Travel Well: A Journey Toward Holistic Wellness
What Is Holistic Wellness?
Holistic wellness is the practice of nurturing your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being as an interconnected whole. It’s about achieving harmony and balance in life, not just treating symptoms but understanding and healing the root causes of imbalance. At Anima Adventures, we believe that true travel isn’t just about seeing new places, it’s about reconnecting with yourself and cultivating lasting wellness, inside and out.
Travel for the Soul... and the Body
Traveling in search of yourself, or your anima, your soul, is one of the cornerstones of our philosophy. But equally important is traveling in search of holistic wellness. Imagine breathing the crisp, clean air of an untouched forest (yes, we’re talking about a Japanese-style forest bath), soaking in natural hot springs, eating meals made from organic, preservative-free ingredients prepared with traditional methods, not microwaved or mass-produced. Simple acts like swimming, hiking, or just walking through the woods can help you live not only longer, but better. For example, take a rejuvenating walk through the volcanic valleys of Iceland, soak in the therapeutic waters of Arenal in Costa Rica, or hike the misty trails of Peru’s Sacred Valley. These experiences not only move the body, they quiet the mind. Modern conveniences and technology have made life easier, but also more sedentary. We’ve gotten too used to shortcuts, and in doing so, we’ve lost touch with our vitality. That’s why when we travel, when we step outside our comfort zones, we suddenly feel healthier, more alive, and capable of things we’d never attempt at home. It's no coincidence.
Meditation, too, is a powerful tool in this quest for wellness. And while many people use techniques from around the world, I’ve found that simply being in nature is my personal form of meditation. To really observe, how birds interact, how trees sway with the wind, how clouds dance freely across the sky, is to remember that we are part of something bigger. When I look up at the stars or witness the first light of dawn, I don’t feel small in a bad way, I feel humbled, focused on what truly matters. The noise quiets. The fog lifts.
As we’ve shared in other stories, everyone’s path to well-being is unique. Some may lean on therapy, others on yoga or mindfulness. The journey will look different for everyone. But it always begins with one thing: taking that first step toward yourself.
Ready to align your body, mind, and soul while exploring the world? Here are Five Holistic Wellness Practices you can embrace on your next Anima-style journey
- Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku) – Practice mindful walks in forests like those in Japan or British Columbia, where you breathe deeply and let nature reset your nervous system.
- Hot Spring Soaking – Visit geothermal spas in Iceland, Costa Rica, or Peru to soothe muscles and detoxify your body.
- Mindful Eating – Choose local, organic foods prepared traditionally—whether that’s "Oil Down" in Grenada or jungle-grown cacao in the Amazon.
- Digital Detox – Unplug completely. Let places like Dominica or Patagonia, with their natural rhythms, replace the endless scroll of screens.
- Movement in Nature – Hike, swim, kayak, or simply walk outdoors. Reconnect with your body through joyful movement under the sky.