Holistically Katie

This past October, my work granted me a 5 Year Sabbatical where I got to take an entire month off. I knew for a long time that I wanted to go to Hawaii. It is a long way away from Boston, but is a magical destination. From the stunning beaches to delicious food and wonderful people, Hawaii was the perfect choice. I visited three islands in Hawaii: Kauai, Lanai and Maui. Lanai was the second island I touched down in and the purpose of this leg of the trip was a full wellness experience. Yoga, meditation, massage~ all of it. I wanted to find a place that had wellness incorporated so it was easy to fit in many activities, while of course enjoying the stunning backdrop of Lanai. The travel advisor I worked with recommended Sensei Lanai, as it is considered a wellness resort, but the grounds are truly breathtaking. More to come in my review…

Lanai Island in Hawaii

Lanai is generally considered an island less frequented. The total population of people who live in Lanai is only around 3,000. It is one of Hawaii’s smallest islands and is known for of course being beautiful and scenic, but also quiet, serene and relaxing. I had the chance to explore the town of Lanai and I only saw about 4 cars on the road the entire time~ a stark contrast to city traffic I am used to! The community seems very tight knit. I stumbled into an artists association where I bought a few handmade pieces, had a dirty chai which was DELICIOUS, and got dinner at a local spot, Lanai bar and grille. The town center was charming and the people could not be kinder. I felt safe the entire time. Lanai is a great place for outdoor activities, and there is even a cat sanctuary that it is known for (I didn’t check it out) but a really unique experience!

My Experience at Sensei

I had high expectations for this establishment and luckily it did not disappoint. The property is absolutely breathtaking. It literally looks like it is an out of a movie set. There are flowers~ EVERYWHERE. Along with the blossoming flowers decorating the property, there are massive trees, wildlife, water, sculptures and more. I did a Garden Walk where I learned about how the property was built and the process behind it~ I was simply amazed. The photos do not do it justice. My senses were overloaded in the best way~ delicious, fragrant smells from the flowers, soft trickling noises from the water streams, and of course the sights alone! It took a while for the beauty of this place to truly sink in. Other than that, the resort was of course up to par~ service staff were excellent and kind, comfortable bed and housekeeping, delicious food and so on. That is the quality you can expect from the Four Seasons, but this unique collaboration with Sensei makes this resort extra special. I worked with a Guide to plan my 3 day stay. During that time, I was booked in for a private yoga session, mindfulness, mediations, spa hale bath sessions and more. Since the Sensei Lanai is technically a Four Seasons resort, this is a five star luxury property and therefore isn’t cheap. I knew it was quite the splurge going into this leg of the trip, but figured since there would be so many incredible wellness experiences I’d get out of it, plus the beautiful scenic setting, it would be well worth it. If you do stay at a Sensei property, I highly recommend adding on the “My Plan” package. It is an additional $300, but in my opinion, it is well worth it because you meet with a Guide who customizes your experience specifically for you (you fill out a questionnaire beforehand, answering questions about your health and goals).

Everything was time blocked and organized, so I knew exactly where to go and when. My itinerary was actually quite packed, so while each experience was very relaxing and beautiful, if I were to go back I would add in more free space in between sessions to soak in what I had experienced and give myself more time to unwind. With that said, I’m grateful I got to fit in so many activities and work with incredible people.

Mindset Session with Biomarkers

The session with Jim, who is a Mindset guide, was particularly insightful. I noted upfront with my guide that I really wanted to work on mindfulness and calming down my nervous system. In general, I am able to stick to a healthy diet and physical movement which is awesome, but sometimes my mind and anxious thoughts get the best of me…especially if its a rough day at work. We worked on Heart Rate Variability in a few trial session using breathing techniques. Much of the stress response we experience involves an over-use of the sympathetic branch of our nervous system, and simultenously an under-use of the parasympathetic branch. Unfortunately, this imbalance can impact our homeostasis, and put simply, cause us to feel bad. This is where a certain breathing technique can come in and be extremely helpful. It is called Paced Breathing. This Paced Breathing can directly influence the parasympathetic “brake” and result in a healthy heart rate pattern. This effects of course show up throughout the rest of our day. Just 5-10 minutes a day of paced breathing can have a huge impact. There is a breath pacer that is very helpful to get started~ here is the link. As long as it is about a 4 to 5 second inhale and a 5 to 6 second exhale, that is what we are looking for. It’s not that this breathing is deep breathing…it is about the breath being properly timed. Using this breath to fall asleep, during stressful times, recovering from stressful times, or even when you just need a reset can be particularly impactful. Obviously the more it is practiced, the better. The following are my results with the Paced Breathing exercise. Jim had attached a device to my ear so that we could measure the results in real time. Slide 1 is where I am normally. Slide 2 is the Paced Breathing. You can see what a difference it made to my heart rate variability, having such a positive impact on my body and emotions. I felt the difference, but to see the raw data was remarkable.

Is it worth it?

This was not a cheap experience, but it was well worth it for me The private hale times were simply luxurious and deeply relaxing. The mindset guides that I worked with while I was there were extremely knowledgable. I learned a lot during my time there~ about the body, brain, myself and what I need to feel my best. I left with actionable takeaways on how to calm my nervous system, focus on my breath, practice yoga in a better way, and the list goes on. If you are looking for an extremely relaxing getaway set on a stunning landscape with folks who are happy to help you feel better, Sensei Lanai is a great option. I would be open to coming back with my fiancé one day…so that we can both unwind and relax. It is a very scenic and quiet setting, as it is adults-only. There were not a lot of people there and it felt so good to just breathe and exist without a lot of external stimuli. I don’t think you would regret staying here if you are looking for a one of a kind getaway. The one caveat to keep in mind is that this resort is not on the beach and is secluded. If you did want to get to the beach, there is a shuttle that runs regularly and its about a 20 minute drive. If you were looking for more of an adventure, beach time, perhaps a trip with family or loved ones on Lanai, I’d recommend the other Four Seasons resort – Four Seasons Lanai.