Articles by Shari Rosenberg

Governor Hickenlooper of Colorado (the leanest state in the U.S.) advocated prevention in health care and addressed NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s giant soda ban at The Global Spa Summit. What’s your take on the war on super-sized sugary drinks?

Home of diverse cultures and thriving, preserved ecosystems, Belize has recently gained great popularity for sustainable tourism and outdoor adventure, particularly for honeymooners, divers and snorkelers. Our senior editor toured parts of Belize earlier this year (2012 is the much-buzzed-about Year of the Maya) for a land and sea adventure.

Saunas and steam rooms are par for the spa-going course, but the cold sauna is a new spa trend — set at a temp of -166°F/-110C! Why would you want to go and do that, you ask? Our senior editor explains the staggering healthy benefits and shares her exhilarating experience at Wellness Week partner Sparkling Hill, home of North America’s first cold sauna.

Advocating wellness for all, Mariel Hemingway, Academy Award®-nominated actress and national spokesperson for 2012 Wellness Week™, led sponsor SpaFinder’s kickoff event and unveiled The Wellness Week Pledge in Washington, D.C., last week in the company of congressional leaders and wellness advocates.

Most of us regularly strive to be the very best version of ourselves, but sometimes it’s hard to remember exactly how on a daily basis. To help you put one foot in front of the other, and to kick off Wellness Week, March 19-25, we’ve announced The Wellness Week Pledge – 7 Habits for a Healthier, Happier You. We’re giving you super-simple ways to commit to your wellbeing.

Before the powder snow had arrived at Montage Deer Valley, a luxury resort and skier’s paradise, our Senior Editor spent a weekend of wellness amidst the majestic alpine terrain as she was “reset” from sluggish to whole. Spa Montage’s dynamic “Surrender” program takes an integrative, individualized approach drawing on the idea that “from powerful land comes powerful healing.”

All of us at SpaFinder want to wish you and yours a very happy New Year. From all corners of the Earth, we thank you for being part of the SpaFinder community and seeking to make wellness a part of your life.

The soft pink sand, warm waters, fantastic food, modern accommodations and premier spa make Elbow Beach a standout boutique hotel — the first hotel on the island’s South Shore, just minutes from happening Hamilton, the capital and heart of Bermuda.

We love this destination’s bold, unpretentious admission: “More than a fat farm!” Indeed, this South Carolina seashore retreat has changed thousands of lives with their smartly conceived program of calorie reduction and personal attention to mind/body fitness. We salute them for their inspiration and education.

For years we’ve been completely charmed by this down-to-earth, Southern California gem, located in the healthy-minded valley town of Ojai. The Oaks has been welcoming guests for over three decades with its top-notch nutritional and fitness programs and spa treatments. We also love how new habits are forged here—affordably.

In operation since 1964, Carlsbad California’s La Costa is considered one of the first full-service destination spas in the U.S. and has always been on the forefront of taking American spa beyond the notion of beauty treatments. With the Chopra Center onsite focusing on all aspects of wellness, we know it will continue to offer its clients the best in mind/body/spirit growth and healing.

Just a jitney away from New York City, the spa at Gurney’s Inn has always been a SpaFinder favorite for its true passion for the ocean and its creative use of the sea in its treatments. As the only Thalasso spa in the continental U.S., we salute them for their continuous innovation.

September is National Yoga Month and to celebrate, we invite you to do some yoga! Whether it’s your first class or you’re a seasoned yogi, embracing this ancient practice is known to improve flexibility, strength, posture and mood. And, a yoga practice can help reduce stress. Learn more about the health benefits of yoga, plus find the best type for you and learn 9 basic poses. Read more. >

For everyone from Cleopatra to the modern spa girl of today, gold has been a super sought-after beautifying agent and key ingredient in the most rejuvenating facials. Metamorphosis Day Spa, a longtime partner in the heart of NYC is a go-to for cutting edge facials, especially their Golden Glow Facial. Metamorphosis offers a soothing atmosphere, […]

Nearly 3,000 feet above sea level in the captivating Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia lies Primland Resort, a sprawling, luxury getaway, already popular with huntsmen and business elite.

I recently went on a yoga retreat held at a beachside spa resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico, called Ceiba del Mar Resort and Spa (a longtime SpaFinder partner), which became a wonderfully transformative, novel, personal experience. Everything about the yoga retreat − from the resort itself, the program, the company and the foray into spa and wellness through both a spiritual practice and Mexican healing rituals, comprised the ingredients for a delightful few days.

If vacation for you is typically synonymous with lazy beach bumming, then an active spa vacation could be your dive into a wellness lifestyle. While we are big fans of vegging out, there is something incredible (and possibly life-altering) about spending a few days devoted to activity that is hopefully one of your favorite pastimes or perhaps an erupting new hobby. There are exceptional spas and resorts worldwide dedicated to programs for golf, hiking, water sports, winter sports, yoga and fitness.

Travel just got even more attractive for beauty-lovers. Hilton Hotels & Resorts recently debuted its new in-room bath amenities developed by the innovative and results-oriented Peter Thomas Roth Skincare line. The specially-created Mega-Rich™ Hair & Body Collection (not available for retail until Fall 2011), is vitamin-infused and simply luxurious.

If you’ve seen the vacation episode of the wildly popular ABC TV sitcom Modern Family, then you’ve actually already caught a glimpse of the luxurious, award-winning Four Seasons Maui at Wailea. In the “Hawaii” episode, the gang lounges poolside (shot at the not-to-miss, adults-only pool area) and takes part in a wedding ceremony (shot on a manicured lawn overlooking the ocean and three new oceanfront traditional Hawaiian spa hales). What’s only captured in person are the stunning vistas and a very cool swim-up bar, plus fully loaded private cabanas. After my own visit last fall, I can attest, the sunset views in this area (complete with the VIP-feel and kid-free calm) are simply breathtaking. In addition, the standout five-star hotel is now offering innovative wellness-oriented special event weekends.

California wine country beckons not only wine buffs, but also those in search of an easy, rejuvenating weekend getaway. Sonoma Valley, in particular, is less than an hour north of San Francisco and captures all the key ingredients for supreme relaxation. Fine wines? Check. Gourmet cuisine? Check. Gorgeous scenery? Check. Outstanding spas? Check, plus! Spa lovers have found innovative, traditional and vinotherapy-inspired treatments in Sonoma. Get a taste of the region through three savory Sonoma spas: Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, MacArthur Place and the Lodge at Sonoma, all SpaFinder partners.