BODYHOLIDAY ST. LUCIA

REVIEW: BODYHOLIDAY, ST. LUCIA

Why Brit’s Flock to This St. Lucia Wellness Resort (and You Should Too)

Luxury villas with stunning sea views at Bodyholiday

I’ll never forget the way my personal butler greeted me like an old friend (“Bonnie! Hi!!) as I emerged from the airport taxi. I’ll also never forget how it feels to use the words “my personal butler” in a sentence about my life. But BodyHoliday, an all-inclusive wellness resort in St. Lucia, prides itself on making dreams come true. It’s like Disneyland for the wellness-obsessed. The resort’s slogan is “Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind.” There’s a reason it’s long been one of the most popular Caribbean destinations for Brits, and after spending a week experiencing the place for myself, I can safely say we Americans also stand to benefit from the BodyHoliday’s mind-restoring promise - especially in an election year.

I should caveat that not all BodyHoliday guests are given a personal butler. I shared mine, McCarthy - who quickly felt more like a close friend than a staff member, with a small group of journalists invited to experience the resort’s ultra-luxury villas. His giant smile greeted us every morning at breakfast, reminding us about our schedule for the day. Whether you stay in the luxury villas or one of the other 155 guest rooms, every stay at the BodyHoliday includes one spa service daily as well as a menu of daily activities ranging from archery and adventure hikes to tai chi or a sunset stretch. 

Concerned about the paradox of too many choices? They’ve got that covered. Prior to even setting foot on the sands of St. Lucia, guests are given access to a private Web Portal where information on things like personal development goals, wellness concerns, athletic ability and more is collected to help co-create a more tailored wellness experience during your stay. After check-in, guests also receive a complimentary, 50-minute consultation with one of BodyHoliday’s on-site Ayurvedic Doctors. 

Ayurvedic spa center at Bodyholiday

My consultation was definitely enlightening. I’ve always considered myself a good sleeper, mostly because I like the act of going to sleep. But as we discussed my sleep quality in more detail, I realized it’s actually rare that I sleep soundly through the night. Instead, I often wake-up stressing over some minutia for long stretches, and end up tired the next day. Hence my excitement once it’s yet again time to hit the hay. For this, my BodyHoliday doctor recommended incorporating Pranayama breathing exercises for 10 minutes before bed, as well as a mug of adaptogenic ashwagandha tea. While I’ve opted for chamomile over ashwagandha since returning, I have been practicing my breathing exercises and it’s really helped to improve my sleep, which in turn has helped me be more productive during the day.

View from the Bodyholiday spa

The consultation also guides guests to the best spa services based on their specific needs. For me, that meant trying a shirodhara treatment. During shirodhara, a steady stream of warm oil is poured over your “third eye” to help stimulate melatonin production, balance hormones and improve sleep quality. I did the treatment at the BodyHoliday’s Ayurvedic Center, the largest of its kind in the west. The semi open-air room is made from sandstone imported from India, and allowed a warm, soothing Caribbean breeze to flow through the space. I was so blissed out after the treatment I didn’t even care that I’d likely need several showers to clean all the oil out of my hair before dinner. 

My favorite part of the week, however, was the ITAL dining experience. The world ITAL is thought to stem from vitality, and is the principle diet of the Rastafari movement. ITAL is about honoring the flavors of the food, and incorporates entirely plant-based and mostly raw foods. I love whenever a meal becomes a means for cultural exchange, and ITAL did not disappoint. Damian Adjodha, BodyHoliday’s Environment and Ecosystems Leader, started the experience with a tour of the resort’s regenerative garden. As we walked through, we helped to harvest ingredients like nutrient-dense Moringa leaves (the trees grow all over the island), Jamaican callaloo and African pigeon peas. All the while, Damian talked us through the cultural context for each ingredient and its history as part of the Rasta culture. Once our harvest was complete, we moved to the kitchen to help prep the ingredients in a space overlooking the resort and the ocean before sitting down as a group to enjoy the fruits, and veggies, of our labor. 

Beautiful beaches right in front of the resort

While there are wellness resorts like this around the world, what sets BodyHoliday apart is how they truly encourage every guest to define what wellness means to him or her. For some, that might mean spending every day at the beach, drink in hand. For me, it was a daily spin class at their treetop workout studio, followed by a leisurely breakfast of fresh mango and bay leaf tea. Of course, it was also a multi-course meal each night...with wine pairings. The whole “you do you” mentality here ensures you feel at ease in all your choices, which is part of how they aim to “give you back your mind.” I remember rushing to dinner one night when the bartender asked me what my hurry was. I wasn’t even running late. The message stuck with me. Slow down. Take care of yourself. Whatever that might mean to you.