In Woody Allen’s classic film Annie Hall, actor Jeff Goldblum appears momentarily as a Southern California-based character on the phone with his meditation guru. He delivers one line: “I forgot my mantra.”
Much like Allen poked fun at California’s quest to feel good in 1977, naysayers today dismiss the state as “crunchy” versus acknowledging it as the wellness trendsetter it is.
Perhaps they just haven’t felt the benefits of a wellness regimen firsthand, including meditation, fitness and spa-going, which can all be incorporated into a group’s itinerary for a blissed-out, clear-headed meeting experience.
local flavor
A California spa tour could start in Northern California’s Wine Country, where a nice cabernet will add to the relaxation process.
“Spas in Sonoma County offer locally produced ingredients like honey, milk and wine,” says Tina Luster, spokeswoman for Sonoma County Tourism.
She points to Le Carre Spa at Hyatt Vineyard Creek (www.vineyardcreek.hyatt.com), which uses products made from lavender grown at nearby Matanzas Creek Winery; Osmosis Day Spa (www.osmosis.com), home to the country’s first Japanese-style cedar enzyme bath; and the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn (www.fairmont.com/sonoma), where Willow Creek Spa uses its own thermal hot springs for its signature pre-treatment bathing ritual.
Down the road a stretch is the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa (www.claremontresort.com), a castle-like, meetings-friendly oasis situated in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills. Here, attendees can join in on a variety of fitness classes or have a round-robin team-building tennis tournament before rejuvenating at the spa.
Stacey Parks, director of spa operations at the Claremont, says the Sunset Spa Experience is ideal for groups that conclude business after the spa is closed.
“The private time in the spa is not only restorative, but also provides opportunities for team building and networking in a relaxed environment,” she says, adding that the event can be catered with light appetizers or a healthy dinner buffet. “Closing a meeting event with a spa treatment is a wonderful way to thank participants for their contributions, and it leaves a positive final impression.”
Heading farther south, the Central California region beautifully mixes business with some of the most spectacular sights in the country.
From Visalia, groups can explore Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite national parks. The Visalia CVB recommends groups hop aboard a Sequoia Shuttle for a visit to the famed General Sherman tree, or participate in outdoor pursuits throughout this pristine area, including snowshoeing, canoeing and hiking.
A favorite meetings-friendly destination at Yosemite is Tenaya Lodge (www.tenayalodge.com), which specializes in integrating meetings with wellness activities. PageBreak
Groups can book a yoga session and then take time to relax and restore with organic and indigenous spa products at the on-site Ascent Spa.
“Wellness programs reach beyond self-pampering,” says Jonathan Farrington, director of sales and marketing at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. “They’re essential in balancing the everyday stress and challenging work schedules we all share.”
Strike a Pose
From guided hikes to Pilates sessions, adding a fitness component to a meeting will invigorate attendees.
Where waterborne pursuits are an option, one of the most popular and fun group activities is standup paddleboarding, according to Jason Neary, director of conference sales at the North Lake Tahoe CVB.
“Guided trips are many and involve exploring Sand Harbor State Park, where you can see 70-plus feet down,” he says. “Most beginners are up and paddling within a few minutes.”
In Tahoe City, Mountain Lotus (www.mountainlotusyoga.com) mixes yoga with standup paddleboarding on Lake Tahoe. Meanwhile, South Tahoe is home to South Tahoe Standup Paddle (www.southtahoestanduppaddle.com), which offers lessons and guided tours.
From the crystal waters of Lake Tahoe to oceanfront locales, leave it to California to provide wellness with a view.
Heading south to Santa Barbara is Bacara Resort & Spa (www.bacararesort.com), which, according to Michelle Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission, now offers yoga classes at a new blufftop meeting space located on the highest point of Bacara’s 78 coastal acres for breathtaking ocean and mountain views.
And in Palm Springs, health and wellness is a key selling point, according to Joyce Kiehl, spokeswoman for the Greater Palm springs CVB.
“The outdoor lifestyle of year-round sunshine, golf, tennis, hiking, cycling, rock climbing and exploring our surrounding national parks, monuments and mountain ranges keeps visitors and residents alike healthy and fit,” she says, adding that classes here include desert boot camp with nutritional components, Bikram yoga and guided hikes at San Jacinto Mountain.
Find Your Center
At La Costa Resort and Spa (www.lacosta.com) in Carlsbad, north of San Diego, is the Chopra Center. Sara Harvey, COO at the center, says visiting groups typically learn practical applications to help manage stress, including meditation and yoga.
“The Chopra Center’s Workplace Wellbeing curriculum is designed to enhance and complement any meeting agenda,” she says. “The experience for attendees is educational, experiential and practical, and will actually assist them to better process and digest the information they are learning at the conference.”
In Orange County to the south of Anaheim is Aarogya Ayurveda Wellness Center (www.aarogyaspa.com), where groups will find Ayurvedic body treatments, yoga, meditation, wellness workshops and cooking classes.
