​Like many of my clients, visiting the Maldives—especially the iconic Soneva Jani—had been on my bucket list for years. I’d met the resort team at several travel industry events, and I was eager to finally experience their famous “no news, no shoes” philosophy myself.

This year, our family marked several milestones, and I knew I wanted to celebrate with a shared experience. Traveling with extended family, each with different interests and needs, meant finding a resort that could accommodate everyone while still feeling luxurious and easy. Soneva Jani fit the bill perfectly.

I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. I’ve done every fad diet -South Beach, Keto, No Carb, Low Fat, South Beach- you name it, I’ve done it. As I entered Menopause, my weight became more of an issue (along with myriad other symptoms) and my desperation to get my body back piqued. My kids even joked about the next milestone (birthday, graduation or family wedding) by which I would be “svelte”. I had set goals and expectations and ultimately failed to meet them every time. When I heard about Ozempic and saw the amazing photos of drastic weight loss, I was sure this was the panacea I was seeking.  Of course these diets, pills, patches and injections worked…temporarily…but as soon as I got off whatever the latest fad was and got back to life, the weight came back.
 
In an effort to get healthy in mind, body and spirit, I’ve been studying wellness for many years. I’ve been to Ayurvedic resorts in India, done temazcals with shamans in Mexico, climbed to the top of mountains in Sri Lanka, and explored many wellness resorts right here in the U.S as well. I’m keenly interested in how to live our healthiest (not only longest) lives. I’m also fascinated by modern medicine and the potential it holds for healing through genetic diagnosis and stem cell therapy. I keep abreast of the latest in wellness and also make sure I’m up to speed on what is happening in the wellness tourism industry.
 
I’d heard about SHA Spain for many years, and it had been on my list to visit, so you can imagine my eagerness when I learned that SHA Mexico would be opening in January 2024, much closer to my home in California. I had read about SHA’s integrative approach to health and I wanted to see it in practice.

​When most people think about wellness, they think about escaping to a secluded location, surrounded by nature or perhaps by a tranquil lake. You would never think of wellness in a trendy Miami neighborhood, bustling with shops and restaurants in the heartbeat of the city.
 
Well, think again. As more and more wellness resorts enter the urban wellness space, you’ll see that you don’t have to go far to stay healthy. I traveled with my family to 1 Hotel South Beach, right on Collins Avenue in the heart of South Beach, for Spring Break this year. Although I’d spoken with the hotel management team in advance to get a good sense of the amenities and activities, I honestly wasn’t expecting much. After all, every hotel claims to have wellness offerings but most of the time it’s not much more than the spa and maybe a yoga class. To my surprise, I found 1 Hotel South Beach to be a great balance of indulgence and wellness (yes the two can coexist).