Recharge Mind, Body, and Soul: Four Seasons Invites Guests to Discover Wellness Their Own Way

Wellness may be one of today’s hottest topics, and it’s certainly a priority for travellers seeking time and space to rest, relax and recharge.  But what does a wellness retreat look like for today’s traveller?

For many, a vacation is the ultimate opportunity to focus on oneself and reconnect.  A week-long retreat dedicated to personal growth, an invigorating new fitness program, a chance to explore local cultures and try new wellness practices guided by leading experts – or even a single day of detox or a good night’s sleep - can provide a much-needed fresh start, no matter the time of year.

At Four Seasons, wellness is a priority, encompassing nutrition, sleep, mindfulness and deeper emotional connections.  From plant-based menus and in-room sleep enhancements to visiting wellness practitioners and hands-on connections to the natural world, guests can choose from diverse programming and ongoing experiences to focus on self-care, personal growth and well-being.

Here, the leading luxury hospitality brand offers a collection of what’s new and available for today’s wellness travellers at Four Seasons around the world:

Harnessing the Power of Nature

• The Iliahi Farm and Spa Experience introduces guests of Four Seasons Resort Hualalai to the natural healing properties of native plants and flowers used in Hawaiian medicine.  A visit to a local iliahi (or sandalwood) farm immerses guests in environmentally and culturally responsible reforestation of the island, followed by the Iliahi Forest Essence treatment back at the Resort’s Spa, which includes a customized meditative sound journey and a scrub, cocoon and massage to maximize the healing benefits of the plant.

• Right off the beach at the new Four Seasons Resort Cabo San Lucas at Cabo Del Sol (opening May 2024), guests can learn to free dive and experience the underwater world in a personal and respectful way.  The on-site Adventure Team helps guests learn the skills and gain confidence through relaxation techniques and body self-awareness.

• Taking advantage of the vast wilderness that surrounds them, Four Seasons resorts in the mountains of British Columbia and the desert of Arizona take guests on guided hikes designed to connect with nature and engage the senses.  At Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler, Forest Bathing – based on the Japanese practice of spending time in nature for therapeutic relaxation - winds through tranquil leafy paths, weaving in mindful meditation practices along the way.  At Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, Desert Bathing is a popular light hike in the sun.

• Getting to know our fellow inhabitants on Earth can be both grounding and enlightening.  At Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island, guests have close encounters with free-roaming giant Aldabra tortoises, and can even adopt a juvenile at the Tortoise Sanctuary, supporting the work of the island’s conservation society.

• Set on the shores of one of the world’s most renowned diving spots, Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh introduces guests to an underwater world rich in colours and teeming with marine life, including turtles, lionfish, rays and eels, plus reef systems, coral gardens and even a few intriguing shipwrecks.  The on-site dive centre assists divers at all levels of experience as they explore the warm waters of the house reef, or head further out to one of the area’s 76 recognized dive sites by boat.

• On Hawaii’s smallest inhabited island, the vast darkness of the night sky sets the stage for private, guided meditation and mindfulness at Four Seasons Resort Lanai.  The sparkling stars, cool Pacific breezes and fresh scents of tropical plants induce a sense of calm, and nourishing energy flows from head to toe while listening to the breaking waves of Hulopoe Bay.

• Can’t get out of the city? Head to one of Florence’s largest private gardens at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, where the spa is located amid a four hectare (ten acre) urban oasis.  Here in the Healing Garden, monthly fitness classes are led by local experts in yoga, HIIT, karate, Pilates and more.

Expert Guidance

• Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica, which recently debuted a new hilltop wellness shala, is hosting a calendar of world-renowned wellness practitioners throughout 2024 whose expertise ranges from crystal healing to hypnotherapy, acupuncture, yoga and movement.

• Cooking classes are just the beginning at the Wellness Kitchen at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, California, where registered dietitians help guests develop new perspectives on healthy eating with a personalized Nutrition Consultation before and during a stay, and they’ll even take guests on a local Grocery Store Tour to guide shoppers as they find healthier products while avoiding nutritional traps.

• Gain confidence and get fit inside the ring at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, where guests learn the art of Muay Thai boxing from an experienced local coach. Basic self-defence techniques are also taught in the ring at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui.

• Six-time IRONMAN champion Dave Scott will once again host two triathlon training camps at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai this year, in June and December. Participants benefit from Dave’s experience and expertise as they swim, cycle and run the very waters and roads where the annual IRONMAN World Championship takes place along Hawaii’s Kona coast.

• At the Heart of the Earth Spa at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Vietnam, wellness programming is inspired by the teachings of renowned zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, including the daily “Goodnight Kiss to the Earth” ritual in which guests are invited to end the day to the sounds of singing bowls as they express gratitude.  The spa has also just announced this year’s roster of Visiting Practitioners, hosting experts across energy healing, reflexology, cupping, acupuncture, AntiGravity yoga, sound healing, shamanic healing, and much more.

Age-Old Wisdom for a Modern World

• Pi'iali'i Lawson learned ancient cultural practices from his kupuna (honoured elder) growing up on the Wai’anae coast near Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina.  Today, he guides guests through a plant gathering workshop, foraging with prayer and intention as they create a smoke wand to energetically clear the space and oneself.  He also offers a weekly Mu Hala Sound Journey ritual designed to re-align energy and relax into a meditative state using crystal sound bowls, chimes and tuning fork.  Individual and groups sessions are available as well.

• Learn the secrets of the traditional temazcal – or “house of heat” – at Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, and Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita.  Led by a shaman, guests are guided through this ancient ritual that has been used for centuries since pre-Hispanic times in Mexico to cleanse the body of impurities and toxins, and enhance one’s spiritual being through transformation.

• Traditional Thai medicine, an ancient philosophy founded on the elemental forces of Earth (Din), Water (Nam), Wind (Lom), and Fire (Fai) informs treatments and therapies at The Secret Garden Spa at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui.  A team of wellness experts offers tailored experiences from astrology and palmistry to crystal and singing bowl therapy, Reiki energy healing, and more.  For an added element of serenity, choose The Secret Beach Spa for an experience kissed by breezes and the rhythmic swells of the sea.

• Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler recently announced a collaboration with Indigenous skincare line Sḵwálwen Botanicals, which honours Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh (Squamish) plant knowledge and ancestral First Nations traditions.  Featuring sustainably harvested and sourced plants to balance, renew, repair, strengthen, hydrate and protect skin, treatments include the Sacred Spa Massage and the mountain-inspired Sacred Soles Pedicure.

• At Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, the signature Punta Mita Tequila Stone massage uses a local ancestral recipe combining tequila and sage oil to release muscle tension, stimulate circulation and improve joint mobility – a great prelude to Aquaforza, a workout performed on a floating board that uses body weight in different balancing and strengthening movements to improve muscle tone, core stability and blood circulation.

• The new Healing Tent at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa is the setting for transformational experiences that incorporate meaningful holistic practices to reduce anxiety, depression and burnout, and improve emotional regulation and self-awareness.

Self-Care Retreats

• Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort is hosting its first hiking retreat from April 29 to May 4 this year, facilitated by Sensei Guides and Adventure Park experts for an enriching program within the island’s most inspiring settings. The five-night retreat includes moderate and scenic hikes, warmup sessions with an exercise physiologist, spa and bodywork treatments, wellness classes, and even a sunset sail.  The popular Unbridled Retreat for women also returns to Sensei Lanai this July, for a five-day program designed to break down inhibitions, stimulate creativity and help participants achieve sustainable well being in the company of horses, in this intimate group experience.

• Take advantage of the on-site Center for Health & Wellbeing at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, California and tailor four-day, three-night health retreat focused on sustainable weight management, optimum performance, or spa and beauty, utilizing the latest science and technology to drive individual results.

• At Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, the Le Syel Spa team has created a series of customizable three or five day spa journeys designed to reboot, recharge or rescue through a combination of spa treatments, yoga and sound healing.  Augment the experience with sunrise or sunset hike up to the hilltop followed by guided mountain mediation high above the waters of Petite Anse Bay.

• Led by resident healer Dr. Tania Bardhan and a team of wellness practitioners, the Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong offers the Empower From Within program, featuring a series of one and half day mini-retreats devised to enhance vitality, induce deep sleep and relaxation, or align body and mind, plus a special two-day program designed with expectant and new mothers in mind.  Additional a la carte therapies including meditation, sound healing, cranial sacral treatments, kinesiology, movement medicine and yoga.

• At Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, the Soulful Awakening Journey is a half-day package crafted to fine-tune circadian rhythm, encouraging self-connection and a deep and revitalizing sleep.  The self-paced mini-retreat includes a healthy “Live Well” dinner, restorative yoga, a Vichy shower, sleep well massage and sleep enhancing bath ritual.  Also offered is A Day Well Spent in which guests can choose from a menu of activities and spa experiences for a half or full day program tailored to their personal goals.

• Renowned beauty expert Tata Harper has created a two-day retreat at Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas that harnesses the healing powers of the East Cape’s vast landscape in combination with her award-winning skincare line to promote beauty from the inside out.

• Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voavah is a secluded five-acre idyll bookable by just one group of up to 22 people at a time. Retreats are completely customizable at the world’s only exclusive-use UNESCO hideaway. Dedicated to expanding horizons, the island’s Ocean of Consciousness Spa offers over-water massages and awakening rituals, yoga and meditation classes, access to Ayurvedic doctors, and much more. From sunrise pranayama to soothing singing bowl sessions, each experience takes place within Voavah’s healing natural setting.

Locally-Inspired Wellness

• Aside from being a great cook, Four Seasons Hotel Boston Executive Chef Patrice Martineau is also a marathon runner who hosts guests on a morning jog through the city’s famed neighbourhoods and historic sites. The 5K route ends with participants crossing the site of the Boston Marathon’s iconic finish line.  Chef Patrice has also designed a pre- and post-menu for runners to fuel up with nutritious options. This experience debuts in April 2024.

• Start the day on the sea at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, where an expert waterman guides guests in the history and mechanics of a traditional outrigger canoe, while pointing out turtles, manta rays and dolphins, or even humpback whales in season.

• At Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole, spa treatments incorporate locally-sourced skincare line Alpyn Beauty, which comprises sustainably harvested, wildcrafted ingredients straight from the surrounding mountains while also supporting re-wilding projects in partnership with Grand Teton National Park Foundation.  The Spa as also recently introduced a Wellness for Cancer Care Massage, specially designed to provide connective therapy for those touched by the effects of cancer and cancer treatments.

• Renowned for its mineral-rich thermal springs thanks to the ancient volcanic activity of nearby Mount St. Helena, Calistoga in the heart of California’s wine country has attracted visitors intrigued by the Indigenous practice of mud bathing since the 19th century.  Now, guests of Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley can avail of its detoxifying and soothing properties through a series of indoor and outdoor mud treatments that improve circulation, soothe muscles and renew one’s complexion.

• Revitalize body and mind in K-wellness style in the extensive spa facilities at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul.  Signature therapies are enhanced by time spent in the wet and dry saunas and hot and cold pools.  Then, a full-body traditional scrub and a nutritious seaweed cocoon offer a gentle detox, or a warm jade stone treatment coaxes away aches and pains, leaving the entire body calm and ready to take on the world.

• The healing benefits of Turkish baths are now known globally, but why not go straight to the source?  At Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, a tradition dating back thousands of years is modernized in the Spa’s hammam, enveloping guests in a cleansing ritual that relaxes muscles while purifying the physical and spiritual mood with deep exfoliation and a rejuvenating foam massage. The new Kurna Spa at sister property Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet also now offers traditional Turkish hammam with both Turkish and Thai therapists. For something a little different, Jaleh Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Baku combines Moroccan techniques such as cleansing with black soap and purifying with rhassoul clay into its suite of hammam experiences.

Wellness in the City

• An entire floor of Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is dedicated to wellness, with state-of-the-art accommodations combining health and well-being elements such as an air purification system that energizes light to aid in regulating circadian rhythm, water de-chlorinators, sounds machines, guided meditation modules, and in-room fitness and yoga equipment.  A stay on the Wellness Floor also grants complimentary access to a private fitness suite with treadmill, rowing machine, weights, SoulCycle bike and more.  There’s also a Well Office, an innovative workspace with ergonomic furnishings and other productivity-enhancing features.

• At Folia - meaning “from the leaves” in Latin – at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, guests are wowed by the variety and flavours of its entirely plant-based menu served in a garden setting.  It’s the perfect choice to fuel up after a workout in the Resort’s fitness centre, or to cap off an afternoon at The Pearl Spa and Wellness.

• At Guerlain Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Montreal, the benefits of facial and body treatments are meant to be shared as monthly specials invite friends to gather, unwind and treat themselves.  With convenient direct access between the Hotel and Holt Renfrew Ogilvy, a day of retail therapy can be taken to a whole new level.

• Incorporating wellness into a busy lifestyle is made easier with the Wellness Retreat for two at Four Seasons Hotel Macao.  Early check-in and late check-out allow ample time for massage and vibrational sound therapy for two, plus an additional one-on-one personal training session.  Dinner for two from the Wellness Menu at Xiao Ting restaurant is also included.

• The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto offers a Wellness & Bio Bar with an extensive menu of advanced therapies, from Celluma Light Therapy to LPG Endermologie, touch therapy, hypnosis and more.

• L’Ocean Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Tianjin has just introduced Singing Bowl Meditation into its menu of spa therapies that incorporate internationally renowned practices such as lomi lomi and Balinese massage, along with Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Facilities also include a steam room and sauna, and spaces for water therapy, yoga and fitness classes.

• Ayurvedic traditions inspire spa treatments at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, including Shirodhara, a deeply relaxing ritual designed to soothe the nervous system, complimented by a gentle pouring of warmed oil over the third eye to induce inner peace and serenity.  Or, opt for Rasayana, a rejuvenating experience to ease muscle aches and pain, with the addition of a marma point face massage to relieve sinus congestion.  In April, the Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay will also introduce a series of Ayurvedic therapies, including the traditional Shirodhara treatment, plus a new immersive package for the ultimate wellness journey.

For more wellness inspiration and experiences at Four Seasons hotels and resorts around the world, click here