Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort – Wellness Retreat

To keep the body in good health is a duty otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.     Buddha

Larry Ellison Ups the Spa Game in Lanai! Four Seasons and Sensei Retreats have formed a new partnership, a wellness company founded by Ellison and renowned oncologist and author David Angus. The Sensei philosophy is one that believes you meet your body where it’s at – that wellness is a journey and what you need now may be different than what you need in two years. For example, the Guides try to focus on developing routines and actions that are doable beyond your stay – this is not a ‘bootcamp’ – and the ability of the guides to connect with the practitioners and utilize the technology as they learn more about each guest really allows for a very tailored approach – maybe that manifests in a change in programming or simply a different way of looking at an aspect of one’s health – how the elements of rest, nourish and move are connected in ways one might not even consider!

Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort

Welcome to an ultra-all-inclusive wellness enclave on the secluded Hawaiian island of Lanai. Unmatched hospitality, reputable experts, natural beauty, luxury and choice combine to offer a completely customized experience. When Larry Ellison purchased the Island of Lanai in 2012 he had dreams of transforming the island and its old properties into a tropical haven, he has recently achieved both dreams. The authentic and charming Four Seasons Resort Lanai has wowed many of our clients and as of last fall, the new adults only wellness retreat opened. Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort is set in the interior of Lanai, surrounded by towering banyan and pine trees. I’m certain a heaping dose of tailored wellness would be welcome to all of us!

Always included is round-trip airfare from Honolulu on Lanai Air as well as private wellness consultations, spa treatments, unlimited fitness classes, yoga and meditation, dining by Nobu, and enriching island activities in pursuit of movement, nourishment and rest – all in a beautiful and luxurious Four Seasons setting.

Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort –

A new partnership with Sensei Retreats introduces a new concept in fully customizable, science-based programming for mind and body, including meals by Sensei by Nobu. Experience an ultra-all-inclusive wellness enclave on the secluded Hawaiian island of Lanai. Unmatched hospitality, reputable experts, luxury and choice combine to offer a completely customized experience and help you discover your greatest well-being.

An evidence-led approach to wellbeing focusses on three practices – movement, nourishment, and rest – which are connected and enriched by one another, helping guests get familiar and maintain a conversation with body and mind. These three practices are the basis for programming and integrating elements from all categories lead to a balance that is at the heart of the Sensei philosophy, as well as helping guests discover new patterns and experiences they can implement in their everyday lives on a consistent and ongoing basis.

Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort

From private spa hale to world-class cuisine, guest will enjoy a luxury of limitless choices including body treatments; personal training; group classes and lectures in yoga, meditation, fitness, nutrition, mindfulness, Hawaiian culture, art and enrichment, meditation and cultural immersion; and enriching activities on land and sea; all while experiencing the beauty of the secluded island of Lanai.

Customized programming by a Sensei Guide, each customized itinerary is prepared in advance in consultation with a dedicated Sensei Guide. Throughout, the experience is optimized utilizing technology – such as thermal body mapping and sleep analysis – along with coordinated input from the Sensei Guide and a team of on-site wellness practitioners to uncover opportunities for growth and enjoyment and adapt the program to individual guest needs.

At departure, guests leave with a review of learnings and suggestions to continue on a path of wellness once at home, including the option to check in with one’s Sensei Guide. This is a life enhancing program, not a one time visit spa and move on back into the rat race lifestyle!

Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort –

Don’t Miss Experiences: Two essential experiences at the Koele retreat are private guided sessions and Sensei featured experiences at the Spa. Guests have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Sensei Guides, many of whom have Masters degrees in their fields of practice, for guided sessions in topics such as nutrition, fitness, mindfulness, stress management and yoga. Every session is fully personalized according to each guest’s intentions with offerings from a private cooking lesson to a personal Vinyasa class focused on building core strength or refining a challenging pose. The sessions complement the 10 to 16 daily scheduled classes and lectures led by trained wellness staff and visiting experts.  Three Sensei Featured Experiences showcase the key components of the philosophy, offered in the 1,000 square foot private hale.  Private spa hale are designed as individual sanctuaries, with treatment areas, indoor/outdoor showers, infrared saunas, Japanese ofuro bathtubs, private plunge pools and lounge areas; two hale also include watsu pools.

 “Move” is a two-hour treatment focused on the importance of mobility and movement, and features a segment on land or in a private pool where water shiatsu includes floating, rocking, cradling and stretching with the help of a trained therapist.  “Rest” takes the art of unwinding to a new level, beginning with a soothing, skin-nourishing bath and continuing through breath work, face and scalp stimulation, and finally, a transformative full body massage.  “Nourish” takes advantage of the Koele Retreat’s tropical location outdoors among bamboo and banyan, with massage oils and body wrap using local oils and extracts.

Dining at Sensei by Nobu Chef Nobu Matsuhisa has long been at the forefront of innovative cuisine grounded in Japanese sensibilities and clean ingredients. Guests of Sensei Lanai, will enjoy a wellness menu created by Chef Nobu and his team in close collaboration with Sensei’s nutritionists.  On the Sensei by Nobu menu are such Nobu favorites as the world-renowned black cod with miso, as well as a new selection inspired by the bounty of the steps-away Sensei Farm Lanai, and the neighboring islands and waters of Hawaii.

Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort

A look at a program: for example, one’s day might begin with a simple yet carefully prepared breakfast bowl featuring seasonal fruits and berries, or a traditional Japanese breakfast of baked fish, omelette, miso soup and condiments.  The lunch menu might include a fresh gazpacho with hydroponically farmed tomatoes, avocado and grilled shrimp from Kauai, while dinner choices range from fresh seafood and locally-raised meats to vegetarian options prepared in Chef Nobu’s signature style. Additional options also include the Koele Garden Bar, and private hale, poolside or 24/7 in-room dining is also available.

An island’s worth of recreational opportunities With 90,000 acres of nearly untouched wilderness ranging from pristine beaches to mountains, red lava cliffs and lush rainforests, Lanai is a playground for lovers of all things outdoors. Fresh air in pristine surroundings, sign me up, please!

At the Hotel’s sister property, the beachfront Four Seasons Resort Lanai, guests can avail of a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course as well as diving, snorkeling, fishing, sailing and other ocean-based water sports.

Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort

Beyond the two properties, Lanai City is a charming village within walking distance from Koele, highlighted by boutiques and galleries showcasing the creativity of island residents.  Also near the Hotel, Lanai Ranch at Koele offers horseback riding, there’s the Lanai Archery and Shooting Range, and the Adventure Park has ziplines and rope challenge courses. 

Sensei Guides can also arrange excursions further afield on foot or in a 4×4 off road vehicle, with tips on where to find the prettiest views, the secret beaches and the best spots for a picnic.

All the Details: retreat packages at the adults-only Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort include accommodations in 96 light-filled rooms and suites opening onto private balconies or lanai, newly decorated by Todd-Avery Lenahan of TAL-Studio, who also conceived the overall design of the Hotel.

Also included are flights from and to Honolulu aboard Lanai Air, and ground transportation to the Hotel as well as shuttles to Four Seasons Resort Lanai and Lanai City. The minimum stay is three nights while seven-night vacations are highly recommended to maximize the experience.

Truly an antidote to this current Covid-19 quarantine. Please be well and safe, we are here to help you design and curate the perfect Wellness Program when you emerge from your cocoon!

https://www.fourseasons.com/sensei/

Begin the Wellness Journey Now.

Shelter in Place – Isolate in Five-Star Luxury Soon!

Every day feeling like Sunday? Vital Social Distancing, seems more like a recipe for Stir Crazy Stew. During this stressful period, online postings have revealed distinct personalities; it’s abundantly clear that some are devoted and very well read news junkies, others need daily doses of humor, others or all are rabid Netflix bingers.

Continuing from last week’s list of luxury properties with private bungalows and villas – for the eventual first toe back in the water. Read on, we hope to transport you to a world of escapism and brighter times ahead.

Inn at Five Graces, Santa Fe, NM, a charmer! I’ve been a frequent visitor to this picturesque city, the oldest capital in the United States, the charming city is set at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and possesses a unique Southwestern charm all its own. A few miles south, these mountains diminish down from a height of 13,000 feet to a flattened level plain, marking the end of the North American Rockies. A desert jewel, The Inn of the Five Graces in Santa Fe wows with exotic decor, raw silks and rich color that seamlessly blends the Southwest with the Far East. Step through its doors, and a feast of color and texture awakens the imagination. Each distinctive room showcases handcrafted artisan pieces and eclectic treasures from the historic Silk Road that once linked Europe and Asia. Echoes of rustic Spain, lingering in New Mexico’s Hispanic heritage, are reflected in the diverse style, a trademark synthesis of East and West. The richness will evoke memories of your Journeys to Istanbul and India. The Seret family who own the Inn have roamed the world to bring together Persian, Indian, Tibetan, Uzbek and other Eastern architectural elements and antiques with classic Santa Fe adobe construction. https://www.gwenbooks.com/2018/05/inn-of-the-five-graces-santa-fe-new-mexico/

Inn at Five Graces,Santa Fe New Mexico

Ranch at Rock Creek, Montana – Ultimate Dude Ranch. Our favorite adult & kiddy Relais & Châteaux Ranch in Montana books up fast in summer – time to plan for your lavish Western Glamping escape. Adventure and glamping make for a superb visit to Ranch at Rock Creek, just a short distance from Missoula. Our multi-generation families stay for a week, sometimes two weeks. The Forbes Five Star guest ranch has more activities than one can actually enjoy in a week, something for everyone and whenever you feel like moseying out from your rustically elegant and very comfy lodge room, private home or an over the top Glamping Tent, set on the banks of the gurgling Rock Creek. Camping in the most elegant style, bug free, full indoor bath and a roaring stove to ward off the cool night chill. Consisting of 29 private homes, lodge rooms and elegant Glamping Tents, some easily accommodate a large family gathering. https://www.gwenbooks.com/2018/10/summer-at-the-ranch-at-rock-creek/

Ranch at Rock Creek Home

Triple Creek Ranch, Montana, Adult Dude Ranch–Triple Creek Ranch is an award-winning Montana Luxury Ranch Resort hidden away in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. The valley was the ancestral home of the Salish tribe of the Flathead nation. The luxury Ranch caters to families with children16 and older, but the majority of the clientele is adults. Cowboy chic décor abounds, the architecture provides the first hint, charming log cabin homes and cottages dotted amid the towering fragrant Ponderosa Pines. The air is fresh, the skies robin egg blue, all this punctuated by the gurgling creek running through the property; my comfortable cabin was enhanced by the sound of the rushing creek, guaranteeing deep sleep. The owners are serious Western fine art collectors and generously share their collection in each cabin and in all the public spaces, truly an added perk.

There is an annual Stave Puzzle Weekend, if you aren’t a puzzle expert by now, a weekend here will enhance your skills- imagine warm fire, a fine Cabernet and a Stave puzzle weekend! https://www.gwenbooks.com/2017/09/triple-creek-ranch-montana-luxury/
https://www.gwenbooks.com/2018/04/triple-creek-ranch-activities/

Triple Creek Ranch

Further afield: Four Seasons Maldives Private Island – Voavah. A heavenly hideaway, a sublime sanctuary offering the utmost in privacy and iconic Four Seasons pampering at the world’s first exclusive-use UNESCO hideaway, Voavah. A seven-bedroom private island Maldives home, the sojourn includes a 62-foot luxury yacht: Voavah Summer and a marine territory that’s utterly your own! Voavah, private island is a welcome addition to the two luxurious Four Seasons Resorts in the Maldives.

Our mantra on the art of the opening act, your arrival sets the stage: with a personal VIP Seaplane, alighting on the pristine pure white sand, your private beach! Tip toe over the scuttling white shelled hermit crabs and the delicious dilemma develops, what shall you do first: laps in the pool, a discovery afternoon of diving or casting, or snooze until sunset? Decisions, decisions!

Sneak peek: accommodating up to 22 guests in seven bedrooms, with its own chefs, staff, private spa, and a 65-foot-long PADIequipped motor yacht with a dedicated dive master. This extraordinary five-acre, island paradise is your private playground – retreat or indulge in the total privacy as a castaway!

https://www.gwenbooks.com/2018/02/four-seasons-maldives-private-island-voavah

Four Seasons Maldives Private Island – Voavah
Four Seasons Maldives Private Island – Voavah

We haven’t stayed yet, but Twin Farms Resort and Spa, in Vermont is represented by one of our very reliable discerning firms. A Relais & Chateaux and Forbes Five Star Resort, double blessings! Located about one-and-a-half hours from the nearest commercial airport in Burlington, the journey into the bucolic landscape surrounding Barnard, Vermont begins the Twin Farms experience. Once on the property’s vast 300 acres, seclusion and privacy come first. And there is a ‘story’ – which I always adore, who can resist an authentic history, or a property built around a smart or in this case, a romantic tale?

When Nobel prize-winning author Sinclair Lewis proposed to journalist Dorothy Thompson, she promised to marry him if he bought her a farm in Vermont with sweeping lawns, orchards, and “delicious air.” They found their idyll in a 1795-era farmhouse on 300 acres – all of which they purchased in 1928 for $10,000. In various seasons, they created and entertained at Twin Farms. Their guest list included political and literary figures who lingered for provocative discussions, outdoor activities, and the opportunity to attend the couple’s legendary parties. Dorothy kept Twin Farms until she was no longer physically able to live here. As she grew frail, her family sold off parcels of the land, completing the final transaction in 1958. Subsequently, Twin Farms changed hands several times. It operated as Sonnenberg Haus, an inn with a reputation for fine dining, when Thurston Twigg-Smith acquired the property as a second home for his family in 1974. By the late 1980s, the Twigg-Smiths found themselves able to visit Barnard only a few weeks a year, so they decided to launch a Bed and Breakfast to share this special place – a quaint notion that soon escalated to the number one small hotel in North America.

Open all year, the resort offers specific activities related to the seasons. Sinclair Lewis described his favorite hideaway in Fall at Twin Farms: Our legacy revolves around Fall foliage, bringing unparalleled beauty in shades of red and gold bathed in crisp air, with the promise of warmth and intimacy at the end of the day. “There will be apple trees and flaming lilies, and the moon over the low mountains and you and me, after dinner, sitting….on the terrace, and inside, when it becomes chilly, the fireplace and lamplight and lots of books,”

Twin Farms Resort and Spa

Freestanding cottages, lodge rooms and Farmhouse rooms provide multiple stay options. The cottages are secluded amid 300 wooded acres, ten freestanding cottages comfort and inspire with fireplaces and screened porches – each a unique setting for reflection, romance and serenity./https://www.twinfarms.com/

Twin Farms Resort and Spa
Twin Farms Resort and Spa, a to die for tub!

A unique plethora of somewhat secluded options for your first foray back to civilization. We also have a list of very isolated private homes available, so private we can’t broadcast the locations, but if you have an interest, ping me for a proposal!

Be Well and be Safe, we look forward to curating your dream escapes!

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
 
— T.S. Eliot