Relaxation Breaks – You Deserve Them

I don’t care who you are or what you do, male or female, young or old –  life can be a challenge. We are pulled in so many different directions between work, kids, school, and everyday life that sometimes we do not realize how stressed out our bodies are. How many times have you gone to the grocery store only to return home WITHOUT that one item that you went there for in the first place?

When was the last time you had a break? It is essential for our mental as well as our emotional wellbeing to relax and take a break. In an article by The Pain Doctor, they state that when you take a “relaxation break” it does more than just lower your blood pressure and make you a nicer person to be around. It also improves your cognitive reasoning, response, and memory skills – that means you are better equipped to handle those things that are stressing you out.

Take Time To Relax and Recharge

A relaxation break can be a simple as taking a walk, listening to music, or taking a hot bubble bath to more elaborate pampering such as an afternoon at your local day spa. Imagine enjoying a glass of wine as someone is rubbing your legs and tired feet or getting a relaxing massage with the sound of water gurgling in the background. I feel like I am having a relaxation break describing it to you.

Unfortunately, sometimes the stress is more than what an afternoon at the local day spa can handle. Those situations call for a retreat. An I-need-to-get-outta-dodge-go-somewhere-and-unplug type of weekend.

So if you need a INTGODGSAU weekend, you are in luck because I have put together a list of spas where you can give yourself a kumbaya moment and recharge.

Kapaau, Hawaii

Hawaii is a beautiful and welcoming island. It is one of the few places in the United States where you can be in a towering, pre-historic fern rainforest in the morning drinking coffee, a craggy and desolate moonscape-like lava field for lunch, and then catch a sunset on a beautiful white sand beach with the waves lapping at your toes while you are sipping on a mai tai.

Surrounded by lush tropical flowers and trees Hawaii Island Retreat is founded on sustainable living with peace and harmony with nature and one’s self. Hosts Jeanne and Robert have carved out an elegant eco-boutique featuring spa retreat vacation packages with a variety of massages, yoga classes, and organic cooking classes.

Not far from Hawaii Island Retreat near the Mauna Lani Resort is Puako Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve, a substantial petroglyph display with over 3,000 ancient kii pohaku (petroglyphs) etched into lava rock, some dating to 1200 A.D.

The Kohala Coast is also home to one of Hawaii’s most substantial white sand beach, Hapuna Beach State Park. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hapuna Beach is a mecca for bodyboarding, swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing. Migrating whales are also a common sight in the distance if you visit the beach in the early part of the year. 

Hawaii has a vast array of activities to help you recharge, from adventure tours to luaus, sunset dinner cruises to wheelchair accessible helicopter volcano tours.

New Jersey

Nestled in the picturesque rolling garden farmland of New Jersey, Crystal Springs Resort is a world-class getaway that offers spa packages dedicated to easing your stress and help you unwind and opening the door for you to have a new perspective on life.

If New Jersey is your destination, then the glowing rocks of Sterling Hill Mining in Ogdensburg is a must see. The mine became operational in 1739 with tunnels totaling more than 35 miles in length going down to depths of 2,550 feet below the surface. Sterling Hill Mine is known for its phosphorescent rocks that glow under black lights in neon-bright blue, pink, red, green, and yellow colors. Quite a sight to see if you are a rockhound.

New Mexico

Located in the heart of enchanting New Mexico with stunning sunsets in what seems like an unending sky is Four Seasons Santa Fe that delivers a variety of luxury spa and massage packages. Santa Fe has an abundance of activities. Whether you want to experience the colorful desert mountain formations with vibrant reds and yellows, sample Santa Fe’s unique signature dishes combining Anglo frontier cooking with Pueblo Indian and Spanish colonial flavors, explore the cliff dwellings of Bandelier National Monument or even get in some shopping therapy, there is something that will help you recharge.

Huntsville, Alabama

For those on a real mission to relax and recharge Spa Botanica located at the Embassy Suites in Huntsville, Alabama may be the ideal location for you. As you walk through the door, light botanical fragrances greet you encouraging you to start your relaxing journey with aromatherapy. Offering you a thick, luxurious robe with cloud-like slippers you can feel the layers of stress peel off you as you drink a fruit infused water before your preferred spa service.

Huntsville is a place to get out and explore. In case you did not already know this, Huntsville is home to NASA’s Space Camp which has activities for adults. Want to be an astronaut for a day? It is also home to lost luggage heaven, Unclaimed Baggage. The things they have found that people left behind is incredibly astounding, like a full suit of armor and, umm, a rattlesnake. They have set up a thrift store to sell most items they have received. Unfortunately (maybe), the armor and snake are not for sale.

Washington

Situated 900 feet above the Columbia River in central Quincy, Washington, Cave B Inn has a substantial selection of luxurious spa packages and outdoor activities to help you relax and unwind. Overlooking their estate vineyard with breathtaking views of Gorge Amphitheater, stunning cliffside swimming pool, yurts for glamping as well as luxurious guestrooms, Cave B Inn is perfect for a “pamper” weekend. Central Washington is a great place to hike with numerous trails ranging from easy to more strenuous up to 12 miles in length.

San Antonio, Texas

Overlooking San Antonio’s Venice-style Riverwalk is Mokara Hotel and Spa a luxurious experience that will make you feel like royalty. Their heated rooftop pool and four-star spa make Mokara an ideal location to recharge any time of the year.

A stroll along San Antonio’s meandering riverwalk graced with arching bridges, historical information markers and bronze sculpture, eclectic shops, and restaurants that also connects to many of the major tourist attractions a is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon. Notable attractions to see are the Alamo, La Villita – a historical artist village, and The Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Rangers Museum.

Regardless if you take a break for a walk in the park, a mini pedicure, or make time for a weekend away – take a break, relax, and recharge. You deserve it, you need it, and you will not regret it.