Stressed out? Many people travel quite a distance to retreat from daily life and find the ultimate health and wellness experience. Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, an integrative retreat centre located on California's Central Coast, offers guests the healing effects of an integrative retreat - in a convenient location, saving time, expense and general stress of traveling around the world in search of rejuvenation.

Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, an Integrative Retreat Centre

Located directly between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the resort's San Luis Obispo locale is fast-becoming a wellness destination and the perfect catalyst for rejuvenation and relaxation. And as the name suggests, the resort is built on natural sulfur mineral springs that fill dozens of private hillside redwood tubs with healing waters.

Sycamore encourages guests to bring balance into their lives by using a variety of the services and healing arts classes, as well as meals and activities that all focus on balancing the body, mind and spirit, giving them practical tools to create harmony in their lives long after they return home.

"So many spas these days have lost touch with the healing arts," explained Deborah Coryell, Director of Health and Wellness for King Ventures, parent company of the resort. "Everything oneneeds to truly unwind and heal is right here on the property," she continued.

A typical day at Sycamore might include a mineral soak, a ridge top hike or a meditative walk around the labyrinth, a restorative yoga class at the Healing Arts Institute, and an Ayurvedic skincare treatment.

Guests may also enjoy a massage and healthy, gourmet cuisine prepared by renowned chef Evan Treadwell at the resort's Garden's of Avila Restaurant. Or one can simply just relax on their private deck and take in the nature that surrounds them.

"Our visitors will find activities that incorporate nature, heal the body, and encourage them to gently look within themselves - what they won't find here is a spin class, a gym or exercise machines," said Coryell.

The resort emphasizes its five-day retreat programs, which are individually tailored to each guest. "You need that much time to really unwind," remarked Coryell.

"Of course, if customers only they return home. "The concept of a retreat is about experiencing some of the healing arts that you are drawn to during your stay, and perhaps adding some of those activities to your schedule when you go home, such as hiking, meditation, or eating healthy meals," she explained.

Just off the property, explorers will also find a walking trail that leads to the beach, and the surrounding county offers some of the finest wineries in California.

Explained Coryell, "With its natural beauty, clean air, and plenty of room to roam in the surrounding hills or on the coast, San Luis Obispo is quickly becoming a wellness destination, for everyone from Californians, to visitors from the East Coast looking to find an undiscovered Mecca here in the U.S." At its heart is Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort.

Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort of San Luis Obispo, CA adds ancient, yet powerful healing practices to its mix of therapeutic body treatments including Stone Therapy, Dry Brush Massage, Aromatherapy Blanket Wrap and Scalp Massage.

During the past three years that Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort has been owned by King Ventures Inc., the focus has been on offering treatments that are therapeutic or “integrative” in nature such as the Sycamore Integrative Massage (which combines several massage modalities). The new treatments integrate simple, yet time-tested ancient traditions to the mix.

“We honor the strength of these ancient practices – they are gaining ground in the modern world and we are pleased to offer them,” said Deborah Coryell, Director of Health and Wellness for King Ventures.

“We are not about to offer fad treatments such as a ‘chocolate body wrap’,” she added. “As we move forward we will continue to introduce quality, therapeutic treatments versus a plethora of trendy body work that has no lasting value.”

The new treatments at Sycamore are described as follows:

Stone Therapy

A once common healing practice used by many different countries and tribes, this ancient remedy takes tools from the earth to ground the body, mind and spirit. Sycamore’s Stone Therapy consists of a highly synchronized oiled massage that first utilizes hot stones to increase circulation and reduce soreness, and then cold stones to re-energize and stimulate the muscles.

Dry Brush Massage

This gentle exfoliating treatment removes dead skin and helps eliminate toxins. It also increases blood circulation throughout the body, and contributes to healthier muscle tone and improved feelings of well being. Clients take the brush with them to create a new ritual at home.

Aromatherapy Blanket Wrap

A therapist massages essential aromatherapy oils into the hands, feet, neck and shoulders, followed by a soothing warm-blanket wrap. This allows the body temperature to rise and stimulates the elimination of toxins through the skin. "Indians used blanket wraps to induce a sweat for healing, and mothers instinctively know that creating warmth through a blanket wrap can help lower a fever. This is the impetus behind this treatment,” Coryell explained.

Scalp Massage

An Ayurvedic tradition dating back 2,500 years, warm Ayurvedic shirodhara scalp oil, pure aloe vera and rosemary mint conditioner are massaged into the scalp to balance and restore the hair’s natural vitality and shine.

This nurturing treatment includes a neck, shoulder and deep scalp massage. Sycamore also offers a dry (no-oil) 15-minute Scalp Massage, stimulating the hair follicles and cranial tissues.

Other treatments offered at Sycamore include recently added pre-natal and deep tissue massage, the Sycamore integrative massage and numerous skincare treatments.

Yoga, an ancient practice with countless mental and physical benefits for modern times, gets in the swing of things with Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort's "Yoga ForeGolf" program, designed to dramatically improve one's golf game.

Based in San Luis Obispo, CA, Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort teams up with the Avila Beach Golf Resort (next door in Avila Beach, CA) to introduce Yoga Fore Golf, bringing the benefits of yoga to the golf course.

The program will be offered to individuals, groups or corporations. A 90-minute yoga class at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort is followed by golf instruction at the Avila Beach course practice facilities that incorporates the yoga tips. Participants then have the opportunity to golf for a reduced green fee.

According to Tony Criscuolo, an accomplished golfer and a 30 year veteran yoga instructor who currently teaches at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort," The majority of golfers suffer from inflexibility that interferes with a fundamentally sound swing.

A yoga session before golf instruction is the perfect preparation, as it warms and loosens the body and helps the mind focusclearly."

Yoga Fore Golf teaches participants yoga postures that improve range of motion in the back, hips, neck and shoulders - areas critical to the golf swing. In addition, golfers practicing yoga will see improvements in alignment, posture, balance and muscle tone, which result in a better golf game and reduce the likelihood of injury.

"Plus, yoga's focus on the breath teaches players a direct route to a quiet and alert mind, the ideal state for learning and improved performance," said Criscuolo. "Learning yoga postures is remarkably like learning the golf swing - moving from basic fundamentals to an ever more subtle awareness of the body in movement."

Criscuolo has taught yoga for 30 years, working primarily with athletes for the last 15 years. He has also taught yoga to professional golfers on the PGA and LPGA tours and at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida.

He teams up with Jay Farrior, the head professional at Avila Beach Golf Resort and a former nationally ranked triathlete, to implement the Yoga Fore Golf program.

Farrior's instruction is based on a sound foundation in proper technique. He offers clinics that emphasize the full swing, the short game and putting, and he uses enjoyable drills and competitions to make the sessions interesting and fun.. < PREVIOUS PAGE