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.

Core Essence has put together some of our favourite wellness inspired gift— our Wellness Gift Giving Guide, if you will— suggestions for those you love this holiday season! We hope these ideas that can all be purchased online will leave you more time and space to share with those you love this holiday season! Who are you shopping for?!

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!

We're happy to present a new feature called Core Community—where we share stories from Leaders of Inspiration who inspire us. Our first feature comes via Molly Scott who shares her inspirational story of her being strong in the face of cancer. “I know and realize very deeply how short life can be and how easily everything can change. We need to appreciate every moment. Live every day to the fullest.”

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!

Creating a calm and comforting space for rest and rejuvenation is essential to both support and optimize deep restful sleep. Sleep is an essential human need and a natural physiological process that is essential to our overall health and wellbeing. Ironically, despite how much we all crave and wish for sleep, when presented with the opportunity to rest, a nourishing nights sleep is often one million sheep away. We have good news for you: For yourself, both at home and when on the road, as well as the guests of your resorts and spas, creating a sleep sanctuary is no longer a sweet dream away.

Many of us in the Northern Hemisphere are beginning to notice the change in seasons. Shorter days and longer nights leave us with less daylight hours that can manifest itself in unexpected ways physically, emotionally and energetically. Autumn can evoke a myriad of colour and a downward swirling of energy that can rustle up a kaleidoscope of emotions. Some feel the wild stirrings of fall to be creative, inspiring, grounding, and free. While for others, the same autumnal changes feel heavy with fragile emotions, sensations of brittleness in the body and a mourning for the warmth that was summer. 

So much more than just a logo or a name, your brand is the foundation from which the story of your business, products and services can be energized and inspired. Much like your personal DNA or footprint, your brand should be established and clear, serving as a key point of differentiation to distinguish you from all other businesses and competitors within your field or industry.

As the sun rises each day, we are presented with an auspicious time to engage in our daily yoga practice. Practicing at sunrise presents the opportunity to harmonize yourself with the environment around you, set intentions, and fluid rhythms for your day ahead, and all the while connect more deeply with the natural pulsations of life around you.

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.

Establishing a daily meditation practice is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself. We all dedicate a tremendous amount of time to building and nurturing our relationships with others, yet often sacrifice and forget the importance of self-love. Creating impactful and sustainable lifestyle shifts requires planning to ensure we carve out the time, space, and support tools required for lasting change. Setting a permanent meditation alter in your home will serve as a powerful reminder of your commitment to self-love and will also be a ready-made space that you can easily float into and out of daily.

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!

Live a healthy, happy, inspired and vibrant life with YOGASCAPES! "YOGASCAPES revolutionizes the age-old “yoga retreat” by combining today’s most vibrant and energetic yoga and wellness teachers with in-tune guides, local culture, tasty food, inspiring adventure and a crew of similar minded fun-loving people from across the globe. Best of all, the party always goes down at one of our hand picked, off-the-beaten path destinations amidst breathtaking natural beauty."

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!

Celebrated the second Saturday of every June, today, Saturday June 13th, marks the 4th annual celebration of “Global Wellness Day”, now celebrated across 5 continents in 52 countries with 49 global ambassadors! This is a day that has been formally dedicated to the pursuit and celebration of Wellness based on the philosophy that “living well is almost the entire world’s shared dream”.