The Gift of Wellness
Mindful Spa Journeys In Exotic Locations
Here is a woman who has a dream job. She represents wellness travel and luxury retreats in exotic places like South Africa, India, Thailand, Vietnam, even Malibu. She has lived in a monastery and was the VP of Marketing at The Ritz Carlton for twenty years. Combine that and her ten years of running a marketing company for naturally luxurious resorts and you get an expert with a slow filter and someone who knows the difference between location inspiring experience and activity vs. manufactured and inauthentic.
Six Senses Hideaway Hua Hin, Thailand
The resorts she works with seem to be carved out of nature and enhanced by other worldly magicians. From the architects and designers who carefully restore, design and develop the properties to the dietary alchemists, body treatment menus and spiritually minded yoga and meditation practitioners the elements are no less than divine. Boot camp fitness programs sustainable practices are all part of the package in some of the properties she handles.
Soneva Gili, Maldives
Wellness travel can transform a vacation into a lifestyle shift that goes beyond being pampered on a beach or checking into a traditional spa. Yes, flying across the globe and stepping into a jungle sanctuary with a meditation and yoga guru and amazing body treatments will slow anybody down. It's a big world out there and somebody has to help you find the sweet spots. If you want dip into retirement or prevent stress related health complications, the investment in wellness travel can change lifestyle habits, inspire a total transformation and help you love this gorgeous planet even more.
Molori Clifton- Cape Town South Africa
CranioSacral at The Chedi Club at Tanah Gajah, Ubud, Bali
Q& A with JoAnn
WA :JoAnn you have worked in the travel world for over 20 years. Resorts have really evolved to educate travelers in Slow Living where environment, consciousness and wellness are priorities.
Do you see the resorts as changing the traveler or the traveler changing the resort?
JKA: Wendy its both...some places like Six Senses the owners have been personally driven by these causes and have created products that travelers have caught up with. I think in a lot of cases the resorts evolve through the demands and needs of the clients.
WA: Slow Travel and the art of living is attractive to a lot of people for so many different reasons. What do you think are the essential ingredients of a wellness retreat to help transform the traveler? What do people respond to is it just service and beauty?
JKA: I think that taking time for one's inner life is harder and harder and wellness travel gives people the place and time to bring a higher quality and consciousness to all aspects of their life.
WA: Is yoga the biggest game changer in travel and wellness? How have resorts been able to retain amazing staff in such far flung locations? How do they get and maintain people beyond a year?
JKA: I would not say only yoga there are many treatments that impact body, mind and spirit and yoga is just one aspect. Plus within yoga there are so many varieties. Regarding staffing in far flung places in India and Thailand there are very talented people that are attracted to working in some of the finest Spas.
WA: Since you represent some of the more sublime and authentic wellness retreats on the planet, your experience is more than luxury. What is it about your background?
JKA: I have spent time in a monastery ( 5 years where yoga and mediation were a big part. That was over 30 years ago but it left an indelible appreciation for special places).
WA: Six Senses Resorts are exquisite examples of working slow luxury life resorts immersing the guest in mindful living and helping to transform guests. What are people looking for now compared to 5 years ago?
JKA: Today, people are much more stressed and overloaded with information and less time to allow random thought, meditation and down time.
Six Senses Hideaway Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam
