Feeling Stagnant? Here Are 7 Getaways to Refresh Your Life

“What I’m asking you to undertake is no small feat,” Kristen Ulmer said as we stood atop the lift at Alta Ski Area in Utah. It was a clear January day, and Ulmer, a professional extreme skier turned anxiety specialist and author, was guiding 18 students, including myself, through her Art of Fear Ski Camp. While many workshops occur on the slopes, the essence of the program lies not in daring descents, but in confronting something even more challenging: embracing our emotions, including the uncomfortable ones like fear and anxiety. As I gazed down the slope, a wave of recent heartaches — my divorce, my mother's passing, the pandemic — began to surface within me.

It turns out that when you’re eager for change, you eventually learn to let go of control and open yourself to new experiences, as I did over the following days. With no focus on skiing technique, Ulmer’s approach urged us to honor and even embrace our emotions. I discovered how to enter a flow state, visualizing myself as a river. Instead of fighting my fear, dancing with it made me feel more like myself than I had in years.

The experience transformed my life, liberating me from the traumas that had been holding me back. It also ignited my quest for more adventures that could bring about radical change.

I’m not alone in this. According to a recent American Express Travel survey, seven out of ten people are looking for vacations that enhance their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. If you're in need of a reset, each of these trips—some nearby and others more distant—aims to challenge you and inspire a breakthrough.

Embrace the Unknown

Kristen Ulmer’s three-day camps, ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers, take place on select winter dates. Not a skier? This fall, she will introduce a new Art of Anxiety Workshop featuring mountain hikes, yoga, and a stay at Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Deer Valley, Utah.

Realign Your Body

The 'Optimal Wellbeing Program' at Hawaii’s enchanting Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons Resort, begins long before your arrival. Guests undergo a comprehensive health assessment and receive a Whoop 4.0 wearable to track fitness and sleep prior to departure. Once on site, Sensei’s exercise physiologists and nutritionists analyze the data to create a tailored program that helps participants achieve their goals.

Connect with Your Intuition

Sedona, Arizona, is famous for its red-rock "vortexes," areas believed to emit the earth’s energy. Adventurers can explore these phenomena at Mii Amo, the newly renovated Relais & Châteaux wellness retreat located near the Boynton Canyon Vortex. Participate in a variety of mindfulness and meditation programs, or delve deeper with 100-minute “Insight” sessions led by facilitators like ashram-trained Ashiko Rupp, who shares how intuition can guide daily life.

Reframe Family Dynamics

If persuading kids to participate in family therapy proves difficult, horses might just be the answer. At the expansive 500-acre Carmel Valley Ranch in California’s Santa Lucia Mountains, psychologist and equestrian Robert Magnelli facilitates therapeutic programs designed to help families create new connections.

Elevate Your Energy

Breathwork expert James Stewart hosts three-day Wim Hof Method retreats during winter at Wisconsin’s Sand Valley, a 12,000-acre resort where sand dunes meet frozen lakes. This practice, famous for its focus on icy water immersion, also incorporates meditative breathing techniques claimed to enhance energy levels and strengthen immunity.

Let Go of the Past

Located on an island in southern Thailand, Kamalaya Koh Samui offers retreats of five, seven, and fourteen days titled “Embracing Change & Emotional Harmony.” These programs are designed to assist guests in overcoming past traumas, guided by mentors such as naturopaths and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.

Reimagine Working from Home

Is your work-life balance in need of a refresh? Experience a taste of expat life with the two- or four-week immersive programs from Sojrn. This start-up will set you up in an apartment in Siena, Italy, organizing vineyard tours, wine tastings, and social gatherings with fellow travelers, all while allowing time for emails and Zoom meetings. Options for adventures in Cape Town, Mexico City, Rome, and other destinations are also available.

A version of this story first appeared in the July 2023 issue of Dinogo under the headline "Hit Reset."