Take A Travel : Saint Lucia Wellness Weekend | By Tiffany Thornton

St Lucia is an oasis of natural beauty. The Eastern Caribbean Island is filled with unspoiled beaches, verdant rainforest and mountainous volcanic peaks that jut out from the sea, known as Petit and Gros Piton, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

St Lucia is also known as “The Helen of the West Indies,” named after Helen of Troy in Greek mythology. She was thought to be the most beautiful woman in the world, and the Goddess of trees and birds. A perfectly fitting destination for a wellness weekend getaway.

Start your Stay at East Winds

East Winds resort boasts 30 quaint cottages surrounded by 12 acres of lush tropical gardens. It is also a hummingbird haven. These little colorful, fast flitting birds can be spotted touching down on the gardens vibrant flowers.

Strolling past the gardens leads you to the clear blue ocean. All beaches in St Lucia are public, yet you would never know it at East Winds. The whole place feels secluded, like it’s just you on a private island.

Get Ready to Move

Start your morning pre-breakfast with a yoga or Pilates class offered four times a week in an outdoor pavilion. An idyllic spot to breathe in nature, soothe your soul and stretch at your own pace. If you feel energized hit the fit trail that winds around the resort from the beach to the gym at the top of the property.

Breakfast Time

The restaurant at East Winds overlooks the ocean, serving up fresh pressed therapy juices every morning. Try the banana and coconut smoothie — both fruits grow on the property.

Aquatic Adventure

Are you up for some aquatic adventures? Head to the beach where one of the instructors will happily set you up with a free sailing lesson on a Hobie Cat. You may even spot a sea turtle bobbing his head out of the ocean along the way, as the island breeze carries you across the sea.

The Beach at East Winds is home to a coral reef close to the shoreline. Grab some snorkel gear included for guests, and discover a colorful world of marine life under the sea. Kayaks and paddle boards are also free for guests to use.

Spa Time

As soon as you walk into the Garden Spa at East Winds a sense of calm washes over you. The spa design with its dark wood floors is open concept, the idea here is to feel like you are fully immersed in nature.

Savor some homemade tea made with local herbs and plants from the gardens before your treatment. The relaxing anti-age facial is a favorite on the spa menu. Using hibiscus known as  “The botox of plants” it helps to soothe the skin leaving you with a radiant island glow to take home with you.

Photos by Tiffany Thornton.

Tiffany Thornton is a nature lover and travel seeker who loves capturing her world adventures through her photographs and stories. Her travel articles, photographs and celebrity interviews have been published in USA Today, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, West Jet magazine, Canadian Traveller and many more. She has interviewed acclaimed musicians/actors for HELLO Canada, USA Today and Country Weekly magazine. Tiffany is a contributing writer on National Geographic’s book “Journeys home.”