Sometimes we require more to feel healthy than a 40-minute workout, especially one that was squeezed in after the office and before a cocktail.
This week we take you to spas and wellness retreats around the world which will give you what you need, whether it's a boost or a real paradigm shift.
First stop, temazcal in Mexico.
For hundreds of years, the indigenous people of Mexico have practiced a purifying steam bath, or sweat lodge. The skinny: You can get just as high from a complete detox as you can from taking drugs-which is why temazcals are so popular. In this ancient Mesoamerican ritual, you enter an igloo-like hut filled with steam where a shaman wets hot volcanic rocks with herb-infused water, raising the temperature to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Benefits: By generating high heat and humidity, the temazcal increases circulation, removes impurities from the body, activates the immune system, relieves stress, and reduces muscle tension. It can also bring on total euphoria.
Where to find it: Try Maya Spa Wellness Center outside of Tulum, a tried-and-tested local favorite that specializes in the ritual. The hour and a half long process at this eco-friendly spa utilizes volcanic stones on fire, cenote blessed water to create steam, herbs and chanting to cleanse the body, mind and soul.
How to come down: Drink plenty of water (bottled-this is Mexico!) as the dehydration from the sweating can leave you with the same kind of nasty hangover you get after a long night out. Then head back to your beachside cabana at Azulik Villas.
