When looking for an escape, we often seek to change our location. Those of us living in fast-paced cities may retreat to a more pastoral setting, hoping to catch our breath and find a moment of solace.
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When looking for an escape, we often seek to change our location. Those of us living in fast-paced cities may retreat to a more pastoral setting, hoping to catch our breath and find a moment of solace.
It is important to consider how your surroundings influence your internal state of being, especially for those in the spa and wellness industry. Often what we see when looking outward may reflect what we feel when looking inward.
Imagine what your own escape might look like. I would bet you’re picturing yourself somewhere surrounded by nature, whether it be a beach with the sound of gentle waves lapping at the shore or a sunny mountainside where the wind delicately rustles the leaves of the towering trees.
Nature has a way of making us feel safe, calm and renewed. It’s this feeling of connectedness to the Earth that makes nature and location such an important factor in the success of a wellness destination.
That’s why making the most of your setting and pulling inspiration from the environment can make a significant difference in the way guests feel when visiting your spa or luxury destination. Pairing the experience with the environment makes guests feel more connected to the space that they are in.
Utilize Your Surroundings
There are a million ways that wellness destinations and spas can utilize or replicate proximity to nature to enhance the wellness experience for their guests. At Garden of the Gods Resort and Club, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, our natural surroundings make guests feel worlds away, allowing them to truly unwind.
Here, the stunning rust-red rock formations and vistas of the Rocky Mountains on the horizon truly make one feel grounded and connected to nature. Each morning, guests are greeted by crisp mountain air, a kaleidoscope of colors radiating from the sunrise on the rocks, and the feeling of having finally found a sense of place.
Any spa destination can further elevate or simulate this feeling by letting nature seep into every element of the experience, from arrival to departure. For businesses by the ocean, incorporate the purifying properties of sea salt into treatments, food and aesthetics to make the most of this naturally occurring mineral. For destinations located more inland, think about incorporating the colors of the local landscapes or scents of fresh flowers that grow nearby.
Related: Nurturing Well-Being with Nature
Explore Serene Aesthetics
Another crucial aspect of creating a luxury wellness and relaxation experience is ensuring that the spaces are intentionally designed to be an escape. From an aesthetic standpoint, taking inspiration from the environment will help create a more authentic and connected setting in which guests can relax.
Color serves as an essential purpose in our property’s private retreats, with the intent of channeling a sense of serenity and escape. The carefully selected shades used in the rooms and throughout the property and spa include soft grays, warm taupe, neutral browns, bronze and accents of light blues and greens. This palette is meant to encourage feelings of healing, slowing down and peace, in addition to complimenting the brilliant colors of the rock formation that lie just beyond the resort.
Other design options, such as trickling water features and fresh landscaping, further incorporate the feeling of being near nature. Wellness destinations should work with skilled architects and designers to identify what colors, visual elements and additions can be implemented to enhance that feeling of tranquility and renewal in their spaces.
Create Connection Everywhere
Beyond design and location, there are plenty of other ways to offer your guests an experience that incorporates nature. Consider the ingredients and components of your wellness and culinary programs. Do they incorporate natural or organic materials and ingredients? They should.
At Garden of the Gods Resort and Club and its on-site spa and wellness center Strata, guests can enjoy a variety of treatments that provide soothing relaxation and relief naturally. For example, the Himalayan pink salt room allows them relax and soak in the benefits of the beautifully colored mineral, including improved respiratory function, decreased stress and skin benefits. Our Terra-py body treatment involves purified muds applied to the skin, followed by an infrared wrap, scalp massage and natural aromatherapy shower to help guests reset and recharge with natural ingredients.
Food is another area in which nature should be present. While not every location is able to use locally sourced ingredients, there are always opportunities to offer guests food that will fuel them for a life well lived. We greet each resort guest upon arrival with a wellness elixir made using the freshest fruits, vegetables and herbs to introduce the feeling of revitalization as soon as they walk through the door.
Consider implementing a custom flavored water using local ingredients that embody the taste and feel of your location. It’s a perfect and easy way to incorporate wellness and nature into your practice from the inside out for your guests.
When we surround ourselves with nature, both literally and in more imaginative ways, we are able to feel more deeply connected to ourselves and the world around us. Use these ideas as inspiration for connecting your destination to the environment and elevating the overall guest experience.
Tania McCorkle, director of wellness programming and development at Strata Integrated Wellness and Spa in Colorado Springs, oversees spa, wellness and fitness operations throughout all resort amenities and offerings. Her career spans resort destinations, spa leadership and athletic clubs, and she is known for creating innovative programs and services.
