Truth is, I’m tired. Not the kind of tired a good night’s sleep fixes, but the kind you feel in your muscles, the kind that has you ready to call it a night at 6 p.m. The kind of exhaustion where your mind tells you to go for a jog, but your body tells you that dozing off on the sectional is a better idea. This year has asked a lot of me: bigger responsibilities at work, children who are no longer daycare kids but have busy schedules, more strenuous commutes, dinners that must be cooked, clothes that must be washed (and folded). Safe to say, I’m usually what comes last.

Travel has always been my reset. Seeing a bit of the world reminds me how big God’s blessings are and how small my difficulties really are. But this year, any getaway taken has been a family trip. Nothing has been just for me.

So when an opportunity came that fit my family’s schedule, allowing me a weekend escape that didn’t creep too far into the new week, I jumped at it. The invitation: experience wellness at its finest with Six Senses, the global luxury hotel brand known for wellness, sustainability and experiences that help you come alive. Do so at their properties in London and Ibiza, Spain. Below is everything I did, tasted, soaked in and would recommend, because all of these adventures are ones available for you to try, dear reader in need of a getaway.

Six Senses London

Vibe: Urban retreat

The Hotel

Six Senses London opened this spring in the building that was once Whiteleys, a beloved department store, and the design makes full use of the massive space. Greenery is everywhere: tall plants in oversized stone planters, ones that reach up high, and more lit up in luxurious wooden consoles as you enter the lobby. Chairs and couches in lush fabrics are grouped close together to encourage warmth and community. Art lines the walls, and quirky touches like a torch wall light with a sculptural hand gripping the stem add personality. No expense was spared, honey. And speaking of expenses, if you come with your coins ready, there’s a very chic gift shop in the lobby stocked with cool finds (clothing, accessories, perfume, jewelry) all made by London-bred talents.

The Wellness

The spa sits on the lower level and has a calm, ethereal feel. I started my stay with the individual wellness screening, which gives a personalized look at what’s happening in your body. Mine taught me a lot: I need to regulate my glucose spikes, focus on strength training to maintain muscle health, and build in more rest days between workouts to recover better.

Cryotherapy

This wasn’t my first time, but the three minutes I spent in the deep freeze were the best I’ve had with such an experience. After a late-night international flight, it gave me the jolt of energy I needed to seize the rest of the day, which basically meant, being pumped for more wellbeing practices.

Lymphatic Drainage Massage

Designed to release toxins (I needed the bathroom immediately afterward, so that tells you everything you need to know), it was so relaxing that I fell asleep at some point, and I felt rejuvenated when it was over. Added bonus: the masseuse was a fellow Black girl who kept a smile on at all times.

One-on-One Herbalist Session

After the screening, an herbalist learned about my health, asked about my biggest concerns, and created a custom blend of ingredients straight from the earth, from marshmallow root and echinacea to thyme and elderflower, that she felt could be added to my vitamin routine. The blends were sent to my room in glass bottles, which gave me nostalgic Bedknobs and Broomsticks vibes. Probably because I was in London but also because it’s just so charming to get natural medicine in this form.

Sanctum Workout

Saturday morning started with Sanctum, a headphone-based workout founded in Amsterdam with booming dance music. I expected light squats and stretches. Instead, we were encouraged (never pushed) to go past our comfort zone while letting the groove in. It’s a great way to release tension and stress and work up a serious sweat.

Afterward, a red quinoa and avocado salad dish with a cold brew coffee were waiting in our rooms to help us refill ourselves. Delicious.

An Afternoon in Holland Park

After some rest, we headed to Holland Park. Move over Hyde Park! It’s a tranquil spot filled with gardens, ponds and families walking, playing and exploring. We became amateur artists, sketching the scenery in silence, hunting for unique fallen leaves, and wrapping up with s’mores by a campfire, with tea and biscuits on the side. I didn’t grow up camping, so enjoying it with my new comrades was a nice notch to add to my belt of life experiences.

Tarot and Aura Photography

Before dinner, we had one-on-one tarot readings and my favorite activity of the night, aura photography. You place your hand on a sensor that identifies the aura you emanate. Mine reflected plenty of “personal power,” “creativity” and openness, which fit a trip spent meeting new people and trying new things while trying to do so as my authentic self. (Side note: I’ve been working on overthinking in therapy, so what you see is what you get.)

Six Senses Ibiza

Vibe: Bohemian escape

On Sunday we left London (which, uncharacteristically, remained free of rain for our entire trip) to board a short flight to Ibiza. Usually teeming with people in summer, the island was quieter on our early-fall visit, with plenty to do and incredible sunshine.

The Hotel

The property operates like a luxury hotel meets art gallery, with local artwork (photography specifically) throughout. Even their nearby farm is gorgeous, with pieces by French artist Caroline Rennequin, who was an artist in residence there for a time, on the walls and found in eclectic, one-of-a-kind chairs.

Sunrise Yoga

Done on the property’s yoga deck overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, there were some intense poses, but plenty of calm thanks to the cool breeze and the gong and sound bowls the instructor incorporated during our hour-long class.

The Farm

Six Senses grows its fresh vegetables here (as well as some stunning flowers). We walked the grounds tasting everything from beets and corn to mint leaves. We also met rescued hedgehogs being treated for serious skin conditions, and guests could help bathe, feed and hold them. (Transparently, I just watched. But great experience to witness.)

Herb-Based Elixir Fun

We gathered everything from orange leaves to rosemary and more herbs, then steeping them in an anise-flavored liqueur, creating a traditional drink in Ibiza called the Hierbas Ibicencas. Locals love to savor it after meals, and we created our own in glass bottles to take back home with us.

Body & Spirit Recovery Treatment

My second great massage of the trip used singing bowls and tuning forks to send frequencies through the body. It was renewing, and I left well moisturized, may I add, for dinner that night.

Eating Well

True wellness includes whole, balanced meals, and both properties delivered. At the Ibiza location, we ate at The Orchard, which serves rustic Italian fare, The Beach Caves, an eclectic mix, and The Farmers’ Market where we had a nourishing breakfast. In London, we cozied up at at the hotel restaurants Whiteley’s Kitchen and Six Senses Place Restaurant. Coursed dinners included everything from incredibly well-seasoned dry-aged steak, refreshing scallops served in an adorable half-shell, fresh tuna, sorbets, and lush European wines that paired perfectly with everything.

Room service was just as wholesome: fresh fruit, juices and smoothies, and for me, filling egg-and-cheese breakfast sandwiches, all delivered with a terrarium that echoed the brand’s commitment to sustainability.

Sustainability, Built In

More impressive sustainability? Notes and instruction to help you figure out your needs in your room were printed on wood. Also, the cars they have on hand to drive around guests are EV options. In London, they supplied futuristic-looking cars from the Lotus company that turned heads on every street. In Ibiza, they utilized groovy Volkswagen minivans. As mentioned, local farm support offers an agricultural aspect that supplies some of the food consumed at the restaurants. Fermentation is also big, upcycling food into favorites, like kimchi, sauerkraut and more.  And in London specifically, they’ve built green pathways for bees and butterflies, which is why the latter is the property’s mascot. (And they have hand-knitted butterflies in each room for guests to fawn over!)

My Takeaway

Oh, I’m still tired. (What working mother isn’t!?) The jet lag from the time differences hasn’t completely left my bones. But it’s a tiredness that was worth it. I poured into myself, tried new things, connected with fellow journalists from Lebanon to London to a tristate neighbor in Jersey, and for a few days let joy matter more than my responsibilities: in movement, in the rest of a restorative massage, in a walk through crunching leaves capped off with a delightful lemon-ginger tea in hand, and in feeling the sun on my skin on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean.

It’s the reprieve I needed to return home to my family and my regular obligations with an empty cup refilled and a full heart and spirit. And that is exactly what Six Senses hopes every guest takes home.

Read the original article on Essence.