MINDFUL
NEXT-LEVEL WELLNESS
After last season’s foray into the health space, the Surf Lodge is quite literally taking its wellness game to the next level this year: There’s a new second-floor spa, classes from an all-star lineup of trainers, and seminars with top wellness experts. Here, Surf Lodge founder Jayma Cardoso talks to Purist about what’s ahead for the upcoming summer of “wellth.” RAY ROGERS: So you’re emphasizing wellness so much that you now have a wellness director? JAYMA CARDOSO: Yes, Marisa Hochberg is helping me curate the program. She lives and breathes wellness and knows every obscure yogi or holistic doctor out there. RR: Tell us more about your new spa. JC: It’s located on our second floor, which used to be our staff quarters. Crystal Connors and Thuyen Nguyen are curating the programming, which will be called Wellth at the Surf. The space has a relaxed bohemian feel; we partnered with ABC Carpet and Home to furnish it. They really got the vibe of what we were looking for with lots of crystals, sound-bath meditations and healing properties. RR: What will you offer beyond massages and facials? JC: We’ll have IV drips that will deliver vitamins, minerals and other nutrients (which are great for when you’ve overindulged in booze or sun). One service I’m fascinated with is Cryoskin Toning, which will improve your microcirculation, resulting in improved collagen production. RR: Who is on tap for your exercise program this summer?
JC: We have classes on weekends for hotel guests only from Y7 Yoga, Kristin McGee, Rumble’s Noah Neiman, Megan Roup, Taryn Toomey, and Elements Fitness Studio. RR: There’s also a series of wellness talks this summer. Who is lined up so far? JC: Donna D’Cruz with Deepak Chopra, Gwyneth Paltrow with Dr. Frank Lipman, and Max Lugavere with Maria Shriver, to name a few. Each panel will tackle a subject like nutrition, mental health or sexuality. RR: How has your interest in wellness informed the approach to your menu? JC: Our new executive chef, Ron Rosselli, is Surf Lodge developing the menus, with choices that founder Jayma are vegan and gluten-free. But the thing Cardoso I’m most proud of is that we source local food, whether it’s fish from Gosman’s Dock or from working with local farms. RR: I hear there are several new eco-friendly initiatives. JC: Yes, we are launching a local program to reduce single-use plastic by using sustainable cups, made from a plant-derived resin, that are 100 percent compostable. And our guest-room amenities are from Seed Phytonutrients. They’re farm-fresh, sulfate-free and plant-based, and they come in paper “bottles” that are compostable. RR: Music is still a huge part of the Surf Lodge. Who are you most excited about seeing perform this year? JC: We have a really exciting lineup! I’m really looking forward to Bishop Briggs—she is a vocal powerhouse—and Gary Clark, Jr is returning this summer. He’s the Jimi Hendrix of our generation! thesurflodge.com 38
Portrait by Mikey DeTemple
At the Surf Lodge, a new spa and ramped-up health and fitness programming complement a summer of fun—and the best music lineup in Montauk. BY RAY ROGERS
