Whether you’re a longtime yoga and meditation devotee, or you just need an excuse to show off your stockpile of lululemon crops (a collector myself, I can sympathize), the island of St. Lucia invites you to just say om this fall with our latest weekend escape: the 2012 St. Lucia Health and Wellness Retreat. Preparations are well under way for the three night/four day event, set to take place across the Caribbean island from October 4-7, 2012. And a diverse panel of experts is already confirmed for the program, including world-renowned nutritionist Joy Bauer and respected Chef Didier LeBerre of Brittany, France, as well as a variety of physicians, yogis and fitness instructors.
But unlike specific fitness- or cuisine-inspired retreats, here you can pick your poison (er…tonic?). Hike through the island’s tropical rainforest; explore the scenic coastline on a chartered boat tour; climb the iconic Pitons; indulge in a seaside spa treatment; participate in an interactive healthy-cooking demonstration; practice yoga; submit to bootcamp on the beach; then kick back at your choice of seminars, with topics including ‘Quiet the Mind and Open the Heart,’ and ‘Natural Healing and Remedies.’ You’ll be repeating your Wunder Under crops way before you run out of things to do here.
Now, for the fine print: Flights between Denver and St. Lucia’s Hewanorra Airport (UVF) are steep. Like, you may want to return a pair or two of those yoga pants before you book. And further, getting there will require a connection or two, and the stops are likely to be in the wrong direction. Visiting the Caribbean via…Toronto? You just might be. But venture, we must. And thankfully, the St. Lucia Health & Wellness Retreat is fantastically affordable at just $750 per person for the whole package, including spa treatments and activities; And hotel rates across the island are as low as $75 per night double occupancy. Who’s coming with me?