10 wellness retreats to clear your head for 2017
(CNN)However lovely, the holidays tend to leave us feeling frazzled. Most of us will cap off the year with some combination of family drama, event overload, social media trolling and political uncertainty — not exactly a recipe for clearheadedness.
According to a 2015 Nielsen study, people generally turn to gym memberships for restoration, but no amount of weight loss is going to help us get our heads on straight. Sometimes, the only answer is a solid break from our everyday life to consciously focus on our personal development.
For just this reason, Tom Marchant, co-founder of travel company Black Tomato, reports that this year has seen an uptick in wellness-inspired travel.
“Mindfulness and emotional well-being have become increasingly important in a time when constant connectivity can leave us exhausted and overstimulated,” he says. “Being mindful and traveling go hand-in-hand, as one is encouraged to be present in the moment in order to fully switch off and appreciate [new] surroundings. It’s important to realign before heading into the new year [for] a clean slate.”
We can’t change the state of the world or our families, but we can change our mindsets.
So, in lieu of a “Men In Black”-style “neuralyzer” memory wipe, some mind-body-soul work seems key to starting the new year fresh.
Here, we’ve uncovered 10 holistic wellness retreats around the world that go beyond boosting our physical health: These programs promote mental focus, inner calm and a chance to soul search, so we can start 2017 with our best feet forward.
Stress-Free Success retreats
Where: Six Senses Douro Valley, Lamego, Portugal
When: 1/26-1/30; 3/26-3/30
What: This 19th century manor house, overlooking rolling hills and a flowing river, will host two four-day retreats in early 2017. Created by stress-reduction specialists Working In Balance, the idea is to teach enduring techniques for handling physical, psychological and external influences.
The experience — which is heavily influenced by Eastern beliefs — includes an individual wellness assessment, daily seminars, Tai Chi, meditation and yoga, as well as fitness classes and daily massages. This is especially ideal for finding work-life balance or for those contemplating a career change.
Don’t miss: Make use of the wine library and terrace — and tastings with local sommeliers — in this beautiful vino region.
From $1,670 per person
Balance Wellness
When: three-day, five-day and seven-day retreats, year round
What: Settled between a beach and a freshwater lagoon, this Middle Eastern property offers individually customized retreats that focus on helping to create balance in the mind and body.
Days are peppered with wellness consultations (including suggestions for this experience, but also life at home), anti-inflammatory meals, herbal elixir and fresh juice breaks, yoga and meditation sessions and Eastern-inspired wellness therapies (from the Shirodhara form of Ayurveda therapy — during which warm herbal oil is poured on the forehead — to Tibetan KuNye Massage — involving acupressure to de-stress the body).
Don’t miss: Take advantage of the area’s abundant frankincense for healing.
The three-day wellness program starts at $450, exclusive of room and meals. Room rates start at $350 per night.
Life in Balance Retreat
Where: Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Queensland, Australia
When: 3/9-3/12
What: At this Gold Coast wellness destination, organic living is always the way and there is a dedicated building for emotional well-being (alongside which wallabies roam).
But during this special three-day retreat (where it’s summer), seminars with holistic psychiatrists will focus specifically on finding balance through life’s natural “antidepressants.” Organic meals and spa treatments round out the experience, which hopes to uncover what might be holding each guest back in life.
Don’t miss: Equine therapy! Work with horses to unearth your own emotional issues.
From $1,465 per person
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/23/travel/wellness-retreats-2017/index.html