Everyone deserves to take a wellness retreat at least once in their lives. This form of self-care can provide many benefits, including boosting happiness, providing lasting stress relief, improving heart health, and boosting your memory and creativity!
What does a USVI wellness retreat look like? There are many different ways to enjoy wellness travel, and we’re going to list some of the very best USVI activities below.
DIY Wellness Retreat Overview
Before we dive into what the USVI can offer, let’s first take a look at a number of different ways you can treat yourself to a DIY wellness retreat. Some of them will cost you absolutely nothing, too! For instance, getting outside in nature is a big wellness component, as are meditating, movement, and hydration. Of course, it’s also important to do activities you enjoy, eat nourishing food, and pamper your body.
A wellness survey from McKinsey & Company discovered that personal wellness is definitely a growing trend. Consumers are adopting a holistic view of wellness, emphasizing improvement across various aspects of their lives. This comprehensive approach to well-being blurs the traditional boundaries, leading to enhancements in:
- Health, through more informed and proactive measures.
- Fitness, by engaging in regular and varied physical activities.
- Nutrition, with a focus on balanced and nourishing diets.
- Appearance, through both skincare and fashion choices that boost confidence and self-esteem.
- Mindfulness, by practicing techniques that enhance mental health and emotional well-being.
- Sleep, ensuring quality rest to support overall health and productivity.
Another component of a USVI health and wellness retreat is to feed your brain by learning something new. The U.S. Virgin Islands can definitely meet this requirement, especially if it’s your first visit. There are more than 20 top tours of the USVI, and each of them can teach you something different. From learning how to snorkel, to taking a cultural walking tour of Charlotte Amalie, you’re guaranteed to learn something that you never knew. Even better, you’ll have a great time doing it!
So, how can you meet your wellness needs and take a scenic vacation at the same time? Head to the USVI!
10 Places and Activities for DIY Wellness
There are a few official wellness retreats you can sign up for in the USVI, including yoga wellness and painting wellness, but if you’re looking for a true DIY experience, you can do the following instead.
1. Spend a Day Exploring the Virgin Islands National Park
Are you ready to spend a day exploring everything the Virgin Islands National Park has to offer? Whether you’re most interested in seeing sea turtles, taking a hike, or lounging on a beach, you can easily find a relaxing and/or stimulating activity here. The Virgin Islands National Park accounts for approximately 67% of St. John’s landmass, and there’s truly something for everyone!
2. Book a Massage at Spa Sans Souci
Spa Sans Souci is one of the top USVI spas. In fact, this location currently has a 5-star average out of 71 Google reviews, so you know they’ll take excellent care of you! Their name, ‘Sans Souci,’ even means ‘carefree’ or ‘no worries’ in French.
Getting a massage offers plenty of benefits, including the following for mental health:
- Improved relaxation
- Lower stress levels
- Improved mood
- More energy
- Decreased anxiety
- Increased feeling of wellness
Spa Sans Souci offers a wide range of different massage styles to suit any need, including craniosacral, deep tissue, pregnancy massage, lomi lomi, Swedish, therapeutic, sport massage, lymphatic drainage, and reflexology. It’s one of the top St John wellness retreat locations!
3. Attend a Yoga Session at Point Wellness Body Shop
Yoga is a fantastic way to relax your mind while getting a good workout. There are many places in the USVI where you can do yoga, but we’d like to suggest trying Antigravity Restorative Yoga at Point Wellness Body Shop.
Instead of offering the traditional yoga poses, this option allows you to float through mid-air with the usage of a hammock. The hammocks are set only 12 inches off the floor for beginners, so almost anyone can do it. The best part is that your entire spine will be opened up, which isn’t possible without the sensation of weightlessness. Relaxation is literally built in!
4. Dine on the Water at Pizza Pi
At a quick glance, a pizza restaurant might not be where you’d choose to go for nourishing food. Pizza Pi is different, though, as evidenced by the fact that the restaurant floats in Christmas Cove. Whether you want to swim up, raft up, or use a dinghy, you can grab a slice from the world’s only sailboat pizzeria. If relaxation is your goal, you’ll love this St Thomas wellness retreat option!
5. Take a Tai Chi Class at Sunsu Dojo
When you think of tai chi, you probably envision a group of seniors in the park. While tai chi is a good way to improve balance, it can also improve lower-body strength, which is helpful for everyone. Therefore, whether you’re 25 or 65, taking a drop-in tai chi class at Sunsu Dojo can help relieve stress. It’s often considered to be a moving form of mediation, which makes a tai chi class one of the best St Croix wellness retreat options available!
6. Soak in the Sun at Cinnamon Bay Beach
Cinnamon Bay Beach is St. John’s longest beach. In fact, there’s a grocery store, restaurant, snorkeling, and water sports rentals that are part of this beach. There’s even a place to go camping for a day or two! While you’re here, you can take in the views, including towering palm trees and soft white sand.
Because Cinnamon Bay Beach is so big – and because it’s part of the Virgin Islands National Park – it’s possible to visit this beach without being around a huge crowd. If you prefer to go snorkeling, you can even see the remains of a small aircraft without going too far. It’s located only 20 yards from the rocks!
7. Book Yourself a Fantastic Villa
Camping might be fun for a day or two, but if you’re really invested infor Marketplace Suites. your DIY wellness retreat, there’s nothing quite like a luxury vacation rental from Vacation VI. You’ll have access to everything you need, including the best beds you’ve ever slept on! What makes these vacation rentals really stand out, though, is their special features, including: Can we change the working so it does not seem like these services are included?
- Full-service concierge
- In-home chef and meal preparation
- Private VIP transport
- And more!
When you consider the fact that getting a good night’s sleep is an important component of a wellness retreat, booking a luxury vacation rental just makes good sense!
8. Go Snorkeling at Cane Bay
There is nothing quite like snorkeling the Cane Bay Wall! This stellar spot is located about 150 yards from Cane Bay Beach. What makes it so special? Well, on one side, it’s only approximately 35-40 feet deep. Once you cross the wall, however, the water plummets to a breathtaking 3,000 feet!
The barrier reef here has sea turtles, schools of tropical fish, sponges, and coral. It’s also suitable for snorkeling or diving. Do not hesitate to take in this fantastic example of the beauty of the sea. You won’t be sorry!
9. Unwind with a Smoothie at Our Market Smoothies
Since you’re on a DIY wellness retreat, you might prefer not to drink alcohol all day. Fortunately, the USVI is home to Our Market Smoothies. You’ll find all-natural island treats here such as fresh smoothies, ice cream, milkshakes, and a lot more! As an added bonus, this location offers special edible arrangements for notable days like St. Valentine’s.
Of course, Our Market Smoothies doesn’t focus solely on beverages. They also have a menu of food options, and it’s much more than a simple snack. Enjoy hot dogs, key lime pie, fruit salad, conch fritters, chicken fingers, mixed greens, etc. with your smoothie to make it a full meal! I don think most of these items are actually on the menu. Better to just be a bit vague here?
10. Take a Drop-In Meditation Class
The very first thing you’ll see on Mindful Wellness VI’s website is “Be well!” Right after which, they list the definition of mindfulness: “Paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.” If this is a philosophy you’d like to embrace, why not visit one of their drop-in meditation classes? As long as you’ve got some experience with mindfulness and/or meditation, you’re welcome to join in!
If you happen to be staying in the Virgin Islands for a couple of months, you can also sign up for one of their eight-week courses. These include:
- Introduction to Mindfulness
- Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Fake it Till You Make It (self-esteem course)
- Mindful Eating
Where You Stay Matters Too!
As previously mentioned, if you want to really unwind and relax on your DIY wellness retreat, it’s important to choose the right place to stay. Vacation VI offers luxury vacation rentals that will make you wish you never had to leave the USVI!
Are you looking for a swimming pool? Perhaps you’d like a great entertaining patio? Or would you prefer to save some money by renting a luxury cottage with a loft area for sleeping? Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it on Vacation VI! Choose your ideal villa today and get ready for your DIY wellness retreat to the USVI!
Kirsten Morgan is a passionate travel blogger based in the stunning St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. With a deep love for island life and a knack for storytelling, Kirsten brings the vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and hidden gems of the Caribbean to life through her captivating blogs.
