Let’s glow: How to plan a wellness break

For the uninitiated, heading to a wellness retreat at a vacation rental (however gorgeous the location) may feel a little intimidating. You may be in a group of people you haven’t met before, and whether it’s about yoga, mindfulness meditation, cold-water plunges, or even indulgent massages, you’re there to open yourself to new experiences, in the hope of coming home healthier and happier.

Bonnie Crotzer of Beautiful Nomad knows this all too well. “There’s a vulnerability that happens at retreats: You’re in a gorgeous space, away from the world, and the walls start to melt down. You surrender and connect because there’s a sense of safety and community.”

A former professional ballet dancer, Crotzer is a founding member of the wellness-travel brand, which hosts women-only retreats in stunning rental properties, from Mexico to Menorca—a type of trip that’s becoming ever more popular. 

“People are looking for more mindful, curated vacations—and we are very particular about the locations we choose,” she adds. “We look for warm and welcoming rental homes with plenty of serene nooks for good conversation, cups of tea and deep connection.”

Of course, she adds, it’s essential to have “dedicated space practice space for yoga, Pilates, flossing, and occasional dancing.” (By “flossing,” she’s referring not to the dance craze, but a low-impact stretching technique that incorporates traditional Chinese medicine to improve and repair the body’s connective tissue.)

Crotzer launched Beautiful Nomad in 2018, together with friends and co-founders Colleen Ferguson, a Pilates instructor, and Linnea Villegas Gilbar, a massage therapist. Their goal? To enable female-only groups of all ages to experience wellness journeys in one-of-a-kind properties.

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There is a diverse line-up of activities, handwritten by Gilbar on butcher paper for the guests each morning. As well as morning and afternoon practice, there are hikes or other outdoor adventures, and something artsy, such as pottery or life drawing.  

Beyond the benefits of exercise, Crotzer measures the success of a trip by something more intangible: “laughing, eating delicious food, and honoring local history in extraordinary places filled with culture.” 

What’s more, some guests later report that they came home inspired in surprising ways—to start new businesses or find new partners, for instance. For Crotzer, it makes sense that these kinds of vacations can be so unexpectedly transformative. “It gives you permission to unfold, release—and enjoy a sense of support,” she says, adding that she loves watching intergenerational friendships form on retreats. “Something magical happens when a group gathers to move their bodies together, particularly in a faraway destination in a beautiful space.” 

Beautiful Nomad’s next retreat is at this Vrbo property in Molokai, Hawaii, from April 11–16, 2024