Once upon a time, meditation was a niche pursuit. Today mindfulness app Headspace has around 6 million users; meditation’s productivity benefits have featured in Harvard Business Review; and the practice has high-profile fans in sports, entertainment, and business, from athlete, Lebron James, to Salesforce founder, Marc Benioff.
Whether you meditate regularly or want to take your first steps, these beautiful, serene destinations provide the perfect backdrop.
1 | Scottsdale, Arizona
In Scottsdale, you can experience total calm in a spectacular setting with the aromatic scent of desert sage on the gentle breeze. Find peace of mind at the exclusive Boulders Resort and Spa, tucked away in the unspoiled beauty of the Sonoran Desert foothills and surrounded by 12-million-year-old boulders. Wake up before sunrise to climb the stones, then settle into a meditative pose and feel the sun’s rays on your face as you greet a new day.
And breathe… Experience the stillness of the desert in the outdoor meditation labyrinth – a groomed circular path designed to help unravel the tangles of the mind and find answers to life’s questions.
Boulders Resort and Spa
2 | Uttarakhand, India
One of the world’s most famous meditation retreats sits on a 100-acre estate in the foothills of the Himalayas, with breathtaking views over the River Ganges. Ananda Spa offers discerning clients a mix of traditional Ayurveda, yoga, Vedanta (a traditional Indian school of philosophy), and one-on-one meditation sessions to help unite mind, body, and soul in palatial surroundings.
And breathe… Develop your mindfulness skills in the home of yoga and experience yoga Nidra. Also known as yogic sleep, this is the ultimate in relaxation – you are guided to a conscious state between waking and sleeping.
Ananda Spa
3 | Koh Samui, Thailand
Invest in your emotional and spiritual development at the award-winning Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa resort in the tropical paradise of Koh Samui. This luxury resort was once a spiritual retreat and place of meditation for Buddhist monks. Now you can visit and work with wellness experts to relieve stress, detox, or find your true path to spiritual peace in this serene island haven.
And breathe…Create a meditation oasis among the sweet-smelling orchids; breathe in their scent as you feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, and take the memory back home to recreate every time you practice mindfulness.
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa
4 | Landaa Giraavaru, Maldives
Discover your own Eden in a remote natural wilderness on a white-sand-fringed island surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise waters. The Four Seasons Resort Maldives is set within its own Ayurvedic herb garden, and spa treatments combine ancient healing traditions with modern luxuries. Learn to free your mind from distracting thoughts with the help of wellness coaches and practice new techniques under the shade of a palm tree as the sound of gently lapping waves helps you focus.
And breathe… Indulge in an Om Supti Spa ritual, performed in a jungle clearing at night with an outdoor bath and gently swinging bed.
Four Seasons, Maldives
5 | Galle, Sri Lanka
Find peace among the palms in the eco-resort of Tri Lanka set on the peaceful shore of Lake Koggala. Near Galle, in the southwest of Sri Lanka, Tri was created by the founder of Quantum Yoga. This beautifully designed modern resort is a locavore lover’s paradise, with everything, from the art on display to the food that you eat, gathered from the neighboring area. Work on your breathing and meditation in total peace in the aromatic spice groves.
And breathe… Visit the nearby Pilana Temple to spend time with the monks and hone your meditation practice in spellbinding surroundings.
Tri Lanka
Ready to getaway? Speak with a Travel Designer today to book your getaway.
– The Tully Team
