebooks on vegan travel and well-being and is a contributing writer at Southeast Asia Backpacker Network. Now in Australia, her vision is to find unique eco-friendly accommodations surrounded by mother nature and provide business owners with the opportunity to share their stories.

Connect with her at travelforchange.net.

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IMAGE:© ISHAN @SEEFROMTHESKY

I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WA S G O I N G UNTIL I GOT THERE.

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C H E R Y L S T R AY E D

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IMAGE: © PAIGE CODY

READING REFUGE

BY SHANNON MELNYK 85

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HOW CAN YOU TRAVEL TO TWO PLACES AT ONCE?

IMAGE: © GAMAN ALICE

PACK YOUR BAGS FOR A READING RETREAT - WHERE YOUR DESTINATION IS ONE WORLD, AND YOUR MIND’S EYE IS THE OTHER. WE SUGGEST SOME IDEAL STAYS FOR LITERARY LOUNGING THAT INSPIRE THE IMAGINATION.

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IMAGE: © ALEX FRADKIN

FOGO ISLAND INN Fogo Island, Newfoundland 17th-century poet John Donne once said, "no man is an island", but then Donne never had the pleasure of experiencing the Fogo Island Inn. Accessible isolation off the craggy Canadian Atlantic coast of Newfoundland can be found nestled on Fogo Island’s remote escape that offers otherworldly seclusion and the wild elements of a subarctic maritime climate.

Not so much a place as a state of mind, the Fogo Island Inn is nirvana for a reader’s retreat. Dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows in each one-of-a-kind guest room are chock full of creature comforts and “hand-made modern” design typical of local craftsmen and artisans. The cuisine is a celebration of fresh local fare that tells a story of the fishers, planters, hunters, and foragers who share their bounty.

Literary buffs will delight in the Inn’s partnership with Penguin Random House Canada – a curated collection of Canada’s most lauded works. This year’s retreat includes authors Tomson Highway, Miriam Toews and Omar El Akkad and guests who opt-in to the Can-lit program will receive signed copies of the books that can be sent to your home before your departure or will be waiting in your room upon your arrival.

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IMAGE: © KARYN R. MILLET

HOTEL YNEZ Solvang, California If you agree with poet and author Fernando Pessoa’s claim that literature is the most agreeable way of ignoring life, a little literary lazing will be a snap at this little California chill central with your own hand-woven hammock. The Hotel Ynez is a relaxed retrofit of a motel from a forgotten era at the crossroads of Solvang and Santa Ynez in Santa Barbara wine country.

The rustic-chic boutique guestrooms are complete with Matouk bedding, vintage vanities and local art set on two private acres dotted with ancient redwoods, pines, oaks and madrones. Read in your hammock, a handcrafted Adirondack or by the light of the bonfire fire pits under the night sky. If it’s a page-turner, specialty DIY BBQ dinner kits are on offer to help you prepare a quiet dinner on your own Weber grill.

Day breaks call for a hop onto a complimentary e-bike perfect for tootling over to the quirky, authentic Danish village in Solvang, or hit the wineries and bring home a pleasing vintage pinot noir to savour that very last chapter.

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MANOIR HOVEY North Hatley, Québec “If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” So said author Frances Hodgson Burnett and we’re certain she would agree, “the right way” is to look is toward the picturesque private estate of Manoir Hovey, set on 30 acres of woods and English gardens on Quebec’s Lake Massawippi. The 19th-century mansion was inspired by George Washington’s Mount Vernon residence with stately appointed suites in the main manor or cottages on the property, promising unlimited options to hide away with a good book.

Guests can luxuriate in the gardens, lounge by the lakeshore, peer endless pages poolside or cozy up in front of the fireplace of the estate’s own library. Literary connoisseurs are in for a reading retreat like no other, as Manoir Hovey turns out to be the setting of NYT’s best-selling murder mystery author Louise Penny’s novel A Rule Against Murder.

In fact, guests can immerse themselves in a “Vive Gamache” adventure named for Penny’s main character Chief Inspector Gamache that includes an upgraded suite, autographed copy of her latest novel, gifts and a guided tour of “Three Pines.” Ask the staff about frequent stays by Penny and her latest co-author of the political mystery State of Terror, Hillary Clinton.

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IMAGE: © TOM CHUDLEIGH

FREE SPIRIT SPHERES Vancouver Island, British Columbia Stephen King once deemed books to be “portable magic.” Imagine, then, taking a little portable magic with you to transcend time and space in your own floating orb suspended in the trees of an enchanting coastal rainforest.

Sprinkled along the woodsy landscape of Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island are authentic handcrafted functional sculptures of art you can call home for an immersive experience like none other.

Free Spirit Spheres are the ultimate model of sustainability with clean Scandinavian design and a whole lot of quirky heart provided by its hosts and builders, Tom Chudleigh and Rosie Cowan. Described by a guest as a “unicorn in a field of horses,” the spheres offer a cozy treehouse vibe where you can while away the hours and chapters of your choice and nod off into a magical dreamland with the gentle sway of the buoyant globes.

When you’re not being whisked away into another world, there’s plenty of supernatural hiking, kayaking and underground caving within this British Columbia playground – or wander over to see Tom building his next Free Spirit Sphere onsite, an extraordinary engineering feat designed to encourage meditative and creative states of oneness.

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“THERE IS NO FRIGATE LIKE A BOOK TO TAKE US LANDS AWAY”

IMAGE: © STUDIO MEDIA

- EMILY DICKINSON

From spa marathons in the South Pacific to leopard-lurking in the Sabi Sands, Vancouver-based journalist Shannon Melnyk seeks to share experiences with her readers that challenge convention, inspire curiosity, induce joy and soothe the soul.

Check out her adventures at shannonmelnyk.contently.com.

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SUMMER ROAD TRIPPING: T H E U LT I M AT E C A N A D I A N A D V E N T U R E

As summer approaches, so too does road trip season. Though journeying by car may not be what first comes to mind when we think of wellness travel, thanks to potential long hours spent at the wheel, in Canada, it’s easy to find destinations and stops along the way to be active, get outside, and eat well before and after a day of driving. wander-mag.com

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IMAGE: © PARCS CANADA. TOUS DROITS RÉSERVÉS. / ©PARKS CANADA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

BY CHANTAL HOUDE

With seemingly endless places to hike, paddle, cycle, and swim as you explore mountains, islands, beaches (lake, river or ocean-side), forests, and cities across the country, there’s an itinerary and road trip style to suit all tastes and budgets, including trips with wellness in mind.

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ast summer, on a two-week drive from Ottawa, Ontario to Jasper, Alberta in a truck outfitted with bicycles, a canoe and a basic kitchen, I was able to experience some of the best of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, including camping in some of the most unique Canadian landscapes I’ve seen.

Spruce Woods Provincial Park in central Manitoba was perhaps one of the best surprises of the trip. Kiche Manitou campground, with soft and sandy sites, modern facilities, access to a small beach, and an extensive trail network, is worth a visit, but the real highlight is the nearby Spirit Sands, a unique desert-like ecosystem (the area gets twice as much rain as a true desert) with rolling sand dunes that is held in reverence by Indigenous peoples. Be sure to bring water, as temperatures amongst the dunes can be several degrees higher than in the surrounding areas, and leave plenty of time for the incredible hike in this sacred natural space.

In Saskatchewan, we stayed at Grasslands National Park, home (in the West Block) to a wild herd of Plains Bison, and a park I’d hoped to camp at for several years. The unique experience was well worth the wait, and worth having a bicycle to enjoy the easy, winding ride along the 11-km Badlands Parkway near our camp at Rock Creek. wander-mag.com

It was a memorable experience tenting on the wide-open land at the border of the badlands and prairies, where the monochromatic horizon erupted with colour at the rise and set of the sun. The weather can change quickly, though, and it did while we were cycling. Be sure to bring a rain jacket/ windbreaker if you plan on riding, hiking, or taking one of the free educational walks listed on the ‘community board’ at the campground–we really enjoyed the homesteader history lesson in the morning before heading to Alberta!

With two nights booked at an Airbnb in Calgary after camping for four nights, I was looking forward to some urban explorations, a yoga class, and a dinner out. One of my favourite parts of road-tripping is that there is ample opportunity to try local, fresh, and nourishing food: from roadside farm stands, farmer’s markets, local restaurants, or even foraging, if you have the knowledge and skills, for inseason wild foods found abundantly in Canada.

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IMAGES: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) © NICK BIBLOW; © TRAVEL MANITOBA; © CONCEPTS PHOTOGRAPHY

IMAGE: © HEARTH RESTAURANT

The seasonally-shifting menu at Ten Foot Henry, a spot that bills itself as ‘fresh vegetable-anchored,’ features tapasstyle sharing plates, has meal options and substitutions (the avocado whip to replace crema was decadent!) for all dietary preferences. Our dishes arrived beautifully presented and were even more appealing to the palate–a pleasure to linger over in the light-filled and vibrant space.

Canoeing the turquoise waters framed by towering snowcovered peaks on the renowned Maligne Lake was another highlight of the trip. The nearby Maligne Canyon, offering easy and accessible walking trails along the length of the lip of the canyon, is also well worth a short detour on the way to the lake. It has several waterfalls flowing during the warmer months, providing excellent photo opportunities.

From Calgary, we spontaneously spent one night outside of Banff in a basic but scenic campground (there are many that don’t require a reservation just off the Icefields Parkway) before continuing to Jasper, our final destination where we had four nights’ stay booked, and lots of activities planned.

We also spent some time exploring near the Pocahontas campground, where we set up our home base. There are trails with waterfalls at every turn, and the nearby Miette Hot Springs, with the hottest waters in the Canadian Rockies.

If you’re comfortable with the backcountry, there are several options for hike-in sites. We did the intermediate-level 24km Saturday Night Loop trail and camped on the side of the remote Saturday Night Lake, which we happened to have all to ourselves–a truly magical experience.

We spent less time exploring on the return trip but did make a stop overnight in Saskatoon to replenish supplies, attend a yoga class, and cycle the network of recreational pathways along the South Saskatchewan River. We also made our way through wide, tree-lined streets to Hearth, a restaurant nestled in a leafy residential neighbourhood that focuses on locally sourced–sometimes even wildcrafted– prairie food.

The next day, a guided horseback ride in the mountains was a fun way to recover after the long hike while still getting to see different trails and take in more scenery. Stables advertise at the information centre in the park in Jasper; stop by to find out times and prices. wander-mag.com

Eating here feels like a visit to your neighbour’s house, with an added touch of elegance and a very creative menu.

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IMAGES: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) © DESERAE EVENSON PHOTOGRAPHY 2016; © DESERAE EVENSON PHOTOGRAPHY 2016; © COMMUNITY NATURAL FOODS; © DESERAE EVENSON PHOTOGRAPHY 2016; © COMMUNITY NATURAL FOODS

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PARTS OF ROAD-TRIPPING IS THE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY LOCAL, FRESH, AND NOURISHING FOOD FROM ROADSIDE FARM STANDS, FARMER’S MARKETS, LOCAL RESTAURANTS, OR EVEN FORAGING FOR IN-SEASON WILD FOODS.

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IMAGE: © DESERAE EVENSON PHOTOGRAPHY 2016

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The vegan dish was the perfect blend of textures and colours and tastes to appease all the senses; there were options for all dietary inclinations and requirements.

The last leg of the trip saw us tired and heading for home, but there is lots to see and do in Northern Ontario as well. Countless provincial parks and crown land promise camping experiences to suit all, and the landscape, with its abundant lakes and the windswept landscape of the Canadian Shield, provide ample opportunity for outdoor adventures. If you have more time or are taking this trip in reverse, I’d recommend setting aside a couple of days to spend there before heading to the nation’s capital, Ottawa, for a cultural and outdoor experience all of its own.

Chantal is a Yoga Alliance-certified 500-hour therapeutic yoga teacher. When she’s not travelling, she offers nourishing, trauma-informed classes in Ottawa, Ontario, that invite students to cultivate self-compassion while releasing tension and balancing the nervous system. Her systems-based teachings draw on elements of several yoga lineages learned from practice and from over 900 hours of teacher trainings around the world, as well as on principles of ecopsychology.

Whether you opt for a similar itinerary or head to a different part of the country, the open road beckons and is sure to please those with an adventurous spirit!

Connect with her on Instagram @naturespacepractice.

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IMAGE: © SANDY BORNSTEIN

THE BENEFITS OF T R AV E L L I N G WHILE COPING WITH GLIOBLASTOMA, AN INCURABLE BRAIN CANCER

Living with my husband’s glioblastoma diagnosis is a daily challenge. On July 29, 2020, an MRI detected a tumour in Ira’s brain. A subsequent craniotomy confirmed the diagnosis of incurable brain cancer. My life was suddenly turned upside down and inside out. After 45 years of marriage, I was not ready to see my husband succumb to an aggressive brain cancer. While adjusting to our new reality, we had to find ways to embrace life rather than cancer.

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After reading the inspiring stories of people who beat the odds of their incurable diseases, I realized that within the darkness of a terminal diagnosis there can be glimmers of hope. Hope has the remarkable power to diminish the bleakness surrounding an incurable cancer diagnosis. If people around the world could circumvent their doctors’ dismal prognosis, we could potentially do the same. I agree with Ira that medical statistics do not always apply to individual patients. To remain positive, we chose not to accept the timelines mentioned in medical articles and instead fostered our own journey which included an abundance of travel opportunities.

Finding our unique path became dependent on how Ira responded to his craniotomy, six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation daily, followed by a six-month protocol of a second round of chemotherapy combined with Ira’s decision to wear the FDA-approved Optune device on his shaved head. The neurosurgeon and the neuro-oncology team are responsible for surgeries, cancer treatments, follow-up tests and future treatments, while we remain answerable for Ira’s ability to cultivate a balanced mind and body.

If Ira could tolerate his treatments, we had a good chance of maintaining our quality of life. We altered our diet, increased our daily exercise, spent more time in nature, implemented a consistent sleep schedule, and periodically meditated while simultaneously sustaining a positive attitude coupled with our Jewish faith. By consistently looking forward, we avoided falling into a state of despair.

Instead of hibernating in our home, we explored the world. The pandemic limited our ability to travel to certain places, but it did not curtail our desire to ski, to seek adventures, or to periodically step outside our comfort zone. To keep Ira’s attention focused on the future while simultaneously challenging his mind and body, I planned and booked vacations. wander-mag.com

In the winter of 2021, we skied more than 20 times at Keystone Resort and had a memorable time horseback riding, snowshoeing, and learning archery at Vista Verde Guest Ranch near Steamboat, Colorado. Near the end of the ski season, we were guests at the Grand Hyatt Vail.

In a blinding snowstorm, we skied the accumulating powder at the ski resort’s expert back bowls with our youngest son, Jordan.

When the snow was melting in the mountains, we embarked on our first COVID domestic flight. Our destination was a late spring getaway to Captiva Island, Florida. Our time spent at the ocean was energizing. For my father-in-law’s 94th birthday, we reunited with Ira’s elderly parents and his extended family during a weeklong trip to suburban Chicago. To celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary, we explored Kauai’s hiking trails and snorkelled near the coast of Ni’ihau. Ira’s birthday was celebrated at Arizona’s Civana Wellness Resort & Spa. This was our first official wellness experience. We happily sampled a variety of classes, including aerial yoga, hiked in the desert, and thrived on nutrient-dense foods. We ended the year with a Celebrity Cruises Caribbean weeklong cruise. After decades of amazing cruising experiences, we were eager to return to the sea.

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“CANCER IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE, BUT RATHER IT IS A LIFE SENTENCE; IT PUSHES ONE TO LIVE.”

IMAGES: © SANDY BORNSTEIN; (BOTTOM LEFT) © JAD DAVENPORT

- MARCIA SMITH

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IMAGE: © SANDY BORNSTEIN

At the start of 2022, our energies were refocused on skiing.

When Ira was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, I didn’t think it would be possible for Ira to ski again. Fortunately, Ira’s strength and perseverance made it possible to participate in this demanding sport.

we were back on the slopes at Keystone Resort and found time for a quick trip to Copper Mountain. Near the end of the ski season, we enjoyed our first international COVID trip. An Azamara immersive cruise took us to Lisbon, Gibraltar, and a handful of Spanish ports.

With Omicron concerns escalating in early January, we chose to postpone our long-awaited mid-January trip to Israel. While it is hard to say whether we would have tested positive abroad, we ended up with COVID at home. Our mild cases resulted in a speedy recovery. Within no time,

After almost two years of creating nutrient-dense menus while simultaneously setting aside sufficient time for physical activity, relaxation, and engaging vacations, our daily routine is running smoother and our relationship is growing stronger.

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IMAGE: © CIVANA WELLNESS RESORT

We remain grateful for each day we share together and the abundance of positive memories we are accumulating. I agree with Elie Wiesel who once stated, “When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude.”

As more time passes between Ira’s diagnosis and the present day, we are becoming increasingly open to expanding the scope of our adventures. Our dreams to explore the world keep us afloat and prevent us from drowning in the immense sea of uncertainty normally tethered to a glioblastoma diagnosis.

Sandy Bornstein is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer. May This Be the Best Year of Your Life, is a resource for people contemplating an expat lifestyle and living outside their comfort zone. In the Fall of 2022, 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die will be published by Reedy Press.

Follow her travels at thetravelingbornsteins.com.

To just be alive falls short of participating in life’s journey.

Ira would prefer to be living an active existence rather than being simply alive. Without the magical ability to look into the future, we patiently wait every two months to receive the results of his latest brain scan. In the meantime, we continue to embrace both tiny and momentous events that are intricately woven into our fulfilling adventures.

Disclosure: The Traveling Bornsteins were hosted by Vista Verde Ranch, the Grand Hyatt Resort, South Seas Island Resort, and Copper Mountain. Civana Wellness Resort & Spa and Azamara Cruises provided media discounts.

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IMAGE: © VEGGIE HOTELS:KOUKOUMI MYKONOS

Y O U R H E A LT H Y, S U S TA I N A B L E , E T H I C A L VA C AT I O N

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VEGGIEHOTELS

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From a cozy vegan B&B in the mountains to a stylish yoga retreat on the beach; from vegan luxury stays to vegetarian weekend breaks, VeggieHotels exists for the vegetarian, vegan, plant-based and plant-forward traveller.

We are so impressed with their handpicked directory of hotels, guest houses, hostels, and bed and breakfasts, where the criteria are simple: there is no meat or fish on the menu.

Additional health and sustainability benefits like serving organic food and encouraging slow food according to the farm-to-table principles are provided by many of the properties, and most of the kitchens also offer other dietary options like gluten- and lactose-free dishes, clean eating, raw and/or whole foods.

Whether planning a vegetarian, vegan, eco or nature vacation, you’ve found your new go-to guide. And of course, it’s not only for veggies! At many VeggieHotels, passionate cooks whip up creative vegetarian and vegan menus which will satisfy even very sophisticated palates.

We caught up with German-based co-founder Thomas Klein to find out how it started and where VeggieHotels is going.

P.S. Get the book. It’s simply gorgeous. wander-mag.com

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Wander: You embarked on your directory in 2011. Ten plus years later, do you find hotels come to you now for inclusion?

Why do you think more and more people are embracing vegetarianism and veganism?

Plant-based products and the accompanying vegan lifestyle have already reached the mainstream and are no longer a mere trend. According to Statista, a provider of consumer data, "the global vegan food market is expected to reach a value of over 22 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. In 2021, the market size was close to 16 billion U.S. dollars. The compound annual growth rate is expected to be nine percent." For example, already 54% of Germans describe themselves as flexitarians, meaning they are eating a primarily vegetarian diet and only occasionally eating meat or fish.

Thomas: It is more than 10 years ago that we started VeggieHotels as an exclusive platform for purely vegan and vegetarian hotels. And still today we get requests from all around the world from hotels, B&Bs and guest houses that apply for a VeggieHotels membership. It is a good sign that more and more hoteliers are considering making an honest move towards a plant-based cuisine.

How long did it take you to produce the first edition of the book?

Do you find VeggieHotels are also more planet-focused and sustainably-minded?

It was a process that lasted over a year. First, we had to find the right publisher. It was particularly important for us to find a publisher who maintains a worldwide sales network.

The publishing house teNeues was the perfect match as they distribute their books in all important markets. Then of course producing the book took several months.

Healthy plant-based food and sustainability go very well together. So we find that many VeggieHotels are also focusing on organic food and have an eye to running their venue as sustainable as possible. We have a detailed search on our website where you can select special features like "100% organic food," "Built following ecological principles" or "Vegan room facilities."

Selecting the featured hotels, sourcing photos, and writing the text was quite intense work that involved our whole team and the experts of the publishing house.

What’s next for VeggieHotels and VeganWelcome?

Have you and your team personally visited all of these properties?

Of course it is not possible to visit hundreds of VeggieHotels in person. But over the years we have seen quite a lot of them! Besides that, we are in personal contact with all our member hotels.

VeggieHotels® and VeganWelcome® have firmly established themselves now as international brands in the hotel industry landscape. The continued growth of the websites shows that in a few years, the niche product "VegetarianVegan" has become a stable trend in the hotel business. We see it as a challenge to keep up the standard and provide the profiles of our hotels with more details and search functions so that every visitor of veggie-hotels.com and vegan-welcome.com will easily find the hotel or B&B where he or she can spend a relaxing vacation.

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IMAGE: © WILLKA T’IKA

EXCERPTS FROM “VEGGIE HOTELS – THE JOY OF VEGETARIAN VACATIONS”

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WILLKA T’IKA ESSENTIAL WELLNESS Cusco, Peru The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a locality shrouded in myths. Its original inhabitants, the Quechua, have deep and grateful connection to this region and its fertile soil, situated between Cusco, the picturesque former capital of the Incan Empire, and the legendary citadel of Machu Picchu.

Chakra Gardens, at the crown of which grows a thousandyear-old Lucuma tree. Three greenhouses, an herb and vegetable garden, and protein-rich Andean superfoods form the foundation of Willka T’ika’s delicious gourmet organic vegetarian cuisine.

When Carol Cumes arrived here for the first time in the 1980’s from the USA, she not only experienced the sincere hospitality of the people who live here but also sensed the powerful energy that fills the valley. She kept returning over the years, finally purchasing the land for Willka T’ika in 1994. With help from the locals, she worked with great reverence for nature to achieve her vision of a luxurious retreat, one that would combine the essence of Andean culture with the philosophy of yoga. Today, her guests stroll along paths that wind through the seven energy-giving

Yoga group events, wellness retreats, and conferences are hosted in the hotel‘s beautiful facilities that include two lightfilled yoga rooms. Retreat guests enthusiastically participate in traditional Andean rituals and healing sessions, which leave a particularly deep impression in these unique surroundings. Overnight guests find Wilka T’ika to be an ideal sanctuary for exploring the local region—Pisaq, Moray, Machu Picchu. In the evening, guests can relax in solar baths, carved out of rock and fragrant with blossoms and medicinal herbs, while gazing into the Milky Way. 113

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IMAGES: © SEWALL HOUSE; BOTTOM LEFT © FRÉDÉRIC SILBERMAN

SEWALL HOUSE YOGA RETREAT Maine, USA In the late 1800s, William Sewall, a naturalist and the great grandfather of the current owner, welcomed a pale and thin young man as a regular summer guest to Sewall House. At the time Sewall could not have imagined that this young Harvard student with a weak heart named Theodore Roosevelt would later become the 26th President of the United States. Sewall and Roosevelt enjoyed a lifelong friendship as well as joint adventures, and Sewall House, situated in the enchanting landscape of northern Maine, was destined to become a safe harbor that would welcome people in search of relaxation and healing.

In 1997, well-known yoga teacher and nutritionist Donna Sewall Davidge became the fifth generation of her family to manage this historic house when she decided to purchase it wander-mag.com

and transform it into a yoga retreat. Northern Maine is the perfect place for a retreat, situated as it is along the Canadian border and featuring forests, lakes, abundant wildlife, the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Baxter State Park, hiking trails, and healthy fresh air. Just as in the past, guests can look forward to escaping from everyday life and enjoying the solitude and tranquility, the beauty and the healing forces of nature, much like Theodore Roosevelt. The retreat center offers different styles of yoga with expert and personalized instruction. Healthy vegetarian meals—with vegan and gluten-free options available upon request—promote healing. The beneficial recipes of Chef Nadja Waxenegger have already been immortalized in the Sewall House Cookbook.

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SUGAR RIDGE RETREAT CENTRE Ontario, Canada with love using fresh, organic whole foods, local whenever possible. Explore the forest on 16 miles (25 kilometers) of hiking trails or snowshoe or ski in the winter.

Many escapists view the Canadian wilderness as a dream destination. And it is! The expanse of forest, meadows, rolling hills and valleys set the scene for this beautiful retreat center. Tucked into the countryside of Ontario is a peaceful oasis with private cabins, forest in every direction, big open sky and a view of the Wye Marsh conservation area and Georgian Bay – welcome to Sugar Ridge Retreat Centre.

Create your own personal retreat with complete silence if you wish or bring a group of friends. Enjoy a bonfire under the stars or curl up with tea and a good book.

Writers come here to break through writer’s block, artists draw inspiration from the natural world’s rich color palette, bird watchers are kept busy and photographers can find a great shot in any direction.

The emphasis here is on reflection and “letting go”, so the cabins are intentionally simple. No television or phone or noise of traffic but rather comfy beds, snuggly duvets and sounds of forest to retreat from your everyday life, sleep deeply and reconnect to yourself…something that is truly a luxury these days!

Nearly anything seems possible in this special place. The center offers yoga and meditation programs as well as personal coaching by the owners Liz & Kurt Frost. Both are psychotherapists and yoga teachers.

Connecting to Nature, relaxing and nurturing your body, mind and soul are the theme of this 150-acre (60-hectare) private property. That means incredible vegan food, fresh air, peace and quiet await you. Every meal is prepared

Just 90 minutes from Toronto and shuttle service from the airport. Your adventure awaits!

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A S K A T R AV E L A D V I S O R

WO R KC AT I O N S "I NEED A CHANGE OF PACE FROM WORKING FROM HOME AND WOULD LIKE TO GET AWAY SOMEWHERE FOR A WEEK OR TWO THAT OFFERS WELLNESS/SPA, RELAXATION, COMFORTABLE ACCOMMODATION AND GREAT FOOD, ALONG WITH HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS AND DESK SPACE SO I CAN WORK/RETREAT."

In every issue, our panel of Wellness Tourism Association member travel advisors answer reader questions. We recommend you look for this accreditation when choosing your travel professional.

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IMAGE: © PALMAÏA

TAKING CARE OF YOUR HEALTH AND MENTAL WELL-BEING WILL LEAD TO A BETTER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE STATE OF MIND WHILE WORKING REMOTELY.

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IMAGES: © PALMAÏA

LAURA ADAMS LUXURY & WELLNESS TRAVEL ADVISOR, TELAMON TRAVEL

TELAMONTRAVEL.COM

Numerous hotels around the country (and the world) now offer “workcation” packages. Stateside, the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort in Florida now offers a “Stay Awhile” option with wellness workstations available. Spend your days working from a modern oceanfront apartment; then take advantage of the numerous wellness treatments in your downtime. From touchless treatments to thermal therapy and more, you’ll find a full menu of wellness services.

yoga, meditation and more. Each room provides you with ample workspace and high-speed internet as well.

If you want to put your passport to use, check out Sol Sanctum located in Saint Lucia! Wellness is the key focus of this chic hotel! With stunning views of the island, you will have the opportunity to pamper and/or rejuvenate with massage,

Whether you want your workcation to be closer to home or somewhere a bit further away, the options are truly endless. Taking care of your health and mental well-being will lead to a better and more productive state of mind while working remotely.

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A closer international destination would be Palmaïa – The House of AïA in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Their ‘Beachfront Work-Away’ option is ideal for those who want the tranquillity of the ocean and various wellness activities while relaxing in a suite designed for those who need to stay connected.

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IMAGE: © HABITAS TULUM

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IMAGE: © HABITAS TULUM

After working from home for over two years, the need for a change of scenery is so real! And while we’d sometimes like just to close our laptops and completely forget about work, that’s not always an option.

JULIE SNYDER OWNER/TRAVEL DESIGNER, OUTTRAVELLED

OUTTRAVELLED.COM

That’s why Mexico is the perfect destination for anyone feeling burnt out and needing to balance work with some rest and relaxation.

It’s a quick flight from anywhere in the US, and the time zone allows for a relatively normal work schedule alongside your rejuvenating escape.

Tulum is a very cool town on the East Coast of Mexico and one of my personal favourites.

It offers farm-to-table dining, incredible yoga studios, and beautiful experiences in nature that will revive your soul.

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while still being fully connected to the outside world. The rooms offer free WiFi, and all come equipped with a working desk. You can choose between jungle, ocean and private pool rooms to accommodate any of your work from vacation dreams. Lay by the pool while overlooking the blue ocean waters, or visit their onsite restaurant that caters to any dietary need. They also have a sister hotel, Habitas Bacalar, located just a few hours south. If you want a quick getaway into the secluded Mayan jungle to relax by the lagoon, transport is available for this exquisite escape.

The Habitas hotels have several wellness programs, yoga, spa treatments, traditional rituals, ceremonies and more.

A week there will recharge your body and your mind, and re-energize you for whatever comes next! wander-mag.com

Safety Community Education Nature Integration

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IMAGE: © COALATREE

ESSENTIALS

F O R T H E AC T I V E , C O N S C I O U S WA N D E R E R

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C O A L A T R E E coalatree.com Coalatree designs eco-minded gear and apparel for the adventurer in everyone with a passion for bringing the outdoors and city life together–their MTN2CTY signature. Whether you’re summiting mountain peaks or lounging around town, their products are practical, stylish, and functional.

Interestingly, Coalatree’s roots were as a self-sustaining organic farm in Colorado. Wanting to create their own workwear, they launched a line of sustainably produced clothing in 2010.

Each year they use surplus fabric to create warm blankets for the homeless in their hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah. Plus, you can add Green Shipping Protection™ to your Coalatree order to offset any carbon emitted during shipping.

WHAT WE’RE LOVING Hot Hammocks for Cool Places Starting at $49 Perfect for anywhere you may venture, be it backpacking through deep woods, a sunny afternoon at the local park, or a lazy day in your own backyard. With a great selection of sizes and colours, these hammocks pack up easily in the stuff sack and are super lightweight. Two included ropes and carabiners make it easy to secure your hammock anywhere. wander-mag.com

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C O S T A D E L M A R costadelmar.com Born on the water in 1983, Costa Sunglasses are made for those who need water to breathe. Engineered with high-performance frames and 580® colour-enhancing, scratch-resistant, polarized lenses, Costa sunglasses are adventure-ready.

Most Costas are assembled in the USA by real, live humans and the majority can be outfitted with Rx sunglass lenses. Their lenses are uniquely categorized by adventure and come in narrow, regular, or wide fits.

A purpose-driven company, Costa is committed to preserving our waters through partnerships with fisheries research organizations.

They also make frames from recycled discarded fishing nets, a harmful form of plastic pollution in our oceans, and work with their shipping providers to offset carbon emissions.

WHAT WE’RE WEARING

Reefton PRO Sunglasses Starting at $308

Salina Sunglasses Starting at $270

Named after the iconic New Zealand fishing town, Costa's legacy Reefton frame has some serious upgrades so anglers can stay out on the water longer. The large frame now carries a new PRO series fit to keep the frames locked in place, while channels move sweat and water away from your eyes. The adjustable, vented nose pad helps reduce fogging while top hooding and side shields keep light from leaking in. Each frame is built using Costa's lightweight, plant-based Bio-Resin to reduce its carbon footprint.

Say hello to Salina, a feminine beach lifestyle frame perfect for sunny days on the sand or water. With seaworthy sculpting details, the comfortable plant-based Bio-Resin frame makes it easy to look good and play hard. Functional elements include a partial wrap that helps keep sunlight from leaking in and a textured Hydrolite nose pad that provides a secure fit.

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Welcome to Los Altos de Eros Boutique Luxury Hotel & Spa 22-acre jungle estate blends gorgeous scenery and ocean views with personalized service and luxurious amenities.

Relax and renew in the award-winning spa and enjoy delicious meals with fresh, natural ingredients.

An unforgettable retreat experience in paradise.

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C O T O P A X I cotopaxi.com With a tagline of Gear For Good™, Cotopaxi’s promise is to make durable gear in the most ethically sustainable way possible and to use the revenue to end extreme poverty. In short, make products as circular as possible and have a lasting impact.

Named for a mountain in Ecuador sacred to native Quechuans where the founder grew up, if you have wandered, you have seen Cotopaxi’s bold, bright gear and apparel. Cotopaxi is B Corp and Climate Neutral Certified, and since 2014, has helped its partners reach an estimated 3 million people in extreme poverty through traceable means.

Not only do they source non-virgin and alternative materials for their products – their (Re)Purpose™ Collection uses fabric leftover from other companies’ larger production runs – but have taken steps to ensure human rights are maintained throughout the supply chain.

WHAT WE’RE CARRYING

Nido Accessory Bag - Cada Día $40

Laptop Sleeves - Del Día $30-35

Taking the standard Dopp kit design to the next level, this accessory bag is made from 100% recycled nylon. All your small essentials, all in one place, and not just for toiletries—we love this compartmentalized organizer for keeping all our tech adapters and accessories handy on the road.

Bringing some much-needed colour to your laptop game, the Quince 15” and Trece 13” sleeves are made with remnant materials by employees who have creative control over their final look.

This means that no two packs are alike. From the coffee shop commute to far-flung adventures, enjoy padded protection for your computer while keeping high-quality fabric out of the landfill.

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KUMA OUTDOOR GEAR

kumaoutdoorgear.com

No matter where you live one thing’s for sure – camping season is upon us. For those of you ready to go rustic and explore the beauty of nature, Kuma offers products designed in Canada for the outdoor enthusiast with the desire to be just as comfortable outdoors as they are indoors.

Created in 2014, the goal at Kuma (which means “bear”) is to create durable, dependable products, with an emphasis on innovative, portable furniture and accessories for the great outdoors.

Wait…what about gear for the dog? The Kuma team is all about accessible, high-quality camping gear for dogs and humans alike, to make sure it’s super-easy for pups to join their humans on all their adventures.

WHAT OUR DOGS ARE LOVING

Lazy Bear Dog Bed $145

Lazy Bear Dog Blanket $40

Stainless Steel Dog Bowl $49

No longer will you have to give up or share your spot, let your pup have their own camping chair! Durable ribbed 600D polyester on a sturdy 3/4” black tube frame with padded back and sides. And since dogs can be messy and accidents happen, the bed comes with a removable padded pillow and mesh bottom for easy cleaning.

Rated for 175lbs, carry bag included.

This cozy 40” x 24” blanket is made from rip-stop polyester and comes with a stuff sack carry bag. Pair the bed with the blanket for the ultimate comfort – the blanket has clips to hold them together.

Your pup won’t want to curl up in their bed without a full belly! This sleek 58oz. dual wall stainless steel dog bowl has a silicone anti-slip base that will be sure to hold when they attack their favourite grub. 100% BPA-free.

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“Everyone deserves the right to access power.”

ECOFLOW

ecoflow.com

EcoFlow was founded in 2017 by a group of battery engineers who had a vision to power a new world – actively transitioning from outdated power sources to a future of sustainable, renewable power.

Their mission since day one has been to create the most innovative, eco-friendly power solutions to untether individuals, families, and societies, empowering humans with meaningful innovation to live, dream, and explore without limits.

Today, as a portable power and renewable energy company, EcoFlow leads the way forward with industry-leading portable power solutions, solar technology, and the world’s first smart home ecosystem.

WHAT WE’RE USING

DELTA Mini $999

160W Solar Panel

EcoFlow’s lightweight DELTA Mini is power you can pick up, take along, and stow away, perfect for nearly any outdoor adventure or road trip. It can be charged with a regular AC wall outlet and the output of 1400W handles 90% of electronics; power up to 12 devices with a generous array of wall-style outlets, USB outlets, and DC outlets. With X-Stream on, DELTA mini charges 3 to 4 times faster than other portable power stations (just 1.6 hours) meaning less downtime and more do-time.

The DELTA Mini becomes a convenient, eco-friendly power source when you connect it with this portable, foldable solar panel. Compact, weighing in just over 15 lbs, it is dust- and water-resistant thanks to a seamless, one-piece design, making it ideal for outdoor activities like camping and hiking. The sturdy case provides protection during transportation and also doubles as a kickstand to position the panel in any direction or orientation (and multiple solar panels can be connected together).

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TOA D & CO.

toadandco.com

The apparel industry is the fourth largest polluter of air and water on Earth. The solution? Go sustainable, or go nude. We opted for California-based Toad&Co, where they create socially and environmentally committed clothing that is equally suited for the rigours of the trail or the tavern.

Minimizing their environmental impact and helping to clean up the apparel industry is an integral part of Toad’s business ethos. They use organic cotton, recycled fibres, and other high-quality materials known for low-impact growing and clean manufacturing.

The humans at Toad & Co. do their part to be good neighbours, empowering people with disabilities, volunteering their time on clean-ups, sourcing the most sustainable materials, partnering with the cleanest factories, and endlessly looking for new ways to do more with less.

WHAT WE’RE WEARING

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1. Cue Wrap Short Sleeve Dress $85

This durable and sustainably made dress has the soft feel of your go-to t-shirt with the classy drape of your favourite wrap dress. The best of both worlds in 7 colours.

2. Willet 3/4 Sleeve Shirt $70

Let the good vibes flow as you breeze through the seasons in this lightweight, easy-on-the-planet shirt.

Wear her open or with a french tuck.

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4 3. Seleena Skort $70

Whether day-tripping to wine country or a week at the beach, this skort nails it with a hidden stash pocket for cash and cards, so you can leave the bag at home.

4. Foothill Long Sleeve Hoodie $75

With next-to-skin softness on the inside and spoon-worthy waffle out, this cozy hoodie is a couch-to-campfire staple that wraps you in comfort.

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R E D PA D D L E C O.

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Welcome to the home of innovation and adventure – and the world’s most popular inflatable stand up paddle boards. Red Raddle Co. is a hive of creativity and ambition where they are dedicated to delivering the very best SUP experience.

Paddle boarding enthusiasts with teams in over 50 countries (they call South Devon, UK, home) their super-stylish boards are packed with leading technology that is subjected to extreme testing to prove their reliability and rigidity – nothing else on the market comes close in terms of design and manufacturing quality.

Red Paddle’s commitment to excellence extends beyond SUP, with a policy to act ethically to ensure modern slavery is not taking place in their supply chains, and their packaging is a biodegradable polymer made from recycled materials.

WHAT WE’RE LOVING

10'6" Ride MSL Inflatable Paddle Board Pro Change Robe $1399 Starting at $199

Waterproof Backpack $149

So, you want an inflatable SUP that will see you right in all conditions? Look no further – Red Paddle Co's multi-awardwinning Ride 10'6” is their most popular board, offering excellent durability and superior stability. Whether you feel like a leisurely paddle or a wild adventure this board offers a smooth, predictable ride no matter what level of rider you are. Comes in blue and purple options complete with board bag, pump and fins.

Whether you're cycling, hiking, or commuting, the Red Original Waterproof Backpack is perfect for keeping everything dry. Lightweight and super durable, this roll-top closure pack is loaded with features like welded seams, a removable laptop organizer, reflective details, and a hidden internal zipped pocket. Plus, it’s made with CYCLEPET, which uses 100% recycled PET plastic bottles.

Say goodbye to awkward changing moments with this innovative robe.

Stretch panels and generous sizing allow unrestricted movement inside while the soft, waterproof lining and triple-layer construction keep you dry and warm.

Perfect for changing, shielding against the elements, and warming up post-SUP, with a front chest pocket to keep items safe. Truly unique.

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WILE

wilewomen.com

Did you know? 4 hours is the average total time OB/GYNs study menopause in medical school. No kidding. Wile was specifically created to help women over 40ish manage symptoms of menopause and perimenopause with plant-based formulas and a fresh take on this "invisible" life stage.

The co-founders, including actress Judy Greer, have created naturopath-formulated supplements, tinctures, and drinks that support hormonal and emotional well-being, looking at women and formulations holistically – because that’s how our bodies actually work.

Adaptogens help smooth signs of acute and chronic stress, helping build stress resilience and response. Plant-based phytoestrogens flex to support when estrogen is low or high. And nervines ease occasional anxiety and depression, overwhelm, and irritability. All clinically-backed formulas rest on nutritive herbs, delivered in a gentle, digestible base.

WHAT WE’RE TAKING

40+ Hormonal Wellness Women's Stress $39.99 $39.99

Burnout Relief Tincture $29.99

Un-Worry Tincture $29.99

Stave the Crave $39.99

Around 40, female hormones downshift and stress hormones can skyrocket. This 100% plantderived formula works with your body for better mood, stress response, sleep and periods.

Over-extended?

Exhausted? This plant remedy is potent for supporting your nervous system, adrenals and stress tolerance.

Fretful? Ill at ease? If your stress manifests in occasional worry or too much rumination, this tasty tincture can help you release, ground, and calm down.

A delicious, functional chai designed to be an ally to reduce unwanted emotional eating or sipping. Tastes great, with no refined sugar, dairy, or caffeine.

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Formulated specifically to reduce tension in body and mind, build stress resilience and improve cortisol levels so you can feel better in the face of life's demands.

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