Enjoy a brisk walk in Lenox, MA, polar plunge into the Atlantic Ocean and warm up inside a cedar sauna in Rockaway, NY, cozy up in a minimalist cabin in the Catskills, experience a Japanese-influenced menu in the Hamptons. For those New Yorkers and east coasters looking for a proper reset this winter without the long travel time, below five spas and wellness retreats, ideal for a long weekend getaway.
Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa, Lenox MA
Nestled on 380-acres in the snowy hills of the Berkshires, Miraval Resort is known for it’s equine therapy, breathwork sessions and Ayurveda treatments. Enjoy a walk in the woods, or dip into the heated pool. Later, choose from an array of treatments like the the Qi Radiance — starting with lymphatic dry brushing, a gemstone-infused serum body wrap and followed by a gua sha facial. Dry limbs? A vitamin-rich Manuka Body Peel melds its namesake honey with green tea and licorice root for baby soft skin. This March, a designated wellness lineup for National Sleep Month includes slumber-inducing meditations, relaxing massages and a Soul Reclamation Ceremony. To eat, the resort’s Harvest Moon and 1894 restaurant serves healthful gourmet meals — many of whose ingredients are plucked from the property and nearby purveyors. And for guests looking to mimic the culinary experience at home, the brand recently unveiled it’s Life in Balance cookbook.
The Rockaway Hotel and Spa, Rockaway Beach, NY
It’s no secret that Rockaway Beach caters to big crowds in the summer. In the colder months however, the 53-room Rockaway Hotel, known for it’s robust wellness programming offers a “Winter Pool House” kitted out with soft sofas and plush throws, a cozy spot where robed guests can enjoy IV bags and vitamin shots, in between sips of champagne, chair massages and Higher Dose infrared mats. Outside, a duo of cedar saunas and heated pool are ideal for embracing the elements (limited passes are available for day trippers).
Dip into the subterranean spa for a Vitamin C Brightening Facial or an 80-minute Hydrafacial — both using Dr. Dennis Gross products. Or rejuvenate dull skin with a new Herbal Bliss Treatment; a zesty Privai ginger and walnut scrub followed by a 50-minute CBD massage. Come mornings, enjoy a beach stroll (or plunge), enlist in daily yoga and stop by the Greenhouse Cafe for coffee, smoothies and açaí bowls. Later, gather around the lobby’s fireplace, where soothing blonde woods pair delightfully with Margie’s famed Irish coffee (because little homemade cream never hurt anyone).
Piaule Catskill, Catskill, NY
Situated between Hudson, NY and Hunter Mountain, Piaule Catskill, hosts a sprawl of 24-room minimalist cabins decked in blonde wood, stone and glass. And tucked away, a hillside spa with body treatments, facials, sound baths, reiki, yoga, and meditation offerings. Enjoy a mineral plunge or sweat out your toxins inside the toasty sauna and steam room, followed by a warm herbal sips in the tea room. Or perhaps you’ll simply walk the grounds, nodding to the ancient Japanese practice of “forest bathing” and known for it’s meditative properties. Chef Colin Stone is behind the hotel’s seasonal fare, whose lineup includes a heirloom citrus and chicory salad, and wild red snapper with coconut curry. Later, retreat to your room where tree level views merge the indoors with the outdoors.
Shou Sugi Ban House, The Hamptons, NY
Set on a 3-acre compound in Watermill, NY, the Japanese-inspired Shou Sugi Ban House is ideal for a minimalist retreat. With only 13 standalone villas, you’ll find a cream-toned palette. In the meantime, a blonde wood-clad spa hosts a smattering of plush white sofas and a menu of hydro therapies and a Cyro-Illuminating facial using cult-favorite Biologique Recherche skin care. You can also enjoy the hot and cold plunge pools. A resident shaman is available for healing ceremonies. Or maybe you’ll simply unwind in the privacy of your bathroom flanked by a Japanese wooden soaking tub. In early March Patricia Garcia-Gomez & Kayla Sibilia host a Befriending Winter Water Retreat , followed by a 3-day Living with No Excuses Retreat with Noah Galloway
The Troutbeck, Amenia, NY
Dating back to the 1700s and set on 250-acres, The Troutbeck, is a naturalist haven where you might channel the poetic spirits of Thoreau and Walden. It’s clear: you’ve come here to unplug. A few years ago, the Barns, a timber-clad structure made of reclaimed wood from the Old Tappan Zee Bridge debuted go great fanfare, and currently houses the property’s wellness offerings — massage therapy, acupuncture and infrared sauna sessions. Set to global beats, a Kinesoma Experience uses dance-based movement and leans on the idea of freeing your body. Commence your morning with guided meditation and group yoga classes, or slip into the gym for some fitness courtesy of Technogym. Chef Vincent Gilberti uses local farmers and purveyors — Thistlepass, Grimaldi, Stonewood Farm, Hudson Valley Fisheries.