Live your best life with a mini-vacation that focuses on putting your health and well-being first. By indulging in a bit of self-care during your getaway and a little digital detox, you’ll return feeling refreshed and in a better frame of mind to take on whatever comes your way.

The more dreary days of winter are notoriously connected with feelings of melancholy. Add on the stress of the holiday season, and a getaway focused on wellness seems like the perfect antidote. Often, when we find ourselves getting busy or facing challenging situations, taking care of ourselves tends to be the first thing to go. However, engaging in regular self-care has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve energy and concentration, increase happiness, and more.

A long weekend focused on wellness does not necessarily mean a jam-packed agenda full of exercise routines. Nor does it only have to include back-to-back spa treatments. Remember that wellness is a holistic journey, integrating a number of dimensions, including physical, intellectual, emotional, environmental, and spiritual health. What one person needs to feel rebalanced and recharged may involve completely different activities than another. The key is to design a trip with enriching activities based on your personal needs.

Here are some of our suggestions to address your various dimensions of wellness while visiting the Saugatuck/Douglas area: 

Spiritual 

Be mindful and in the moment by enjoying your surroundings and putting away your smartphone. A digital detox provides an opportunity to be more present, allowing you to experience a greater appreciation for the world around you. Soothe your soul through meditation, prayer, or self-reflection. Practice yoga with a private one-on-one class at Satya Yoga, where a 60-minute session will be created for your specific needs. Private yoga sessions are also available through Encompass Wellness Yoga & Fitness Center.

Emotional

Spend some time journaling, see a stand-up comedy routine at Coral Gables, or experience some live music by attending a concert at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts or Salt of the Earth. Feeling a little stuck? Get inspired by perusing original artwork featured at our many local art galleries, including Amazwi Contemporary Art, The Ox-Bow House, Jeff Blandford Gallery, J. Petter Galleries, Water Street Gallery, and The Button Gallery, just to name a few. Engaging with art can lead to self-reflection, helping individuals gain insights into their own thoughts and feelings.

Environmental

Go for a leisurely walk along Oval Beach and listen to the sounds of the waves, or take an easy hike through the Saugatuck Dunes State Park and just breathe in the fresh air. Feeling adventurous? Climb up the steps of Mt. Baldhead to take in a panoramic view of the Kalamazoo River and bask in the sun. During the evening, look up at the sky and count the stars.

Intellectual

Read a book or work on a puzzle. Forgot to bring one? Stop by The Book Nook, an independent book store in Saugatuck that sells new and used books, as well as puzzles, and give your brain a mental challenge. Learn something new by taking a private ballroom dance class at Dance Asylum School of Music & Dance or a private French cooking class at Lulu Cadieux. Or learn the science and process of roasting coffee beans by becoming a Roaster for the Day through Uncommon Coffee Roasters’ unique learning experience.

Physical

Need to fit in that conventional workout? Pick up a day pass to Blue Star Gym. Want to flush some toxins out of your body? Make an appointment for the sauna at Encompass Wellness Yoga & Fitness Center. If the traditional spa experience is more your style, enjoy a hydrating facial combined with the benefits of minerals from the Dead Sea at SPAlia Saugatuck, or take it to the next level with a 100-minute deluxe customized facial from Susan Amidon Esthetics. Treat yourself to a deep tissue massage from Redefine Med Spa or Thrive Massage and Wellness, or indulge in a Stress-Fix body wrap from Bella Vita Spa. 

What you put into your body is just as important, so nosh on some healthy food while you’re here with farm-to-table fare from Pennyroyal Café + Provisions, Root Café, and Farmhouse Deli & Pantry. Make a point to stop by the Tree of Life Juice Bar for some cold-pressed juices and smoothies. Want to learn more about the healing power of food? Consider signing up for a consultation with LadyHawk Nutrition to get ideas on taking control of your health by transforming the way you eat. They also offer counseling on dietary supplements such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, and homeopathic remedies that will work best for your specific needs.

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