FAIRMONT CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE
CAVING IN TUSCANY
NUTRITION FOR YOGIS
SPRING HEALING
$6.95
READING RETREATS
VO LU M E 5 • I S S U E 2
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Born in Turkey, Global Wellness Day is celebrated on the 2nd Saturday of June every year only with complimentary activities around the world. June 8th, 2019 Want to be a part of the celebrations? e-mail: info@globalwellnessday.org
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Retreat Yourself According to Lonely Planet, wellness tourism is the world’s fastest growing travel sector – a product of, and perhaps solution to, our hyperconnected existence. No longer just for the long-haired, kale-eating spiritual seeker, wellness has gone mainstream, with airlines offering up mindfulness videos and major hotels promoting Ayurvedic eating and in-room yoga. With all the noise, the question is, do wellness travelers actually get well? A report published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine from researchers at RMIT University in Australia, recently answered with a resounding yes. The study found that wellness “retreat experiences can lead to substantial improvements in multiple dimensions of health and well-being,” and that these improvements are likely to be maintained at least 6 weeks after the traveler returns home.
PUBLISHER Matthew Ross EDITOR Kristina Smith WEST COAST BUREAU Mark Stanton SOCIAL MEDIA Maddy Ross ADVERTISING SALES Andrea Dragosits adsales@wander-mag.com CONNECT editor@wander-mag.com
CONTRIBUTORS Deborah Devine Elizabeth Heath Chantal Houde Shannon Melnyk MARKETING & CREATIVE Springfed Creative Inc. design@springfedcreative.ca Cover image: ©Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Wellness retreats offer exactly that - a chance to pause and recalibrate. Every retreat that I have been blessed to experience, from a weekend detox to longer meditative immersions, has resulted in feeling more calm, centered, inspired, healthier, and ready to jump back in with energy and purpose. With that in mind, we hope to inspire your next (or first) retreat in this issue, from tackling your health issues at a medical spa (in stunning Tuscany, no less) to retreats with the sole purpose of catching up on all those books you’ve been wanting to read, to mindfulness and yoga retreats in the heart of the breathtaking Rocky Mountains. In the spirit of spring renewal, we look at supplements made especially for yogis, healing practices for your morning routine, and getting out of your comfort zone in the caves of Tuscany, a theme we continue to weave in with the rise in transformative travel for women. And in the spirit of reducing our footprint, we’ve created Bamboo, a new content channel, that launches in this issue with carbon offsetting, our favorite vegan recipes, and sustainable travel essentials.
PROUD MEMBER
Travel Well, Kristina Smith
Springfed Creative is a strategic content company specializing in travel and destination marketing. Wander is published by Springfed Creative Inc. and distributed through partners. No part of this publication may be copied or distributed without the written consent of the publisher. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor, or partners.
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WANDER / TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SPRING REFRESH & HEALING
NOURISH YOUR PRACTICE
HEALING HOLIDAYS
PRACTICES TO OPTIMIZE YOUR ENERGY & CREATE SPACE
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NUTRITION FOR YOGIS TO KEEP THE BODY NURTURED & THE MIND CLEAR
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ITALIAN MED-SPA VACATIONS TAKE A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO YOUR HEALTH
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34 FAIRMONT CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE
RETREATS TO DE-STRESS, CONNECT & RESTORE IN THE HEART OF BANFF NATIONAL PARK AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
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VEGAN ON A BUDGET
CAVING IN TUSCANY
VEGAN TRAVEL TIPS & INSPIRED PLANT-BASED RECIPES FROM YOUTUBER LIV B.
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FINDING STRENGTH & SATISFACTION AND A SOLUTION TO OVERTOURISM
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CARBON OFFSETTING
THE WHAT, WHY, & HOW OF OFFSETTING YOUR TRAVEL FOOTPRINT
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TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE
READING RETREATS
MEET: DAVINA BERNARD
STAFF PICKS FOR FAVORITE PRODUCTS WITH A CONSCIENCE
SLIP AWAY FOR A LITERARY BREAK AT ONE OF THESE FABULOUS DESTINATIONS
EXHALE IN THE HEART OF NEW YORK CITY AT EVEN
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DIRECTOR OF WELLNESS AT FAIRMONT CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE
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Embark on a journey of transformation & self-discovery YOGA, MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS RETREATS Feeling overworked? Need to reignite your passion and zest for life? Reconnect with your best self and nature in the heart of world-class Banff National Park. Our all-inclusive wellness retreats led by world-renowned facilitators will will empower you to live your best life. Take advantage of luxurious amenities, explore iconic Lake Louise and leave feeling relaxed, recharged and inspired. Let us take care of you, while you’re taking care of yourself.
lakelouisewellness.com Wellness retreats hosted by
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IMAGE: ©ANGELOS MICHALOPOILOS
LIVE WELL
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? ~Mary Oliver
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IMAGE: ©MASAAKI KOMORI
DEBORAH DEVINE
After a dark, cold winter, it IS so nourishing to feel the warmth of spring’s light rising earlier every day. We begin to feel our body quickening and opening to the waves of fresh prana, life force, and vitality that is everywhere, pulsing with aliveness! Over the course of 5 millennia, the ancient sages studying Yoga’s sister science, Ayurveda - The Science of Health, noted the changes taking place in the body and the mind during the shift from winter to spring. They discovered that the liver and gallbladder become very active in spring, and are key organs helping detoxify ama - our body’s natural waste products. The ama may have been stored up over a winter of heavy feasting and lack of movement due to inclement weather. So the time honored
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tradition is to help the body awaken to and harmonize with the new prana bursting from the earth right now! These practices help us optimize the energy of spring, the energy of the new, the energy of growth and expansion in our lives, our work, and our relationships. Spring is the easiest and most optimal time to release ama from body and mind, and create space for the new. We use these practices to navigate between the vata dry air energy of winter season, with the kapha moist heavy energies of spring. 10
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With that in mind, enjoy these healing practices: Wake Up Gently. •
Our bodies naturally want to get up earlier through spring and summer, but for those times when it’s difficult, use music to help set the stage for a pleasant awakening. Breathe deeply, and let a special piece of music give you gentle encouragement to rise to the occasion of a new day! Carefully choose a song that has an inspiring feeling-tone for you, and allow it to put your heart and your mind on the same page. One of my favorite morning tunes is “The Unspoken Quest” by Harry Manx.
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Hydrate & Cleanse the Breathing Apparatus Attend to tissues involved in breathing: • Drink a full glass of room temperature lemon water upon waking. Set it by the bedside the night before, so it’s on standby as soon as you wake up. • Scrape the tongue with a copper tongue scraper and rinse the mouth and throat with salt water. • A saline wash of the nasal passages with jal neti or through nasal aspiration acts as a remedy against irritants and organisms we come into more contact with because of indoor living, especially during the winter months. It’s also very effective as a means for flushing out plant pollens, allergens, and unwelcome microorganisms, and sets the stage for optimal breathing.
Dry Brushing & Self Massage •
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Breathing Practices •
the sinus cavity. It also sparks the fire deep in the core of the solar plexus, the area identified by ancient yogis as the Manipura Chakra, translated from the Sanskrit as the City of Shining Jewels. This stirring of the belly organs lights the fires of our inner awareness, tones the diaphragm, our main breathing muscle, and awakens our digestive system, as we cultivate the power of the present moment. Cultivate a relationship with the exhalations. Exhalations are detoxifying and grounding. Throughout the day, bring awareness to the outbreaths. Allow them to be complete. Notice how often we hold onto the breath in the lowest lobes of the lungs. Expand the belly and bring the inhalations all the way down to the lowest lobes of the lungs and take notice of which areas of the body are taking in that prana more than others.
The Shining Skull Breath, or Kapala Bhati, is an excellent breath practice to support the cleansing of the nasal passages. The vigorous out-snorts of breath help move old toxins out from all the nooks and crannies in
Brushing the skin vigorously from feet to head with sisal brushes or exfoliation mitts feels fantastic, and is a must for supporting the movement of toxins via the lymphatic system. By sweeping from the extremities towards the heart, we mobilize stagnant lymph and toxins that have been pooling together, back into the system for further breaking down and elimination. Either before or after the morning shower, gently and mindfully massage the entire body with oil, from feet to head. As we move from part to part with mindfulness, cultivate a quiet attitude of reverence for the miracle that is our body, and gratitude for our health and for the freedoms we enjoy.
A cleansing ritual doesn’t have to be extreme, or expensive. The simplest and easiest practices can HAVe the biggest impact. Remember that a restorative approach is very important because our best body and brain detoxing happens when we’re resting deeply or sleeping soundly. Deborah Devine is a trusted teacher and the host of Healing Yoga, an inclusive, innovative, and practical yoga program designed to accommodate all ages and fitness levels. Healing Yoga airs daily in over 10 million homes on VisionTV, and OneTV, Canada's GetFit Channel. deborahdevineyoga.com 11
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Nourish Your Practice
e spoke with Jillian Mariani, founder and general manager of Niyama Yoga Wellness, about nutrition and wellness for yogis. In 2017, I left my corporate role as Vice President of Marketing at Jamieson Wellness to take time with my family – I was really burnt-out and knew I needed to figure out a new path. I’d always wanted to take a Yoga Teacher Training course, not necessarily to teach but to deepen my own practice.
What inspired you to create Niyama Yoga Wellness? I started practicing yoga around the same time I started my career in the natural health products category in Canada – over 20 years ago! Like many, I first came to yoga looking for an exercise regimen that I would actually enjoy; I just wasn’t a gym girl. I was immediately hooked on both the physical and emotional benefits of a sweaty, vigorous class and I haven’t been back to a gym since.
It was during that physically demanding course (I was in my mid 40’s, not my 20’s!) that I realized the combination of supplements and nutrients I was using to maintain my health and support my needs before and after yoga really weren’t common knowledge. Plus, a lot of active yoga practitioners and teachers follow a plant-based lifestyle, making their protein needs more challenging to meet. It was my lightbulb moment – I could combine my love for yoga with my passion and knowledge for natural health, actually helping to make yogis healthier and, just maybe, even happier!
I had an amazing 20-year corporate career in sales, marketing and innovation with some of the best natural health brands in Canada. I worked with incredible teams and inspiring mentors, learning so much. With young kids and a demanding work schedule, I did a lot less yoga but still went when I could and also practiced at home. 13
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What are the unique nutritional needs of yogis and aspiring yogis? The nutritional needs of yogis aren’t greatly different from other active people. With enough research, it’s possible to create your own regimen by combining some great products already out there – but Niyama was an opportunity to create something designed specifically for yogis, to take all the guesswork out of it. Yogis are more likely to follow a plant-based diet, so I wanted the line to be vegan, free of soy and without any artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. Having Niyama made in Canada was also important to me. In terms of nutrition, Niyama offers a pre-practice powder you add to water and drink before class (Green Energy Pre-Vinyasa Energizer) – it contains alkalizing greens, lots of antioxidants and natural non-caffeinated energy in a seriously delicious sugar-and-calorie-free drink. You can focus on forward-bends, twists and inversions without the nausea or heartburn that can happen after coffee. Niyama also offers a luscious pineapple-coconut AfterPractice drink mix to provide electrolytes and vegan aminos after a sweaty practice, which can help reduce muscle fatigue – again, without sugar, calories or artificials. To compliment plant-based lifestyles, I developed a plant
IMAGE: ©WEE LEE
Yogis are more likely to follow a plant-based diet, so I wanted the line to be vegan, free of soy and without any artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. Having Niyama made in Canada was also important to me. protein made with organic peas that is smooth, creamy and not too sweet. Niyama also offers three products in capsule form: a natural anti-inflammatory to support healthy joints (Vinyasa Forever Joint Care), a melatonin-free natural sleep product (Sleep Like Buddha) and Daytime Zen Stress Support, which combines my favorite adaptogens and can be taken daily to help extend the stress-fighting benefits of physical yoga into our off-mat lives.
What are adaptogens? Simply put, adaptogens are nutrients that help the body adapt to and deal with stress. Because stress is unavoidable, having lifestyle and nutritional strategies to minimize the impact on your health is really important. These nutrients, usually sourced from the roots of herbs, work with the adrenal glands and brain to help reduce mental and physical fatigue, improving energy, stamina and mental focus. Daytime Zen combines the ayurvedic herbs Ashwagandha and Rhodiola with another adaptogen, Bacopa, as well as the amino L-theanine (found in green tea). Best taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach – however, if you are on any prescription meds for anxiety, you would definitely want to talk to your doctor first.
Jillian holds a BA from UofT, a diploma in Nutritional Management from GBC, an MBA from Schulich School of Business, and a YTT-200H from Downward Dog Yoga Centre. She lives in Toronto with her family, teaches Vinyasa part-time and is the founder and general manager of Niyama™ Yoga Wellness. In addition to yoga, she enjoys cooking with her Italian husband, travel, Game of Thrones, good books and turmeric lattes, dark chocolate, and beach walks. niyamayogawell.ca
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@niyamayogawell
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@niyamayogawellnesscanada
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"I could combine my love for yoga with my passion and knowledge for natural health, actually helping to make yogis healthier and, just maybe, even happier!"
Shop all products at niyamayogawell.ca 15
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SHANNON MELNYK 16
IMAGE: ©COURTESY OF ADLER SPA RESORT
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WANDER / SPRING 19 / LIVE WELL
In a world where med-spas are becoming masters of the bucket-list vacation, wellness-seekers are increasingly crossing borders to pursue good health. But would you give up your precious holiday to see a foreign doctor? At the Adler Thermae Spa Resort in Tuscany, you don’t have to. Why not take a proactive approach to your health - all while basking in a five-star spa environment with fourcourse meals? And while you’re waiting for test results and doctors’ consultations, you might choose to go truffle hunting or wine-tasting at the Spa’s own vineyard. It’s the new healing holiday – and it works. White lab coats and Chianti are an uncommon combination, even if you’re a veteran of wellness travel. Yoga retreats, fitness vacations, detox programs and spiritual quests all suggest a kind of discipline, and sometimes, deprivation. Often, we want to feel we’re nurturing our health without sacrificing the sense of indulgence that a traditional holiday offers. But can we have our cheese and eat it, too? An increasing array of medspa offerings says yes, we can.
Given the choice between the token lettuce leaf on a plate vs. a white truffle pappardelle, which one would you choose? Enter Adler Thermae Spa Resort (adler-resorts.com) in the healing thermal water region of Bagno Vignoni, Italy. Its location is no mistake, given the therapeutic benefits of the mineral-rich natural pools that have soothed Etruscans for thousands of years. It is here in Tuscany’s picturesque Val d’Orcia countryside, tucked amongst olive groves and cypress-lined fields, that a team of doctors, an in-house laboratory, cutting-edge diagnostics and 24-hour support await those who want to get serious about two things: their health, and their vacation.
What exactly is a medical spa? Loosely defined, it's a zen-like environment that offers procedures or expertise typically only found at a doctor's office. In North America, the term used to be largely associated with aesthetic beauty treatments, but now encompasses everything from ancient medicine to stem-cell therapy to treatments for addiction and chronic illness - and the list is rapidly growing. No longer are resort spas only catering to the detox bootcamp crowds or robe-clad turtles lounging about. There’s a place for play and even hedonist pleasures when it’s time to get serious about your health.
Adler’s in a position to address many needs. Guests fall into many different categories: there are those who come to take advantage of the thermal waters, the extravaganza of steam, sauna, vinotherapy, traditional and ancient spa menu offerings, state-of-the-art aesthetic beauty treatments, the innovative medical programs or the home-base for the perfect Tuscan holiday. I decided I would experience it all. 17
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IMAGES: ©COURTESY OF ADLER SPA RESORT
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IMAGE: ©COURTESY OF ADLER SPA RESORT
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I’m probably a poster-child for modern dis-ease. I juggle two careers, experience elusive sleep, travel too much and like many, have chronic issues there seems to be no sure cure for. Autoimmune issues, unexplained exhaustion. In my own estimation, I eat pretty clean, exercise and know the importance of stress-relieving activities, yet the vitality I desire escapes me. Adler’s new Preventative and Diagnosis Medical Program takes a comprehensive look at wellbeing and includes advanced testing technology afforded to astronauts and Olympians that my doctors back home haven’t even heard of. Could I leave Italy with some answers and new tools? In a fluffy robe and embraced by the intense fragrance of Sangiovese grapes, I’m under the care of Dr. Stefania Mazzieri, a medical doctor who has an extensive list of credentials and questions about my medical history, personality and lifestyle before conducting a myriad of wander-mag.com
tests scheduled throughout the duration of my week’s stay. This includes blood and urine exams, analysis of my body composition, internal organs, nervous system and cell nutrition. Between tests I spend my time enjoying the spa menu (I indulged in an Ayurvedic massage and a non-invasive sour grape stem cell slimming treatment) and invitations to tour a saffron farm, hunt for truffles, enjoy authentic Tuscan cooking classes, make use of the complimentary e-bikes and guided hikes and visit the resort’s own family vineyard. I also take full advantage of the neighboring Renaissance towns of Pienza and Montepulciano, exploring the region’s history and stocking my luggage with artisanal leather, scarves, fragrances and truffles. Back at the resort, I’m welcomed with five-star, four-course farm-to-table cuisine that includes the region’s famous Chianina beef, hand-made pastas, sun-ripened vegetables and an endless array of local wine, cheeses and cakes. 20
IMAGE: ©COURTESY OF ADLER SPA RESORT
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Back in Dr. Mazzieri’s office, I express how spoiled I feel and don’t imagine I’ve been dining according to her wishes. She reassures me this is ok; I’m on vacation, after all, and the information I was about to receive is for a lifetime, not a week according to the Adler philosophy. It’s all fine and well to go to a spa with strict regimens, but often they represent a bubble. Adler represents the real world, where you’re surrounded by choices. Life is about balance, and yes, indulgence from time to time.
and explains my organs are in good shape. This state is reversible, she says, and knowledge is power. She provides me with a comprehensive nutrition, exercise and lifestyle plan that emphasizes that the timing of types of food and activities in the day is important, which is a new concept for me - and I learned that every ten seconds in the body the brain, heart and blood pressure should synchronize. When they do not, you’re asking for tremendous fatigue. The culprit? Very poor breathing habits. This is empowering, given I think I’ve held my breath through most of my life. Dr. Mazzieri says many people do not realize what effect poor breathing has on the body. I feel empowered and will be taking this to heart. Right after my last serving of buffalo mozzarella.
It’s the moment of truth and I learn the distribution of energy in my body is in disarray. My brain is utilizing too many calories, my muscles and metabolism are compromised and my cortisol is very high, as is my level of inflammation. The information is overwhelming, but Dr. Mazzieri is nurturing
From spa marathons in the South Pacific to leopard-lurking in the Sabi Sands, Vancouver-based journalist Shannon Melnyk seeks to share experiences with her readers that challenge convention, inspire curiosity, induce joy and soothe the soul. Check out her adventures at shannonmelnyk.com.
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Welcome to Los Altos de Eros Boutique Luxury Hotel & Spa 22-acre jungle estate blends gorgeous scenery and ocean views with personalized service and luxurious amenities. Relax and renew in the award-winning spa and enjoy delicious meals with fresh, natural ingredients.
An unforgettable retreat experience in paradise.
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EAT WELL
First we eat, then we do everything else.
IMAGE: ©ABEEGO
~MFK Fisher
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Olivia Biermann is the creator of Liv B, a cooking channel for people who want to make delicious vegan food but don’t want to spend a lot of time or money doing it. Olivia does everything from coming up with the recipes to filming and also being on camera herself, and her audience (over 640,000 subscribers!) is made of up both vegans and those who might call themselves “veg-curious.” Residing in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, her first book, Liv B’s Vegan on a Budget, has quickly become a staple here at Wander! We spoke with Olivia about the challenge of going vegan and how to eat well on the road.
What do you think are the biggest challenges for people wanting to go vegan? Not knowing what to eat/how to cook for themselves. This is where I come in! I love showing people how easy and delicious vegan food can be. wander-mag.com
What do people tell you are the biggest positive changes they feel or notice after going vegan? It depends - a lot of people notice they have more energy and don’t feel as heavy after meals. Some people lose the extra weight, some people notice their skin clears up. I also notice people saying they feel happier because they are eating in alignment with their values (for example, if they are an animal lover, they don’t feel underlying guilt about eating animals anymore). Do you feel the East Coast of Canada has embraced plant-based eating? Getting there! There are new vegan restaurants popping up all the time and more and more existing restaurants have vegan options or even a separate vegan menu. It's great! Your YouTube videos are amazing! Do you do your own editing? I do! Always have, since the beginning. I have improved a lot since my first videos!! 24
IMAGES: ©BRILYNN FERGUSON
Can you share tips or tricks for eating vegan while traveling? If you can bring food with you, do it! Especially for road trips. Make some snacks or portable meals that don’t need refrigeration. For traveling internationally, there is an app called Happy Cow that tells you all the vegan or vegan-friendly spots in whatever place you are in! I also always try to find a grocery store wherever I go because you can pick up items like fruit, crackers, nuts, granola bars, etc. that are vegan. Also - just ask! If you are eating somewhere, ask the server or chef which items are or can be made vegan. Sometimes you need to order a bunch of sides or make modifications to a meal, but nowadays people are very accommodating.
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Edible Cookie Dough
Makes 1 1/4 cups Time: 10 minutes
Like many kids, my favorite part of making cookies was sneaking some dough while my mom wasn’t looking. Although, thinking back, I’m sure she also sneaked in a taste of cookie dough while I wasn’t looking! This version is safe to eat raw since it doesn’t contain eggs or wheat flour. Serve by itself or on top of pancakes, ice cream or graham crackers. 1 3/4 cups oat flour (see My Tip)
2 tbsp unsweetened nondairy milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup softened vegan butter
1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar 1. Whisk together the oat flour and salt in a medium bowl. 2. Cream together the vegan butter and brown sugar in a separate medium bowl, until smooth and combined. Add the nondairy milk and vanilla; stir to combine. 3. Add the flour mixture to the brown sugar mixture; stir until a dough forms. Stir in the chocolate chips. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week or the freezer for up to 1 month. My Tip If you can’t find oat flour, don’t worry! You can easily make your own by processing 1 3/4 cups large-flake (old-fashioned) or quick-cooking rolled oats in a blender or food processor until it has a fine, flour-like consistency. Use a fine-mesh sieve to sift the result, as any pieces of oat hull will need to be removed to achieve a smooth cookie dough consistency. 25
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Takeout Thai Curry Coconut Soup
Serves 4
Time: 30 minutes
Making takeout recipes at home is something I love doing on my YouTube channel. They are super popular because it’s an easy way to save money and eat a little bit healthier. Thai is on my regular rotation and this recipe was inspired by yellow curry, which I always order. 2 tbsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp ground ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 cup water
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 can full-fat
1 cup chopped broccoli
coconut milk
1 medium carrot, chopped
3 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp Thai yellow curry paste (see My Tip)
4 oz rice vermicelli noodles
1. Heat a medium pot over medium heat. Add the coconut oil and heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and green onions and cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the garlic is just beginning to brown. Add the bell pepper, broccoli and carrot; cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened slightly. 2. Add the curry paste, ginger, vegetable broth, water, coconut milk and brown sugar; stir until combined and the curry paste is completely dissolved. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the soup has thickened slightly. 3. Meanwhile, cook the noodles in a separate medium pot according to the package directions. Drain. 4. Add the noodles to the curry mixture and stir to combine. Divide evenly among 4 bowls. Serve. My Tip Be sure to read the ingredients list on your curry paste, as some brands contain seafood.
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Five-Minute Guacamole
Makes 1 1/2 cups Time: 5 minutes
What’s better than guacamole? Guacamole that takes only five minutes to make!
2 large ripe avocados, halved 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1. Scoop the avocado into a medium bowl. Mash with a fork until mostly smooth, with a few lumps remaining. Add the lime juice, salt and pepper; stir to combine. Serve. My Tip Give the guac some extra oomph by adding 1/4 cup minced red onion and 1/2 cup diced fresh tomato for a chunky, flavorful dip.
Courtesy of Liv B’s Vegan on a Budget by Olivia Biermann © 2019 www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with permission. Available where books are sold. 27
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TRAVEL WELL
When was the last time you did something for the first time?
IMAGE: ©KIRIL DOBREV
~ John C. Maxwell
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ELIZABETH HEATH 29
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IMAGE: ©PARINAZ BILIMORIA
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“I need an XL,” I told the guide as he handed out wetsuits. He looked me up and down and handed me an L. Flattering, but I knew it wasn’t going to fit. But I struggled nonetheless, half-naked, to stretch the size L sausage casing over my calves. It wasn’t happening. As I put my clothes on to go back out into the October chill and get an XL, I muttered to myself, “F***ing Italians.” That’s when I realized I was sharing the dressing room with an Italian woman. “Don’t worry,” she laughed. “I know what you mean.” The XL was also too small to fit over my calves. The guides finally dug out a suit made of thinner, stretchier material that slid easily over my aforementioned calves and ample hips. I may have looked like a grey, neoprene-clad version of the Michelin Man, but at least I could breathe. And I’d made a new friend, Cora, the understanding Italian woman. I figured I’d need a pal, since I was about to don a helmet and headlamp and crawl on my hands and knees through a frigidly cold river and into a millions-year-old cavern. wander-mag.com
We formed part of a group of nine travel industry professionals who were about to be introduced to the adventurous, wild side of Tuscany—the corners of the region that are all about kayaking, canyoneering, mountainbiking and hiking. The experience was offered by That’s Tuscany, an agency dedicated to responsible, low-impact travel. It’s part of the region’s wider effort to achieve a more sustainable kind of tourism by encouraging visitors to look beyond its crowded—albeit gorgeous—cities and into its lesser-known corners. Standing at the mouth of that cave, I had a feeling we weren’t in Florence anymore. Instead, we were in the woods just outside Fornovolasco, a town of just a few dozen residents deep in the Garfagnana, a mountainous geographical region near Lucca in far northwest Tuscany. We were within the Apuan Alps Geopark, about to enter the Tana che Urla, which translates to “the Howling Cave” and sounds sufficiently ominous in any language. Under the shade of chestnut trees on a cool, sunny morning, the Howling Cave didn’t seem so scary, but 30
IMAGE: ©TOSCANA PROMOZIONE TURISTICA
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I was nervous all the same. “If I get in there and find out this isn’t for me, can I come back out?” I asked Danilo, the lead of our three guides and principal with Apians, which organizes adventures in the Garfagnana.
To enter the Howling Cave, we first crawled on our hands and knees for several meters, through the cold water of a rocky riverbed. From there, we entered a large chamber, illuminated by our headlamps. After a quick lesson on how to use carabiners to attach our harnesses to ropes anchored along the chamber wall, I was soon belaying—clumsily, but I was belaying!—horizontally over a deeper stretch of the same river.
“Of course,” he said. “But you’ll be fine.” It wasn’t claustrophobia or fear of bats that had me concerned; it was the brutta figura—the Italian term for making a bad impression. At 52, I was probably the oldest member of the group and easily the least fit. My moderate level of fitness could get me through a high-intensity workout at the gym, but I wasn’t sure it would be enough to get me in and out of that cave without having to ask for help—and embarrassing myself worried me a lot more than some silly bat flitting around my head. I was a first-time spelunker among uber-fit adventurers, some of whom climb glaciers and bungee-jump for a living. In my mismatched, saggy wetsuit and not at all confident that I could complete the challenge ahead of me, I felt very much a fish out of water. Or a bat out of its cave.
Soon, we were hopping rock to rock, straddling a crevasse of rushing water, with jagged rocks breaking the surface. We moved quickly—too quickly for me to be scared thinking about the nasty injury I’d sustain if fell into the rocky abyss below. I didn’t slip, or struggle to find a foothold—I just did it, Yoda-style (“There is no try”). I was starting to think I might survive this crazy adventure, even if Øyvind, a strapping Norwegian guy who takes people ice-climbing above the Arctic Circle, kept asking me if I was doing okay—that had me worried again about that dreaded brutta figura. At the end of the crevasse, we assembled at the base of the roaring waterfall from which the Howling Cave gets its 31
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IMAGES: ©GPARINAZ BILIMORIA
To enter the Howling Cave, we first crawled on our hands and knees for several meters, through the cold water of a rocky riverbed. From there, we entered a large chamber, illuminated by our headlamps.
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IMAGE: ©CHRIS SCHOELLER
name. I was first in line, and waited as a guide scrambled up the falls, anchored a rope and threw it down to me. I attached it to my carabiner and waited, expecting to be pulled up the falls. Now that was some magical thinking. “Go ahead,” said Danilo, gesturing to the rocks protruding from the face of the waterfall. “Climb.”
silent chamber, turn off our headlamps and learn the true meaning of pitch blackness. One optional section required us to shimmy on our backs through a narrow opening, the cave ceiling just inches from our noses. “Will my ass fit through there?” I asked Andrea, another of our guides. Maybe it would be better for me to take the detour? “Move it,” he said, pointing to the skinny route. I went for it. I shimmied. I fit.
I climbed. And climbed, and climbed. With water rushing around and all over me, I found my foot- and hand-holds and to my infinite surprise, about 15 meters later, I was at the top of the waterfall. Cora arrived soon after, then Pari, then a few more of my cave companions. Cora grabbed my hand and we both smiled and sighed, exhilarated. “Can you believe we’re doing this?” I asked, to no one and everyone.
When it was time to turn back, we reversed course and did the whole route again, backwards. Except this time I rappelled down that waterfall like a boss. By the time we crawled out of the cave, I had proven to myself that I could do something which, for me, seemed nearly physically impossible.
We sat on a massive, slanting slab of stone as we waited for the others to arrive, and drank from the sheet of water that ran along the smooth rock face. It was only then that I had a moment to consider where I was and what I was doing—what I had already done. I knew that later my knees would be howling as loudly as the Howling Cave, but at that moment, my sense of satisfaction and accomplishment was so immense that I wasn’t thinking about my knees—or of making a fool of myself among my fitter peers.
The next day at the travel conference we all attended, I ran into Øyvind the Ice Climber, who spontaneously and warmly hugged me—I think he was genuinely relieved that I was alive. Maybe next time I decide to undertake a physical and mental challenge akin to the Howling Cave, I’ll try iceclimbing in Norway. But for the time being, I’ll settle for the feeling of accomplishment I got out of that half-day in a cave in Tuscany.
Our adventure wasn’t finished, either. Over the next few hours, we would wade into a freezing underground lake, scramble over rock shelves, and then descend into a
I did climb a waterfall, after all.
Elizabeth Heath is a travel and culinary writer living in central Italy. She is a proponent of responsible, sustainable travel that forges connections and benefits local communities. Read more of her work at elizabethfheath.com.
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IMAGES: ©FAIRMONT CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE
There’s no denying the pull of Lake Louise. If you’ve never been, photographs of the idyllic turquoise lake, framed by those dramatic mountains and the Victoria Glacier no doubt capture your imagination. Located inAlberta's famed Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the landscape is nothing short of remarkable.
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If you have been, you know the magnetism that exists in this amazing place. The restorative energy here is palpable; you feel as though you’re being embraced and nourished by the untouched natural setting, fresh Nordic air, and glacier-fed water.
resort sits in the heart of this stunning space, as iconic as the surrounding environment. Originally built with fitness and vitality in mind as a base for mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts over 100 years ago, and serving as a space for early adopters of the Buddhist movement in the '80s and fitness enthusiasts in the '90s to gather, it is still the perfect place to bring your wellbeing into greater focus. It offers a stress-free space from which you can grow towards the healthiest and most fulfilled version of yourself. Fairmont’s retreats are the perfect way to embody your full potential and enrich your relationship with yourself. Running through the fall and spring every year, these all-inclusive getaways vary in length and are led by some of the wellness industry's global thought leaders. A diverse range of themes and practices are explored: everything from yoga and mindfulness, to cultivating self-love, stimulating creativity, and understanding the mind-body connection are covered. The programs are held in a small and intimate group setting, encouraging a chance to relate with the other participants, yourself, and the natural environment on a deeper level. The experience here is elevated - literally: Lake Louise is Canada’s highest permanent settlement. Nestled among the striking Canadian Rocky Mountains and deep forests, yet still easily accessible from Calgary, the hotel is also steeped in luxury. 35
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Whether you’re on retreat or opting for a ‘self-serve’ wellness approach, every detail at the Chateau reflects a high level of intention and care for your wellness experience: suites are designed with comfort and convenience in mind, and many offer stunning views of the lake or mountains; the full-service spa offers a wide range of services designed to soothe and revitalize your body and mind; world-class dining options boast sustainably sourced, fresh, colorful ingredients with dishes that are customizable to your dietary needs; and the health club offers unlimited access to a detoxifying steam room, whirlpool, and fitness center.
relaxing, and many are all-levels, giving even beginners a chance to try out something new while enjoying the well-appointed accommodations. Combine these possibilities with year-round outdoor recreation like guided hikes and canoeing in the summer and skating, snowboarding, skiing, and snowshoeing in the snowy season and it becomes easy to create your own, completely individualized wellness experience by piecing together your preferred activities for any length of stay. Not only is your personal wellness of utmost importance to Fairmont, but they also practice and promote progressive environmental stewardship and responsible tourism to ensure the natural surroundings are protected for years to come. They know that the unique alpine environment enhances wellness and lulls you in the optimal physiological state to absorb your experience more fully and completely, allowing for a meaningful, felt sense of well-being to seep in and radiate to the rest of your life.
All guests have access to a full schedule of seasonallyfocused yoga, meditation, and fitness classes. In the summer, experience a lakeside stretching class on the boathouse dock for a completely immersive experience. In the winter, après-ski yoga classes allow you to care for yourself and refresh to make the most of your mountain time. Classes range from active to ultra37
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In the retreats, participants and facilitators alike are supported by a dedicated wellness team to ensure you get the best learning experience possible, with lots of undivided attention from your facilitator during sessions. This fall, there are four options to choose from through October and November that offer a chance to invite more of what YOU want into your life. Experience the longest running and most popular retreat, a Mindfulness & Yoga weekend with daily asana practice, delicious wholesome meals, discussion sessions, and mindful nature walks that allow you to take your learning outdoors! All levels are welcome for this recharging and peaceful escape.
classes, seated meditation, mindful eating, and mindful walking in nature are all explored to help you bring presence to all you do. Facilitator Tracey Delfs has studied under world-renowned Zen and Mindfulness Master Thich Nhat Hanh for the last 15 years and loves to share her passion for conscious living and the inner peace and happiness it brings.
Looking for something a bit more physical? The Flow. Sweat. Connect. Restore. retreat offers a great balance of energizing and recharging activities to help you bring more of both to your everyday life. Yoga classes and workshops with international yogi Kathy Parsons will leave you nourished.
Fall In Love With Yourself & Life. This immersion will encourage you to become your new best friend so you can connect to and live as your best self with love, appreciation, and acceptance. Shannon Kaiser is a bestselling author and international happiness guru and coach and, as your facilitator, will guide you through meditations, lessons, and thought exercises to bring more expansive thought patterns and behaviors to your life.
With two dates offered in November, the Mindfulness, Meditation & Yoga retreat is an experiential weekend in awareness: mindful yoga
Whatever you opt for, your needs are always taken care of by attentive staff with the level of luxury and comfort you expect, granting you space to de-stress and explore new levels of joy and ease in your life. You’re sure to leave with concrete tools to integrate into daily life: practices, habits, connections, and ideas that will allow you to thrive. Chantal Houde is a yoga teacher, communications freelancer and Reiki practitioner in Ottawa, Canada. She is currently completing her yoga therapy training and is passionate about nature, wellness, travel, and healthy food. Learn more about Chantal and follow her wanderings on her wellness travel blog, Travel With Celery (travelwithcelery.com).
To book your spot in one the upcoming retreats at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, or to find out more about their wellness opportunities, visit LakeLouiseWellness.com or email Davina Bernard, Director of Wellness at LakeLouiseWellness@fairmont.com.
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The environmental costs of global lifestyles have consequences worldwide: in order for planetary warming to be kept below 2 degrees Celsius, per capita emissions need to be 2.1 tCO2e by 2050. If one person eats meat and takes one roundtrip transatlantic flight per year, they would still exceed the per capita emissions by 0.3 tCO2e. That is without assessing their other emissions! Travel has an incredible impact on the environment, so let’s dig deeper into the possibility of carbon offsetting.
CONTRIBUTED BY THE ECO HUB wander-mag.com
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WHEN TO CONSIDER OFFSETTING YOUR TRIP
WHY OFFSET?
Carbon offsetting is the purchasing of offsets to balance out your emissions, which is met with some cynicism; one journalist likens carbon offsetting to purchasing absolutions for their sins, a “…scheme that persuades us that we can keep on polluting.” I agree: we need to be careful about greenwashing Carbon Offsetting to a point where travel is guilt-free. Before booking a trip, what if we consider each of the “5 R’s” of waste reduction?
In October 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sounded the alarm: we need to cut global emissions by 45 percent within the next 12 years to reach the recommended climate change target. The conclusion of the report confirms that every fraction of a degree of warming matters. Reducing both coal and oil consumption and the dependence on fossil fuels will save people, food security, and livelihoods. The IPCC report is further contextualized by the Carbon Majors Report, which listed the top carbon polluters worldwide. 100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions, and those 100 contributors are Carbon companies: coal and oil.
1. REFUSE: Compile your list of ‘easy no’s. The trips
that just don’t do it for you. 2. REDUCE: Plan! What trip am I considering, and
why do I want to go? Will going far away make the difference I’m looking for?
As consumers, we need to focus in on areas in our lives where we are relying on fossil fuels, and eradicate them. In the travel industry, policymakers are finally taking action: the UN is in the process of negotiating a Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, agreed on in 2018 in Montreal, and to be implemented in 2021. A policy like this will have a great impact, however, it does not mean that we are free from responsibility with travel! We need action in symphony with policy decisions; in the urgent state of the climate, giving careful thought to our travel choices and doubling up on carbon offsetting is not that outlandish an idea.
3. REUSE: Search for a great, local experience that
you can return to on weekends away and quick, focused trips: enjoy the same place for a deeper, more meaningful experience each time. 4. RECYCLE: Let go of travel concepts that don’t really
work for you. Maybe it’s traveling in large groups, maybe it’s going for a short time to a faraway place. Put those in the recycling: maybe they’ll come back to you in another form, maybe not. 5. ROT: You’ve saved more holiday time, the money,
and the energy for a big trip. (And you’re pumped about it!). Time to carbon offset.
HOW TO OFFSET Carbon offsetting is the purchasing of offsets to balance out your emissions. Although it is problematic to associate a dollar amount with environmental destruction, it’s also easy to say you’re committed to a new action and then not follow through. By monetizing a carbon calculation, you are allocating a portion of your budget to holding yourself accountable.
Though you already have a way to manage a financial budget, being more intentional about travel can help assess your carbon budget. By cycling through the first 4 principles of Waste Reduction before resorting to carbon offsetting, then you’ve likely reduced your air travel significantly and discovered more time and money in the process. Moreso, avoiding flying is a high impact action in favor of the environment, along with a planet-friendly diet, going carfree and having a smaller family. One Swedish study found that by avoiding one transatlantic flight, you can have eight times more of an impact than recycling. It doesn’t mean stop recycling: do both and maximize your impact!
1. OFFSETTING TRAVEL: Use a carbon calculator specifically
for flights (like the one at less.ca) and offset your footprint. Once you know how much you need to offset, either purchase the offsets immediately or track the offsets and make a larger investment in a project annually. 41
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Not all carbon offsets are created equal, so do some research and get excited about your investment! Here are a couple of our favorite options that can maximize the impact of your investment: Gold Standard: Links all projects to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and uses SustainCERT for its 3rd party certification, from the inception of a project to the final reporting stage. Search by project type (i.e. renewable energy, waste management, agriculture), by region or by Sustainable Development Goal. goldstandard.org Less: Owned by renewable electricity leader Bullfrog Power, Less was created specifically to help travelers take action on air travel-related emissions, with renewable energy projects. It is also the offset partner for Air Canada. less.ca 2. INVITE A FRIEND! Traveling with a group? Why not offer to calculate the group’s footprint and all pitch in to contribute to a project together? Make it easy for them, just as you would split costs for accommodation or a restaurant tab.
3. WORK TOWARDS CARBON NEUTRALITY: After
understanding your emissions with a carbon footprint calculator, you can also consider making adjustments in your home. In the corporate world, many companies that rely on natural resources have started carbon insetting, where they build an offset into the supply chain of a company so that the supply chain is more resilient, for example by enhancing land management practices with local farmers. In your household, can you re-allocate the funds indicated by a carbon calculator to invest in your home’s resiliency and/or efficiency? Examples could be an insulation upgrade, installing solar panels, creating a system that catches and reuses rainwater for your garden or finally building a compost. Have a look at the bigger picture by using a footprint calculator (footprintcalculator.org). By entering your energy use, food habits, housing, commute, and more, a footprint calculator will provide analysis on your consumption, and how it measures up to the resources available.
The Eco Hub is a digital media company founded by journalist Candice Batista. At its core is a website that connects conscious consumers to brands and companies that care about people and the planet. Visit them at theecohub.ca and get inspired on Instagram @theecohub. wander-mag.com
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We're growing!
DESTINATION SERIES The "Lonely Planet" of wellness travel, you'll find these regional guides useful both for planning your getaway and taking along on the road.
DESTINATION weddings An in-depth look at the most incredible locations and properties for your wedding, carefully curated for their focus on wellness and well-being.
BAMBOO Celebrating the growing movement toward sustainable and ethical travel options, Bamboo will inspire, educate and help you make choices for good.
Subscribe at wander-mag.com to get your complimentary copies 43
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ESSENTIALS Our Favorite Products with a Conscience
Brush Naked Toothbrushes Go naked with toothbrush handles made from 100% bamboo with BPA-free nylon or charcoal-infused bristles bristles that will leave your teeth and the earth feeling happy. Naturally antibacterial and anti-microbial, protect your brush on the road with their bamboo travel tubes, complete with tiny air holes to keep things fresh.
From $4.99 | br hnaked.com Lush Toothpaste Tabs Chomp down on these carry-on friendly tablets and enjoy a burst of fresh English peppermint, organic peppermint and wild mint freshness on the go. Simply crunch up a ‘Mile of Smiles’ tablet between your teeth, grab your wet bamboo toothbrush and brush as usual. Easy and refreshing.
$10.95 | lush.ca
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Abeego Wraps Designed to breathe just like nature's peels and rinds, these food wraps are made from beeswax, tree resin and jojoba oil infused into a hemp and organic cotton cloth. Self-adhesive, you just squeeze Abeego around food to keep fresh. Washed gently with cold water they’ll last a year - then use ‘em to start a campfire.
From $15.00 | abeego.com
Vahdam Teas Chai Founded by a 4th generation grower who saw a need for change, these teas are packaged right after harvest for optimal freshness and support fair wages for tea growers. The signature Chais are a fusion of Assam black teas and fresh, aromatic spices like cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, fennel seeds, and cloves, Truly Indian.
From $7.99 | vahdam.com Dental Lace The founder of this unique brand was inspired by the unattractive, non-recyclable floss containers she carried around for years. These fashionable glass dental floss containers are refillable with 100% silk dental lace, and the packaging is recyclable or compostable. Now there’s no excuse not to floss!
From $11.99 | dentallace.com BOHO & HOBO Cutlery Set Forget the plastic cutlery when traveling - this bamboo set is easy to throw into your backpack or purse for meals on the go, packaged in a washable cloth carrying case that can double as a napkin. Pick up their organic cotton bags and bamboo toothbrushes and feel good about reducing your carbon footprint.
$15.00 | bohoandhobo.ca
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Set on a secluded cove of white sand beach at the edge of the Caribbean Sea, surrounded by tropical gardens and rainforest, BodyHoliday Saint Lucia is the ultimate getaway for body and mind. Recognised as one of the finest destination resorts and centre of well-being, there couldn’t be a more idyllic corner of the world to escape to. SCOTT WALDRON Founder & Personal Travel Manager
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Tel. 416-367-8264 x 2623 Direct/Mobile 416-886-8653 scott@gravitate.travel
1003-55 York Street, Toronto, Ontario M5J1R7 Canada TICO #50021282
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ESSENTIAL READS
Emergency Kit: Your Survival Guide to Abundance
Rumi: Tales of the Spirit: A Journey to Healing the Heart
“Set your intention on what you want and begin to allow and witness miracles.” Through mock conversations, Dr. Robin Wallace clearly shows the internal battle we often have between our true selves, our higher power, and our conditioned subconscious. The all-too-familiar dialogue shows how we let our subconscious beliefs of unworthiness, fear, and lack deter us from an abundance mindset.
Author and playwright Kamla K. Kapur has been studying 13thcentury Persian poet, scholar, and mystic Rumi for 12 years, and through this sweet and comforting guide brings new life to these centuries-old stories while staying true to their roots in Rumi’s time and place. In 12 fresh and powerful tales of wisdom, Kapur urges us to learn to trust ourselves and trust the universe, to embrace suffering, to pray even when it feels hopeless, and to ultimately surrender to the cosmic will. These retellings beautifully convey Rumi’s deep insight into the human condition and bring to light the subtle meanings of his stories that are often lost in translation.
Quick and very relatable, the tools and exercises in this pocket guide are designed to help readers use the Law of Attraction to shift their focus from their fears and anxieties to their dreams and the blessings which surround them. Implementing the practices can help symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress to be released, allowing space for abundance and positivity.
Buy Now at mandalaearth.com
Buy Now from Amazon 47
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We know what you’re thinking...a reading retreat? Is this really a thing? Can I take time off from work, pack up all those books piling up on the bedside table, head to somewhere quiet and secluded - and tell people I’m going on retreat? Yes, we’re delighted to say, absolutely. In fact, for many years, Bill Gates went into seclusion for what he called "Think Weeks" - family, friends and Microsoft employees were banned from his retreat, and he used the time to reflect and read books he had set aside. Word has it he still schedules getaways twice a year to catch up on reading. If the thought of slipping away for a literary break appeals (yes please!) here are seven fabulous destinations to inspire.
IMAGE: LA MACCHINA FISSA © JOHN CAMPBELL
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IMAGES: (L TO R): © CABINSCAPE; © LIBRARY HOTEL BY LIBRARY HOTEL COLLECTION
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Reading Retreat
CABINSCAPE
Library Hotel
United Kingdom (Various Locations) Fully pampered getaways, these small group retreats take place in lovely houses in the country or by the sea, the single priority being to give you space and time to read. All your meals are prepared, specialty teas and freshly brewed coffee are on tap, and you can choose solitude or shared time with other readers. Though you may already have your stack of books selected, if you are looking for inspiration they offer a ‘Reading Prescription,’ a personally tailored reading list prepared especially for you. At each retreat they also welcome an author for dinner one evening, to talk about their writing and their own enjoyment of reading. Take advantage of their 'device sitting' service to keep distraction to a minimum. readingretreat.co.uk
Ontario, Canada If a wilderness retreat is more your thing, CABINSCAPE offers tiny cabin rentals for intimate escapes in the most beautiful, rugged and private landscapes Southern Ontario has to offer. They are completely offgrid, solar powered and ecologically responsible. The only thing that might interrupt your reading is the sheer beauty of your surroundings. For a solo escape, their Mason cabin resides on 576 pristine acres overlooking a secluded lake with expansive wilderness views and a meandering trail network right outside your door. Hike along the extensive trails the property has to offer and meander through a mixture of forest, meadows, beaver ponds, and wetlands. All cabins offer a cozy, clean, minimalist, rustic and open-concept design, perfect for some guilt-free quiet time. cabinscape.com
New York City, USA Centrally located in Midtown Manhattan, each of the Library Hotel's sixty exquisitely appointed rooms has been individually adorned with a collection of art and books relevant to one distinctive topic within the Dewey Decimal category of the floor it belongs to. The rooms feature rich wood furnishings and fabrics in a contemporary design, plus a library of inspiring books to captivate your imagination. Cozy up in your bathrobe and slippers, or head to the Reading Room for freshly brewed coffee, teas, water, cookies, fresh fruit, and books any time. Plus, daily continental breakfast, wine and cheese every evening, bestselling e-books by Simon & Schuster and turndown service with bottled water and Belgian chocolates are all included in the resort fee of just $25 per night. libraryhotel.com
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“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”
IMAGES: LA MACCHINA FISSA © JOHN CAMPBELL
- Jorge Luis Borges
La Macchina Fissa (BOTTOM IMAGES)
Anuttara Ashram (TOP IMAGE)
Lombardy Region, Northern Italy Private holiday home and seat of the cultural association, Reading Retreats in Rural Italy, members (cost of ten euro per year) come from all over the world to relax and unwind in a beautiful, rural setting. Your stay is participatory, not catered - members are welcome to grab something to drink from the fridge, help cook or set the table and join in gardening projects - so it’s an excellent way to experience an authentic Italian way of life. The daily fee includes all meals and drinks (think traditional fare and local wines) and if there is a concert or event scheduled during your sojourn, it is included. Bathrooms are shared, and each room is furnished with antiques, exhibits contemporary art, and holds a themed collection of books. lamacchinafissa.com
British Columbia, Canada Combine your love of yoga with a reading retreat at an offgrid Ashram in the mountains of Northern British Columbia, home to a spiritual retreat center and yogic community. Anuttara provides the perfect atmosphere to just relax into peace and quiet, and go at your own pace. Rejuvenate your spirit surrounded by 100 acres of natural pristine forest, mountains, and wildlife, enjoying simple and comfortable accommodations, yoga classes, attentive facilitators, and nutritious vegan meals. When you’re not absorbed in a book, there are various daily activities which you can participate in as much or as little as you would like, including chanting, yoga, meditation, pranayama, kirtan, sacred dance and fire ceremonies, all involving a harmonious blend of the ancient teachings of the East and West. anuttara.org
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IMAGES: © SIMPSON HOUSE INN
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Hotel Library
Simpson House Inn
Amsterdam, Netherlands Located in the center of Amsterdam, a city renowned for its artistic heritage, intricate canal system, narrow houses with gabled facades, 17th-century Golden Age heritage and world-famous museums. The Central Library (Openbare Bibliotheek) across the road inspired this hotel to build their very own in-house library, where you will find an incredible selection of books on every subject, from science to history, plus all the classics just waiting for rediscovery. Rooms are all en suite, modern and simply finished, with free WiFi and phone calls, and guests can grab fresh fruit any time at reception - that’s if you can the resist the desire to leave the hotel to walk the surrounding streets on a sunny day. hotellibrary.nl
California, USA Housed in an elegant Victorian estate built in 1874, the Simpson House Inn offers the perfect combination of historic charm and modern luxury. Pamper yourself on a Santa Barbara reading retreat, choosing either a tranquil guest room or cottage at this adult-only boutique hotel nestled on an acre of lush English gardens. Every guest stay includes afternoon refreshments, an evening wine and hors d'oeuvres reception, dessert bites, and a gourmet breakfast served in the main house or in your room at no additional charge. The property is part of the luxury hotel Bedside Reading program, where guests are welcomed into their room with a stack of hand-selected, brand new (often advance copy) titles that they are encouraged to bring home. simpsonhouseinn.com
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ew York City’s Time Square is not known for being calm and quiet - that’s entirely why we came! - but stepping into nearby EVEN Hotel Times Square South feels like a deep exhale. Decidedly urban and laidback, with neutral tones and green walls, the property is entirely inviting.
The first wellness hotel in NYC features 150 guest rooms, which are designed as modern sanctuaries for rest, work (ergonomic workstation and free WiFi), and workouts. The luxurious glass rain showers were pure bliss, as were the EO shower amenities and the beds - incredibly comfortable Beautyrest mattresses with natural eucalyptus fiber bedding. Combined with the blackout shades, we had never slept so soundly in the heart of Manhattan before this stay.
We were warmly well-comed by the front desk staff, who asked after our travels and let us know about the water refill stations and on-site restaurant, Cork & Kale, perfect for our morning smoothies and grabbing healthy meals to go.
With its open design, friendly staff, and comfortable spaces throughout the property to relax, it was easy to see why this hotel won a 2017 TripAdvisor® Travelers’ Choice award for Top 25 Hotels in the US. Located on 35th Street between 8th and 9th, the hotel is steps away from Madison Square Garden and just a quick power walk from Times Square.
The EVEN lifestyle hotel brand was created by InterContinental Hotels Group in 2012 to offer a holistic wellness experience that would empower active travelers to maintain balance at an affordable price point. And wellness is literally built in here, from the 24-hour Athletic Studio to the in-room fitness amenities, which included a yoga mat, foam roller, balance ball and 15 channels of core, cardio and strength instructional videos to get your sweat on, anytime.
After a day spent strolling the beauty that is Central Park in late Winter, on our last night we indulged in (Famous Joe's) pizza delivery back in the room. Guilt-free - because life is about balance, after all.
Book your next wellness stay at evenhotels.com 53
@evenhotelnyc35
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What does the perfect Sunday look like to you? The absolute best day off is one where I can start by watching the latest episode of ‘Survivor’ while eating fresh, air-popped popcorn for breakfast, followed by getting outside in my backyard playground of Lake Louise in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. A solo paddleboard session on a glacier lake or a mountain hike with a best friend in the summer; powder turns at the Lake Louise Ski Resort in winter. Finishing the day by making a healthy meal to share with friends.
Zany (or strange!) travel experience you can share? I love to experience new things, a new trail, a new country, a new area of Canada. One awesome experience was eating ‘muktuk,’ which is whale blubber, while on a First Nations tour up in Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada. It was a trip of a lifetime for my father and I as we have family heritage in that part of the world. It was delicious and I went wander-mag.com
IMAGES: ©FAIRMONT CHATEAU LAKE LOUISE
As the Director of Wellness for Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Davina hand-curates wellness and meditation retreats for this iconic destination hotel, set in the heart of Banff National Park against the backdrop of the stunning Canadian Rockies. The retreats are facilitated by top thought leaders and offer self-discovery and rejuvenation amidst the sparkle and mystery of Lake Louise. An energetic and community-minded leader, Davina has built a career based on developing partnerships and fostering communication. back for seconds of the cubes. Our guide was excited to have a whole steak of it to himself since his wife was away from home and he was alone for the evening.
We’re having a potluck dinner. What do you bring? I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease when I was 20, with Celiac Disease when I was 34 and have since gone dairy free and follow roughly an 85% plant-based diet. My go-to contribution to a potluck is fresh, zesty guacamole and salty, crispy chips. I love sharing food with my friends and family that is healthy and safe for me to eat.
Go-to comfort at the end of the day? Walking into my home and being greeted by my 12-year-old, 16 pound, orange rescue cat. He is the best mix of cat and dog, mostly independent, but snuggly and social with me. Seeing him brings a smile to my face and releases the weight of the day from my shoulders. 54
WANDER / SPRING 19 / TRAVEL WELL
can choose to embrace these moments and find the joy in watching a young person be so proud of the backpack that is as big as them and that they get to carry all by themselves.
What’s in your carry on? I have three giant wraps that serve as blankets, pillows and comfort when I travel. Plus my refillable water bottle and a wide range of snacks that I bring from home because airports haven’t yet figured out the healthy, quick options for gluten/dairy free. I feel that flights are like a summer day on a boat or at a campsite, they are ‘free-time’ and I can snack non-stop for a four-hour flight. Finally, I’ll make space for a current book, my journal and headphones, so that I can be entertained while I’m snacking.
What excites you about your company? Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and our parent company Accor Hotels are committed to the well-being of our guests. The focus on this is growing quickly as a basic service standard and a chance for us to truly take care of our guests while they stay with us. Over the past eight years, I have been blessed to be able to grow a wellness program at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise by sourcing incredible facilitators to host retreats that change the lives of our guests.
Best wellness or travel tip? Go with the flow. In life and definitely in travel. You never know what line will be long, what flight will be delayed, what person you will sit next to, what the weather will be, etc. Traveling is the best mindfulness practice. You have to be in the moment to witness the northern lights outside your window or to connect with a seat neighbor that also lives in a mountain town and loves to ski. We have little impact on what is happening around us while we are in transit, but we
lakelouisewellness.com
What do you want your legacy to be? I love setting the stage so that our guests can have incredible experiences. I know that our guests are learning life-changing tools at our retreats, tools that they take back to their regular lives. The ripples of wellness from Lake Louise are impacting their families, friends and co-workers. It is a wondrous thing to be able to impact the world one person at a time!
@FairmontChateauLakeLouise
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@FairmontCLL
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IMAGE: ŠZHEN HU
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