Opposite page: Group yoga at Primland in Meadows of Dan. Clockwise, from top left: One of Primland's many nature walk trails; the interior of the meditation sanctuary at Seven Oaks Retreat Center in Madison; massage at Edgar Cayce's A.R.E in Virginia Beach.
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estination : wellness by Sabra Morris
contributed photos
Local spas , wel l n ess cl u bs and retreat centers offer getaway options designed to promote health and healing .
Calming shades of blue, gray and taupe accented with deep purple welcome visitors to the newly opened Lavender Retreat Wellness Club in Woodbridge. The private rooms are well appointed and cozy. Soft music seems to emanate from the great beyond. Every sensory detail gives it the feel of a high-end spa. Yet owner Jaime Bohl doesn’t like to use the word “spa.” She explains that she hopes clients will look to Lavender Retreat’s Woodbridge and Washington, D.C. locations for more than just luxury treatments: She hopes they’ll come for total wellness support. “I want to offer a place where people can come, rest and feel good about themselves,” says Bohl. A look at Lavender Retreat’s menu reveals some traditional offerings, such as Swedish massage and facials, but it doesn’t stop there. Bohl plans to offer holistic-health treatments too, such as therapeutic and cosmetic acupuncture, therapeutic massage, nutritional counseling, chiropractic care and even group travel opportunities in the near future. Bohl says she also wants to host social events “so people can get to know each other and say hello. It’s not just about running a business. I really want to bring people together.” Bohl isn’t the only one thinking more holistically about wellness these days. An integrated approach to wellness like that offered at Lavender Retreat is trending globally, according to a study released in 2013 by the independent nonprofit research institute SRI International for the New York City-based Global Spa and Wellness Summit, an organization devoted to developing the spa and wellness industries worldwide. The study looked into the growing popularity of wellness tourism, which is loosely defined as travel organized around maintaining or improving one’s wellbeing. The study found that 1 out of every 7 tourism dollars spent in the global market is already spent on wellness tourism, and that the wellness tourism sector worldwide is expected to grow by 9.9 percent every year until 2017. Why the boom? “Aging populations, an alarming rise in chronic disease and unhealthy lifestyles,
failing medical systems with rising costs and the stress associated with the modern lifestyle are all driving a mounting global health crisis,” the study notes. As a result, consumers are taking a more proactive approach to wellness, seeking out complimentary and alternative medicine, nutrition and weight loss services, spa services, mind/body activities, beauty treatments and more, all in the name of feeling and looking their best. Wellness tourism, or planning vacations and small breaks for the purpose of promoting health and happiness, is a growing part of this new, more well-rounded plan for living a healthier life. Virginia has been a mecca for wellness seekers for some time. “Virginia has a rich history in wellness retreats and spa destinations as a result of its hot springs,” says Beth McGroarty, press director and research associate for the Global Spa and Wellness Summit. The landmark Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, for example, brings visitors from near and far to Bath County for a stress-relieving soak in the same pools that once hosted Thomas Jefferson. And Virginia’s wellness-destination opportunities are growing, thanks to a number of new destination spas, wellness centers and medical spas offering packages, treatments and getaways aimed at restoring the whole person. Consider the newly-opened Spa at Primland Resort in Meadows of Dan, which, along with its traditional day-spa options, has created three-day retreats designed to do more than just treat the customer to a few hours of pampering. “We’re really about that feeling of wellbeing, a way to reconnect with and rebalance your life,” says Primland representative
Ann Walker. Primland’s Circle of Life American Indian Package includes a Stone of Eternal Youth facial, a blue corn and honey wrap and float and a yoga session. The resort’s three dining facilities offer dishes made from local, organic and sustainably procured ingredients. Primland’s design emanates its bring-the-outdoors-in ethos, but guests can also take nature walks throughout the 12,000acre grounds with an on-staff naturalist. “We’re literally at the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains,” explains Walker. “When you enter the gates at Primland, you still have six miles to drive before you get to the lodge. And while you’re on the road, you go through these magnificent groves of rhododendron. You see wild turkey and sometimes deer. It starts to set the stage for your experience ... It’s truly a getaway.” The idea of getting away to get well isn’t a new one: A select group of wellness-minded folks, including yoga practitioners, monks and other spiritual retreaters have participated in mindful meditation in seclusion for hundreds of years. But mainstream participation is now on the rise.
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