Health & Wellness at 9,600 Feet

Recharge your batteries in Breckenridge, Colorado

When you think of a health and wellness retreat, a getaway to a Belizean resort may come to mind, but the fact is, with a little planning, you can have an rejuvenating experience right here in the Rocky Mountains.

This September, while in Breckenridge, Colorado for a conference, I decided to scope out some of the town’s health and wellness offerings.   

I spent a memorable afternoon at Harmony Health Massage & Wellness Spa. As soon as I walked through the doors I knew this was going to be an intriguing experience. The place didn’t feel like an ordinary spa. There was a sort of serenity at Harmony that seemed to seep from the very walls of the place.

Much of the harmonic atmosphere at Harmony flows from its owner, Inanna Hall. This isn’t just a business for Hall, Harmony offers her a chance to connect and heal.

Before my massage, we sat and spoke awhile, something Hall does with every client. She crafts each treatment specifically for the person who receives it. This is not a place where one size fits all.

Hall’s bodywork takes into account the entire person, not just the tight spots, but also the origin of those tight spots, which is often in our brains.

Photo courtesy of Harmony Health Massage & Wellness Spa

I received a barefoot massage, a technique called Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, which blends the classic techniques of the East and West. Hall also introduced me to harmonic sound healing which involves the use of vibrating crystal singing bowls which she placed on my back.

I don’t pretend to fully understand Hall’s methods, but I do know that I walked away from her treatment feeling invigorated. After a massage, I usually want to take a long nap, but Hall’s ashiatsu barefoot massage left me feeling energetic and even a little giddy (but maybe the latter was the altitude).

Harmony Health Massage & Wellness Spa offers a variety of treatments. In addition to massages, clients can experience therapies ranging from Reiki to homeopathy.

Photo courtesy of Juli Rathke

For me, no health and wellness trip is complete without a yoga class or two. During my stay in Breckenridge, I was able to take a yoga class with Juli Rathke, CEO and founder of YOGA + LIFE Magazine. Rathke was a delightful teacher who made our class fun, which is hard to do at 6 a.m. Attending one of her yoga retreats is now on my bucket list.

As part of your handcrafted health and wellness getaway in Breckenridge, take a class from Rathke and/or another instructor at Meta Yoga Studios at 118 South Ridge Street.

Lastly, I didn’t make it to the O2 Lounge, but this oxygen bar on Main Street is the place to go if you’re feeling a little breathless in Breckenridge, or if you’d just like a little pick-me-up. Oxygen is said to help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness, assist with acclimatization to altitude, and to re-energize the mind and body. Sessions start as low as $12, so it’s easy to pop in and see if a little O2 is good for you.