A New Wave Wellness vacation can be a great way to prioritize self-care and living a more balanced life. Involving a wide range of physical, mental, and spiritual activities, New Wave Wellness embraces holistic health concepts and alternative practices to promote optimal health. Reset and recharge in the Art Coast with these less conventional activities and reap the rewards of improved health and well-being.

Knock On Wood

“Forest bathing,” known as shinrin yoku in Japan, is a highly researched practice linked to many health benefits. It simply involves spending time among the trees and practicing mindfulness in nature.

Studies have shown that being immersed in nature slows breathing, improves concentration, and makes people feel more centered. There is no better place to practice forest bathing than among the wooded trails of the Saugatuck Dunes State Park, where you’ll be surrounded by soaring maples and fresh-scented pines, along with the meditative sights and sounds of the water. 

“Herbal” Remedy

With more states legalizing its use, cannabis consumption has become more mainstream, resulting in a change to the stigma historically associated with the plant. Surveys indicate that an overwhelming majority of adults consuming cannabis are doing so for health and wellness purposes, preferring holistic solutions over pharmaceuticals to treat medical issues. Backed by increasing scientific support, cannabis use has been associated with numerous medical benefits, including pain relief, improved sleep, and decreased anxiety. Find cannabis products such as edibles, topicals, tinctures, and more in Saugatuck/Douglas/Fennville at Green Koi, New Standard, JARS Cannabis, and City Hall Provisions.

Hold Your Horses

Relax, restore, and reflect for a quiet couple of hours in the company of horses. The Red Horse Center for Collaborative Leadership is a place where horses, nature, meditation, art, and peace converge. Participate in a Herd Meditation, which offers peace and quiet, fresh air, meditative exercise, and reflection with a supportive herd of horses. Or create a personal Thrive Story through a facilitated process involving exploration of the seven chakras, guided meditation, supported art expression, and horse interactions.

Get Your Goat

Schedule time with Evergreen Lane Farm and Creamery to "Hike with the Herd." This hour-long relaxing stroll in the orchard is led by a knowledgeable guide and includes the farm’s playful and unpredictable goats—the most entertaining hiking companions you’ll ever encounter. While goat yoga has become quite the rage, spending any time wandering around with goats can induce laughter, lower stress and anxiety, and enhance your mood.

Eat Well, Be Well

Take control of your health with nutritional and dietary supplement counseling from Ladyhawk Nutrition. A naturopathic doctor will review your health history, eating habits, the stresses in your life, and any medicines, vitamins, or nutritional supplements you take and will make healthy eating plan recommendations to improve your well-being. Other available services include homeopathic remedies counseling, iridology (the practice of looking at the irises of your eyes for constitution and possible weaknesses), reflexology of the hands and feet, hair mineral analysis, and others. 

In A Good Light

Indulge in some LED Light Therapy at SPAlia to treat various skin conditions, such as acne, fine lines, and psoriasis. LED (light-emitting diode) light therapy is a non-invasive, painless treatment that uses blue or red light to enter the skin’s layers and help improve it. NASA began studying LED’s effects in the 1990s, using it to promote wound healing in astronauts by helping cells and tissues grow. SPAlia offers several facial services that use an FDA-cleared LED light medical device with topical heat to disinfect, detoxify and eliminate bacteria under the skin, revealing a smoother, healthier complexion and more even skin tone. The combination of blue or red light therapy, along with the application of skincare products made from Dead Sea minerals, aims to rebalance and clarify the skin for a more healthy, unified appearance.  

Left To Your Own Devices

According to WebMD, research has shown that nearly 61% of people admit they’re addicted to the internet and digital screens. This constant connection can affect your quality of life by overloading your senses, impacting your sleep quality, and adding stress. Consider taking a Digital Detox vacation in the Art Coast, where you intentionally reduce your screen time and take a break from all your social media apps. By temporarily giving up digital devices during a “digital fast,” you can improve your mental and physical health by reducing the stress that results from constant connectivity. 

The beauty of digitally detoxing in Saugatuck/Douglas is that there are plenty of outdoor and indoor activities that will help calm your mind, reconnect you with nature, and keep you from being bored without your screens. Try a Yoga & Healing Sound class at Satya Yoga in Saugatuck, where a gentle yoga session ends with a long savasana resting pose and sound bath. Participants are bathed in sound waves from crystal singing bowls and other sound healing instruments in a meditative experience that will leave you feeling calm, centered, and relaxed. Or challenge yourself to a Hot Yoga class at Encompass Wellness and Fitness Center, a practice that has been known to improve flexibility, ease depression, and reduce stress.