Wellness
Oceana Santa Monica Recharge Package
This one-night getaway can start your year off right.
With a tight budget and an even tighter schedule, we couldn't picture taking a weeklong retreat--though we had the dream. So we were thrilled to discover the Oceana Santa Monica Recharge package, a Vital Juicy alliance between the luxurious boutique hotel, Ritual Cleanse, Kinema Fitness and Yada Yada Yoga. Our experience:
- Clean start. The moment we arrived at the courtyard-style hotel (every plush room overlooks the heart-shaped pool), we were offered hot cider or Prosecco. (With a mind toward cleansing, we went for the cider--it's tart and delicious.)
- Choose your own adventure. We had the option of any two private sessions: a hike at Temescal Canyon; a 60-minute yoga session; a 60-minute in-room massage; 60 minutes of Pilates; kettlebell boot camp; "total body meltdown" or cardio beach boot camp. We chose the hike followed by the massage. We followed the lovely Sharon Beam into the canyon for a challenging hike along a trail we'd never taken. Afterward, certified massage therapist Cheryl Baldinger (who is also a statuesque Bikram teacher) did a deep tissue massage with reflexology and Reiki.
- Drink it in. We were given two Ritual Cleanse Shred pre- and post-workout juices to keep us going through the exercise and to fuel us up afterward. Our favorite: the almond-based post-cleanse. We also boosted our cleanse quotient by adding Ritual's green juices--they're just sweet enough, and loaded with green goodies like kale and romaine.
- Eat right. The package comes with a spa breakfast for two in the hotel's charming Hideaway restaurant (we liked it so much, we stayed for lunch!). You'll have an egg white omelette made to order...plus anything on the breakfast bar, including steel cut oatmeal-based granola (outstanding!), Greek yogurt, mixed fruit...as well as sausages, bacon, bread and pastries if the urge strikes. Don't miss the Revolution teas, especially Lavender Earl Grey.
We requested a late checkout and spent the afternoon walking along the beach and drinking Ritual Cleanse juices.
Talk about the suite life.
Oceana Santa Monica, 849 Ocean Ave., (310) 393-0486, MAP


