#ayurvedic spa los angeles

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Ayurvedic Supplements LA

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Los Angeles Day Spa Experience

While the beaches and West Hollywood get all of the attention, Los Angeles is also recognized for some of the finest spa services in California. A trip to the best restaurants downtown Los Angeles or a day spa makes a compelling argument for one of the most incredible things to do in L.A., From professional massage therapists to high-end treatment options within tranquil interiors that set the scene for some well-deserved "me time."

The Spa Treatment

We're not discussing scheduling appointments at a local nail salon, waxing, or body scrub facility. When it comes to rejuvenation and wellness, a dedicated day spa goes all out.

Expect to be treated like royalty when you walk in the door. Be greeted with a refreshing glass of water or tea and given a comfy robe to change into. Enjoy some of the best body massages, detox programs, and facial treatments in town.

Luxury Spas within Hotels

Need a full spa day?

The Beverly Hills Hotel Spa, Ciel Spa, La Prairie, the Four Seasons Westlake, and The Ritz-Carlton Spa are all examples of hotels that evoke thoughts of luxury spas when mentioned in Los Angeles. These sanctuaries are associated with red carpets, plush robes, and above-grade amenities as standard.

These renowned hideaways provide generous square feet of space with amenities that range from steam rooms, infrared saunas, whirlpools, treatment rooms, cold plunge baths, and more. Some even include access to a rooftop garden with spectacular views of Los Angeles during certain times of the year.

The Best Spas for Signature Treatments

There are vast options of specialty spas in Los Angeles that can be found anywhere along Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills to Melrose Avenue. These spas offer a unique experience and are known for their signature treatments that you cannot find anywhere else.

Here are a few hidden gems that are trending:

The Things We Do: Row DTLA

With the recent establishment of The Row DTLA, an old city commercial market, there's now a day spa in Los Angeles (The Things We Do) that specializes in one-of-a-kind facial treatments. The Things We Do is a consultation-only spa that offers massages, light therapy facials, and body scrubs with CBD oil or THC-infused products (if you have a valid medical marijuana card). The Things We Do also sells skin care products for all skin tones that aim to provide high-grade results using safe, high-quality ingredients.

Burke Williams

Burke Williams draws on world-class European day spas to create restorative ideas for everyday strain reduction. The majority of Burke Williams spa treatments are massages, pedicures, manicures, facials, and Ayurvedic treatments. Escape stress with one of their relaxing spa services or visit the several facilities available, including a wet room, spa bath, and whirlpool.

TIKKUN HOLISTIC SPA

Tikkun is taken from the Hebrew phrase Tikkun Olam, which means "to heal the world." Tikkun is a famous Korean spa in Santa Monica where you may receive the renowned v-steam treatment. Other therapies include classic Korean body scrubs, massage, acupuncture, facials, and more, as well as access to the spa's Hwangto clay room (which consists of an ice room), heated Himalayan salt, and jade rooms.

Larchmont Sanctuary Spa

Larchmont Sanctuary Spa is located in Los Angeles' Larchmont Village. It is known for its couple’s body treatments, which include a private champagne bath in their custom copper jacuzzi followed by massages performed together. They recently started offering aromatherapy and Himalayan salt therapy, including a hot stone massage and a scrub. Their common area resembles a pleasant living room with a fireplace and fountain, making it more welcoming than some luxurious hotel spas.

The Raven Spa

Currently serving Santa Monica and Silver Lake, This Thai spa offers various services from traditional Thai massage to a more Westernized treatment like deep tissue massage and Swedish massage. Their infamous Rock Star treatment combines a lavender salt scrub, a traditional Thai massage, and an organic yogurt oat mask for one intense experience. Raven disregards the more clinical décor of the hotel spas and instead uses mismatched antique furniture, chandeliers, mirrors, and statues to create a more homey atmosphere.

Tomoko Spa

You will be transported to a serene Japanese-style spa for extensive pampering from head to toe while eating traditional Japanese sweets. The hotel has exciting treatments, including one that hands you fresh sushi following the therapy and another in which hot sake is poured onto your back to relieve tension. Privacy is essential here—the treatment rooms have everything you could need, so you don't have to leave the premises during or after your treatment.

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New Post has been published on https://fitnesshealthyoga.com/best-yoga-retreats-and-travel-spots-around-the-world/

Best Yoga Retreats and Travel Spots Around the World

Contents

North America

Europe

Africa

Central + South America

Caribbean

Asia

Australia + New Zealand

North America

1. Feathered Pipe Ranch, Helena, Montana

Teacher and Yoga Journal cofounder Judith Hanson Lasater has been hosting yoga retreats at this spacious ranch since 1975. “It’s like summer camp for yogis,” she says: “Jaw-dropping scenery in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, magnificent food, fresh spring water, twice-daily yoga classes, and a week steeped in the silence of nature.” To pay respect to the sacred Native American land the retreat rests on, founder India Supera created the Feathered Pipe Foundation to help preserve ceremonial traditions of the Cree people. Feathered Pipe continues to foster humanitarian efforts that give life to new nonprofits while maintaining missions such as the Veterans Yoga Project and the Tibetan Children’s Education Foundation.

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Feathered Pipe Ranch, Helena, Montana

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2. Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Stockbridge, Massachusetts

With an international network of 2,000 instructors teaching more than 700 programs to 30,000 guests a year, education is front and center at this verdant campus in the Berkshires. For the past decade, Kripalu has led the way in groundbreaking research on yoga and trauma in collaboration with experts from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

See also Style Profile: Kripalu Yoga

3. Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is known for spiritual vortexes—powerful energy centers where visitors can allegedly pick up on sacred frequencies. Healers and enlightenment seekers worldwide travel to its towering red-rock spires hoping to tap into higher consciousness. Each March, the three-day Sedona Yoga Festival draws thousands of practitioners with its lineup of 200 classes and performances by kirtan artists such as Johanna Beekman. Regulars tout an intimate setting where you’re likely to run into presenters (think ISHTA Yoga founder Alan Finger) in the halls, as well as dedicated workshops on trauma-informed yoga.

Coffee Pot Rock, Sedona, Arizona

4. Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California

This cliff-side retreat opened in 1962 with a series of workshops on yoga and personal growth. Key counter-cultural figures such as Joan Baez and Joseph Campbell were among its early guests and lecturers. Today, renowned wellness leaders and yoga teachers like Andrew Weil, Dean Ornish, and Janet Stone share expertise on trending topics, including the energetics of consciousness and meditation as medicine.

5. Maui, Hawaii

A strong contemplative community and the island’s healthy lifestyle are among the draws that have led Ashtangis such as Nancy Gilgoff, David Williams, and Ram Dass to make their homes here. The Kahanu Garden in Hana is home to the Pi’ilanihale Heiau, the largest Heiau (shrines) in Polynesia and a place of worship dating back to the 13th century. Hawaii’s spiritual emphasis on nature makes it a destination for those seeking to feel the mana (spiritual energy) of the land.

See also Find Peace and Adventure with a Yoga Retreat in Hawaii

6. Boulder, Colorado

Boulder’s vibrant mindfulness community has been growing since the 1970s when Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche—the 11th incarnation of the Trungpa Tulku—established Naropa University, a Buddhist liberal arts college, and Shambhala Mountain Center in a valley above town. While Rinpoche’s legacy has been rocked by scandal, Naropa and Shambhala remain pillars of Buddhist values and mindful practices. Senior yoga teachers Richard Freeman and Amy Ippoliti call Boulder home. Bonus: The Hanuman Festival, held each June, attracts top yoga educators and teachers such as Sreedevi Bringi and Seane Corn.

Los Angeles, California

7. Los Angeles

Paramahansa Yogananda, one of the first Indian spiritual teachers to make his home in the West, called Los Angeles “the Benares of America” (Benares is another name for the Indian city of Varanasi) when he arrived in the 1920s. After setting up the Self-Realization Fellowship’s international headquarters atop Mount Washington, he opened a clifftop compound in Encinitas and a waterfall and shrine-studded campus on Sunset Boulevard where a portion of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi are laid to rest. Today, the Lake Shrine—with its waterfront meditation garden and gold lotus–topped temple where resident monks hold services and give lectures—remains an oasis for contemplation. LA’s robust Kundalini scene (Golden Bridge Yoga Studio, RAMA Institute in Venice) traces its roots back to 1969, when Yogi Bhajan started teaching the distinctive style on Melrose Avenue. Wanderlust headquarters in Hollywood is LA’s latest yoga hub, hosting fusion classes and workshops by wellness gurus such as Taryn Toomey and senior yoga teacher Annie Carpenter.

See also 6 Principles We Learned on the West Coast to Cultivate Focus

8. Salt Spring Centre of Yoga, British Columbia

In 1981, members of the Dharma Sara Satsang Society, a yoga community inspired by the teachings of Indian Ashtangi master and silent monk Baba Hari Dass, purchased a 69-acre patch of cedar forest and meadows on Salt Spring Island. Today, the property’s restored turn-of-the-century farmhouse is the longest-running yoga retreat center on Canada’s West Coast. Public offerings include monthly full-moon pujas (spiritual cleansings), while 10-week residential programs combine service (tending the on-site farm, preparing vegetarian meals) with asana and theory classes covering classic yoga texts.

See also 6 Destination Ashrams for an Authentic Yoga Experience

9. Ojai, California

A bustling hub of ashrams, yoga centers, and spiritual retreats— and dubbed Shangri-La by locals (a nod to the surrounding valley’s cameo as the fictional utopia in the classic film Lost Horizon)—Ojai’s surrounding Topatopa and Sulphur mountains are what attracted Indian philosopher J. Krishnamurti in the 1920s. Today, his teachings continue via programs at the Krishnamurti Educational Center.

10. Chopra Center, Carlsbad, California

The palm-shaded Omni La Costa Resort & Spa may seem like an unlikely setting for the cutting-edge work of the Chopra Center’s Mind-Body Medical Group, but here, experts in hypnotherapy, integrative oncology, and pranic healing (a form of no-touch energy healing) combine holistic practices and Western medicine. Try one of their Perfect Health retreats where itineraries feature daily yoga and meditation, Ayurvedic meals, spa treatments, and medical consultations from Vedic educators and integrative-medicine experts.

New York City

11. New York City

New York City is home to some of Western yoga’s most notable teachers, including Eddie Stern, Genevieve Kapuler, Elena Brower, Dharma Mittra, Alison West, and Lauren Ash. “HealHaus in Brooklyn is my go-to haven for spiritual support,” says Ash, founder of mindful lifestyle brand Black Girl in Om. “The studio’s mission—to promote healing as a lifestyle—is a beautiful example of what it means to hold sustainable space and intentional presence for diverse people.” New York’s got everything from trendy new Y7 yoga­—which utilizes heat, hip-hop music, and dark candle-lit rooms—to traditional Iyengar Yoga at the Iyengar Yoga Institute. And if you need a break from the city, head north 90 miles to the iconic Omega Institute—a wooded, 42-year-old health and wellness campus that sees more than 23,000 students a year.

See topic United States Yoga Travel

Europe

12. Elysia Yoga Convention, Aegiali, Amorgos

Located on the island of Amorgos in Greece, the Elysia Yoga Convention is a conglomeration of yoga practitioners, enthusiasts, and wellness coaches. In ancient literature, Elysia was a divine final resting place for the souls of heroes, setting the tone for a complete mind-body yoga retreat.

See also Replenish Your Energy at an Island Yoga Retreat in Greece

13. Mountain Yoga Festival, St. Anton, Austria

This event, held in the birthplace of modern skiing, offers a heavy dose of outdoor wellness. Intimacy is part of the draw: Fewer than 300 attendees and teachers from around the world gather to fill their souls with music and movement. Alpine hikes and lectures by Jivamukti teacher Karl Straub and nutritional biochemist Florian Überall roundout the lineup.

14. Schloss Elmau, Bavaria, Germany

Since opening in 1916, this wellness and culture sanctuary in the Bavarian Alps has welcomed luminaries (author Ian McEwan, jazz musician Paolo Fresu) to its concert hall and lecture library. Here, you’ll find an annual yoga summit where Europe’s top teachers, such as Barbra Noh and Timo Wahl, lead lectures, asana, and meditation sessions against the backdrop of the snow-capped Wetterstein mountains.

15. London

London’s yoga scene stands apart from other cities’ with its emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility: Ourmala offers classes to asylum-seekers, women refugees, and survivors of trafficking; Stillpoint Yoga London (try one of their daily Mysore-style Ashtanga yoga classes held at London Bridge) helps bring the practice into local prisons; and Michael James Wong’s Boys of Yoga platform cultivates stories, videos, and tutorials to break down gender stereo-types in yoga. In addition, popular teachers like Stewart Gilchrist and Claire Missingham call London home, teaching at Triyoga and East London School of Yoga.

See also 6 London Yogis Who Inspire Us to Transcend the Past with Yoga

16. Barcelona Yoga Conference

This five-day event is one of Europe’s largest yoga festivals, attracting more than 1,200 attendees from across the globe to flow with master yogis such as Shiva Rea and Krishna Das, indulge in Thai massage, enjoy music from international performers, try acroyoga with a partner, and lose themselves in ecstatic dance.

17. Bornholm Yoga & Retreat Center, Denmark

Off the southern coast of Sweden, Bornholm is an ideal setting for three-day silent meditation retreats hosted by resident yogi Solveig Egebjerg (who studied with Sharat Aurora, the head of the Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Center) and American Diane Long (a disciple of Iyengar-focused Vanda Scaravelli). Disconnect and unwind with walking meditations along the rocky Baltic coast or workshops aimed at weaving mindfulness into your daily grind.

See also 8 Great European Yoga Vacations You’ll Be Dying To Take

18. Suryalila Yoga Retreat Centre, Cadiz, Spain

The Om Dome (an igloo-shaped yoga hall) at this Andalusian retreat might be the most magnificent place to practice in all of Europe, says yoga teacher Tiffany Cruikshank. The geometric studio was designed to resemble a Nepalese temple topped with a golden stupa. Wholesome farm-to-table organic meals are another reason Cruikshank enjoys leading retreats here. Regular teacher trainings by Vidya Jacqueline Heisel, founder of vinyasa-focused Frog Lotus Yoga, and Carol Murphy, founder of Green Lotus Yoga, are other highlights.

See topic Europe Yoga Travel

Africa

19. Kenya

Deborah Calmeyer, the Zimbabwe-born founder of travel company Roar Africa, last year launched a new series of self-discovery retreats called Roar & Restore, incorporating TED Talk–worthy speakers (conservationist Laura Turner Seydel and world-renowned South African artist Dylan Lewis) with yoga, meditation, and safari drives. The conservation-minded Segera Retreat Center, set within 50,000 acres of protected land on the Laikipia Plateau, offers a raw-food menu and garden-shaded yoga decks developed with yogis in mind.

See topic Africa Yoga Travel

20. Taghazout, Morocco

Over the past two decades, a booming surf-and-yoga scene has sprung up in this sleepy fishing village five hours south of Casablanca. Take holiday with Surf Maroc (one of the area’s first surf-yoga retreat companies) for daily “creative vinyasa, powerful pranayama, laughter yoga, restorative, yin, yoga nidra, and meditation.” Between yoga sessions, surf instructors provide hands-on coaching whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned rider. For a taste of the locale, the property’s neighboring rooftop yoga studio offers public classes and a chance to mingle with the local yoga community.

21. Namibia

The country’s sublime scenery—red-sand dunes and a desolate coast riddled with shipwrecks—and commitment to conservation have made it Africa’s new safari superstar. It’s no wonder zeitgeisty yoga companies Escape to Shape and Namaste Yoga Safari are already offering retreats here. Escape to Shape founder Erica Gragg boasts “one epic experience after another: Rhinos at a drinking hole may serve as our drishti in Virabhadrasana II while waves lull us into Savasana after class on the beach.”

Central + South America

22. The Sacred Valley, Peru 

Traditionally, travelers here head straight to historic sanctuary Machu Picchu—but culturally immersive retreats nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley offer a new draw of their own. Splurge on a stay at Sol y Luna boutique hotel knowing a portion of the hotel’s profits fund an adjacent school that provides education, art, and sports for the valley’s youth—and take advantage of outdoor yoga classes. Travelers seeking a more immersive experience should consider eco-retreat Willka T’ika, which incorporates Andean traditions and Q’ero healers. Portions of retreat proceeds support childhood education in remote villages. Organic gardening, sustainable living, and acts of generosity are all woven into the fabric of Willka T’ika. For a more holistic experience in Peru, consider volunteering at Eco Truly Park in Lima. Volunteers participate in teaching yoga classes, organic gardening, and cooking.

Machu Picchu, Peru

23. El Salvador

In the early 1970s, El Salvador was a top surf destination, but the civil war took a heavy toll on residents and tourism. “Now, you see hermanos lejanos [El Salvadorans who moved to the United States and Canada] and tourism returning,” says yoga teacher Lindsay Gonzalez, who operates Balancé Yoga Studio and wellness retreats in the surf town El Tunco. An open-air yoga shala catches the ocean breeze from Balancé’s beachfront setting. “In El Trunco, days revolve around the tides, the wind, and the best surfing conditions,” Gonzalez says. Now that it has a dedicated yoga hub, this surf town just might be the next Nosara.

24. Guatemala

Travelers looking to escape the growing yogi crowds in Mexico have set their sights on the emerging yoga scene in Guatemala, where, in the Mayan village of San Marcos la Laguna, the Yoga Forest Conscious Living Retreat Center is setting the stage for responsible tourism, funding community projects such as shoreline restoration via reed planting and midwife education. Drop in for a class or embark on a personal or group retreat to study Jnana, Ashtanga, Bhakti, and Karma Yoga with their pros.

See topic Latin America Yoga Travel

Caribbean

25. Cuba

Cuba’s dynamism reminds us that yoga is really about community. Eduardo de Jesus Pimentel Vázquez—the godfather of Cuban yoga—has trained more than 12,000 yoga practitioners through the Cuban Yoga Association, which he founded in 1990. His humble Havana studio Vidya offers a glimpse of the city’s tight-knit yoga scene. For the past three years, instructor April Puciata has hosted culturally immersive retreats at the beach-side center Mhai Yoga. Eduardo guest-teaches up to five classes during the week, and Puciata arranges visits with local artists and entrepreneurs, plus side trips to the town of Trinidad. 

26. Nosara, Costa Rica 

Universally considered a yoga mecca, Nosara is home to 32 retreats with serious yoga cred. Both Don Stapleton, longtime director of Kripalu, and Stephan Rechtschaffen, co-founder of the Omega Institute, set up yoga and wellness retreat centers here in the 1990s. More than 6,000 people visit Stapleton’s Nosara Yoga Institute (now Kindness Yoga) annually, known for its mile-long meditation trail and intensive teacher trainings (more than 3,500 graduates over 21 years). At Rechtschaffen’s Blue Spirit, five studios host learning vacations with the Omega Institute that include workshops on unlocking your purpose and Rechtschaffer-led lectures on finding the path to longevity. Located in a blue zone (where a large percentage of the population lives longer than average), the vivacity of Nosara is intimately intertwined with its people and practices.

27. Jungle Bay Resort & Spa, Dominica 

Since opening their rain forest retreat center in 2005, yoga teacher Glenda Raphael and her husband, Sam, have been pioneers of sustainable tourism, stocking up on goods from island farmers, local fishermen, and artisans. Yoga teacher Chrissy Carter has held nine retreats here. Don’t miss Victoria Falls, Champagne Beach, and the Boiling Lake, the name given to one of the world’s few lakes that actually boils, says Carter. The resort, along with many others throughout the island, suffered damages after last year’s hurricane, making now a better time than ever to support the local Dominican economy.

See topic Caribbean Yoga Travel

Asia

28. Bali

While Bali is full of celebrated sites and crawling with soul-seekers, Ayurvedic teacher Sahara Rose prefers the lesser-known OmUnityBali, tucked away from tourist traffic in the northern village of Sudaji. At this super-sustainable eco-homestay founded by Indonesian yogi Zanzan, healing journeys and yoga packages incorporate local experiences such as temple ceremonies and visits to artisan workshops. In the jungles of Ubud, musician Michael Franti invites guest performers to enliven the asana practices at his Soulshine Bali Hotel & Yoga Retreat Oasis. Of course, the island’s biggest party happens during BaliSpirit Festival, a week-long celebration that draws big names like Shiva Rea and Tymi Howard, plus local Indonesian presenters such as Aikikdo, Made Janur, and musician Krisna Floop.

29. Dwarika’s Resort, Nepal

If replenishment is what you’re after, then Dwarika’s Resort—tucked into the hillside just 30 miles from the Tibetan border—should top your short list. After a consultation with an Ayurvedic health care provider, you will be prescribed soothing appointments on your custom itinerary: time in the respiratory-cleansing salt house, a visit with the retreat’s resident naturopath, a walk through the meditation maze, sessions in sound- and color-therapy chambers, and stargazing with an astrology master. Yoga classes offer the ultimate view—distant snow-capped mountains of the Himalayan range.

30. Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Bhutan

Enjoy daily yoga and acupuncture sessions at this all-inclusive retreat center in Paro, Bhutan—a historic valley town surrounded by sacred Buddhist sites. Each room has views of the Eutok Samdrupcholing goenpa monastery, where resident monks welcome guests for morning meditation. Bhutan is known for its medicinal herbs, and guests are encouraged to join spa therapists on foraging excursions in nearby hillsides.

See also Happy Land

31. Rishikesh, India

nestled along the sacred Ganges River in northern India, is a preferred jumping-off point for many teachers and travelers making the pilgrim-age to the birthplace of yoga. Hindus believe that a saint came to the river to offer penance and was forgiven by the god Vishnu. The spiritual town has an ashram for every sensibility, from super-traditional (and affordable) Phool Chatti to pricey Ananda, a luxe resort known for its Ayurvedic treatments. Each March, the city’s largest ashram, Parmarth Niketan, plays host to some of India’s most respected spiritual leaders (Pujya Swami Ramdevji and Acharya Balkrishna) during the week-long, world-famous annual International Yoga Festival. Meanwhile, the Yoga Institute in Santacruz, Mumbai, is the oldest organized yoga center in the world. The nonprofit recently celebrated its 100th birthday, and has certified more than 50,000 teachers in the past century. Today, roughly 2,000 people visit the institute daily for training, wellness services, and to pay homage to the historic site.

See also 13 Important Indian Places Every Yogi Should Visit

32. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has no shortage of stylish beachside yoga retreats, but world-class therapists and teachers—such as Parisian Alexandre Onfroy and Californian Rob Hess—make the trek inland to immerse themselves in local culture at Ulpotha. Located in a working rice village, a committee of locals take part in all decision-making, and guest fees fund a free area clinic. Eleven simple mud huts are sprinkled across 22 acres of dense forests, and monks still live in remote temples in the mountains above. There’s a dedicated yoga shala, but classes also take place beneath the branches of an ancient banyan tree.

33. Kamalaya, Koh Samui, Thailand

Teachers Rodney Yee, Colleen Saidman Yee, Richard Freeman, and Mary Taylor are regular hosts at this retreat founded by John Stewart, a former monk who lived in the Himalayas for 18 years, and his wife, Karina, a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, who built the seaside sanctuary around a jungle-shrouded cave that was once a spiritual retreat for Buddhist monks. Guests can book à la carte therapies and classes such as detoxification, Chi Nei Tsang, and Hatha Yoga, or multi-day packages meant to remedy modern ailments such as technology addiction.

34. Cambodia

Teacher Puravi Joshi calls Cambodia one of the most peaceful places to practice. Immerse yourself in the history and culture of Siem Reap at the Hariharalaya Yoga & Meditation Retreat, named after the Vedic capital of Cambodia. Temples dating to 800 CE surround the two-acre campus. A team of international yoga and meditation instructors lead six-day retreats with Integral Yoga, silent meditation, Dharma talks, and nourishing vegan cuisine.

See topic Asia Yoga Travel

Australia + New Zealand

35. Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Gold Coast, Australia

It’s not uncommon to see wallabies and ’roos hopping across the 500-acre grounds set high up in the ancient gum trees of the Tallebudgera Valley. Mornings focus on yin-inspired movements such as qi gong and restorative yoga, while afternoons are devoted to yang-type activities such as boxing and hiking. Three-day Life in Balance programs integrate equine healing sessions with lectures from holistic psychiatrists, and new Journey to Inner Freedom programs include workshops with emotional healing authority Brandon Bays.

36. Aro HA, New Zealand

Five-, six-, and seven-day retreats, many led by yogi and founder Damian Chaparro, focus on rejuvenating mind and body against some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking landscapes. Think sunrise yoga, kayaking excursions, and strenuous hikes on the trails of New Zealand’s Southern Alps and along the shores of sapphire-blue Lake Wakatipu. Days end with restorative yoga and nourishing, paleo-friendly cuisine.

37. Byron Bay, Australia 

The quintessential beach town, Byron Bay overflows with juice bars, organic cafés, and boutique yoga studios. Byron Yoga Centre, founded in 1988 by John Ogilvie, is one of Australia’s longest-running yoga schools. Ogilvie’s signature style of Purna Yoga focuses on integrating physical postures and philosophy. Meanwhile, Byron Bay newcomer Bamboo Yoga School has already amassed a strong community thanks to its open-air bamboo “tentple” (a cross between a tent and temple) and variety of classes including yoga nidra, hatha, vinyasa, and yin.

About our authors

Jen Murphy travels the globe reporting on adventure travel, wellness, food, and conservation. She writes the Wall Street Journal’s What’s Your Workout column and is the author of The Yoga (Man)ual.

Additional reporting by Kyle Houseworth.

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37 magical, mindful yoga destinations from nearly every continent.

North America

1. Feathered Pipe Ranch, Helena, Montana

Teacher and Yoga Journal cofounder Judith Hanson Lasater has been hosting yoga retreats at this spacious ranch since 1975. “It’s like summer camp for yogis,” she says: “Jaw-dropping scenery in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, magnificent food, fresh spring water, twice-daily yoga classes, and a week steeped in the silence of nature.” To pay respect to the sacred Native American land the retreat rests on, founder India Supera created the Feathered Pipe Foundation to help preserve ceremonial traditions of the Cree people. Feathered Pipe continues to foster humanitarian efforts that give life to new nonprofits while maintaining missions such as the Veterans Yoga Project and the Tibetan Children’s Education Foundation.

Feathered Pipe Ranch, Helena, Montana

2. Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Stockbridge, Massachusetts

With an international network of 2,000 instructors teaching more than 700 programs to 30,000 guests a year, education is front and center at this verdant campus in the Berkshires. For the past decade, Kripalu has led the way in groundbreaking research on yoga and trauma in collaboration with experts from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

See also Style Profile: Kripalu Yoga

3. Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is known for spiritual vortexes—powerful energy centers where visitors can allegedly pick up on sacred frequencies. Healers and enlightenment seekers worldwide travel to its towering red-rock spires hoping to tap into higher consciousness. Each March, the three-day Sedona Yoga Festival draws thousands of practitioners with its lineup of 200 classes and performances by kirtan artists such as Johanna Beekman. Regulars tout an intimate setting where you’re likely to run into presenters (think ISHTA Yoga founder Alan Finger) in the halls, as well as dedicated workshops on trauma-informed yoga.

Coffee Pot Rock, Sedona, Arizona

4. Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California

This cliff-side retreat opened in 1962 with a series of workshops on yoga and personal growth. Key counter-cultural figures such as Joan Baez and Joseph Campbell were among its early guests and lecturers. Today, renowned wellness leaders and yoga teachers like Andrew Weil, Dean Ornish, and Janet Stone share expertise on trending topics, including the energetics of consciousness and meditation as medicine.

5. Maui, Hawaii

A strong contemplative community and the island’s healthy lifestyle are among the draws that have led Ashtangis such as Nancy Gilgoff, David Williams, and Ram Dass to make their homes here. The Kahanu Garden in Hana is home to the Pi’ilanihale Heiau, the largest Heiau (shrines) in Polynesia and a place of worship dating back to the 13th century. Hawaii’s spiritual emphasis on nature makes it a destination for those seeking to feel the mana (spiritual energy) of the land.

See also Find Peace and Adventure with a Yoga Retreat in Hawaii

6. Boulder, Colorado

Boulder’s vibrant mindfulness community has been growing since the 1970s when Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche—the 11th incarnation of the Trungpa Tulku—established Naropa University, a Buddhist liberal arts college, and Shambhala Mountain Center in a valley above town. While Rinpoche’s legacy has been rocked by scandal, Naropa and Shambhala remain pillars of Buddhist values and mindful practices. Senior yoga teachers Richard Freeman and Amy Ippoliti call Boulder home. Bonus: The Hanuman Festival, held each June, attracts top yoga educators and teachers such as Sreedevi Bringi and Seane Corn.

Los Angeles, California

7. Los Angeles

Paramahansa Yogananda, one of the first Indian spiritual teachers to make his home in the West, called Los Angeles “the Benares of America” (Benares is another name for the Indian city of Varanasi) when he arrived in the 1920s. After setting up the Self-Realization Fellowship's international headquarters atop Mount Washington, he opened a clifftop compound in Encinitas and a waterfall and shrine-studded campus on Sunset Boulevard where a portion of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi are laid to rest. Today, the Lake Shrine—with its waterfront meditation garden and gold lotus–topped temple where resident monks hold services and give lectures—remains an oasis for contemplation. LA’s robust Kundalini scene (Golden Bridge Yoga Studio, RAMA Institute in Venice) traces its roots back to 1969, when Yogi Bhajan started teaching the distinctive style on Melrose Avenue. Wanderlust headquarters in Hollywood is LA’s latest yoga hub, hosting fusion classes and workshops by wellness gurus such as Taryn Toomey and senior yoga teacher Annie Carpenter.

See also 6 Principles We Learned on the West Coast to Cultivate Focus

8. Salt Spring Centre of Yoga, British Columbia

In 1981, members of the Dharma Sara Satsang Society, a yoga community inspired by the teachings of Indian Ashtangi master and silent monk Baba Hari Dass, purchased a 69-acre patch of cedar forest and meadows on Salt Spring Island. Today, the property’s restored turn-of-the-century farmhouse is the longest-running yoga retreat center on Canada’s West Coast. Public offerings include monthly full-moon pujas (spiritual cleansings), while 10-week residential programs combine service (tending the on-site farm, preparing vegetarian meals) with asana and theory classes covering classic yoga texts.

See also 6 Destination Ashrams for an Authentic Yoga Experience

9. Ojai, California

A bustling hub of ashrams, yoga centers, and spiritual retreats— and dubbed Shangri-La by locals (a nod to the surrounding valley’s cameo as the fictional utopia in the classic film Lost Horizon)—Ojai’s surrounding Topatopa and Sulphur mountains are what attracted Indian philosopher J. Krishnamurti in the 1920s. Today, his teachings continue via programs at the Krishnamurti Educational Center.

10. Chopra Center, Carlsbad, California

The palm-shaded Omni La Costa Resort & Spa may seem like an unlikely setting for the cutting-edge work of the Chopra Center’s Mind-Body Medical Group, but here, experts in hypnotherapy, integrative oncology, and pranic healing (a form of no-touch energy healing) combine holistic practices and Western medicine. Try one of their Perfect Health retreats where itineraries feature daily yoga and meditation, Ayurvedic meals, spa treatments, and medical consultations from Vedic educators and integrative-medicine experts.

New York City

11. New York City

New York City is home to some of Western yoga’s most notable teachers, including Eddie Stern, Genevieve Kapuler, Elena Brower, Dharma Mittra, Alison West, and Lauren Ash. “HealHaus in Brooklyn is my go-to haven for spiritual support,” says Ash, founder of mindful lifestyle brand Black Girl in Om. “The studio’s mission—to promote healing as a lifestyle—is a beautiful example of what it means to hold sustainable space and intentional presence for diverse people.” New York’s got everything from trendy new Y7 yoga­—which utilizes heat, hip-hop music, and dark candle-lit rooms—to traditional Iyengar Yoga at the Iyengar Yoga Institute. And if you need a break from the city, head north 90 miles to the iconic Omega Institute—a wooded, 42-year-old health and wellness campus that sees more than 23,000 students a year.

See topic United States Yoga Travel

Europe

12. Elysia Yoga Convention, Aegiali, Amorgos

Located on the island of Amorgos in Greece, the Elysia Yoga Convention is a conglomeration of yoga practitioners, enthusiasts, and wellness coaches. In ancient literature, Elysia was a divine final resting place for the souls of heroes, setting the tone for a complete mind-body yoga retreat.

See also Replenish Your Energy at an Island Yoga Retreat in Greece

13. Mountain Yoga Festival, St. Anton, Austria

This event, held in the birthplace of modern skiing, offers a heavy dose of outdoor wellness. Intimacy is part of the draw: Fewer than 300 attendees and teachers from around the world gather to fill their souls with music and movement. Alpine hikes and lectures by Jivamukti teacher Karl Straub and nutritional biochemist Florian Überall roundout the lineup.

14. Schloss Elmau, Bavaria, Germany

Since opening in 1916, this wellness and culture sanctuary in the Bavarian Alps has welcomed luminaries (author Ian McEwan, jazz musician Paolo Fresu) to its concert hall and lecture library. Here, you’ll find an annual yoga summit where Europe’s top teachers, such as Barbra Noh and Timo Wahl, lead lectures, asana, and meditation sessions against the backdrop of the snow-capped Wetterstein mountains.

15. London

London’s yoga scene stands apart from other cities' with its emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility: Ourmala offers classes to asylum-seekers, women refugees, and survivors of trafficking; Stillpoint Yoga London (try one of their daily Mysore-style Ashtanga yoga classes held at London Bridge) helps bring the practice into local prisons; and Michael James Wong’s Boys of Yoga platform cultivates stories, videos, and tutorials to break down gender stereo-types in yoga. In addition, popular teachers like Stewart Gilchrist and Claire Missingham call London home, teaching at Triyoga and East London School of Yoga.

See also 6 London Yogis Who Inspire Us to Transcend the Past with Yoga

16. Barcelona Yoga Conference

This five-day event is one of Europe’s largest yoga festivals, attracting more than 1,200 attendees from across the globe to flow with master yogis such as Shiva Rea and Krishna Das, indulge in Thai massage, enjoy music from international performers, try acroyoga with a partner, and lose themselves in ecstatic dance.

17. Bornholm Yoga & Retreat Center, Denmark

Off the southern coast of Sweden, Bornholm is an ideal setting for three-day silent meditation retreats hosted by resident yogi Solveig Egebjerg (who studied with Sharat Aurora, the head of the Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Center) and American Diane Long (a disciple of Iyengar-focused Vanda Scaravelli). Disconnect and unwind with walking meditations along the rocky Baltic coast or workshops aimed at weaving mindfulness into your daily grind.

See also 8 Great European Yoga Vacations You'll Be Dying To Take

18. Suryalila Yoga Retreat Centre, Cadiz, Spain

The Om Dome (an igloo-shaped yoga hall) at this Andalusian retreat might be the most magnificent place to practice in all of Europe, says yoga teacher Tiffany Cruikshank. The geometric studio was designed to resemble a Nepalese temple topped with a golden stupa. Wholesome farm-to-table organic meals are another reason Cruikshank enjoys leading retreats here. Regular teacher trainings by Vidya Jacqueline Heisel, founder of vinyasa-focused Frog Lotus Yoga, and Carol Murphy, founder of Green Lotus Yoga, are other highlights.

See topic Europe Yoga Travel

Africa

19. Kenya

Deborah Calmeyer, the Zimbabwe-born founder of travel company Roar Africa, last year launched a new series of self-discovery retreats called Roar & Restore, incorporating TED Talk–worthy speakers (conservationist Laura Turner Seydel and world-renowned South African artist Dylan Lewis) with yoga, meditation, and safari drives. The conservation-minded Segera Retreat Center, set within 50,000 acres of protected land on the Laikipia Plateau, offers a raw-food menu and garden-shaded yoga decks developed with yogis in mind.

See topic Africa Yoga Travel

20. Taghazout, Morocco

Over the past two decades, a booming surf-and-yoga scene has sprung up in this sleepy fishing village five hours south of Casablanca. Take holiday with Surf Maroc (one of the area’s first surf-yoga retreat companies) for daily “creative vinyasa, powerful pranayama, laughter yoga, restorative, yin, yoga nidra, and meditation.” Between yoga sessions, surf instructors provide hands-on coaching whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned rider. For a taste of the locale, the property’s neighboring rooftop yoga studio offers public classes and a chance to mingle with the local yoga community.

21. Namibia

The country’s sublime scenery—red-sand dunes and a desolate coast riddled with shipwrecks—and commitment to conservation have made it Africa’s new safari superstar. It’s no wonder zeitgeisty yoga companies Escape to Shape and Namaste Yoga Safari are already offering retreats here. Escape to Shape founder Erica Gragg boasts “one epic experience after another: Rhinos at a drinking hole may serve as our drishti in Virabhadrasana II while waves lull us into Savasana after class on the beach.”

Central + South America

22. The Sacred Valley, Peru 

Traditionally, travelers here head straight to historic sanctuary Machu Picchu—but culturally immersive retreats nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley offer a new draw of their own. Splurge on a stay at Sol y Luna boutique hotel knowing a portion of the hotel’s profits fund an adjacent school that provides education, art, and sports for the valley’s youth—and take advantage of outdoor yoga classes. Travelers seeking a more immersive experience should consider eco-retreat Willka T’ika, which incorporates Andean traditions and Q’ero healers. Portions of retreat proceeds support childhood education in remote villages. Organic gardening, sustainable living, and acts of generosity are all woven into the fabric of Willka T’ika. For a more holistic experience in Peru, consider volunteering at Eco Truly Park in Lima. Volunteers participate in teaching yoga classes, organic gardening, and cooking.

Machu Picchu, Peru

23. El Salvador

In the early 1970s, El Salvador was a top surf destination, but the civil war took a heavy toll on residents and tourism. “Now, you see hermanos lejanos [El Salvadorans who moved to the United States and Canada] and tourism returning,” says yoga teacher Lindsay Gonzalez, who operates Balancé Yoga Studio and wellness retreats in the surf town El Tunco. An open-air yoga shala catches the ocean breeze from Balancé’s beachfront setting. “In El Trunco, days revolve around the tides, the wind, and the best surfing conditions,” Gonzalez says. Now that it has a dedicated yoga hub, this surf town just might be the next Nosara.

24. Guatemala

Travelers looking to escape the growing yogi crowds in Mexico have set their sights on the emerging yoga scene in Guatemala, where, in the Mayan village of San Marcos la Laguna, the Yoga Forest Conscious Living Retreat Center is setting the stage for responsible tourism, funding community projects such as shoreline restoration via reed planting and midwife education. Drop in for a class or embark on a personal or group retreat to study Jnana, Ashtanga, Bhakti, and Karma Yoga with their pros.

See topic Latin America Yoga Travel

Caribbean

25. Cuba

Cuba’s dynamism reminds us that yoga is really about community. Eduardo de Jesus Pimentel Vázquez—the godfather of Cuban yoga—has trained more than 12,000 yoga practitioners through the Cuban Yoga Association, which he founded in 1990. His humble Havana studio Vidya offers a glimpse of the city’s tight-knit yoga scene. For the past three years, instructor April Puciata has hosted culturally immersive retreats at the beach-side center Mhai Yoga. Eduardo guest-teaches up to five classes during the week, and Puciata arranges visits with local artists and entrepreneurs, plus side trips to the town of Trinidad. 

26. Nosara, Costa Rica 

Universally considered a yoga mecca, Nosara is home to 32 retreats with serious yoga cred. Both Don Stapleton, longtime director of Kripalu, and Stephan Rechtschaffen, co-founder of the Omega Institute, set up yoga and wellness retreat centers here in the 1990s. More than 6,000 people visit Stapleton’s Nosara Yoga Institute (now Kindness Yoga) annually, known for its mile-long meditation trail and intensive teacher trainings (more than 3,500 graduates over 21 years). At Rechtschaffen’s Blue Spirit, five studios host learning vacations with the Omega Institute that include workshops on unlocking your purpose and Rechtschaffer-led lectures on finding the path to longevity. Located in a blue zone (where a large percentage of the population lives longer than average), the vivacity of Nosara is intimately intertwined with its people and practices.

27. Jungle Bay Resort & Spa, Dominica 

Since opening their rain forest retreat center in 2005, yoga teacher Glenda Raphael and her husband, Sam, have been pioneers of sustainable tourism, stocking up on goods from island farmers, local fishermen, and artisans. Yoga teacher Chrissy Carter has held nine retreats here. Don’t miss Victoria Falls, Champagne Beach, and the Boiling Lake, the name given to one of the world’s few lakes that actually boils, says Carter. The resort, along with many others throughout the island, suffered damages after last year’s hurricane, making now a better time than ever to support the local Dominican economy.

See topic Caribbean Yoga Travel

Asia

28. Bali

While Bali is full of celebrated sites and crawling with soul-seekers, Ayurvedic teacher Sahara Rose prefers the lesser-known OmUnityBali, tucked away from tourist traffic in the northern village of Sudaji. At this super-sustainable eco-homestay founded by Indonesian yogi Zanzan, healing journeys and yoga packages incorporate local experiences such as temple ceremonies and visits to artisan workshops. In the jungles of Ubud, musician Michael Franti invites guest performers to enliven the asana practices at his Soulshine Bali Hotel & Yoga Retreat Oasis. Of course, the island’s biggest party happens during BaliSpirit Festival, a week-long celebration that draws big names like Shiva Rea and Tymi Howard, plus local Indonesian presenters such as Aikikdo, Made Janur, and musician Krisna Floop.

29. Dwarika’s Resort, Nepal

If replenishment is what you’re after, then Dwarika’s Resort—tucked into the hillside just 30 miles from the Tibetan border—should top your short list. After a consultation with an Ayurvedic health care provider, you will be prescribed soothing appointments on your custom itinerary: time in the respiratory-cleansing salt house, a visit with the retreat’s resident naturopath, a walk through the meditation maze, sessions in sound- and color-therapy chambers, and stargazing with an astrology master. Yoga classes offer the ultimate view—distant snow-capped mountains of the Himalayan range.

30. Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Bhutan

Enjoy daily yoga and acupuncture sessions at this all-inclusive retreat center in Paro, Bhutan—a historic valley town surrounded by sacred Buddhist sites. Each room has views of the Eutok Samdrupcholing goenpa monastery, where resident monks welcome guests for morning meditation. Bhutan is known for its medicinal herbs, and guests are encouraged to join spa therapists on foraging excursions in nearby hillsides.

See also Happy Land

31. Rishikesh, India

nestled along the sacred Ganges River in northern India, is a preferred jumping-off point for many teachers and travelers making the pilgrim-age to the birthplace of yoga. Hindus believe that a saint came to the river to offer penance and was forgiven by the god Vishnu. The spiritual town has an ashram for every sensibility, from super-traditional (and affordable) Phool Chatti to pricey Ananda, a luxe resort known for its Ayurvedic treatments. Each March, the city’s largest ashram, Parmarth Niketan, plays host to some of India’s most respected spiritual leaders (Pujya Swami Ramdevji and Acharya Balkrishna) during the week-long, world-famous annual International Yoga Festival. Meanwhile, the Yoga Institute in Santacruz, Mumbai, is the oldest organized yoga center in the world. The nonprofit recently celebrated its 100th birthday, and has certified more than 50,000 teachers in the past century. Today, roughly 2,000 people visit the institute daily for training, wellness services, and to pay homage to the historic site.

See also 13 Important Indian Places Every Yogi Should Visit

32. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has no shortage of stylish beachside yoga retreats, but world-class therapists and teachers—such as Parisian Alexandre Onfroy and Californian Rob Hess—make the trek inland to immerse themselves in local culture at Ulpotha. Located in a working rice village, a committee of locals take part in all decision-making, and guest fees fund a free area clinic. Eleven simple mud huts are sprinkled across 22 acres of dense forests, and monks still live in remote temples in the mountains above. There’s a dedicated yoga shala, but classes also take place beneath the branches of an ancient banyan tree.

33. Kamalaya, Koh Samui, Thailand

Teachers Rodney Yee, Colleen Saidman Yee, Richard Freeman, and Mary Taylor are regular hosts at this retreat founded by John Stewart, a former monk who lived in the Himalayas for 18 years, and his wife, Karina, a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, who built the seaside sanctuary around a jungle-shrouded cave that was once a spiritual retreat for Buddhist monks. Guests can book à la carte therapies and classes such as detoxification, Chi Nei Tsang, and Hatha Yoga, or multi-day packages meant to remedy modern ailments such as technology addiction.

34. Cambodia

Teacher Puravi Joshi calls Cambodia one of the most peaceful places to practice. Immerse yourself in the history and culture of Siem Reap at the Hariharalaya Yoga & Meditation Retreat, named after the Vedic capital of Cambodia. Temples dating to 800 CE surround the two-acre campus. A team of international yoga and meditation instructors lead six-day retreats with Integral Yoga, silent meditation, Dharma talks, and nourishing vegan cuisine.

See topic Asia Yoga Travel

Australia + New Zealand

35. Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Gold Coast, Australia

It’s not uncommon to see wallabies and ’roos hopping across the 500-acre grounds set high up in the ancient gum trees of the Tallebudgera Valley. Mornings focus on yin-inspired movements such as qi gong and restorative yoga, while afternoons are devoted to yang-type activities such as boxing and hiking. Three-day Life in Balance programs integrate equine healing sessions with lectures from holistic psychiatrists, and new Journey to Inner Freedom programs include workshops with emotional healing authority Brandon Bays.

36. Aro HA, New Zealand

Five-, six-, and seven-day retreats, many led by yogi and founder Damian Chaparro, focus on rejuvenating mind and body against some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking landscapes. Think sunrise yoga, kayaking excursions, and strenuous hikes on the trails of New Zealand’s Southern Alps and along the shores of sapphire-blue Lake Wakatipu. Days end with restorative yoga and nourishing, paleo-friendly cuisine.

37. Byron Bay, Australia 

The quintessential beach town, Byron Bay overflows with juice bars, organic cafés, and boutique yoga studios. Byron Yoga Centre, founded in 1988 by John Ogilvie, is one of Australia’s longest-running yoga schools. Ogilvie’s signature style of Purna Yoga focuses on integrating physical postures and philosophy. Meanwhile, Byron Bay newcomer Bamboo Yoga School has already amassed a strong community thanks to its open-air bamboo “tentple” (a cross between a tent and temple) and variety of classes including yoga nidra, hatha, vinyasa, and yin.

About our authors

Jen Murphy travels the globe reporting on adventure travel, wellness, food, and conservation. She writes the Wall Street Journal’s What’s Your Workout column and is the author of The Yoga (Man)ual.

Additional reporting by Kyle Houseworth.

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37 magical, mindful yoga destinations from nearly every continent.

North America

1. Feathered Pipe Ranch, Helena, Montana

Teacher and Yoga Journal cofounder Judith Hanson Lasater has been hosting yoga retreats at this spacious ranch since 1975. “It’s like summer camp for yogis,” she says: “Jaw-dropping scenery in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, magnificent food, fresh spring water, twice-daily yoga classes, and a week steeped in the silence of nature.” To pay respect to the sacred Native American land the retreat rests on, founder India Supera created the Feathered Pipe Foundation to help preserve ceremonial traditions of the Cree people. Feathered Pipe continues to foster humanitarian efforts that give life to new nonprofits while maintaining missions such as the Veterans Yoga Project and the Tibetan Children’s Education Foundation.

Feathered Pipe Ranch, Helena, Montana

2. Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Stockbridge, Massachusetts

With an international network of 2,000 instructors teaching more than 700 programs to 30,000 guests a year, education is front and center at this verdant campus in the Berkshires. For the past decade, Kripalu has led the way in groundbreaking research on yoga and trauma in collaboration with experts from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

See also Style Profile: Kripalu Yoga

3. Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is known for spiritual vortexes—powerful energy centers where visitors can allegedly pick up on sacred frequencies. Healers and enlightenment seekers worldwide travel to its towering red-rock spires hoping to tap into higher consciousness. Each March, the three-day Sedona Yoga Festival draws thousands of practitioners with its lineup of 200 classes and performances by kirtan artists such as Johanna Beekman. Regulars tout an intimate setting where you’re likely to run into presenters (think ISHTA Yoga founder Alan Finger) in the halls, as well as dedicated workshops on trauma-informed yoga.

Coffee Pot Rock, Sedona, Arizona

4. Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California

This cliff-side retreat opened in 1962 with a series of workshops on yoga and personal growth. Key counter-cultural figures such as Joan Baez and Joseph Campbell were among its early guests and lecturers. Today, renowned wellness leaders and yoga teachers like Andrew Weil, Dean Ornish, and Janet Stone share expertise on trending topics, including the energetics of consciousness and meditation as medicine.

5. Maui, Hawaii

A strong contemplative community and the island’s healthy lifestyle are among the draws that have led Ashtangis such as Nancy Gilgoff, David Williams, and Ram Dass to make their homes here. The Kahanu Garden in Hana is home to the Pi’ilanihale Heiau, the largest Heiau (shrines) in Polynesia and a place of worship dating back to the 13th century. Hawaii’s spiritual emphasis on nature makes it a destination for those seeking to feel the mana (spiritual energy) of the land.

See also Find Peace and Adventure with a Yoga Retreat in Hawaii

6. Boulder, Colorado

Boulder’s vibrant mindfulness community has been growing since the 1970s when Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche—the 11th incarnation of the Trungpa Tulku—established Naropa University, a Buddhist liberal arts college, and Shambhala Mountain Center in a valley above town. While Rinpoche’s legacy has been rocked by scandal, Naropa and Shambhala remain pillars of Buddhist values and mindful practices. Senior yoga teachers Richard Freeman and Amy Ippoliti call Boulder home. Bonus: The Hanuman Festival, held each June, attracts top yoga educators and teachers such as Sreedevi Bringi and Seane Corn.

Los Angeles, California

7. Los Angeles

Paramahansa Yogananda, one of the first Indian spiritual teachers to make his home in the West, called Los Angeles “the Benares of America” (Benares is another name for the Indian city of Varanasi) when he arrived in the 1920s. After setting up the Self-Realization Fellowship's international headquarters atop Mount Washington, he opened a clifftop compound in Encinitas and a waterfall and shrine-studded campus on Sunset Boulevard where a portion of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi are laid to rest. Today, the Lake Shrine—with its waterfront meditation garden and gold lotus–topped temple where resident monks hold services and give lectures—remains an oasis for contemplation. LA’s robust Kundalini scene (Golden Bridge Yoga Studio, RAMA Institute in Venice) traces its roots back to 1969, when Yogi Bhajan started teaching the distinctive style on Melrose Avenue. Wanderlust headquarters in Hollywood is LA’s latest yoga hub, hosting fusion classes and workshops by wellness gurus such as Taryn Toomey and senior yoga teacher Annie Carpenter.

See also 6 Principles We Learned on the West Coast to Cultivate Focus

8. Salt Spring Centre of Yoga, British Columbia

In 1981, members of the Dharma Sara Satsang Society, a yoga community inspired by the teachings of Indian Ashtangi master and silent monk Baba Hari Dass, purchased a 69-acre patch of cedar forest and meadows on Salt Spring Island. Today, the property’s restored turn-of-the-century farmhouse is the longest-running yoga retreat center on Canada’s West Coast. Public offerings include monthly full-moon pujas (spiritual cleansings), while 10-week residential programs combine service (tending the on-site farm, preparing vegetarian meals) with asana and theory classes covering classic yoga texts.

See also 6 Destination Ashrams for an Authentic Yoga Experience

9. Ojai, California

A bustling hub of ashrams, yoga centers, and spiritual retreats— and dubbed Shangri-La by locals (a nod to the surrounding valley’s cameo as the fictional utopia in the classic film Lost Horizon)—Ojai’s surrounding Topatopa and Sulphur mountains are what attracted Indian philosopher J. Krishnamurti in the 1920s. Today, his teachings continue via programs at the Krishnamurti Educational Center.

10. Chopra Center, Carlsbad, California

The palm-shaded Omni La Costa Resort & Spa may seem like an unlikely setting for the cutting-edge work of the Chopra Center’s Mind-Body Medical Group, but here, experts in hypnotherapy, integrative oncology, and pranic healing (a form of no-touch energy healing) combine holistic practices and Western medicine. Try one of their Perfect Health retreats where itineraries feature daily yoga and meditation, Ayurvedic meals, spa treatments, and medical consultations from Vedic educators and integrative-medicine experts.

New York City

11. New York City

New York City is home to some of Western yoga’s most notable teachers, including Eddie Stern, Genevieve Kapuler, Elena Brower, Dharma Mittra, Alison West, and Lauren Ash. “HealHaus in Brooklyn is my go-to haven for spiritual support,” says Ash, founder of mindful lifestyle brand Black Girl in Om. “The studio’s mission—to promote healing as a lifestyle—is a beautiful example of what it means to hold sustainable space and intentional presence for diverse people.” New York’s got everything from trendy new Y7 yoga­—which utilizes heat, hip-hop music, and dark candle-lit rooms—to traditional Iyengar Yoga at the Iyengar Yoga Institute. And if you need a break from the city, head north 90 miles to the iconic Omega Institute—a wooded, 42-year-old health and wellness campus that sees more than 23,000 students a year.

See topic United States Yoga Travel

Europe

12. Elysia Yoga Convention, Aegiali, Amorgos

Located on the island of Amorgos in Greece, the Elysia Yoga Convention is a conglomeration of yoga practitioners, enthusiasts, and wellness coaches. In ancient literature, Elysia was a divine final resting place for the souls of heroes, setting the tone for a complete mind-body yoga retreat.

See also Replenish Your Energy at an Island Yoga Retreat in Greece

13. Mountain Yoga Festival, St. Anton, Austria

This event, held in the birthplace of modern skiing, offers a heavy dose of outdoor wellness. Intimacy is part of the draw: Fewer than 300 attendees and teachers from around the world gather to fill their souls with music and movement. Alpine hikes and lectures by Jivamukti teacher Karl Straub and nutritional biochemist Florian Überall roundout the lineup.

14. Schloss Elmau, Bavaria, Germany

Since opening in 1916, this wellness and culture sanctuary in the Bavarian Alps has welcomed luminaries (author Ian McEwan, jazz musician Paolo Fresu) to its concert hall and lecture library. Here, you’ll find an annual yoga summit where Europe’s top teachers, such as Barbra Noh and Timo Wahl, lead lectures, asana, and meditation sessions against the backdrop of the snow-capped Wetterstein mountains.

15. London

London’s yoga scene stands apart from other cities' with its emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility: Ourmala offers classes to asylum-seekers, women refugees, and survivors of trafficking; Stillpoint Yoga London (try one of their daily Mysore-style Ashtanga yoga classes held at London Bridge) helps bring the practice into local prisons; and Michael James Wong’s Boys of Yoga platform cultivates stories, videos, and tutorials to break down gender stereo-types in yoga. In addition, popular teachers like Stewart Gilchrist and Claire Missingham call London home, teaching at Triyoga and East London School of Yoga.

See also 6 London Yogis Who Inspire Us to Transcend the Past with Yoga

16. Barcelona Yoga Conference

This five-day event is one of Europe’s largest yoga festivals, attracting more than 1,200 attendees from across the globe to flow with master yogis such as Shiva Rea and Krishna Das, indulge in Thai massage, enjoy music from international performers, try acroyoga with a partner, and lose themselves in ecstatic dance.

17. Bornholm Yoga & Retreat Center, Denmark

Off the southern coast of Sweden, Bornholm is an ideal setting for three-day silent meditation retreats hosted by resident yogi Solveig Egebjerg (who studied with Sharat Aurora, the head of the Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Center) and American Diane Long (a disciple of Iyengar-focused Vanda Scaravelli). Disconnect and unwind with walking meditations along the rocky Baltic coast or workshops aimed at weaving mindfulness into your daily grind.

See also 8 Great European Yoga Vacations You'll Be Dying To Take

18. Suryalila Yoga Retreat Centre, Cadiz, Spain

The Om Dome (an igloo-shaped yoga hall) at this Andalusian retreat might be the most magnificent place to practice in all of Europe, says yoga teacher Tiffany Cruikshank. The geometric studio was designed to resemble a Nepalese temple topped with a golden stupa. Wholesome farm-to-table organic meals are another reason Cruikshank enjoys leading retreats here. Regular teacher trainings by Vidya Jacqueline Heisel, founder of vinyasa-focused Frog Lotus Yoga, and Carol Murphy, founder of Green Lotus Yoga, are other highlights.

See topic Europe Yoga Travel

Africa

19. Kenya

Deborah Calmeyer, the Zimbabwe-born founder of travel company Roar Africa, last year launched a new series of self-discovery retreats called Roar & Restore, incorporating TED Talk–worthy speakers (conservationist Laura Turner Seydel and world-renowned South African artist Dylan Lewis) with yoga, meditation, and safari drives. The conservation-minded Segera Retreat Center, set within 50,000 acres of protected land on the Laikipia Plateau, offers a raw-food menu and garden-shaded yoga decks developed with yogis in mind.

See topic Africa Yoga Travel

20. Taghazout, Morocco

Over the past two decades, a booming surf-and-yoga scene has sprung up in this sleepy fishing village five hours south of Casablanca. Take holiday with Surf Maroc (one of the area’s first surf-yoga retreat companies) for daily “creative vinyasa, powerful pranayama, laughter yoga, restorative, yin, yoga nidra, and meditation.” Between yoga sessions, surf instructors provide hands-on coaching whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned rider. For a taste of the locale, the property’s neighboring rooftop yoga studio offers public classes and a chance to mingle with the local yoga community.

21. Namibia

The country’s sublime scenery—red-sand dunes and a desolate coast riddled with shipwrecks—and commitment to conservation have made it Africa’s new safari superstar. It’s no wonder zeitgeisty yoga companies Escape to Shape and Namaste Yoga Safari are already offering retreats here. Escape to Shape founder Erica Gragg boasts “one epic experience after another: Rhinos at a drinking hole may serve as our drishti in Virabhadrasana II while waves lull us into Savasana after class on the beach.”

Central + South America

22. The Sacred Valley, Peru 

Traditionally, travelers here head straight to historic sanctuary Machu Picchu—but culturally immersive retreats nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley offer a new draw of their own. Splurge on a stay at Sol y Luna boutique hotel knowing a portion of the hotel’s profits fund an adjacent school that provides education, art, and sports for the valley’s youth—and take advantage of outdoor yoga classes. Travelers seeking a more immersive experience should consider eco-retreat Willka T’ika, which incorporates Andean traditions and Q’ero healers. Portions of retreat proceeds support childhood education in remote villages. Organic gardening, sustainable living, and acts of generosity are all woven into the fabric of Willka T’ika. For a more holistic experience in Peru, consider volunteering at Eco Truly Park in Lima. Volunteers participate in teaching yoga classes, organic gardening, and cooking.

Machu Picchu, Peru

23. El Salvador

In the early 1970s, El Salvador was a top surf destination, but the civil war took a heavy toll on residents and tourism. “Now, you see hermanos lejanos [El Salvadorans who moved to the United States and Canada] and tourism returning,” says yoga teacher Lindsay Gonzalez, who operates Balancé Yoga Studio and wellness retreats in the surf town El Tunco. An open-air yoga shala catches the ocean breeze from Balancé’s beachfront setting. “In El Trunco, days revolve around the tides, the wind, and the best surfing conditions,” Gonzalez says. Now that it has a dedicated yoga hub, this surf town just might be the next Nosara.

24. Guatemala

Travelers looking to escape the growing yogi crowds in Mexico have set their sights on the emerging yoga scene in Guatemala, where, in the Mayan village of San Marcos la Laguna, the Yoga Forest Conscious Living Retreat Center is setting the stage for responsible tourism, funding community projects such as shoreline restoration via reed planting and midwife education. Drop in for a class or embark on a personal or group retreat to study Jnana, Ashtanga, Bhakti, and Karma Yoga with their pros.

See topic Latin America Yoga Travel

Caribbean

25. Cuba

Cuba’s dynamism reminds us that yoga is really about community. Eduardo de Jesus Pimentel Vázquez—the godfather of Cuban yoga—has trained more than 12,000 yoga practitioners through the Cuban Yoga Association, which he founded in 1990. His humble Havana studio Vidya offers a glimpse of the city’s tight-knit yoga scene. For the past three years, instructor April Puciata has hosted culturally immersive retreats at the beach-side center Mhai Yoga. Eduardo guest-teaches up to five classes during the week, and Puciata arranges visits with local artists and entrepreneurs, plus side trips to the town of Trinidad. 

26. Nosara, Costa Rica 

Universally considered a yoga mecca, Nosara is home to 32 retreats with serious yoga cred. Both Don Stapleton, longtime director of Kripalu, and Stephan Rechtschaffen, co-founder of the Omega Institute, set up yoga and wellness retreat centers here in the 1990s. More than 6,000 people visit Stapleton’s Nosara Yoga Institute (now Kindness Yoga) annually, known for its mile-long meditation trail and intensive teacher trainings (more than 3,500 graduates over 21 years). At Rechtschaffen’s Blue Spirit, five studios host learning vacations with the Omega Institute that include workshops on unlocking your purpose and Rechtschaffer-led lectures on finding the path to longevity. Located in a blue zone (where a large percentage of the population lives longer than average), the vivacity of Nosara is intimately intertwined with its people and practices.

27. Jungle Bay Resort & Spa, Dominica 

Since opening their rain forest retreat center in 2005, yoga teacher Glenda Raphael and her husband, Sam, have been pioneers of sustainable tourism, stocking up on goods from island farmers, local fishermen, and artisans. Yoga teacher Chrissy Carter has held nine retreats here. Don’t miss Victoria Falls, Champagne Beach, and the Boiling Lake, the name given to one of the world’s few lakes that actually boils, says Carter. The resort, along with many others throughout the island, suffered damages after last year’s hurricane, making now a better time than ever to support the local Dominican economy.

See topic Caribbean Yoga Travel

Asia

28. Bali

While Bali is full of celebrated sites and crawling with soul-seekers, Ayurvedic teacher Sahara Rose prefers the lesser-known OmUnityBali, tucked away from tourist traffic in the northern village of Sudaji. At this super-sustainable eco-homestay founded by Indonesian yogi Zanzan, healing journeys and yoga packages incorporate local experiences such as temple ceremonies and visits to artisan workshops. In the jungles of Ubud, musician Michael Franti invites guest performers to enliven the asana practices at his Soulshine Bali Hotel & Yoga Retreat Oasis. Of course, the island’s biggest party happens during BaliSpirit Festival, a week-long celebration that draws big names like Shiva Rea and Tymi Howard, plus local Indonesian presenters such as Aikikdo, Made Janur, and musician Krisna Floop.

29. Dwarika’s Resort, Nepal

If replenishment is what you’re after, then Dwarika’s Resort—tucked into the hillside just 30 miles from the Tibetan border—should top your short list. After a consultation with an Ayurvedic health care provider, you will be prescribed soothing appointments on your custom itinerary: time in the respiratory-cleansing salt house, a visit with the retreat’s resident naturopath, a walk through the meditation maze, sessions in sound- and color-therapy chambers, and stargazing with an astrology master. Yoga classes offer the ultimate view—distant snow-capped mountains of the Himalayan range.

30. Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Bhutan

Enjoy daily yoga and acupuncture sessions at this all-inclusive retreat center in Paro, Bhutan—a historic valley town surrounded by sacred Buddhist sites. Each room has views of the Eutok Samdrupcholing goenpa monastery, where resident monks welcome guests for morning meditation. Bhutan is known for its medicinal herbs, and guests are encouraged to join spa therapists on foraging excursions in nearby hillsides.

See also Happy Land

31. Rishikesh, India

nestled along the sacred Ganges River in northern India, is a preferred jumping-off point for many teachers and travelers making the pilgrim-age to the birthplace of yoga. Hindus believe that a saint came to the river to offer penance and was forgiven by the god Vishnu. The spiritual town has an ashram for every sensibility, from super-traditional (and affordable) Phool Chatti to pricey Ananda, a luxe resort known for its Ayurvedic treatments. Each March, the city’s largest ashram, Parmarth Niketan, plays host to some of India’s most respected spiritual leaders (Pujya Swami Ramdevji and Acharya Balkrishna) during the week-long, world-famous annual International Yoga Festival. Meanwhile, the Yoga Institute in Santacruz, Mumbai, is the oldest organized yoga center in the world. The nonprofit recently celebrated its 100th birthday, and has certified more than 50,000 teachers in the past century. Today, roughly 2,000 people visit the institute daily for training, wellness services, and to pay homage to the historic site.

See also 13 Important Indian Places Every Yogi Should Visit

32. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has no shortage of stylish beachside yoga retreats, but world-class therapists and teachers—such as Parisian Alexandre Onfroy and Californian Rob Hess—make the trek inland to immerse themselves in local culture at Ulpotha. Located in a working rice village, a committee of locals take part in all decision-making, and guest fees fund a free area clinic. Eleven simple mud huts are sprinkled across 22 acres of dense forests, and monks still live in remote temples in the mountains above. There’s a dedicated yoga shala, but classes also take place beneath the branches of an ancient banyan tree.

33. Kamalaya, Koh Samui, Thailand

Teachers Rodney Yee, Colleen Saidman Yee, Richard Freeman, and Mary Taylor are regular hosts at this retreat founded by John Stewart, a former monk who lived in the Himalayas for 18 years, and his wife, Karina, a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, who built the seaside sanctuary around a jungle-shrouded cave that was once a spiritual retreat for Buddhist monks. Guests can book à la carte therapies and classes such as detoxification, Chi Nei Tsang, and Hatha Yoga, or multi-day packages meant to remedy modern ailments such as technology addiction.

34. Cambodia

Teacher Puravi Joshi calls Cambodia one of the most peaceful places to practice. Immerse yourself in the history and culture of Siem Reap at the Hariharalaya Yoga & Meditation Retreat, named after the Vedic capital of Cambodia. Temples dating to 800 CE surround the two-acre campus. A team of international yoga and meditation instructors lead six-day retreats with Integral Yoga, silent meditation, Dharma talks, and nourishing vegan cuisine.

See topic Asia Yoga Travel

Australia + New Zealand

35. Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Gold Coast, Australia

It’s not uncommon to see wallabies and ’roos hopping across the 500-acre grounds set high up in the ancient gum trees of the Tallebudgera Valley. Mornings focus on yin-inspired movements such as qi gong and restorative yoga, while afternoons are devoted to yang-type activities such as boxing and hiking. Three-day Life in Balance programs integrate equine healing sessions with lectures from holistic psychiatrists, and new Journey to Inner Freedom programs include workshops with emotional healing authority Brandon Bays.

36. Aro HA, New Zealand

Five-, six-, and seven-day retreats, many led by yogi and founder Damian Chaparro, focus on rejuvenating mind and body against some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking landscapes. Think sunrise yoga, kayaking excursions, and strenuous hikes on the trails of New Zealand’s Southern Alps and along the shores of sapphire-blue Lake Wakatipu. Days end with restorative yoga and nourishing, paleo-friendly cuisine.

37. Byron Bay, Australia 

The quintessential beach town, Byron Bay overflows with juice bars, organic cafés, and boutique yoga studios. Byron Yoga Centre, founded in 1988 by John Ogilvie, is one of Australia’s longest-running yoga schools. Ogilvie’s signature style of Purna Yoga focuses on integrating physical postures and philosophy. Meanwhile, Byron Bay newcomer Bamboo Yoga School has already amassed a strong community thanks to its open-air bamboo “tentple” (a cross between a tent and temple) and variety of classes including yoga nidra, hatha, vinyasa, and yin.

About our authors

Jen Murphy travels the globe reporting on adventure travel, wellness, food, and conservation. She writes the Wall Street Journal’s What’s Your Workout column and is the author of The Yoga (Man)ual.

Additional reporting by Kyle Houseworth.

[amyddaniels]

Yoga Journal's Best Yoga Retreats and Travel Spots Around the World

37 magical, mindful yoga destinations from nearly every continent.

North America

1. Feathered Pipe Ranch, Helena, Montana

Teacher and Yoga Journal cofounder Judith Hanson Lasater has been hosting yoga retreats at this spacious ranch since 1975. “It’s like summer camp for yogis,” she says: “Jaw-dropping scenery in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, magnificent food, fresh spring water, twice-daily yoga classes, and a week steeped in the silence of nature.” To pay respect to the sacred Native American land the retreat rests on, founder India Supera created the Feathered Pipe Foundation to help preserve ceremonial traditions of the Cree people. Feathered Pipe continues to foster humanitarian efforts that give life to new nonprofits while maintaining missions such as the Veterans Yoga Project and the Tibetan Children’s Education Foundation.

Feathered Pipe Ranch, Helena, Montana

2. Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Stockbridge, Massachusetts

With an international network of 2,000 instructors teaching more than 700 programs to 30,000 guests a year, education is front and center at this verdant campus in the Berkshires. For the past decade, Kripalu has led the way in groundbreaking research on yoga and trauma in collaboration with experts from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

See also Style Profile: Kripalu Yoga

3. Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is known for spiritual vortexes—powerful energy centers where visitors can allegedly pick up on sacred frequencies. Healers and enlightenment seekers worldwide travel to its towering red-rock spires hoping to tap into higher consciousness. Each March, the three-day Sedona Yoga Festival draws thousands of practitioners with its lineup of 200 classes and performances by kirtan artists such as Johanna Beekman. Regulars tout an intimate setting where you’re likely to run into presenters (think ISHTA Yoga founder Alan Finger) in the halls, as well as dedicated workshops on trauma-informed yoga.

Coffee Pot Rock, Sedona, Arizona

4. Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California

This cliff-side retreat opened in 1962 with a series of workshops on yoga and personal growth. Key counter-cultural figures such as Joan Baez and Joseph Campbell were among its early guests and lecturers. Today, renowned wellness leaders and yoga teachers like Andrew Weil, Dean Ornish, and Janet Stone share expertise on trending topics, including the energetics of consciousness and meditation as medicine.

5. Maui, Hawaii

A strong contemplative community and the island’s healthy lifestyle are among the draws that have led Ashtangis such as Nancy Gilgoff, David Williams, and Ram Dass to make their homes here. The Kahanu Garden in Hana is home to the Pi’ilanihale Heiau, the largest Heiau (shrines) in Polynesia and a place of worship dating back to the 13th century. Hawaii’s spiritual emphasis on nature makes it a destination for those seeking to feel the mana (spiritual energy) of the land.

See also Find Peace and Adventure with a Yoga Retreat in Hawaii

6. Boulder, Colorado

Boulder’s vibrant mindfulness community has been growing since the 1970s when Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche—the 11th incarnation of the Trungpa Tulku—established Naropa University, a Buddhist liberal arts college, and Shambhala Mountain Center in a valley above town. While Rinpoche’s legacy has been rocked by scandal, Naropa and Shambhala remain pillars of Buddhist values and mindful practices. Senior yoga teachers Richard Freeman and Amy Ippoliti call Boulder home. Bonus: The Hanuman Festival, held each June, attracts top yoga educators and teachers such as Sreedevi Bringi and Seane Corn.

Los Angeles, California

7. Los Angeles

Paramahansa Yogananda, one of the first Indian spiritual teachers to make his home in the West, called Los Angeles “the Benares of America” (Benares is another name for the Indian city of Varanasi) when he arrived in the 1920s. After setting up the Self-Realization Fellowship's international headquarters atop Mount Washington, he opened a clifftop compound in Encinitas and a waterfall and shrine-studded campus on Sunset Boulevard where a portion of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi are laid to rest. Today, the Lake Shrine—with its waterfront meditation garden and gold lotus–topped temple where resident monks hold services and give lectures—remains an oasis for contemplation. LA’s robust Kundalini scene (Golden Bridge Yoga Studio, RAMA Institute in Venice) traces its roots back to 1969, when Yogi Bhajan started teaching the distinctive style on Melrose Avenue. Wanderlust headquarters in Hollywood is LA’s latest yoga hub, hosting fusion classes and workshops by wellness gurus such as Taryn Toomey and senior yoga teacher Annie Carpenter.

See also 6 Principles We Learned on the West Coast to Cultivate Focus

8. Salt Spring Centre of Yoga, British Columbia

In 1981, members of the Dharma Sara Satsang Society, a yoga community inspired by the teachings of Indian Ashtangi master and silent monk Baba Hari Dass, purchased a 69-acre patch of cedar forest and meadows on Salt Spring Island. Today, the property’s restored turn-of-the-century farmhouse is the longest-running yoga retreat center on Canada’s West Coast. Public offerings include monthly full-moon pujas (spiritual cleansings), while 10-week residential programs combine service (tending the on-site farm, preparing vegetarian meals) with asana and theory classes covering classic yoga texts.

See also 6 Destination Ashrams for an Authentic Yoga Experience

9. Ojai, California

A bustling hub of ashrams, yoga centers, and spiritual retreats— and dubbed Shangri-La by locals (a nod to the surrounding valley’s cameo as the fictional utopia in the classic film Lost Horizon)—Ojai’s surrounding Topatopa and Sulphur mountains are what attracted Indian philosopher J. Krishnamurti in the 1920s. Today, his teachings continue via programs at the Krishnamurti Educational Center.

10. Chopra Center, Carlsbad, California

The palm-shaded Omni La Costa Resort & Spa may seem like an unlikely setting for the cutting-edge work of the Chopra Center’s Mind-Body Medical Group, but here, experts in hypnotherapy, integrative oncology, and pranic healing (a form of no-touch energy healing) combine holistic practices and Western medicine. Try one of their Perfect Health retreats where itineraries feature daily yoga and meditation, Ayurvedic meals, spa treatments, and medical consultations from Vedic educators and integrative-medicine experts.

New York City

11. New York City

New York City is home to some of Western yoga’s most notable teachers, including Eddie Stern, Genevieve Kapuler, Elena Brower, Dharma Mittra, Alison West, and Lauren Ash. “HealHaus in Brooklyn is my go-to haven for spiritual support,” says Ash, founder of mindful lifestyle brand Black Girl in Om. “The studio’s mission—to promote healing as a lifestyle—is a beautiful example of what it means to hold sustainable space and intentional presence for diverse people.” New York’s got everything from trendy new Y7 yoga­—which utilizes heat, hip-hop music, and dark candle-lit rooms—to traditional Iyengar Yoga at the Iyengar Yoga Institute. And if you need a break from the city, head north 90 miles to the iconic Omega Institute—a wooded, 42-year-old health and wellness campus that sees more than 23,000 students a year.

See topic United States Yoga Travel

Europe

12. Elysia Yoga Convention, Aegiali, Amorgos

Located on the island of Amorgos in Greece, the Elysia Yoga Convention is a conglomeration of yoga practitioners, enthusiasts, and wellness coaches. In ancient literature, Elysia was a divine final resting place for the souls of heroes, setting the tone for a complete mind-body yoga retreat.

See also Replenish Your Energy at an Island Yoga Retreat in Greece

13. Mountain Yoga Festival, St. Anton, Austria

This event, held in the birthplace of modern skiing, offers a heavy dose of outdoor wellness. Intimacy is part of the draw: Fewer than 300 attendees and teachers from around the world gather to fill their souls with music and movement. Alpine hikes and lectures by Jivamukti teacher Karl Straub and nutritional biochemist Florian Überall roundout the lineup.

14. Schloss Elmau, Bavaria, Germany

Since opening in 1916, this wellness and culture sanctuary in the Bavarian Alps has welcomed luminaries (author Ian McEwan, jazz musician Paolo Fresu) to its concert hall and lecture library. Here, you’ll find an annual yoga summit where Europe’s top teachers, such as Barbra Noh and Timo Wahl, lead lectures, asana, and meditation sessions against the backdrop of the snow-capped Wetterstein mountains.

15. London

London’s yoga scene stands apart from other cities' with its emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility: Ourmala offers classes to asylum-seekers, women refugees, and survivors of trafficking; Stillpoint Yoga London (try one of their daily Mysore-style Ashtanga yoga classes held at London Bridge) helps bring the practice into local prisons; and Michael James Wong’s Boys of Yoga platform cultivates stories, videos, and tutorials to break down gender stereo-types in yoga. In addition, popular teachers like Stewart Gilchrist and Claire Missingham call London home, teaching at Triyoga and East London School of Yoga.

See also 6 London Yogis Who Inspire Us to Transcend the Past with Yoga

16. Barcelona Yoga Conference

This five-day event is one of Europe’s largest yoga festivals, attracting more than 1,200 attendees from across the globe to flow with master yogis such as Shiva Rea and Krishna Das, indulge in Thai massage, enjoy music from international performers, try acroyoga with a partner, and lose themselves in ecstatic dance.

17. Bornholm Yoga & Retreat Center, Denmark

Off the southern coast of Sweden, Bornholm is an ideal setting for three-day silent meditation retreats hosted by resident yogi Solveig Egebjerg (who studied with Sharat Aurora, the head of the Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Center) and American Diane Long (a disciple of Iyengar-focused Vanda Scaravelli). Disconnect and unwind with walking meditations along the rocky Baltic coast or workshops aimed at weaving mindfulness into your daily grind.

See also 8 Great European Yoga Vacations You'll Be Dying To Take

18. Suryalila Yoga Retreat Centre, Cadiz, Spain

The Om Dome (an igloo-shaped yoga hall) at this Andalusian retreat might be the most magnificent place to practice in all of Europe, says yoga teacher Tiffany Cruikshank. The geometric studio was designed to resemble a Nepalese temple topped with a golden stupa. Wholesome farm-to-table organic meals are another reason Cruikshank enjoys leading retreats here. Regular teacher trainings by Vidya Jacqueline Heisel, founder of vinyasa-focused Frog Lotus Yoga, and Carol Murphy, founder of Green Lotus Yoga, are other highlights.

See topic Europe Yoga Travel

Africa

19. Kenya

Deborah Calmeyer, the Zimbabwe-born founder of travel company Roar Africa, last year launched a new series of self-discovery retreats called Roar & Restore, incorporating TED Talk–worthy speakers (conservationist Laura Turner Seydel and world-renowned South African artist Dylan Lewis) with yoga, meditation, and safari drives. The conservation-minded Segera Retreat Center, set within 50,000 acres of protected land on the Laikipia Plateau, offers a raw-food menu and garden-shaded yoga decks developed with yogis in mind.

See topic Africa Yoga Travel

20. Taghazout, Morocco

Over the past two decades, a booming surf-and-yoga scene has sprung up in this sleepy fishing village five hours south of Casablanca. Take holiday with Surf Maroc (one of the area’s first surf-yoga retreat companies) for daily “creative vinyasa, powerful pranayama, laughter yoga, restorative, yin, yoga nidra, and meditation.” Between yoga sessions, surf instructors provide hands-on coaching whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned rider. For a taste of the locale, the property’s neighboring rooftop yoga studio offers public classes and a chance to mingle with the local yoga community.

21. Namibia

The country’s sublime scenery—red-sand dunes and a desolate coast riddled with shipwrecks—and commitment to conservation have made it Africa’s new safari superstar. It’s no wonder zeitgeisty yoga companies Escape to Shape and Namaste Yoga Safari are already offering retreats here. Escape to Shape founder Erica Gragg boasts “one epic experience after another: Rhinos at a drinking hole may serve as our drishti in Virabhadrasana II while waves lull us into Savasana after class on the beach.”

Central + South America

22. The Sacred Valley, Peru 

Traditionally, travelers here head straight to historic sanctuary Machu Picchu—but culturally immersive retreats nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley offer a new draw of their own. Splurge on a stay at Sol y Luna boutique hotel knowing a portion of the hotel’s profits fund an adjacent school that provides education, art, and sports for the valley’s youth—and take advantage of outdoor yoga classes. Travelers seeking a more immersive experience should consider eco-retreat Willka T’ika, which incorporates Andean traditions and Q’ero healers. Portions of retreat proceeds support childhood education in remote villages. Organic gardening, sustainable living, and acts of generosity are all woven into the fabric of Willka T’ika. For a more holistic experience in Peru, consider volunteering at Eco Truly Park in Lima. Volunteers participate in teaching yoga classes, organic gardening, and cooking.

Machu Picchu, Peru

23. El Salvador

In the early 1970s, El Salvador was a top surf destination, but the civil war took a heavy toll on residents and tourism. “Now, you see hermanos lejanos [El Salvadorans who moved to the United States and Canada] and tourism returning,” says yoga teacher Lindsay Gonzalez, who operates Balancé Yoga Studio and wellness retreats in the surf town El Tunco. An open-air yoga shala catches the ocean breeze from Balancé’s beachfront setting. “In El Trunco, days revolve around the tides, the wind, and the best surfing conditions,” Gonzalez says. Now that it has a dedicated yoga hub, this surf town just might be the next Nosara.

24. Guatemala

Travelers looking to escape the growing yogi crowds in Mexico have set their sights on the emerging yoga scene in Guatemala, where, in the Mayan village of San Marcos la Laguna, the Yoga Forest Conscious Living Retreat Center is setting the stage for responsible tourism, funding community projects such as shoreline restoration via reed planting and midwife education. Drop in for a class or embark on a personal or group retreat to study Jnana, Ashtanga, Bhakti, and Karma Yoga with their pros.

See topic Latin America Yoga Travel

Caribbean

25. Cuba

Cuba’s dynamism reminds us that yoga is really about community. Eduardo de Jesus Pimentel Vázquez—the godfather of Cuban yoga—has trained more than 12,000 yoga practitioners through the Cuban Yoga Association, which he founded in 1990. His humble Havana studio Vidya offers a glimpse of the city’s tight-knit yoga scene. For the past three years, instructor April Puciata has hosted culturally immersive retreats at the beach-side center Mhai Yoga. Eduardo guest-teaches up to five classes during the week, and Puciata arranges visits with local artists and entrepreneurs, plus side trips to the town of Trinidad. 

26. Nosara, Costa Rica 

Universally considered a yoga mecca, Nosara is home to 32 retreats with serious yoga cred. Both Don Stapleton, longtime director of Kripalu, and Stephan Rechtschaffen, co-founder of the Omega Institute, set up yoga and wellness retreat centers here in the 1990s. More than 6,000 people visit Stapleton’s Nosara Yoga Institute (now Kindness Yoga) annually, known for its mile-long meditation trail and intensive teacher trainings (more than 3,500 graduates over 21 years). At Rechtschaffen’s Blue Spirit, five studios host learning vacations with the Omega Institute that include workshops on unlocking your purpose and Rechtschaffer-led lectures on finding the path to longevity. Located in a blue zone (where a large percentage of the population lives longer than average), the vivacity of Nosara is intimately intertwined with its people and practices.

27. Jungle Bay Resort & Spa, Dominica 

Since opening their rain forest retreat center in 2005, yoga teacher Glenda Raphael and her husband, Sam, have been pioneers of sustainable tourism, stocking up on goods from island farmers, local fishermen, and artisans. Yoga teacher Chrissy Carter has held nine retreats here. Don’t miss Victoria Falls, Champagne Beach, and the Boiling Lake, the name given to one of the world’s few lakes that actually boils, says Carter. The resort, along with many others throughout the island, suffered damages after last year’s hurricane, making now a better time than ever to support the local Dominican economy.

See topic Caribbean Yoga Travel

Asia

28. Bali

While Bali is full of celebrated sites and crawling with soul-seekers, Ayurvedic teacher Sahara Rose prefers the lesser-known OmUnityBali, tucked away from tourist traffic in the northern village of Sudaji. At this super-sustainable eco-homestay founded by Indonesian yogi Zanzan, healing journeys and yoga packages incorporate local experiences such as temple ceremonies and visits to artisan workshops. In the jungles of Ubud, musician Michael Franti invites guest performers to enliven the asana practices at his Soulshine Bali Hotel & Yoga Retreat Oasis. Of course, the island’s biggest party happens during BaliSpirit Festival, a week-long celebration that draws big names like Shiva Rea and Tymi Howard, plus local Indonesian presenters such as Aikikdo, Made Janur, and musician Krisna Floop.

29. Dwarika’s Resort, Nepal

If replenishment is what you’re after, then Dwarika’s Resort—tucked into the hillside just 30 miles from the Tibetan border—should top your short list. After a consultation with an Ayurvedic health care provider, you will be prescribed soothing appointments on your custom itinerary: time in the respiratory-cleansing salt house, a visit with the retreat’s resident naturopath, a walk through the meditation maze, sessions in sound- and color-therapy chambers, and stargazing with an astrology master. Yoga classes offer the ultimate view—distant snow-capped mountains of the Himalayan range.

30. Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Bhutan

Enjoy daily yoga and acupuncture sessions at this all-inclusive retreat center in Paro, Bhutan—a historic valley town surrounded by sacred Buddhist sites. Each room has views of the Eutok Samdrupcholing goenpa monastery, where resident monks welcome guests for morning meditation. Bhutan is known for its medicinal herbs, and guests are encouraged to join spa therapists on foraging excursions in nearby hillsides.

See also Happy Land

31. Rishikesh, India

nestled along the sacred Ganges River in northern India, is a preferred jumping-off point for many teachers and travelers making the pilgrim-age to the birthplace of yoga. Hindus believe that a saint came to the river to offer penance and was forgiven by the god Vishnu. The spiritual town has an ashram for every sensibility, from super-traditional (and affordable) Phool Chatti to pricey Ananda, a luxe resort known for its Ayurvedic treatments. Each March, the city’s largest ashram, Parmarth Niketan, plays host to some of India’s most respected spiritual leaders (Pujya Swami Ramdevji and Acharya Balkrishna) during the week-long, world-famous annual International Yoga Festival. Meanwhile, the Yoga Institute in Santacruz, Mumbai, is the oldest organized yoga center in the world. The nonprofit recently celebrated its 100th birthday, and has certified more than 50,000 teachers in the past century. Today, roughly 2,000 people visit the institute daily for training, wellness services, and to pay homage to the historic site.

See also 13 Important Indian Places Every Yogi Should Visit

32. Ulpotha, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has no shortage of stylish beachside yoga retreats, but world-class therapists and teachers—such as Parisian Alexandre Onfroy and Californian Rob Hess—make the trek inland to immerse themselves in local culture at Ulpotha. Located in a working rice village, a committee of locals take part in all decision-making, and guest fees fund a free area clinic. Eleven simple mud huts are sprinkled across 22 acres of dense forests, and monks still live in remote temples in the mountains above. There’s a dedicated yoga shala, but classes also take place beneath the branches of an ancient banyan tree.

33. Kamalaya, Koh Samui, Thailand

Teachers Rodney Yee, Colleen Saidman Yee, Richard Freeman, and Mary Taylor are regular hosts at this retreat founded by John Stewart, a former monk who lived in the Himalayas for 18 years, and his wife, Karina, a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, who built the seaside sanctuary around a jungle-shrouded cave that was once a spiritual retreat for Buddhist monks. Guests can book à la carte therapies and classes such as detoxification, Chi Nei Tsang, and Hatha Yoga, or multi-day packages meant to remedy modern ailments such as technology addiction.

34. Cambodia

Teacher Puravi Joshi calls Cambodia one of the most peaceful places to practice. Immerse yourself in the history and culture of Siem Reap at the Hariharalaya Yoga & Meditation Retreat, named after the Vedic capital of Cambodia. Temples dating to 800 CE surround the two-acre campus. A team of international yoga and meditation instructors lead six-day retreats with Integral Yoga, silent meditation, Dharma talks, and nourishing vegan cuisine.

See topic Asia Yoga Travel

Australia + New Zealand

35. Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Gold Coast, Australia

It’s not uncommon to see wallabies and ’roos hopping across the 500-acre grounds set high up in the ancient gum trees of the Tallebudgera Valley. Mornings focus on yin-inspired movements such as qi gong and restorative yoga, while afternoons are devoted to yang-type activities such as boxing and hiking. Three-day Life in Balance programs integrate equine healing sessions with lectures from holistic psychiatrists, and new Journey to Inner Freedom programs include workshops with emotional healing authority Brandon Bays.

36. Aro HA, New Zealand

Five-, six-, and seven-day retreats, many led by yogi and founder Damian Chaparro, focus on rejuvenating mind and body against some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking landscapes. Think sunrise yoga, kayaking excursions, and strenuous hikes on the trails of New Zealand’s Southern Alps and along the shores of sapphire-blue Lake Wakatipu. Days end with restorative yoga and nourishing, paleo-friendly cuisine.

37. Byron Bay, Australia 

The quintessential beach town, Byron Bay overflows with juice bars, organic cafés, and boutique yoga studios. Byron Yoga Centre, founded in 1988 by John Ogilvie, is one of Australia’s longest-running yoga schools. Ogilvie’s signature style of Purna Yoga focuses on integrating physical postures and philosophy. Meanwhile, Byron Bay newcomer Bamboo Yoga School has already amassed a strong community thanks to its open-air bamboo “tentple” (a cross between a tent and temple) and variety of classes including yoga nidra, hatha, vinyasa, and yin.

About our authors

Jen Murphy travels the globe reporting on adventure travel, wellness, food, and conservation. She writes the Wall Street Journal’s What’s Your Workout column and is the author of The Yoga (Man)ual.

Additional reporting by Kyle Houseworth.

[hazelwilliamsblog]

Grooming Kings: The Right Skincare Brand For Every Type of Man

Skincare has a lot in common with wine. No, really. Bear with us. In the supermarket, you can find both a £5 bottle of plonk and similarly priced face lube in a tube – neither may be fancy, but they will do the job. However, if you visit a wine merchant you’ll come across a £50 bottle that tastes more refined and might be softer on the hangover. Likewise, in a department store you can pick up a £50 moisturiser which smells good, looks nice and keeps your skin happier for longer. For the money-is-no-object brigade, £500+ bottles of wine also exist. As do luxury skin creams with eye-watering price tags.

Where are we going with all this? Well, we’re saying there’s likely a greater improvement between the £5 and £50 bottle, than the £50 and £500 one. This conclusion might annoy some people (sommeliers for example), but most of us don’t have the palette (or wallet) to really observe the difference. The same goes for skincare. A £500 cream might impress a certain type of person, but – we hate to break it to you – there’s no such thing as a face lift in a jar. Some brands might make bold claims, but in reality sun exposure, lifestyle and genes make the biggest difference to how we age. Beyond a certain point you are simply paying for packaging, branding, marketing and status.

So, no matter how much you have to spend, or your individual needs, here’s where you should put your money.

The Botanical Brand: Aēsop

Aēsop brought much-needed aesthetics to the world of grooming; from its eco stylish store fits to the strong, recognisable packaging. For a skincare brand, their best-selling product is actually hand wash. Cult hand wash no less; you wouldn’t Instagram your bathroom without it, would you? Clean hands aside, Aesop make really good things for your face, using mostly natural ingredients.

Skin Heroes: Fabulous Face Oil (£39), B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel (£81), Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser (£27)

The Cult Brand: Buly 1803

The brain child of Ramdane Touhani and Victoire de Taillac, Buly 1803 is like a globetrotter’s apothecary cabinet. The antique styling belies modern formulations that have roots in ancestral grooming methods and natural remedies from different cultures around the world.

Skin Heroes: Pommade Concrète Hand and Foot cream (£38), Pommade Virginale Face Moisturiser (£42), Vide Poche Eye Serum (£26)

The Luxury Brand: Sisley Paris

  A Sisley addiction is an expensive habit to have. It’s a family run skincare company that hasn’t been bought up by one of the major luxury houses, so they tend to launch when they feel they have something new to bring to market and not for the sake of it. They have one dedicated (excellent) moisturiser and aftershave balm for guys, so if you’re comfortable using products that don’t have “for men” emblazoned all over them then it’s well worth exploring the rest of the range; the quality here is top notch.

Skin Heroes: Eye Contour Mask (£90), Sisleyüm for Men Global Revitalizer (£187), Black Rose Cream Mask (£111)

The Designer Brand: Tom Ford For Men

When Tom Ford was looking to launch a skincare brand, he knew the experts at Estée Lauder could deliver his vision. He understands that men want to look their best, but in an easy, natural way, so his skin-enhancing products are basically fool-proof.

Skin Heroes: Intensive Purifying Mud Mask (£48), Bronzing Gel (£21), Oil-Free Daily Moisturiser (£78)

The Holistic Brand: ilāpothecary

Denise Leicester, founder of ilāpothecary, is a healer who wants to treat everybody. She launched her spa and beauty line, ilā, in 2007 and has a background in complimentary medicine, aromatherapy and massage and uses Ayurvedic principles. The ilāpothecary products work like mini spa treatments: they’ll leave you feeling less stressed and your skin in balance.

Skin Heroes: Beardy Balm (£29), Fresh Faced Mud Cleanser (£28), Warming Anti-Breakout Face Mask (£27)

The Affordable Brand: Bulldog

There’s a buzz around sustainability at the moment and a lot of “green wash” too: some brands talk about being good to the environment, while other brands make real changes to lessen their impact. We’ve always liked Bulldog for its affordable, effective products – now we love them because they don’t cost the earth either. They’ve switched to sugar cane derived plastic packaging, offer bulk sizes for economy and brought out the first bamboo razor handle.

Skin Heroes: Sensitive Face Wash (£4.50), Original Moisturiser (£6), Age Defence Eye Roll-On (£10)

The Performance Brand: Lab Series

Trend hunting Lab Series has given us great skin over the years. They’re not “free-from” or conscious but they research what works and know what we’re looking to achieve. Lab Series are on a mission to bring us better skin and in doing so brought out the first BB tinted cream for men and one of the first moisturisers to use skin perfecting blurring technology.

Skin Heroes: Day Rescue Defense Lotion SPF 35 (£31), Multi Action Face Wash (£21), BB Tinted Moisturiser Broad Spectrum SPF 35 (£38)

The Dermatologist Brand: Ole Henriksen

As a dermatologist to Hollywood’s A-List, Ole Henriksen regularly preps men for the scrutiny of the red carpet. He knows a thing or two about getting the best out of our skin and just relaunched his signature line in Boots. It’s a broad range that’s split into four categories for easy navigation: Truth, Transform, Balance and Nurture offer targeted products for anti-ageing, brightening, oil control and dry/sensitive skin, respectively.

Skin Heroes: Banana Bright Eye Crème (£30), Truth Serum (£42), Balancing Force Oil Control Toner (£20)

The Natural Brand: Dr Hauschka

Like skincare that’s made from 100% organic, bio-dynamic ingredients and comes in plastic-free glass and metal packaging? Look to Dr Hauschka, it’s one of the original “free-from” brands. The clarifying range is great for spotty, breakout prone, congested skin – and it’s gentle too.

Skin Heroes: Clarifying Steam Bath (£25.50), Clarifying Clay Mask (£25), Eye Balm (£35.50)

The Spa Brand: Aman Skincare

Top of our bucket list? A trip to an Aman resort: probably Utah’s jaw dropping Amangiri or the ultimate paradise, Amanpulo in the Palawan Islands. This exclusive global chain of tropical hideaways and urban sanctuaries has a set of super fans known as “Aman junkies”. It’s Kim Jones’ default destination for a post Dior fashion show recharge. These aren’t cheap places to visit, so the closest we can get to the Aman experience for now is in our bathroom, using the signature bath and skin line.

Skin Heroes: Grounding Face Mist (£110), Purifying Marine Face Wash (£50), Purifying Hyaluronic Facial Hydrator (£75)

The Barbershop Brand: Baxter of California

Based out of Los Angeles, Baxter of California has been around since 1965. Baxter Finley started his line with the relaunched Super Shape moisturiser and the rest is well-groomed history. Check out the body and cleansing bars if you want to go plastic-free.

Skin Heroes: Daily Face Wash (£19), Facial Scrub (£19), Oil Free Moisturiser (£24)

The post Grooming Kings: The Right Skincare Brand For Every Type of Man appeared first on Ape to Gentleman.

Grooming Kings: The Right Skincare Brand For Every Type of Man syndicated from https://manscapedshop.wordpress.com/

[duqstudents4fairtrade]

The Secret is Out… Fall Spa Week is Extended!

Hey, Spa Lovers and Wellness Gurus! Missed Spa Week and the amazing $50 massages, facials, and other services in your area? Already counting the days until next Spa Week? We have great news: Spa Week is extended at select spas across the country. This means more time to relax, rejuvenate, and feel refreshed during a $50 spa deal. Make sure you book your appointments ASAP, because deals won’t be around until next Spa Week (in April 2019)! Here is the official list of all of the spas who are extending their $50 Spa Week Deals:

Arizona

Amethyst Spa at Wekopa Resort & Conference Center, 480.789.5335, Extending until October 31

Be. Massage, 480.382.7192, Extending until October 31

Dolce Salon & Spa, 480.722.0500, Extending until October 31

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Gilbert 480.237.4496 Extending until October 31

Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Old  Town Scottsdale, 480.939.5228, Extending until October 31

  Madison Avenue Salon & Day Spa – Chandler Fashion Center, 480.899.8905, Extending until October 31

Madison Avenue Salon & Day Spa – Chandler Fulton Ranch, 480.621.7703, Extending until October 31

Madison Avenue Salon & Day Spa – Phoenix Foothills, 480.759.3308, Extending until October 31

Pure Vanity Spa Chandler, 480.867.1788, Extending until October 31

Pure Vanity Spa Peoria, 623.594.4049, Extending until October 31

Pure Vanity Spa Scottsdale, 480.419.8267, Extending until October 31

Sonoran Serenity Spa, 480.772.3297, Extending until October 31

Spa810 – Arrowhead, 623.476.7241, Extending until October 31

Spa810 – Scottsdale Shea, 480.588.6809, Extending until October 31

  California

Los Angeles

Arnol Salon & Spa, 818.246.1645, Extending until October 31

Beverly Hills Beauty Lounge, 310.246.5111 ,Extending until October 31

Cinema Wellness, 323.913.1737, Extending until October 31

Elle Marie Spa, 310.316.4000, Extending until October 31  

Vida Emanuel European Day Spa, 310.246.5111 ,Extending until October 31

  San Bernardino

Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, 909.744.3000, Extending until October 31

  San Diego

Massage Heights – Rancho Penasquitos, 858.504.7277, Extending until October 31

Our Family Spa, 619.724.6000, Extending until October 31

  San Francisco

La Choza Day Spa, 408.448.0573, Extending until October 31

  Colorado

Bloom Skin Studio, 303.551.1622, Extending until October 31

Evexias Medical Center, 720.625.8043, Extending until October 31

RonnaSkin, 303.638.9322, Extending until October 31

Spavia Day Spa – Lowry Town Center, 720.642.7900, Extending until October 31

  Florida

Eden Day Spa, 562.447.7700, Extending until October 31

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Jacksonville Beach, 904 512 7588, Extending until October 31

MassageLuXe – Davie, 954.380.8554, Extending until October 31

MassageLuXe Pembroke Pines– 954.228.7188, Extending until October 31

The Spa at Trump Doral, 305.717.6303, Extending until October 31

The Woodhouse Day Spa – Palm Beach Gardens, 561.385.4772, Extending until October 31st.

  Kentucky

Satori Body Contouring, 859.331.0849, Extending until October 31

  Maryland

European Beaute Concepts, 301.717.1459, Extending until October 31

Herbal Infusion, 301.203.2360,Extending until October 31

Indulgence Massage & Bodywork, 240.334.2780, Extending until October 27

LQ Body & Skin Care Studio, 410.300.3524, Extending until October 31

Neha Threading Salon and Spa, 410.653.2769, Extending until October 31

  Massachusetts

Citrus Spa & Salon 617.277.3339 Extending until October 31

Serenity in the City Salon & Spa, 781.395.4488, Extending until October 31

Serenity in the City Salon & Spa – Stoneham, 781.435.2286, Extending until October 31

Shaun Rogers Studios, 781.599.6735, Extending until October 31

Skin Innovations Skin Care & Spa, 617.332.7546, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York, 617.236.1444, Extending until October 31

The Spa at Boncaldo’s, 617.471.9515, Extending until October 31

To Make Beautiful Skin Spa, 781.454.8415, Extending until October 31

  Nevada

Elements Massage – Henderson, 702.665.6116, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage Rhodes Ranch, 702.586.1338, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage Summerlin, 702.487.6677, Extending until October 31 Facelogic Spa, 702.531.3223, Extending until October 31

  New Jersey

Avatar Spa, 732.332.1102, Extending until October 28

Buinewicz Plastic Surgery & Medspa, 908.968.3529, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage – New Providence, 908.464.1860, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage – Nutley, 973.542.8449, Extending until October 31

Hibiscus Therapeutic Center, 973.783.3381, Extending until October 31

La Maison Salon & Spa, 973.379.3898, Extending until October 31

Oasys Day Spa, 201.728.4212, Extending until October 31

Ocean Place Resort & Spa, 732.483.5717, Extending through October 31

Serenity Day Spa, 201.516.1772, Extending until October 31

Skin and Body Klinic 609.542.0712 Extending until October 31

  The One Beauty, 732.591.8111, Extending until October 31

Tranquil Moments Skin Studio, 908.989.0676, Extending until October 31

Vito Mazza Salon & Spa, 732.636.0119, Extending until October 31

Y Y Beauty Salon, 908.756.3502, Extending until October 31

  New York

Brooklyn

Elan Salon & Day Spa, 718.789.1700,Extending until October 31

Skin Station – Sunset Park, 718.686.8881, Extending until October 31

Venelle Salon & Spa, 718.989.9855, Extending until October 31

  Long Island:

Blue Salon and Spa, 631.751.0822, Extending until October 31

Center for Pain Relief and Wellness, 631.422.3355, Extending until October 31

Glowinskin Esthetics, 516.801.4668, Extending until October 26

Joseph Christopher For Beauty & Wellness, 516.889.3900, Extending until October 31

Laser Plus Spa, 516.785.0700, Extending until October 31

Lord & Taylor Salon & Spa,  516.627.1172, Extending until October 31

New York Face Place, 516.294.9454, Extending until October 31

nu glo medi-spa, 516.374.8456, Extending until October 31

O Spa – Garden City, 516.877.1888, Extending until October 31

Orange Skye Body & Beauty Bar, 516.284.6378, Extending until October 27

VITA Ageless Medical Aesthetics, 516.626.6800, Extending until October 31

  Manhattan

Anta Skin & Laser Spa, 646.484.6727, Extending until October 31

Beyond Beautiful Aesthetics, 888.668.4618, Extending until October 31

Ettia Holistic Day Spa, 212.362.7109, Extending until October 25

Face + Body by Dorit Baxter, 212.371.4542, Extending until October 31

Faina European Day Spa, 212.245.6557, Extending until October 31

GemVie MediSpa, 212.447.8494, Extending until October 31

Harlem Skin & Laser Clinic, 917.309.6607, Extending until October 31

Heart Sea Spa, 212.608.6633, Extending until October 31

Just Melt, 212.447.1155, Extending until October 31

KUR Skin Lab, 212.951.0488, Extending Until October 31

L’Institut Sothys New York, 212.688.9400, Extending until Oct 25

Le Bon Skin Lab, 888.968.8698, Extending until October 31

Lenox Hill Laser Esthetic, 201.960.9857, Extending until October 31

Mirza Aesthetics, 973.493.7607, Extending until October 31

Orchid Aesthetics Medical Spa, 212.595.1958, Extending until October 31

Radiance Aesthetics & Wellness, 212.752.5745, Extending until October 31

Red & White Spa Midtown, 646.649.5324, Extending until October 31

Rehoboth Spa Lounge, 212.462.4957, Extending until October 28

SkinOvation, 212.641.0668, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – Flatiron/ Chelsea, 212.620.0033, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – MIdtown, 212.684.4914, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – Midtown East / Murray Hill, 212.883.1125, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – Soho, 212.925.1956, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York- Midtown West / 57th Street, 212.707.8730, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York- Fashion District, 212.631.7705, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – Upper East Side, 212.486.2110, Extending until October 31

Skin Station – Manhattan, 212.343.7911, Extending until October 31

SKN Spa, 212.581.1398, Extending until October 31

Smooth Synergy Cosmedical Spa, 212.397.0111, Extending until October 31

Spa Jolie, 212.229.1389, Extending until October 31

Tatiana Day Spa, 718.828.0999, Extending until October 31

Tribeca Beauty Spa, 212.343.2376, Extending until October 26

Tribeca Spa of Tranquility, 212.226.4141, Extending until October 31

UpLift Spa, 646.952.2084, Extending until October 31

Yihan Spa, 646.880.9999, Extending until October 31

  Queens

Blossom In Astoria Day Spa, 718.278.2324, Extending until October 31

Skin Station – Flushing, 718.961.4505, Extending until October 31

  Rockland County

Rockland Skincare & Body Bliss Spa, 845.501.7325, Extending until October 31

  Staten Island

Skin Station – Forest Avenue, 718.442.9828, Extending until October 31

  Westchester

Borner Touch, 914.273.7900, Extending until October 31

Euro Laser Spa Services, 914.921.3265, Extending until October 31

Golden Day Spa, 914.237.5112, Extending until October 31

Lord & Taylor Salon & Spa,  914.725.8430, Extending until October 31

Nicholas Day Spa and Salon, 914.738.3838, Extending until October 31

Skin Station – Yonkers, 914.395.3260, Extending until October 31

Youtherapy Medical, 914.574.2709, Extending until October 28

  Ohio

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Dayton, 937.350.6669, Extending until October 31

LipoLaser of West Chester, 513.655.0048, Extending until October 31

Spa Lavender, 440.394.8633, Extending until October 31

Vedas Ayurvedic Spa, 216.298.5115, Extending until October 27

Touch Therapy Massage- Bexley 614.237.6373 Extending until October 31

Touch Therapy Massage – West 614.851.4442 Extending until October 31

  Pennsylvania

Buinewicz Plastic Surgery & Medspa, 215.230.4013, Extending until October 31

  North Carolina

Cary Massage, 919.651.9910, Extending until October 27

Spa Botanica at Embassy Suites, 704.454.1750, Extending until October 25

Synergy Face & Body, 919.510.5130, Extending until October 28

  Tennessee

The Woodhouse Day Spa Chattanooga, 423.443.4478, Extending until October 31

The Woodhouse Day Spa Franklin, 615.764.0004, Extending until October 31

  Texas

Dallas

Massage Heights – Robertson’s Creek, 972.249.9790, Extending until October 31

The Serenity Room Day Spa, 817.382.9980. Extending until October 31.

  Houston

Avalon School of Massage, 713.333.5250, Extending until October 31

  Virginia

Body Sculpt Laser Spa, 571.549.1070, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage Vienna, 703.865.7676, Extending until October 31

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Winchester, 540.508.0536, Extending until October 31

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Haymarket, 703.291.4998, Extending until October 31

Health and Beauty for Life, 703.717.9647, Extending until October 31

The Look Salon and Day Spa, 757.548.6550, Extending until October 27

The Wellness Cooperative, 703.507.0463, Extending until October 31

Whole Health Medical Center & Medspa, 571.357.2229, Extending until October 31

Whole Health Medical Center & Medspa, 703.273.6373, Extending until October 31

  Washington, DC

Lord & Taylor Salon & Spa,  202.362.7814, Extending until October 31

Personal Esthetics, 202.618.0678, Extending until October 31

[Read More ...] http://blog.spaweek.com/2018/10/19/secret-fall-spa-week-extended/

[artsoccupychi]

The Secret is Out… Fall Spa Week is Extended!

Hey, Spa Lovers and Wellness Gurus! Missed Spa Week and the amazing $50 massages, facials, and other services in your area? Already counting the days until next Spa Week? We have great news: Spa Week is extended at select spas across the country. This means more time to relax, rejuvenate, and feel refreshed during a $50 spa deal. Make sure you book your appointments ASAP, because deals won’t be around until next Spa Week (in April 2019)! Here is the official list of all of the spas who are extending their $50 Spa Week Deals:

Arizona

Amethyst Spa at Wekopa Resort & Conference Center, 480.789.5335, Extending until October 31

Be. Massage, 480.382.7192, Extending until October 31

Dolce Salon & Spa, 480.722.0500, Extending until October 31

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Gilbert 480.237.4496 Extending until October 31

Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Old  Town Scottsdale, 480.939.5228, Extending until October 31

  Madison Avenue Salon & Day Spa – Chandler Fashion Center, 480.899.8905, Extending until October 31

Madison Avenue Salon & Day Spa – Chandler Fulton Ranch, 480.621.7703, Extending until October 31

Madison Avenue Salon & Day Spa – Phoenix Foothills, 480.759.3308, Extending until October 31

Pure Vanity Spa Chandler, 480.867.1788, Extending until October 31

Pure Vanity Spa Peoria, 623.594.4049, Extending until October 31

Pure Vanity Spa Scottsdale, 480.419.8267, Extending until October 31

Sonoran Serenity Spa, 480.772.3297, Extending until October 31

Spa810 – Arrowhead, 623.476.7241, Extending until October 31

Spa810 – Scottsdale Shea, 480.588.6809, Extending until October 31

  California

Los Angeles

Arnol Salon & Spa, 818.246.1645, Extending until October 31

Beverly Hills Beauty Lounge, 310.246.5111 ,Extending until October 31

Cinema Wellness, 323.913.1737, Extending until October 31

Elle Marie Spa, 310.316.4000, Extending until October 31  

Vida Emanuel European Day Spa, 310.246.5111 ,Extending until October 31

  San Bernardino

Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, 909.744.3000, Extending until October 31

  San Diego

Massage Heights – Rancho Penasquitos, 858.504.7277, Extending until October 31

Our Family Spa, 619.724.6000, Extending until October 31

  San Francisco

La Choza Day Spa, 408.448.0573, Extending until October 31

  Colorado

Bloom Skin Studio, 303.551.1622, Extending until October 31

Evexias Medical Center, 720.625.8043, Extending until October 31

RonnaSkin, 303.638.9322, Extending until October 31

Spavia Day Spa – Lowry Town Center, 720.642.7900, Extending until October 31

  Florida

Eden Day Spa, 562.447.7700, Extending until October 31

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Jacksonville Beach, 904 512 7588, Extending until October 31

MassageLuXe – Davie, 954.380.8554, Extending until October 31

MassageLuXe Pembroke Pines– 954.228.7188, Extending until October 31

The Spa at Trump Doral, 305.717.6303, Extending until October 31

The Woodhouse Day Spa – Palm Beach Gardens, 561.385.4772, Extending until October 31st.

  Kentucky

Satori Body Contouring, 859.331.0849, Extending until October 31

  Maryland

European Beaute Concepts, 301.717.1459, Extending until October 31

Herbal Infusion, 301.203.2360,Extending until October 31

Indulgence Massage & Bodywork, 240.334.2780, Extending until October 27

LQ Body & Skin Care Studio, 410.300.3524, Extending until October 31

Neha Threading Salon and Spa, 410.653.2769, Extending until October 31

  Massachusetts

Citrus Spa & Salon 617.277.3339 Extending until October 31

Serenity in the City Salon & Spa, 781.395.4488, Extending until October 31

Serenity in the City Salon & Spa – Stoneham, 781.435.2286, Extending until October 31

Shaun Rogers Studios, 781.599.6735, Extending until October 31

Skin Innovations Skin Care & Spa, 617.332.7546, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York, 617.236.1444, Extending until October 31

The Spa at Boncaldo’s, 617.471.9515, Extending until October 31

To Make Beautiful Skin Spa, 781.454.8415, Extending until October 31

  Nevada

Elements Massage – Henderson, 702.665.6116, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage Rhodes Ranch, 702.586.1338, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage Summerlin, 702.487.6677, Extending until October 31 Facelogic Spa, 702.531.3223, Extending until October 31

  New Jersey

Avatar Spa, 732.332.1102, Extending until October 28

Buinewicz Plastic Surgery & Medspa, 908.968.3529, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage – New Providence, 908.464.1860, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage – Nutley, 973.542.8449, Extending until October 31

Hibiscus Therapeutic Center, 973.783.3381, Extending until October 31

La Maison Salon & Spa, 973.379.3898, Extending until October 31

Oasys Day Spa, 201.728.4212, Extending until October 31

Ocean Place Resort & Spa, 732.483.5717, Extending through October 31

Serenity Day Spa, 201.516.1772, Extending until October 31

Skin and Body Klinic 609.542.0712 Extending until October 31

  The One Beauty, 732.591.8111, Extending until October 31

Tranquil Moments Skin Studio, 908.989.0676, Extending until October 31

Vito Mazza Salon & Spa, 732.636.0119, Extending until October 31

Y Y Beauty Salon, 908.756.3502, Extending until October 31

  New York

Brooklyn

Elan Salon & Day Spa, 718.789.1700,Extending until October 31

Skin Station – Sunset Park, 718.686.8881, Extending until October 31

Venelle Salon & Spa, 718.989.9855, Extending until October 31

  Long Island:

Blue Salon and Spa, 631.751.0822, Extending until October 31

Center for Pain Relief and Wellness, 631.422.3355, Extending until October 31

Glowinskin Esthetics, 516.801.4668, Extending until October 26

Joseph Christopher For Beauty & Wellness, 516.889.3900, Extending until October 31

Laser Plus Spa, 516.785.0700, Extending until October 31

Lord & Taylor Salon & Spa,  516.627.1172, Extending until October 31

New York Face Place, 516.294.9454, Extending until October 31

nu glo medi-spa, 516.374.8456, Extending until October 31

O Spa – Garden City, 516.877.1888, Extending until October 31

Orange Skye Body & Beauty Bar, 516.284.6378, Extending until October 27

VITA Ageless Medical Aesthetics, 516.626.6800, Extending until October 31

  Manhattan

Anta Skin & Laser Spa, 646.484.6727, Extending until October 31

Beyond Beautiful Aesthetics, 888.668.4618, Extending until October 31

Ettia Holistic Day Spa, 212.362.7109, Extending until October 25

Face + Body by Dorit Baxter, 212.371.4542, Extending until October 31

Faina European Day Spa, 212.245.6557, Extending until October 31

GemVie MediSpa, 212.447.8494, Extending until October 31

Harlem Skin & Laser Clinic, 917.309.6607, Extending until October 31

Heart Sea Spa, 212.608.6633, Extending until October 31

Just Melt, 212.447.1155, Extending until October 31

KUR Skin Lab, 212.951.0488, Extending Until October 31

L’Institut Sothys New York, 212.688.9400, Extending until Oct 25

Le Bon Skin Lab, 888.968.8698, Extending until October 31

Lenox Hill Laser Esthetic, 201.960.9857, Extending until October 31

Mirza Aesthetics, 973.493.7607, Extending until October 31

Orchid Aesthetics Medical Spa, 212.595.1958, Extending until October 31

Radiance Aesthetics & Wellness, 212.752.5745, Extending until October 31

Red & White Spa Midtown, 646.649.5324, Extending until October 31

Rehoboth Spa Lounge, 212.462.4957, Extending until October 28

SkinOvation, 212.641.0668, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – Flatiron/ Chelsea, 212.620.0033, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – MIdtown, 212.684.4914, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – Midtown East / Murray Hill, 212.883.1125, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – Soho, 212.925.1956, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York- Midtown West / 57th Street, 212.707.8730, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York- Fashion District, 212.631.7705, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – Upper East Side, 212.486.2110, Extending until October 31

Skin Station – Manhattan, 212.343.7911, Extending until October 31

SKN Spa, 212.581.1398, Extending until October 31

Smooth Synergy Cosmedical Spa, 212.397.0111, Extending until October 31

Spa Jolie, 212.229.1389, Extending until October 31

Tatiana Day Spa, 718.828.0999, Extending until October 31

Tribeca Beauty Spa, 212.343.2376, Extending until October 26

Tribeca Spa of Tranquility, 212.226.4141, Extending until October 31

UpLift Spa, 646.952.2084, Extending until October 31

Yihan Spa, 646.880.9999, Extending until October 31

  Queens

Blossom In Astoria Day Spa, 718.278.2324, Extending until October 31

Skin Station – Flushing, 718.961.4505, Extending until October 31

  Rockland County

Rockland Skincare & Body Bliss Spa, 845.501.7325, Extending until October 31

  Staten Island

Skin Station – Forest Avenue, 718.442.9828, Extending until October 31

  Westchester

Borner Touch, 914.273.7900, Extending until October 31

Euro Laser Spa Services, 914.921.3265, Extending until October 31

Golden Day Spa, 914.237.5112, Extending until October 31

Lord & Taylor Salon & Spa,  914.725.8430, Extending until October 31

Nicholas Day Spa and Salon, 914.738.3838, Extending until October 31

Skin Station – Yonkers, 914.395.3260, Extending until October 31

Youtherapy Medical, 914.574.2709, Extending until October 28

  Ohio

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Dayton, 937.350.6669, Extending until October 31

LipoLaser of West Chester, 513.655.0048, Extending until October 31

Spa Lavender, 440.394.8633, Extending until October 31

Vedas Ayurvedic Spa, 216.298.5115, Extending until October 27

Touch Therapy Massage- Bexley 614.237.6373 Extending until October 31

Touch Therapy Massage – West 614.851.4442 Extending until October 31

  Pennsylvania

Buinewicz Plastic Surgery & Medspa, 215.230.4013, Extending until October 31

  North Carolina

Cary Massage, 919.651.9910, Extending until October 27

Spa Botanica at Embassy Suites, 704.454.1750, Extending until October 25

Synergy Face & Body, 919.510.5130, Extending until October 28

  Tennessee

The Woodhouse Day Spa Chattanooga, 423.443.4478, Extending until October 31

The Woodhouse Day Spa Franklin, 615.764.0004, Extending until October 31

  Texas

Dallas

Massage Heights – Robertson’s Creek, 972.249.9790, Extending until October 31

The Serenity Room Day Spa, 817.382.9980. Extending until October 31.

  Houston

Avalon School of Massage, 713.333.5250, Extending until October 31

  Virginia

Body Sculpt Laser Spa, 571.549.1070, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage Vienna, 703.865.7676, Extending until October 31

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Winchester, 540.508.0536, Extending until October 31

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Haymarket, 703.291.4998, Extending until October 31

Health and Beauty for Life, 703.717.9647, Extending until October 31

The Look Salon and Day Spa, 757.548.6550, Extending until October 27

The Wellness Cooperative, 703.507.0463, Extending until October 31

Whole Health Medical Center & Medspa, 571.357.2229, Extending until October 31

Whole Health Medical Center & Medspa, 703.273.6373, Extending until October 31

  Washington, DC

Lord & Taylor Salon & Spa,  202.362.7814, Extending until October 31

Personal Esthetics, 202.618.0678, Extending until October 31

[Read More ...] http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png http://blog.spaweek.com/2018/10/19/secret-fall-spa-week-extended/

[sublimotion]

The Secret is Out… Fall Spa Week is Extended!

http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Hey, Spa Lovers and Wellness Gurus! Missed Spa Week and the amazing $50 massages, facials, and other services in your area? Already counting the days until next Spa Week? We have great news: Spa Week is extended at select spas across the country. This means more time to relax, rejuvenate, and feel refreshed during a $50 spa deal. Make sure you book your appointments ASAP, because deals won’t be around until next Spa Week (in April 2019)! Here is the official list of all of the spas who are extending their $50 Spa Week Deals:

Arizona

Amethyst Spa at Wekopa Resort & Conference Center, 480.789.5335, Extending until October 31

Be. Massage, 480.382.7192, Extending until October 31

Dolce Salon & Spa, 480.722.0500, Extending until October 31

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Gilbert 480.237.4496 Extending until October 31

Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Old  Town Scottsdale, 480.939.5228, Extending until October 31

  Madison Avenue Salon & Day Spa – Chandler Fashion Center, 480.899.8905, Extending until October 31

Madison Avenue Salon & Day Spa – Chandler Fulton Ranch, 480.621.7703, Extending until October 31

Madison Avenue Salon & Day Spa – Phoenix Foothills, 480.759.3308, Extending until October 31

Pure Vanity Spa Chandler, 480.867.1788, Extending until October 31

Pure Vanity Spa Peoria, 623.594.4049, Extending until October 31

Pure Vanity Spa Scottsdale, 480.419.8267, Extending until October 31

Sonoran Serenity Spa, 480.772.3297, Extending until October 31

Spa810 – Arrowhead, 623.476.7241, Extending until October 31

Spa810 – Scottsdale Shea, 480.588.6809, Extending until October 31

  California

Los Angeles

Arnol Salon & Spa, 818.246.1645, Extending until October 31

Beverly Hills Beauty Lounge, 310.246.5111 ,Extending until October 31

Cinema Wellness, 323.913.1737, Extending until October 31

Elle Marie Spa, 310.316.4000, Extending until October 31  

Vida Emanuel European Day Spa, 310.246.5111 ,Extending until October 31

  San Bernardino

Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, 909.744.3000, Extending until October 31

  San Diego

Massage Heights – Rancho Penasquitos, 858.504.7277, Extending until October 31

Our Family Spa, 619.724.6000, Extending until October 31

  San Francisco

La Choza Day Spa, 408.448.0573, Extending until October 31

  Colorado

Bloom Skin Studio, 303.551.1622, Extending until October 31

Evexias Medical Center, 720.625.8043, Extending until October 31

RonnaSkin, 303.638.9322, Extending until October 31

Spavia Day Spa – Lowry Town Center, 720.642.7900, Extending until October 31

  Florida

Eden Day Spa, 562.447.7700, Extending until October 31

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Jacksonville Beach, 904 512 7588, Extending until October 31

MassageLuXe – Davie, 954.380.8554, Extending until October 31

MassageLuXe Pembroke Pines– 954.228.7188, Extending until October 31

The Spa at Trump Doral, 305.717.6303, Extending until October 31

The Woodhouse Day Spa – Palm Beach Gardens, 561.385.4772, Extending until October 31st.

  Kentucky

Satori Body Contouring, 859.331.0849, Extending until October 31

  Maryland

European Beaute Concepts, 301.717.1459, Extending until October 31

Herbal Infusion, 301.203.2360,Extending until October 31

Indulgence Massage & Bodywork, 240.334.2780, Extending until October 27

LQ Body & Skin Care Studio, 410.300.3524, Extending until October 31

Neha Threading Salon and Spa, 410.653.2769, Extending until October 31

  Massachusetts

Citrus Spa & Salon 617.277.3339 Extending until October 31

Serenity in the City Salon & Spa, 781.395.4488, Extending until October 31

Serenity in the City Salon & Spa – Stoneham, 781.435.2286, Extending until October 31

Shaun Rogers Studios, 781.599.6735, Extending until October 31

Skin Innovations Skin Care & Spa, 617.332.7546, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York, 617.236.1444, Extending until October 31

The Spa at Boncaldo’s, 617.471.9515, Extending until October 31

To Make Beautiful Skin Spa, 781.454.8415, Extending until October 31

  Nevada

Elements Massage – Henderson, 702.665.6116, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage Rhodes Ranch, 702.586.1338, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage Summerlin, 702.487.6677, Extending until October 31 Facelogic Spa, 702.531.3223, Extending until October 31

  New Jersey

Avatar Spa, 732.332.1102, Extending until October 28

Buinewicz Plastic Surgery & Medspa, 908.968.3529, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage – New Providence, 908.464.1860, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage – Nutley, 973.542.8449, Extending until October 31

Hibiscus Therapeutic Center, 973.783.3381, Extending until October 31

La Maison Salon & Spa, 973.379.3898, Extending until October 31

Oasys Day Spa, 201.728.4212, Extending until October 31

Ocean Place Resort & Spa, 732.483.5717, Extending through October 31

Serenity Day Spa, 201.516.1772, Extending until October 31

Skin and Body Klinic 609.542.0712 Extending until October 31

  The One Beauty, 732.591.8111, Extending until October 31

Tranquil Moments Skin Studio, 908.989.0676, Extending until October 31

Vito Mazza Salon & Spa, 732.636.0119, Extending until October 31

Y Y Beauty Salon, 908.756.3502, Extending until October 31

  New York

Brooklyn

Elan Salon & Day Spa, 718.789.1700,Extending until October 31

Skin Station – Sunset Park, 718.686.8881, Extending until October 31

Venelle Salon & Spa, 718.989.9855, Extending until October 31

  Long Island:

Blue Salon and Spa, 631.751.0822, Extending until October 31

Center for Pain Relief and Wellness, 631.422.3355, Extending until October 31

Glowinskin Esthetics, 516.801.4668, Extending until October 26

Joseph Christopher For Beauty & Wellness, 516.889.3900, Extending until October 31

Laser Plus Spa, 516.785.0700, Extending until October 31

Lord & Taylor Salon & Spa,  516.627.1172, Extending until October 31

New York Face Place, 516.294.9454, Extending until October 31

nu glo medi-spa, 516.374.8456, Extending until October 31

O Spa – Garden City, 516.877.1888, Extending until October 31

Orange Skye Body & Beauty Bar, 516.284.6378, Extending until October 27

VITA Ageless Medical Aesthetics, 516.626.6800, Extending until October 31

  Manhattan

Anta Skin & Laser Spa, 646.484.6727, Extending until October 31

Beyond Beautiful Aesthetics, 888.668.4618, Extending until October 31

Ettia Holistic Day Spa, 212.362.7109, Extending until October 25

Face + Body by Dorit Baxter, 212.371.4542, Extending until October 31

Faina European Day Spa, 212.245.6557, Extending until October 31

GemVie MediSpa, 212.447.8494, Extending until October 31

Harlem Skin & Laser Clinic, 917.309.6607, Extending until October 31

Heart Sea Spa, 212.608.6633, Extending until October 31

Just Melt, 212.447.1155, Extending until October 31

KUR Skin Lab, 212.951.0488, Extending Until October 31

L’Institut Sothys New York, 212.688.9400, Extending until Oct 25

Le Bon Skin Lab, 888.968.8698, Extending until October 31

Lenox Hill Laser Esthetic, 201.960.9857, Extending until October 31

Mirza Aesthetics, 973.493.7607, Extending until October 31

Orchid Aesthetics Medical Spa, 212.595.1958, Extending until October 31

Radiance Aesthetics & Wellness, 212.752.5745, Extending until October 31

Red & White Spa Midtown, 646.649.5324, Extending until October 31

Rehoboth Spa Lounge, 212.462.4957, Extending until October 28

SkinOvation, 212.641.0668, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – Flatiron/ Chelsea, 212.620.0033, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – MIdtown, 212.684.4914, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – Midtown East / Murray Hill, 212.883.1125, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – Soho, 212.925.1956, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York- Midtown West / 57th Street, 212.707.8730, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York- Fashion District, 212.631.7705, Extending until October 31

Skin Spa New York – Upper East Side, 212.486.2110, Extending until October 31

Skin Station – Manhattan, 212.343.7911, Extending until October 31

SKN Spa, 212.581.1398, Extending until October 31

Smooth Synergy Cosmedical Spa, 212.397.0111, Extending until October 31

Spa Jolie, 212.229.1389, Extending until October 31

Tatiana Day Spa, 718.828.0999, Extending until October 31

Tribeca Beauty Spa, 212.343.2376, Extending until October 26

Tribeca Spa of Tranquility, 212.226.4141, Extending until October 31

UpLift Spa, 646.952.2084, Extending until October 31

Yihan Spa, 646.880.9999, Extending until October 31

  Queens

Blossom In Astoria Day Spa, 718.278.2324, Extending until October 31

Skin Station – Flushing, 718.961.4505, Extending until October 31

  Rockland County

Rockland Skincare & Body Bliss Spa, 845.501.7325, Extending until October 31

  Staten Island

Skin Station – Forest Avenue, 718.442.9828, Extending until October 31

  Westchester

Borner Touch, 914.273.7900, Extending until October 31

Euro Laser Spa Services, 914.921.3265, Extending until October 31

Golden Day Spa, 914.237.5112, Extending until October 31

Lord & Taylor Salon & Spa,  914.725.8430, Extending until October 31

Nicholas Day Spa and Salon, 914.738.3838, Extending until October 31

Skin Station – Yonkers, 914.395.3260, Extending until October 31

Youtherapy Medical, 914.574.2709, Extending until October 28

  Ohio

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Dayton, 937.350.6669, Extending until October 31

LipoLaser of West Chester, 513.655.0048, Extending until October 31

Spa Lavender, 440.394.8633, Extending until October 31

Vedas Ayurvedic Spa, 216.298.5115, Extending until October 27

Touch Therapy Massage- Bexley 614.237.6373 Extending until October 31

Touch Therapy Massage – West 614.851.4442 Extending until October 31

  Pennsylvania

Buinewicz Plastic Surgery & Medspa, 215.230.4013, Extending until October 31

  North Carolina

Cary Massage, 919.651.9910, Extending until October 27

Spa Botanica at Embassy Suites, 704.454.1750, Extending until October 25

Synergy Face & Body, 919.510.5130, Extending until October 28

  Tennessee

The Woodhouse Day Spa Chattanooga, 423.443.4478, Extending until October 31

The Woodhouse Day Spa Franklin, 615.764.0004, Extending until October 31

  Texas

Dallas

Massage Heights – Robertson’s Creek, 972.249.9790, Extending until October 31

The Serenity Room Day Spa, 817.382.9980. Extending until October 31.

  Houston

Avalon School of Massage, 713.333.5250, Extending until October 31

  Virginia

Body Sculpt Laser Spa, 571.549.1070, Extending until October 31

Elements Massage Vienna, 703.865.7676, Extending until October 31

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Winchester, 540.508.0536, Extending until October 31

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa – Haymarket, 703.291.4998, Extending until October 31

Health and Beauty for Life, 703.717.9647, Extending until October 31

The Look Salon and Day Spa, 757.548.6550, Extending until October 27

The Wellness Cooperative, 703.507.0463, Extending until October 31

Whole Health Medical Center & Medspa, 571.357.2229, Extending until October 31

Whole Health Medical Center & Medspa, 703.273.6373, Extending until October 31

  Washington, DC

Lord & Taylor Salon & Spa,  202.362.7814, Extending until October 31

Personal Esthetics, 202.618.0678, Extending until October 31

[Read More ...] http://blog.spaweek.com/2018/10/19/secret-fall-spa-week-extended/

[travelonlinetips-blog]

New Post has been published on https://travelonlinetips.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-revitalization-of-downtown-new-york/

What you need to know about the revitalization of Downtown New York

The Four Seasons Downtown overlooks the 9/11 Memorial — Photo courtesy of Christian Horan/Four Seasons Downtown

Six months after the World Trade Center tragedy, Los Angeles resident Carmine Montalto decided to move east and settled – surprisingly – in Lower Manhattan not far from Ground Zero. The area had barely begun its recovery and deals were abundant.

“It was peaceful, albeit sad,” Montalto said. “When I first moved, there were very few shops or quality restaurants, but now it’s like Times Square,” he says, noting the area’s popularity and abundance of tourists.

Lower Manhattan is indeed booming, despite the devastation of September 11 and extensive damage from Hurricane Sandy six years ago. It’s estimated that more than a billion dollars have been pumped into the area through private investments and government funding, much of it from the Howard Hughes Corporation, which has spearheaded the revitalization of the South Street Seaport.

The centerpiece of the new Seaport is Pier 17, a glass-walled entertainment hub that will be home to restaurants by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Andrew Carmellini, and David Chang; 19,000 square feet of space already occupied by ESPN studios; and a rooftop concert venue that will potentially be converted to an ice rink during winter months. 

Businesses at Pier 17 are opening in stages, but the 1.5-acre open-air rooftop venue made its debut in summer 2018 with its Rooftop Concert Series, a partnership with Live Nation. Among the inaugural lineup were Amy Schumer, Kings of Leon, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight and country artist Hunter Hayes.

Nearby, the Seaport’s historic Tin Building is also being renovated, and the Italian brand 10 Corso Como will open its only U.S. location on the first floor of the historic Fulton Market Building. That space will feature a café, fashion center, art gallery and gardens that are opening in September (in conjunction with New York Fashion Week). 

The once raw and rustic seaport has definitely polished its shine and that fact has not been lost on the hotel industry. A few blocks from Pier 17 at Peck Slip, the Cipriani family of Venice, Italy has opened its second U.S. luxury hotel – Mr. C Seaport – right along the waterfront. 

Panoramic views of the Brooklyn Bridge from the terrace at Mr. C Seaport — Photo courtesy of Mr. C Seaport

Previously a Best Western, the 60-room property is one of few in Manhattan that offers luxury suites with large open-air, furnished terraces. And the panoramic views of Brooklyn and the Manhattan skyline make the investment worth it. Guests are welcomed with a signature Bellini and have access to a car and driver who can transport guests within three miles of the hotel. 

Rooms and suites at Mr. C’s are fitted with sleek teak veneers, rain shower heads and warm, earthy hues. State-of-the-art technology has also been incorporated with multiple USB outlets, streaming and the ability to digitally notify the staff of your room status.

Mr. C Seaport and its affluent aesthetic is not the only property pulling luxury travelers away from midtown. The Four Seasons, whose signature New York property is on 57th Street near Park Avenue, opened a downtown location in 2016 geared toward millennials – or just a younger generation in general than their traditional midtown clientele. 

The Spa at the Four Seasons Downtown — Photo courtesy of Christian Horan/Four Seasons Downtown

With a state-of-the-art fitness facility and an indoor lap pool, the Four Season’s high-end spa offers both traditional and specialized treatments, as well as a Resident Healers Program. To support travelers and locals pursuing a holistic lifestyle, spa guests can book one-on-one appointments with one of three healers who specialize in areas such as acupuncture, crystal healing and mediation (not to mention that one is a clairvoyant). The hotel also offers a health and wellness menu for the spa and in-room dining.

Lower Manhattan has seen a quite a boon in its overall room inventory. According to the Alliance for Downtown New York, there are currently about 7,000 hotel rooms compared with less than 3,000 in 2010. And that’s likely to continue to increase.

Moxy, Marriott’s more affordable new brand geared toward a younger crowd, will open a new downtown location in late 2018. And in a twist that combines a hotel with a co-working space, The Assemblage offers fresh, brightly-lit rooms, most of which include a kitchenette – a nice touch in a city that can quickly drain the bank account.

Guests staying at The Assemblage are also able to use some of the co-work space, as well as the meditation and yoga rooms, for no extra charge. 

A suite at The Assemblage on John Street — Photo courtesy of Wendy O’Dea

The Assemblage restaurant includes vegetarian and Ayurvedic menu options, not to mention a great vibe that supports the company’s ethos of making a commitment to personal transformation. (But more on that impressive new approach to hospitality another time.)

The restaurant scene taking shape in Lower Manhattan is equally as impressive. Internationally renowned sushi chef Nobu Matsuhisa and partner Robert De Niro moved Nobu New York downtown in early 2017. Known for its miso black cod and outstanding omakase, Nobu occupies two floors, with a circular neoclassical bar on the main level, and the more-modern dining room downstairs.

Mr. C Seaport and Four Seasons Downtown have also opened noteworthy signature restaurants. Bellini, the cozy all-day restaurant at Mr. C Seaport, takes a modern, somewhat lighter approach to Italian cuisine with Executive Chef Silvano Fiorindo helming the kitchen.

The bar/lounge at Wolfgang Puck’s Cut — Photo courtesy of Christian Horan/Four Seasons Downtown

Alternatively, The Four Seasons – not far from Wall Street and the Financial District – draws a more buttoned-up business crowd to Cut, the first New York-based restaurant from restaurateur Wolfgang Puck. The upscale steakhouse is known for its massive cuts of beef, particularly Wagyu, both American and Japanese.

Of course, just a short walk from all of these locations are attractions that top the bucket lists of many visitors, from the panoramic views of the city from the top floor of the Freedom Tower (One World Trade) and the Statue of Liberty to the September 11 Memorial and Museum and Fraunces Tavern – the latter steeped in history from revolutionary times. 

Historic Fraunces Tavern — Photo courtesy of Wendy O’Dea

The Tavern, where George Washington bid his farewell to the Continental Army in 1783, still operates today. When dining there or touring the museum, it’s not hard to sense the ghosts of old New York that once walked its still-intact cobblestone streets. 

Exiting Fraunces Tavern into the culinary, fashion and cultural mecca that Lower Manhattan has become actually feels like some form of time travel, reminding us again that what’s old has become new again.

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[businessweekme]

Pursuits: The Secret to Having a Perfect Safari Trip

At Bloomberg Pursuits, we love to travel. And we always want to make sure we’re doing it right. So we’re talking to globetrotters in all of our luxury fields—food, wine, fashion, cars, real estate—to learn about their high-end hacks, tips, and off-the-wall experiences. These are the Distinguished Travel Hackers.

Interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud was born in Lisbon and now lives in New York. She’s one of the world’s top hotel designers, having overseen décor for the Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles, The Pierre and the Carlyle in New York, and Aspen favorite the Little Nell. Her latest is a personal passion project, Troutbeck, an ultra-luxe country guesthouse in New York’s Dutchess County designed by Alexandra and run by her son, Anthony.

She doesn’t track her miles, but she’s banked plenty. “I’m on a plane at least twice a month. I’ve just come back from London and Portugal, Toronto is next week, and so is Palm Beach. I must have hundreds of thousands of miles.” She has lifetime gold status on British Airways, but has recently been partial to OneWorld partner Japan Airlines. “They have the most wonderful selection of things you can watch.”

Champalimaud relies on an Ayurvedic in-flight ritual whenever she travels.

For years, I have been using essential oils from Floracopeia as a scent and as an air purifier.  I have an array of favorites that help my mood, assist my sleeping, and are wonderful in my bath to hydrate my skin. Small bottles of Floracopeia oils come in tiny packages, take no room, and are easy to carry.  So I never leave home without them. Scent jogs our emotions and memories that are comforting on the road. I am careful in my traveling to create an aura, or a space—a cocoon, if you would—around myself. That way, the stresses of travel are limited. I also have a beautiful shawl that I often put over my head and face, wrapping myself up once I’ve dabbed oil on my wrists and behind my ears. I actually love patchouli because it fortifies your inner strength, too. I take that. Only once in my life did I have someone perk up from the back seat and say, “What is that? Is that patchouli? I hate patchouli.”

The secret to a great safari experience doesn’t involve the animals, necessarily.

Safari clothes are uncool, OK? So don’t pack safari clothes; bring relaxed clothing that is practical: versions of jeans and light cotton things, not in bright colors. Definitely cover your head with something, because you’re going to get burnt, guaranteed. Definitely take something warm, like some fleece, because at night it’s always cold. And some [sarong-like] kikoys for relaxation. One pair of proper boots to hike in, and a pair of flip-flops. You don’t over-pack. As for food, I eat masses of fish when I’m there, and I drink lots of alcohol. The combination of those two things is the best recommendation I can give anyone. Lots of fish, lots of alcohol, because that’s always great fun, and the beers are amazing, especially Tusker. It’s also a product that is so local, that they’re very proud of. Today, absolutely everyone drinks it. It’s super-refreshing and you can get it anywhere, wherever you stop, anywhere in Africa, at every little hole in the wall.

Want to get a sense of the people in a particular place? Try this simple trick.

I make eye contact with people. It’s something that not everyone does, and when I do, I smile. When you go somewhere, and someone doesn’t smile back, it tells you a lot about the atmosphere of the place—either people are too hurried or too threatened. It’s one of the reasons I love Japan: Everything is done with such great ceremony.

Though she’s designed many spas, her favorite is a simple destination in Kerala, India.

Kalari Kovilakom is a total healing experience: You can stay the full gamut of 21 days or leave, as I did, after a week. (I ran out of time.) You will probably not find very many other tourists. You will walk on the beach, you will do yoga. Indeed, you will do yoga twice a day. You will eat incredible Indian food, and you will have all-oil-based treatments on your body for hours during the day in these open-air—beautiful spas with local people taking care of you. [The treatments] play to your dosha, the Ayurvedic way of understanding people’s DNA. I think it is an extraordinary thing altogether.

The best shopping for artisan works is in a lesser-trafficked European capital.

Lisbon is divinely and essentially Portuguese. In some ways, it barely feels like it’s in Europe. It has its own soul. And Portugal’s craftsmanship is superb. You can find jewelry, embroidered items for the house, like bed sheets, napkins, and tablecloths, there. Leitão & Irmão has been around for about six generations, and it has incredibly beautiful, modern porcelain and silver. They have the coolest ice buckets in the entire universe. And I buy tiles—all the time, tiles. [Portuguese] tiles are on a par with Morocco or Persia, all of that. Our buildings are covered in tiles of all different types. The best place to buy them is Dorey.

Five-star hotels can teach us something about decorating our own spaces: simplicity.

We all tend to decorate, and that’s a mistake. People take decorating classes; people think they have to decorate their houses. It’s a tragic word, and it needs to be dropped. The environment can come together by using one-tone-only on ceiling, walls, and woodwork, everywhere. It becomes a background, an envelope, to the whole atmosphere. What stands out are extraordinary pieces of furniture, or appropriate pieces of furniture that you want to live with. You don’t need a whole lot of colors in a room so that what stands out are extraordinary pieces of furniture, or appropriate pieces of furniture that you want to live with. It just has this sense of calm—of peace—and you want to just belong.

Champalimaud took four teenagers on a trip up the Amazon, on her own —and she says you could, too.

There are no rules on a trip like that, except that the adult is in charge. My children were 15 and 12 years old then, and I took them up the Amazon, along with my nephew and niece, who were 17 and 16 at the time. We spent 10 days in dugout canoes, staying with local villagers along the way. I remember [my son] Anthony was fishing, age 12, in the Amazon, with a little cane, and then little piranhas jumped into the canoe. They weren’t very big, about five inches long. There was a little baby croc on the bow, too. You have to do these trips, because they form your children forever: It teaches them, I think, the spirit of adventure, which isn’t a joke in life. It teaches you not to be afraid.

The post Pursuits: The Secret to Having a Perfect Safari Trip appeared first on Bloomberg Businessweek Middle East.

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Best Places for a California Spa Vacation

Vacations are a chance to escape from the everyday stresses of work and home. What better way to do that than with a trip that is designed with relaxation in mind. Check out these best places for a California Spa Vacation, and you’ll be sure to leave all your worries behind!

1. Peninsula Spa Beverly Hills

Visit the spa that caters to Hollywood’s Elite, and you’ll be treated like royalty. This gorgeous spa is next to the hotel’s breathtaking rooftop garden. The five-star Peninsula Spa has full treatments from luxurious massages to body wraps and  a Biologique Recherche Facial to address all your skin care needs. Book a spa soirée for groups of six or more, go as a couple, or enjoy your solo spa experience.

2. Spa Gaucin Dana Point

Enjoy one of 24 treatment rooms or five couples’ suites at the romantic Spa Gaucin at The St. Regis Monarch Beach. Take advantage of one of the signature services like the Ultimate Beauty (pampering you from head-to-toe beginning with a scalp massage) or a Couples Retreat featuring 90-minute Swedish or Therapeutic Massage and a 20-minute Tranquility Bath.

3. The Ritz-Carlton Spa Los Angeles

In this 8,000 square foot spa, you’ll find romance, serenity, or a vacation away from it all. Really, The Ritz is ready to give you whatever your peaceful heart desires. Featured seasonal treatments such as “Smoke & Roses” are what makes this spa a unique gem in not only in California, but in the country.

4. Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Ojai

This spa is not just about beauty although they have those services too. The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa features adventurous experiences like wilderness hiking and geocaching. New body pilates and other fitness and mind/body wellness classes are also available. One of the most unique features of the spa, however, is the offering of art classes through the Artist Cottage & Apothecary. Watercolors, pottery, and spirit stones are just a few of the mementos you can create on your spa vacation at Ojai Valley.

5. Burke Williams San Francisco

Delight in this Parisian-themed spa with 15 massage rooms and treatments for every physical and mental need. Take advantage of Ayurvedic that use herbal blends, essential oils, and relaxation to restore the body to its natural wellness state. Traditional spa services in beauty and massage are also available at Burke Williams.

Wherever you travel in California, you’re sure to find a relaxing, luxurious place to unwind. These are the best places for a California Spa Vacation whether you’re traveling solo, with your girlfriends, or with the one you love!

Staying close to home or getting ready for your spa vacation? Check out these amazing spa-inspired gifts or gift cards!

The Peninsula Spa Gift Card ($100)Spafinder Wellness 365 Gift Card $100Earth & Sea Spa Essentials Aroma Candle Gift SetPinkiou Spa Gel Socks for Soften Cracked Skin Moisturising feet care Exfoliating Dry Heel Booties pedicure (socks, blue)Premium, Turkish Combed Cotton, Luxury Hotel & Spa Towel Sets for Maximum Softness and Absorbency by American Soft Linen, (8 Pack Towel Set, Snow White)Spa Music Collection 2: Relaxing Music for Spa, Massage, Relaxation, New Age and Healing

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Gwyneth Paltrow's Ayurvedic Spa Go-To Pops Up at Four Seasons in Beverly Hills

Better than Viagra!!

Surya Spa, which brings balance and wellness to boldfacers including Kate Hudson and Kourtney Kardashian, launches a series of seasonal pop-ups at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.

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Your screen needs a stripper!

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Gwyneth Paltrow's Ayurvedic Spa Go-To Pops Up at Four Seasons in Beverly Hills

10:39 AM PDT 5/10/2017 by Kathryn Romeyn Surya Spa, which brings balance and wellness to boldfacers including Kate Hudson and Kourtney Kardashian, launches a series of seasonal pop-ups at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. There are some things in Los Angeles worth booking far in advance — dinner reservations for Maude […]

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Grooming Kings: The Right Skincare Brand For Every Type of Man

Skincare has a lot in common with wine. No, really. Bear with us. In the supermarket, you can find both a £5 bottle of plonk and similarly priced face lube in a tube – neither may be fancy, but they will do the job. However, if you visit a wine merchant you’ll come across a £50 bottle that tastes more refined and might be softer on the hangover. Likewise, in a department store you can pick up a £50 moisturiser which smells good, looks nice and keeps your skin happier for longer. For the money-is-no-object brigade, £500+ bottles of wine also exist. As do luxury skin creams with eye-watering price tags.

Where are we going with all this? Well, we’re saying there’s likely a greater improvement between the £5 and £50 bottle, than the £50 and £500 one. This conclusion might annoy some people (sommeliers for example), but most of us don’t have the palette (or wallet) to really observe the difference. The same goes for skincare. A £500 cream might impress a certain type of person, but – we hate to break it to you – there’s no such thing as a face lift in a jar. Some brands might make bold claims, but in reality sun exposure, lifestyle and genes make the biggest difference to how we age. Beyond a certain point you are simply paying for packaging, branding, marketing and status.

So, no matter how much you have to spend, or your individual needs, here���s where you should put your money.

The Botanical Brand: Aēsop

Aēsop brought much-needed aesthetics to the world of grooming; from its eco stylish store fits to the strong, recognisable packaging. For a skincare brand, their best-selling product is actually hand wash. Cult hand wash no less; you wouldn’t Instagram your bathroom without it, would you? Clean hands aside, Aesop make really good things for your face, using mostly natural ingredients.

Skin Heroes: Fabulous Face Oil (£39), B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel (£81), Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser (£27)

The Cult Brand: Buly 1803

The brain child of Ramdane Touhani and Victoire de Taillac, Buly 1803 is like a globetrotter’s apothecary cabinet. The antique styling belies modern formulations that have roots in ancestral grooming methods and natural remedies from different cultures around the world.

Skin Heroes: Pommade Concrète Hand and Foot cream (£38), Pommade Virginale Face Moisturiser (£42), Vide Poche Eye Serum (£26)

The Luxury Brand: Sisley Paris

  A Sisley addiction is an expensive habit to have. It’s a family run skincare company that hasn’t been bought up by one of the major luxury houses, so they tend to launch when they feel they have something new to bring to market and not for the sake of it. They have one dedicated (excellent) moisturiser and aftershave balm for guys, so if you’re comfortable using products that don’t have “for men” emblazoned all over them then it’s well worth exploring the rest of the range; the quality here is top notch.

Skin Heroes: Eye Contour Mask (£90), Sisleyüm for Men Global Revitalizer (£187), Black Rose Cream Mask (£111)

The Designer Brand: Tom Ford For Men

When Tom Ford was looking to launch a skincare brand, he knew the experts at Estée Lauder could deliver his vision. He understands that men want to look their best, but in an easy, natural way, so his skin-enhancing products are basically fool-proof.

Skin Heroes: Intensive Purifying Mud Mask (£48), Bronzing Gel (£21), Oil-Free Daily Moisturiser (£78)

The Holistic Brand: ilāpothecary

Denise Leicester, founder of ilāpothecary, is a healer who wants to treat everybody. She launched her spa and beauty line, ilā, in 2007 and has a background in complimentary medicine, aromatherapy and massage and uses Ayurvedic principles. The ilāpothecary products work like mini spa treatments: they’ll leave you feeling less stressed and your skin in balance.

Skin Heroes: Beardy Balm (£29), Fresh Faced Mud Cleanser (£28), Warming Anti-Breakout Face Mask (£27)

The Affordable Brand: Bulldog

There’s a buzz around sustainability at the moment and a lot of “green wash” too: some brands talk about being good to the environment, while other brands make real changes to lessen their impact. We’ve always liked Bulldog for its affordable, effective products – now we love them because they don’t cost the earth either. They’ve switched to sugar cane derived plastic packaging, offer bulk sizes for economy and brought out the first bamboo razor handle.

Skin Heroes: Sensitive Face Wash (£4.50), Original Moisturiser (£6), Age Defence Eye Roll-On (£10)

The Performance Brand: Lab Series

Trend hunting Lab Series has given us great skin over the years. They’re not “free-from” or conscious but they research what works and know what we’re looking to achieve. Lab Series are on a mission to bring us better skin and in doing so brought out the first BB tinted cream for men and one of the first moisturisers to use skin perfecting blurring technology.

Skin Heroes: Day Rescue Defense Lotion SPF 35 (£31), Multi Action Face Wash (£21), BB Tinted Moisturiser Broad Spectrum SPF 35 (£38)

The Dermatologist Brand: Ole Henriksen

As a dermatologist to Hollywood’s A-List, Ole Henriksen regularly preps men for the scrutiny of the red carpet. He knows a thing or two about getting the best out of our skin and just relaunched his signature line in Boots. It’s a broad range that’s split into four categories for easy navigation: Truth, Transform, Balance and Nurture offer targeted products for anti-ageing, brightening, oil control and dry/sensitive skin, respectively.

Skin Heroes: Banana Bright Eye Crème (£30), Truth Serum (£42), Balancing Force Oil Control Toner (£20)

The Natural Brand: Dr Hauschka

Like skincare that’s made from 100% organic, bio-dynamic ingredients and comes in plastic-free glass and metal packaging? Look to Dr Hauschka, it’s one of the original “free-from” brands. The clarifying range is great for spotty, breakout prone, congested skin – and it’s gentle too.

Skin Heroes: Clarifying Steam Bath (£25.50), Clarifying Clay Mask (£25), Eye Balm (£35.50)

The Spa Brand: Aman Skincare

Top of our bucket list? A trip to an Aman resort: probably Utah’s jaw dropping Amangiri or the ultimate paradise, Amanpulo in the Palawan Islands. This exclusive global chain of tropical hideaways and urban sanctuaries has a set of super fans known as “Aman junkies”. It’s Kim Jones’ default destination for a post Dior fashion show recharge. These aren’t cheap places to visit, so the closest we can get to the Aman experience for now is in our bathroom, using the signature bath and skin line.

Skin Heroes: Grounding Face Mist (£110), Purifying Marine Face Wash (£50), Purifying Hyaluronic Facial Hydrator (£75)

The Barbershop Brand: Baxter of California

Based out of Los Angeles, Baxter of California has been around since 1965. Baxter Finley started his line with the relaunched Super Shape moisturiser and the rest is well-groomed history. Check out the body and cleansing bars if you want to go plastic-free.

Skin Heroes: Daily Face Wash (£19), Facial Scrub (£19), Oil Free Moisturiser (£24)

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