The Ten Wellness Trends to Tune Into in 2020

The need to connect with the earth is so strong, people now book time in advance just to get outside. The Ranch at Rock Creek in Philipsburg, Montana, keeps it simple with guided forest bathing inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, using the surrounding alpine forest as a source of sensory connection and stress reduction. At Sundance Mountain Resort in Sundance, Utah, a guided walk along the Stewart Falls Trail is followed by a complimentary mineral salt foot soak. For a change of scenery, try an hour of guided canyon bathing at Mii Amo in Sedona, Arizona—or search for one of the town’s renowned energy centers on an expert-led Boynton Canyon Vortex Hike.

Hot stone massages are well and good, but these treatments will rock your world in a whole new way (pun obviously intended).

JADE + AMETHYST: Amangani in Jackson, Wyoming, offers a Nourishing Body Polish & Wrap Ritual featuring rejuvenating, restorative jade.

PETRIFIED WOOD: The Spa at Cedarbrook Lodge in Seattle uses heated, polished petrified wood hand-collected from Eastern Washington in their grounding Heated Petrified Wood Massage.

TURQUOISE: Boulders Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona, features turquoise clay in their Boulders Signature Clay Wrap; a turquoise stone is also placed on the forehead for peaceful vibes.

MINERAL SALTS: Sorrel River Ranch in Moab, Utah, boasts a blend of 72 trace minerals from the Great Salt Lake in their scrub, wrap, and massage combo, the Salt of the Earth Experience.

Heal yourself with good vibrations at Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa in Sausalito, California; during the spa’s Vibrational Sound Journey you’ll be exposed to tones from Tibetan singing bowls, tuning forks, and healing frequencies (at 432 Hz) through overhead speakers, all promoting cellular regeneration. For a more traditional sound bath, try the Holistic Twilight Ceremony at the Spa at Las Ventanas in Los Cabos, Mexico, hosted in a candlelit solarium with singing crystal bowls and a sage smoke energy-cleansing ritual. At Pronghorn Resort in Bend, Oregon, gemstone-infused singing crystal bowls are complemented by chanting for a sound bath-mantra meditation combo. Feeling antsy? Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, California, is home to the world’s first sonic labyrinth, activated with motion sensors that play a series of gentle, soothing tones as you walk.

CBD is everywhere these days, and spas are no exception. At the Spa at St. Julien in Boulder, Colorado, guests can choose from one of three CBD-infused Colorado Bliss treatments: Classic massage; deep tissue massage; or a scrub, wrap, and massage combo accompanied by a tasty CBD-infused tea.

The fanciest float around is at Amangiri, in Canyon Point, UT. Guests are immersed in body-temp water from the Dead Sea, where they can meditate or repeat a spoken mantra which will reverberate throughout the space, due to the flotation tank’s cylindrical dome (inspired by the same principles used in the Whispering Gallery of St. Paul’s Cathedral).

Is there a more important ingredient for wellness than a good night’s sleep? Get your ZZZs with ease when you book the Tranquil Damiana Treatment at Viceroy Los Cabos. Your therapist will synchronize each movement with ASMR sleep techniques including sustained rhythms, harmonic intervals, and pulsing beats, after which you’ll be treated to a damiana flower liqueur to lull you deeper into relaxation. The Sleep Tonic Massage at Red Mountain Resort in Ivins, Utah (pictured)—designed to alleviate insomnia—focuses on areas where stress pools, like the hands, feet, and abdomen, and uses a special probiotic flower-infused massage oil to calm the nervous system. Afterward, you can take the oil back to your room to incorporate into your own nighttime ritual.

Lose the lavender and honey (sorry bees, still love ya) and check out some locally harvested wellness ingredients you won’t find at every other spa.

AGAVE: In the Cactus Gel Wrap and agave nectar massage oil at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico.

PINE: In the Deep Forest Escape massage oil at The Allison in Newberg, Oregon.

ALPINE ARNICA: In the Alpine Arnica Soothing Soak, along with basil, bay laurel, camphorous and rosemary, at Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho.

DATES: In the Coachella Date Facial at the Spa at Desert Springs, JW Marriott in Palm Desert, California (pictured).

GRAPESEEDS: In the Vineyard Deja Vu treatment’s body buff and scalp treatment tea at Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford, California.

SEAWEED: In the Salish Sea Vitality Series skin treatments at the Fairmont Empress Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

HAWAIIAN TI LEAF: In the mud wrap portion of the Huki Huki treatment at the The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach in Waikiki, Hawaii.

Mud is on almost every spa menu this year, but we’re giving props to the OG mudslinging capital, Calistoga, California. Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection has modernized the town’s traditional mud bath with its lavish, three-part Signature Mudslide Treatment.

The mud: A mineral-rich, oil-infused mud bath (applied with the help of an attendant), enjoyed while basking in the sun.

The water: A private soaking tub with healing, geo-thermal mineral waters.

The rest: A state-of-the-art sound chair emitting soothing music and healing vibrations.

Meditation offerings are becoming more elaborate: During the Espiritu of Baja Meditation at Solaz in Los Cabos, Mexico (pictured), guests are verbally guided through various environments in Baja—the desert, ocean, islands, and mountains, each corresponding to a distinct part of the body and spirit—then offered tea infused with the soothing Damiana plant. At Civana in Carefree, Arizona, guests are treated to a “floating meditation,” suspended in aerial silk ribbons while sound bowls are played to deepen the meditative state. If your practice is more practical, look for Muse headbands at resorts such as Spa Pendry in San Diego—the sleek devices use brain-sensing tech to provide real-time feedback on brain activity to help guide you into a consistent practice.

Ayurveda’s all that again, now that Santa Monica Proper Hotel is the hip new home of Ayurvedic guru, doctor, chef, and herbalist Martha Soffer’s renowned Surya Spa. The 3,000 square-foot flagship offers Ayurvedic wellness in whatever dose you’re comfy with, from simple massages and facials to more traditional oil treatments and even personal consultations with Soffer herself. Want to go all in? Check out Surya’s signature residential Panchakarma Series, lasting anywhere from three to 21 days, with four hours of therapy per day plus an Ayurvedic lunch and dinner to keep your body nourished.