Making the decision to dedicate your precious (and usually limited!) vacation time to a wellness retreat is big and for many a decision that is not taken lightly. Prior to committing, it is important to understand and truly believe that a focused retreat can be one of the most powerful opportunities to positively impact, shift, change and transform both your current and future state of health and wellbeing.

It was mid-November in downtown Toronto when I was invited to spend a month at the breathtaking Ti Kaye Resort and Spa in St. Lucia to develop their yoga and wellness programming. With the dream of elevating a 4-star resort and spa to one of the world’s most sought-after go-to spa destinations, complete with wellness and yoga programming, I got to work. Read on for a quick snapshot of my top 3 #dreamjob priorities at Ti Kaye Resort and Spa!

The essence of travel is changing. From detoxing to juicing to boot-camp to yoga and beyond, the new 2-week vacation is all inclusive of more than just food and drink - but instead of wellness in all of its forms - fitness, spa treatments, diet plans and more. People are going away to heal, rejuvenate, detoxify, re-inspire and repurpose their lives.

Wellness can be described as the quality or state of being healthy in both body and mind. The result of deliberate and conscious effort, wellness is multi-dimensional and holistic and certainly changes over time. As a mindset, a movement, and now an industry, wellness has become somewhat of phenomenon that is definitely here to stay.

As we approach the busy holiday season we wanted to share a couple of highlights from some of our favorite blog posts featured on MindBodyGreen. These articles do a wonderful job of communicating the value of carving out time for self-care and some of the incredible benefits that can be deeply absorbed while on retreat. Hold these thoughts with you as you navigate through the next couple of months, perhaps setting the intention that 2016 might just be the year of you!

Today we are thrilled to be celebrating the official Grand Opening of The Spa at Windjammer Landing! From concept through to launch, this project has been infused by the talents of many. A tremendous thank-you to the team at Ellis Don, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort, International Design Concepts, Kerstin Florian, NatMed, and most especially the Spa & Wellness Team at the resort for your hard work, dedication and incredible support throughout. Congratulations Windjammer Landing and thank-you for the opportunity to contribute!

The International SPA Association (ISPA) released its annual findings of spa industry financial indicators, reporting the industry continues to grow as it surpassed the $15 billion mark.

Honouring the Best in Wellness Travel- The 2015 Wellness Travel Awards “recognize the demand for healthier travel options – and establish the top properties on six continents, in over 40 countries/regions and in numerous special categories”.  Have a peek at this years finalists and discover all of the wonderful wellness initiatives underway at hotels and resorts around the globe. Who will win? You help decide!

From yoga, music, meditation and various workshops, Wanderlust Festivals are a celebration of wellness and mindful living. "Wanderlust brings together a remarkable group of yoga and meditation instructors, musical performers, speakers, artists and chefs for transformational retreats in the world’s most awe-inspiring natural resorts. This is an experience that gets into your mind, body and soul. Regardless of what starts you on your path, Wanderlust is an experience that leaves you different than when you came — with new ideas, new friends, newly discovered abilities, and greater peace. Find your true north."

Travelling is always fun, and the lead up to it can be exciting. In this blog post, we share some of our favourite healthy wellness travel tips to keep you energized and keep your mind, skin, body and spirit healthy while on the road, up in the air, or on the beach. We've also featured a post from Charlene Florian, the founder of one of our favourite globally acclaimed skincare lines, Kerstin Florian!

From yoga to wellness to wanderlust…Take a peek at our favourite Yoga Industry Associations, Organizations & Suppliers!

Travel journalism is arguably one of the most coveted careers. A very lucky few of the globes most respected writers and contributors to industry bibles Travel & Leisure and Conde Nast Magazine, as well as relative newcomer AFAR magazine, had the “tough” job of seeking out and personally validating the BEST spas on the planet! As we at Core Essence peer through these lenses, we wanted to share with you a round-up of the 2014 Travel & Leisure World’s Best, Conde Nast’s Readers Choice Awards Winners, and AFAR’s “Wanderlist”…

The Golden Door Spa® at El Conquistador Resort & Las Casitas Village, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, announced today their first spa wellness retreat package. Located in this breathtaking Puerto Rico paradise, the retreat will welcome guests to immerse in a health and wellness program designed to revive the mind, body and spirit.