Island Reset | Way of life Media Group
By Angela Caraway-Carlton
As I drive beneath moss-draped tree canopies, a way of calm washes over me—the sort solely Amelia Island can summon. Situated simply half-hour from Jacksonville, this northernmost barrier island is a sanctuary of untamed magnificence, the place forested trails twist like storybook paths and vast seashores stretch out beneath rolling dunes. A uncommon Florida gem the place it’s straightforward to get in contact with nature, and your self, because it nonetheless feels principally untouched by mass tourism.
I’m attending a three-day, longevity-themed wellness retreat at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. The resort is befitting of a serene getaway any time of yr, due to its prime spot on a secluded seaside the place wonderful morning sunrises are value rising early for, and the place lengthy walks on the seaside to scan for dolphins are every day rituals. With wellness getaways trending, the resort is dedicated to an annual wellness retreat with completely different themes and audio system, akin to longevity guru Kalindi Hoffmann who hosted classes all through the weekend.
The primary day, our small group was challenged by Hoffmann’s query of what wellness means to us. Virtually instantly, our small group collectively agreed: longevity isn’t a lot about how lengthy you reside, however about dwelling in good well being for the time we’re right here. One attendee lately obtained a surprising most cancers analysis and was engaged on self-care, whereas a pair from Boca Raton booked the retreat as a part of their dedication to a yearly reset collectively. Others have been fighting sleep or detrimental ideas, which introduced me to my intention for the weekend. I wished assist quieting detrimental or fearful ideas that appear to dominate my thoughts and the world’s every day newsfeed.
We’d wake within the mornings for mild motion like yoga, stretching and “no-talking” seaside walks (which proved troublesome for a gaggle of principally ladies who turned quick pals), and huddle up in a quiet convention room for longevity studying classes. As somebody who’s sleep-challenged, I gravitated to Hoffmann’s yoga nidra session the place we slipped on eye masks and lay on mats curled up with blankets, permitting her tender voice and mediative steerage to lull us into deep rest. I alternated someplace between vivid goals and consciousness. “You all appear like infants,” she exclaimed as we emerged from the session, our faces wiped away from stress. Yoga nidra is supposed to prime the physique for evening’s sleep and I slept onerous that evening. The subsequent day Hoffmann led us by means of respiration workout routines, one other pillar of longevity, to showcase the ability of respiration on our nervous system and emotional therapeutic; whereas the ultimate day, our yoga and motion teacher Cassie, bathed us in a vibrational sound bowl session.
There have been no salads in sight over the weekend—except you wished one, in fact—however the first evening was stuffed with a buffet of Blue Zone meals, starting from nutrient-rich soups to seared native fish, and hearty breakfasts at Coast restaurant that included peanut butter in a single day oats, omelets, zucchini bread, bowls and avocado toast. A deal with was dinner on the resort’s newly renovated Salt restaurant, the place the chef created a particular menu for us and turned gadgets like artichokes into scrumptious artworks.
A part of the retreat targeted on pampering therapies on the expansive Spa & Wellness Heart, the place attendees may select every thing from glow-up hydrafacials to rhythmic bamboo massages and stints within the red-light remedy beds to combat irritation. Whereas I soaked within the effervescent scorching tub and sweated within the sauna, the spa’s non-public pool is a coveted amenity the place you possibly can zone out or join with pals (there have been loads of lady gangs laughing and sipping bubbly). And also you don’t have to attend for the Ritz’ annual wellness retreat: the spa usually provides customized wellness journeys and full-day retreats the place you possibly can select a mixture of spa providers and wellness experiences like forest bathing or nap/sleep remedy, paired with lunch and a take-home present.
However the true present of a wellness retreat on the Ritz is the pure attractiveness and simple tranquility of Amelia Island. The resort’s educated naturalists will lead visitors on water and land excursions to search for pink spoonbills or dolphins (a number of the visitors even noticed bunnies and tortoises across the resort), and Amelia Island is without doubt one of the few locations in Florida the place you possibly can trip horses on the seaside. It’s straightforward to flee actuality at close by Boneyard Seashore, an otherworldly seaside in Massive Talbot Island State Park that’s scattered with huge driftwood timber. After a protracted stroll down a tucked-away path, there’s the possibility to climb the driftwood giants and marvel on the spectacle as you take heed to the surf roll out and in.
On my drive again to Fort Lauderdale after the retreat wrapped, a query that Hoffmann challenged our group to ask ourselves when harassed, floated by means of my thoughts: “Is that this value giving up my peace?.” At a time the place our minds are always bombarded by scary information headlines and FOMO-inducing social media feeds, I vowed to maintain that query on every day repeat.
