It
was an innocent invitation issued to my mother - a little
mother-daughter bonding and relaxation at a health spa.
While the invitation was genuine, I did have an ulterior
motive.
The
real motivation was that I was worried about my mom's
health. The stress of her job had taken its toll on her
and I was worried about her many stress-related ailments
and the medications she was taking as a result.
A
firm believer in the importance of an overall healthy,
active lifestyle, I wanted to introduce her to some good
lifestyle habits I've adopted that have helped me to lose
and maintain my weight over the years and have made me
a healthier and happier person.
So
I offered my mom a vacation with sun, massages and a beachfront
location. And I did make full disclosure of the Regency
Health Spa's focus on health, including an entirely vegetarian
menu. She was free to enjoy as many or as few of the activities
as she wished, and if she merely chose to lie in the sun
and indulge in a few spa services, that was fine by me.
Of course, I secretly hoped the Regency's focus on health
education would have a lasting impact on her long after
our 5-day trip was over.
After
researching spas around the country, I chose the Regency
Health Spa, located on the beach in Hallandale, Florida
(near Ft. Lauderdale). A member of the Destination Spa
Group, the Regency Health Spa's mission is to encourage
healthier lifestyles through education about wellness
and self-improvement and to provide guests with an optimal
spa vacation experience with lasting benefits. It was
exactly what I was looking for.
We
spent our first day enjoying the abundant sunshine and
beachfront pool. After soaking in the hot tub under the
stars after dinner, we retired to our oceanfront room
early, falling asleep to the sound of the crashing waves
right outside our window.
Regency
guests receive a free introductory consultation with the
spa's onsite physician, Dr. Sabatino, to review current
health status and any health issues or concerns. While
my visit with Dr. Sabatino was brief, he spent quite a
bit of time with my mom reviewing her ailments and lifestyle
and offered excellent suggestions for modifications to
her diet to help her medical conditions. (CONTINUE...)
