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A couple indulges in a new wellness experience
ADOBE STOCK
In Pursuit of Wellness:
Resorts that Go Beyond the Traditional Spa
These seven standout retreats invite travelers to slow down, reset and reconnect through holistic practices, restorative treatments and meaningful stays.
By Zachary Laks
Ready for a getaway where you’ll return home recharged and refreshed? Go beyond conventional massages and facials at a day spa; the holistic treatments at these resorts do wonders for the mind, body and soul. From time-honored Ayurvedic practices to cutting-edge hydrotherapy, indulge in a new wellness experience and delight in its powers to restore and renew. Here are seven of the top wellness resorts in the United States, each offering unique and inspiring activities to start your year on a healthy track.
THE RAJ AYURVEDA HEALTH CENTER & WELLNESS SPA VIDEO
Fairfield, Iowa
The Raj Ayurveda Health Center & Wellness Spa
Amidst Iowa’s vast rolling farmlands and prairies, The Raj is a specialized Ayurvedic health retreat that welcomes visitors from around the world. Built in 1993, the resort remains the first and only facility outside India purpose-built to offer authentic Panchakarma programs based on ancient Indian healing principles. Panchakarma dates back more than 3,000 years and is designed to remove toxins, balance the body and reset digestion. Visitors enjoy a holistic retreat, focused on deep detoxification, meditation and meaningful lifestyle change. The Raj is ideal for those seeking a transformative health and wellness experience, thanks to award-winning treatments that integrate practices once reserved for India’s royalty.
The Kohler Water Spa at The American Club includes seven different hydrotherapy treatments.
Kohler, Wisconsin
The Kohler Waters Spa at The American Club
Drawing on more than 150 years of luxury bath design and plumbing innovation, Kohler Waters Spa is a premier escape for hydrotherapy and immersive, water-driven wellness. Water is integral to nearly everything the spa offers, including seven different hydrotherapy treatments featuring Vichy showers, as well as relaxation pools, waterfalls, steam rooms and plunge pools. The Kohler Waters Spa is part of The American Club, a AAA Five-Diamond resort with dining, golf and nature experiences nearby.
Carillon Miami Wellness Resort VIDEO
Miami, Florida
Carillon Miami Wellness Resort
More than just a Miami Beach hotel, Carillon Miami Wellness Resort is a AAA Four-Diamond destination for integrative wellness. The resort is renowned for its holistic wellness approach, which brings together spa, fitness, medical support, movement and education under one roof on an idyllic beachfront. Carillon features one of the largest hydrotherapy circuits in the nation, with a series of saunas, steam rooms, a vitality pool and a cooling igloo. The program helps ease muscle tension and supports whole-body recovery. The resort’s 10,000-square-foot ocean-view fitness center offers more than 75 classes each week, including TRX, boxing, rock climbing and cycling. The many on-site amenities create a wellness campus, not just a spa escape.
ART OF LIVING RETREAT VIDEO
Boone, North Carolina
Art of Living Retreat Center
Set within the mystical forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Art of Living Retreat Center is a wellness destination devoted to meditation and inner transformation. Consider the resort’s Happiness Retreat, a signature two-night program focused on yoga, rhythmic breathing and guided meditation designed to boost happiness and reduce stress. Guests can experience unique treatments, such as Shirodhara, a stream of warm oil that supports mental clarity, and Bashpa Sweda, an herbal steam therapy that helps improve circulation. With a dedicated focus on mental and emotional transformation, the Art of Living Retreat Center is a unique alternative to a traditional spa getaway.
THE SPA AT SEA ISLAND RESORT VIDEO
Little St. Simons Island, Georgia
The Spa at Sea Island Resort
The Spa at Sea Island is a serene oasis on Little St. Simons Island, where water is central to both design and treatments. Guests can enjoy hydrotherapy pools in the Water Rotunda, mineral baths and water reflexology paths that combine therapeutic movement with foot reflexology. Signature services go beyond typical spa offerings, including the Sea Island Escape, which blends body brushing with scalp, foot and massage, and Relax and Revive, which features massage, aromatherapy showers and soaks. Even without booking a treatment, guests can explore the spa’s hydrotherapy, sauna and steam rooms, and meditation labyrinths, or relax in the reflection spaces.
THE WELLHOUSE SPA AT BLACKBERRY FARM VIDEO
Walland, Tennessee
The Wellhouse Spa at Blackberry Farm
The Wellhouse Spa at Blackberry Farm features a wellness program that connects the body and mind to the natural environment. Located in the Great Smoky Mountains, the holistic retreat incorporates the surrounding forest into every aspect of its design and programming. Mindfulness programs, such as forest bathing, guided hikes and deep-woods meditation, nurture a deep sense of balance and well-being. The spa’s treatment menu is inspired by a unique farm-to-body principle, using locally sourced herbs, botanicals and seasonal ingredients in massages, body wraps and facials.
THE SPRINGS RESORT AND SPA VIDEO
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
The Springs Resort and Spa
Experience the healing powers of the world-famous hot springs at The Springs Resort and Spa. The resort is home to more than 45 mineral‑rich hot spring pools, all fed directly by the Mother Spring, the world’s deepest geothermal hot spring aquifer. The naturally heated waters vary in temperature, offering everything from warm, relaxing soaks to invigorating hot dips beside the San Juan River.
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