FEATURE – weekend getaway
Healthy walks, kayak outings and a heart-healthy menu are but a few offerings at Hilton Head Health Wellness Resort & Spa.
‘Centered’ in the Carolinas: Wellness retreats to jumpstart the year by Vanessa Infanzon photography courtesy Hilton Head Health Wellness Resort & Spa and Juneberry Ridge
Renewal has become synonymous with the start of a new year. Gyms and studios are suddenly filled with people who want to live a healthier life. But soon, without direction, enthusiasm and focus wane. The notion of living better hasn’t disappeared; it just needs support and training to take root. Wellness retreats provide the guidance and encouragement from experts to continue the journey to self-development and healthy living. Whether you go solo, with friends or a significant other, these getaways offer healthy food and activities, educational opportunities and mindful experiences to redirect you toward the path you’re seeking.
Island Healthy Getaways Tucked inside Shipyard, a gated neighborhood on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Hilton Head Health Wellness Resort & Spa combines a beach vacation with a fitness retreat, complete with activity and meal choices. Campus accommodations — king rooms and suites — at the Sweetgrass Inn are within walking distance of classes, the dining room and The Indigo Spa. Private villas are also available. With guidance from the center’s staff, guests select from dozens of exercise classes offered on the beach, in the pool and inside the main building. Educational lectures on topics such as body image and sleep are taught by the resort’s staff. Kayaking excursions, day trips 34
LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | FEBRUARY 2025
to Daufuskie Island and golf outings round out the wellness menu. Guests may add specialty programs, such as coaching, fashion stylist and nutrition services, to their schedule. Although class topics rotate throughout the year, Anne Poirer, director of behavioral health, and Bob Wright, health educator, give 30-minute interactive presentations most days. Hand-out packets with exercises for self-development and tips to practice at home set guests up for a positive experience when they return home. Guests enjoy meals in the True Dining Restaurant, a dining room with table service. The menu, overseen by Chef Thomas Carrig (former chef to professional athletes in Charlotte), changes twice a week. Multiple options for artfully flavored beans, chicken, fish, soups, steak and vegetables help educate guests about healthy meals. Meats are purchased from regenerative farms in Georgia and the Carolinas, and vegetables are from GrowFood Carolina, a local food hub based in Charleston. At the Chef ’s Table every Friday evening, Chef T (as he’s known around the resort) showcases fine dining with low-calorie dishes. During the four-course meal with wine pairings, he explains the “how” and “why” behind each dish, often researching the history of a particular item. His hands-on cooking classes and demonstrations