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health and wellness activities abound around smuggs in summer

By sarah tuff

ahhhhhs!

the BliZZArd of

With the wood paneling, wicker chairs and sled mounted on one of the walls, I could be at almost any cozy ski condo around New England after a day outdoors.

But here in the Nordland Building at Smugglers’ Notch, the relaxation goes way beyond kicking my feet up in front of an old ski movie. It begins with my meeting Joanne Liljeholm, who shows me an array of oils that bear notes of lavender, ylang-ylang and peppermint. Stacks of thick white towels await me in the bathroom, and lighted candles offer a soft glow in the mid-afternoon.

Yep, this is no ordinary condo complex. This is the Mountain Massage Center, which Liljeholm likes to call “a simple little facility.” Perhaps it may seem simple, but it’s also part of a comprehensive array of health and wellness programs, from herb workshops and foot refl exology classes to meditation classes and something called Yoga Wike, that are redefi ning what it means to kick back at Smugglers’ Notch in the summer.

“Summer is our busiest time all year,” says Liljeholm.

And why not, with workshops such as The Fabulous Food Facial and Herbal Lemonade & Cold Brewed Tea? The two classes are among fi ve offered once a week throughout the summer by Purple Shutter Herbs, based in Winooski. “It’s about taking something mundane and turning it into something spectacular,” says Purple Shutter’s Julie Brown, who began collaborating with Smuggs in 2002. “It’s really exciting for us to introduce people to herbs in a playful and fun manner.”

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In Fabulous Food Facial, for example, participants learn how to make an apricot cleanser, a yogurt/honey mask, a cucumber/rosewater eye gel and an avocado/chamomile moisturizer. One of the most popular workshops is Herbal Stress-Less, a two-hour immersion in how chamomile, lavender, roses and lemon balm can add instant calm. Other classes bring the localvore movement to life, allowing guests to make rosehip syrup and rose petal jelly from Vermont-grown ingredients.

“We really want to express how wonderful Vermont is; when you leave, it will remind you of your summer here,” says Brown, adding that many workshop participants return year after year to take advantage of the health and wellness programs. “The community that comes to Smuggs is just unbelievable — people are very interested and concerned about their lifestyle and health.”

That helps explain the popularity of yoga classes, held almost every day in a space quite different from traditional hardwood-fl oored and mirrored studios: the Nordland building’s library, where carpets, burgundy-colored couches and a fi replace add even more warmth to the soothing practice. The only departure is during Yoga Wike, during which guests take a moderate hike before practicing poses outdoors.

For the past six years, Julie Daniels has been teaching Yoga for Every Body on Sundays and Thursdays for classes as large as 21 people. “It’s a gentle fl ow that appeals to the new practitioner,” she says, “as well as the experienced yogi who’s looking to slow things down.”

Yoga is a natural fi t for a Smugglers’ Notch vacation, says Daniels. “People are trying new activities all the time, such as hiking or the zip line, and

they’re often sore,” she observes. “Yoga gives them a chance to stretch out newly used muscles. Also, it give people a chance to try something new if they’ve never done yoga. It’s a very safe and fun atmosphere and most guests are glad they tried it! Yoga can also give parents a break from the kids and gives them a chance to focus inward.”

But Daniels adds she’s seen more kids practicing with their parents along with more couples trying yoga together. “I always suggest a massage after yoga, along with a lot of water and a good meal,” she says, “and almost always, at least one person marches right into the massage center and continues their wellness journey.”

During my 50-minute sports massage, I’m swept so far along on my own wellness journey (albeit one where my muscles feel nearly too much like jelly, in a good way, to walk) that I’m surprised to step out into the sunshine of Smugglers’ Notch. But I’m also delighted to think about the possibilities that exist in the surrounding Green Mountains. Even if that does mean another massage, or a yoga session, afterward. While all of the workshops require advance registration, and while the tucked-away massage center can be a popular spot, Liljeholm oversees a staff of 10 therapists and three treatment rooms to ensure that everyone can, well, actually relax about trying to relax.

“We realize you’re on vacation, so we don’t want to hit you over the head or

tie you to your seat and lecture you for hours,” says Purple Shutter’s Brown.

“We want you to enjoy this — this is as much fun as hiking or fi shing or golfi ng or going to a winery. This is part of the fun of being at Smuggs.”

Sarah Tuff is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Runner’s World and Skiing, among other publications. She is the co-author of 101 Best Outdoor Towns. She lives in Shelburne, Vermont with her husband and their two young children.

SMUGGLERS’ MASSAGE OFFERINGSThe Mountain Massage Center in the Nordland building welcomes you with an inviting range of therapeutic and relaxation massages.

sWedish relAxAtion mAssAGe is used to promote relaxation, increase circulation, improve range of motion and relieve muscle aches and tension.

deep tissue mAssAGe addresses the deeper muscles of your body with deeper pressure, and can help with chronic pain and injury rehabilitation. This type of massage aids in improving alignment.

sports mAssAGe focuses on the muscles relevant to the particular athletic activity. This type of massage can promote greater athletic endurance and performance, lessening chance of injury and reducing recovery time.

In AromAtherApY mAssAGe, essential oils extracted from herbs, fl owers, resins, woods, and roots are used to produce a therapeutic aroma which can promote healing. Four blends made especially for our Mountain Massage Center are offered: Relax, Revitalize, Enhance or Energize.

hot stone reflexoloGY is a special session in the comfort of your condominium. It starts with an herbal foot soak and is followed by a professional foot massage with hot stones targeting your refl ex points for total body rejuvenation.

During a Citrus WrAp mAssAGe, your stress drifts away as you float on pillows filled with warm water. Your therapist will refresh your senses and soothe tired muscles with a massage using our own Vermont crafted citrus mousse cream. You’ll then be wrapped in blankets to let the moisture soak in deeply as you receive a luxurious scalp and foot massage.

Blizzard of Ahhhhs continued ...

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Hair • Nails • Facials • Waxing • Massage

Full & half day relaxation packages available

Located just 5 minutes from Smugglers’ Notch Resort

www.essencevermont.com

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS CLASSES AT SMUGGLERS’Please refer to the Resort Information Guide for the schedule, pricing and registration information for each class.

YoGA for eVerY BodY: Accomplished yoga instructors lead you through the postures, focusing on fl exibility, alignment, strength and concentration in a class that is appropriate for all levels.

restorAtiVe YoGA: Slow down and tune in to peace in this deeply nurturing and calming class that provides a very gentle and healing yoga practice for everyone, including those recovering from injury. Postures are done on fl oor mats, completely supported by cushions, blankets, props and eye pillows, focusing on restoring balance to the nervous and immune systems.

YoGA WiKe: Warm your muscles on a moderate hike in preparation for outdoor yoga practice. Enjoy the calm peacefulness of yoga in a beautiful natural setting. Class meets at the Gazebo.

explorinG meditAtion: Meditation is like a vacation for the mind. This introductory class will focus on the practice of meditation with a brief discussion, gentle, preparatory yogic stretches, and a sampling of four meditation techniques: seated breath awareness, walking meditation, Tibetan singing bowls and meditative Sanskrit chanting, and vipassana (insight) meditation.

Qi GonG: In this beginner’s practice, we will introduce an enjoyable series of standing postures, aligning breath, movement and awareness for physical well-being and a calm, peaceful mind. A handout for home practice will also be provided.

treAt Your feet: Enjoy an herbal foot soak and a beverage, then learn to give and receive refl exology foot massage. You will learn how pressing on points on your feet can help increase circulation, detoxifi cation, and immunity for the whole body. Bring a friend or come alone.

sWedish mAssAGe ClAss With AromAtherApY oils: Learn simple and effective massage techniques for providing comfort and care to those you love. Everyone will have a chance to give and receive a wonderful, professionally-instructed, full back, neck and head massage. Aromatherapy massage oils, linens and a handout are provided.

fABulous food fACiAl: Kelley Robie of Horsetail & Purple Shutter Herbs will show you how to care for your special skin type with natural beauty products you can make yourself. Using foods as the main ingredients, you’ll indulge in a fabulous fi ve-step facial using the natural products that you’ve made: an apricot facial cleanser, a yogurt/honey mask, a cucumber and rosewater eye gel and an avocado/chamomile moisturizer.

Vermont, the lAnd floWinG With milK & honeY (And roses, too): Join Kelley of Horsetail & Purple Shutter Herbs to create herbal projects that will remind you of your summer visit to Vermont. As the roses bloom, we’ll be making a Wildly Romantic Rose Petal Jelly to tantalize your taste buds. We’ll make Gorgeous Goat Milk Soap to wash away your day’s troubles and keep your body soft . We’ll also make Honey-Rose Pastilles to ease your throat and Radical Rosehip Syrup for a delicious treat that will keep you healthy.

herBAl lemonAde & Cold BreWed teA: Take a look at some new tastes and brewing ideas for old favorites. We’ll explore a variety of herbs, fruits and other tastes to create new beverage sensations. Laura Brown from Purple Shutter Herbs will discuss process and fl avors while we make some fabulous cold libations.

herBAl stress-less: This class explores ways to handle stress effectively. Using a handful of herbs and essential oils that work specifi cally to calm, relax & fortify, you’ll create your own “rescue kit” that includes a calming herbal tea, a de-stressing salt foot bath and a quick roll-on tension tamer. Laura from Purple Shutter Herbs will also share other techniques for getting a sound sleep, nutrition tips & other helpful hints to make your life better.

herBs up in smoKe: Making Incense Cones: Do you like your space to smell good, need some assistance in meditating or just like learning a new craft? Join Laura from Purple Shutter Herbs to learn to make your own custom incense cones. Using all natural ingredients, you’ll get to create your own blends.

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