DESTINATIONS
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Inspired by a flurry of openings, Laura Millar heads to Greater Palm Springs to sample the region’s growing wellness scene
his is yoga unlike any I’ve ever tried before. I’m suspended from a wall by just a set of straps and a waistband, stretching my whole
body out in front of me like Superman in flight. The straps help me lean in to stretches and poses I’ve often found tricky in other yoga classes, but thanks to their support, my muscles can be pushed further. It’s my first experience of wall yoga – a phenomenon that hasn’t yet taken off in the UK but one of many innovative offerings at Sensei Porcupine Creek, a new US retreat in California located a two-hour drive from Los Angeles or San Diego.
HEALTHY HABITS Set within almost 100 hectares of flower-filled grounds – including an 18-hole golf course – the retreat’s combination of wellbeing, luxury and tech was dreamed up by billionaire entrepreneur Larry Ellison, alongside research scientist and oncologist Dr David
Agus. The first Sensei opened in 2019 as part of the Four Seasons Resort in Lanai, Hawaii; this one, which opened in November 2022, is a standalone. The aim is to inspire people to live longer, healthier lives, and you can choose from a range of packages, from two nights to 30 days. Dr Vishal Patel, Sensei’s director of wellness research, explains: “We’re here to help deconstruct guests’ goals and design a practical plan to make attainable lifestyle shifts that will help them achieve the results they want.”
TAILORED TREATMENTS Translated, the idea is that you essentially choose your own wellness programme. Based on a pre-arrival questionnaire and phone consultation, Sensei’s team can put together a daily itinerary around what you feel you need. That could be an insight into nutrition or fitness, or simply trying something you’re curious about – which is why I’m pulling on that set of
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travelweekly.co.uk 15 JUNE 2023 37 CALIFORNIA | WELLNESS HOLIDAYS
PICTURE: Sensei Porcupine Creek
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