Well. | Summer + Fall 2026

MIND, BODY, BEAUTY

AT REVIVAL

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YOGA + Life supports yoga studios, wellness professionals and business owners by partnering with them to bring their services and passions to our readers. Our Annual Partners receive exclusive benefits that help grow their community and introduce them to new opportunities.

PUBLISHER

Jaunt Media Collective

OWNER + EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kim Fuller

OWNER + DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS

Bobby L'Heureux

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Chelsea Connolly

MANAGING EDITOR

Lexi Marshall

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Chloe Wasserstrom

CONTRIBUTORS

Carrie Lehtonen, Chloe Wasserstrom, Christine Emming, Ethan Herrold, Julie Bielenberg, Kaitlin Emig, Kali Basman, Kim Fuller, Kristen Grace, Lexi Marshall, Lisa Blake, Sandy Ferguson Fuller, Shlomit Ovadia

PHOTOGRAPHY + ART

Ali Vagnini, Ethan Herrold, John Busch, Lindsay Hardy, Lo Storer, Sandy Ferguson Fuller, Susi Thurman, Zach Bunch

REGIONAL + NATIONAL SALES

Bobby L’Heureux

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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ADVERTISING

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FEATURES

kim@jauntmediacollective.com | wellmagco.com

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

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COVER

Jessica Ballentine of Revival by New Roots Photography, Susi Thurman

Check out our list of partners, featuring small businesses + magazine distribution locations!

DEAR

READERS,

At the center of longevity is a certain energy. Not just time, but experience. Not just years, but how they feel. It’s shaped by the intention we bring to our days, the way our bodies support us and the depth of our connection to ourselves and the world around us.

It shows up in the small, consistent choices we make. How we move, how we nourish ourselves, how we rest and how we recover. It’s also found in the environments we seek out and the people we surround ourselves with. Across summer and fall, there’s a natural rhythm that supports this. Longer days invite movement and adventure, while the shift into fall brings a return to grounding and reflection.

IN THE END, IT’S NOT THE YEARS IN YOUR LIFE THAT COUNT. IT’S THE LIFE IN YOUR YEARS.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

In this issue, we explore longevity through that lens. You’ll read stories that reveal an intentional approach to well-being, and you’ll find practices that support longevity over time — from yoga for lifelong mobility to fueling the microbiome and navigating transitions with a deeper understanding of the body.

Outside, we look to rivers, trails and open spaces as places that keep us engaged, curious and moving forward. And throughout, there are reminders to stay playful, creative and connected to what brings meaning to your days.

If embodiment is about being present, longevity is about sustaining that presence. It’s a practice of returning to what supports you and choosing, again and again, to live fully in the years you have. +

With gratitude,

Q+A WITH JESSICA BALLENTINE, REVIVAL OWNER + LICENSED ESTHETICIAN

What does longevity mean to you, both personally and through the lens of your work?

Longevity to me means stability, respect and being in the present moment. It's preservation with an intentionality and mindfulness about how we make choices in life and take care of ourselves and those around us. Longevity should have a level of quality around it and not just be a marker of time.

Revival is a space that people can support and enhance their physical fitness, endurance and athletic abilities, while also fostering an environment where like-minded people in the community can come together to nurture and nourish themselves. A space to take a moment to slow down, ground and fortify their mental health and well-being. It's about creating awareness and educating the community in ways that grow roots and connect us all authentically.

Why is it important to have a space that promotes wellness and recovery, while also providing med spa services, yoga classes and workshops? What are your go-to services or amenities?

Beauty comes from the inside-out. It reverberates out. When we look good, we feel good; when we feel good, we look good. It's a reciprocal exchange that begins with putting ourselves first. We can show up as the best version of ourselves if we invest in our self-care. Why wouldn't we justify investing in a lifestyle that contributes to our well-being, physically, emotionally and spiritually? Revival creates a space where people can feel safe and informed about the ways they choose to maintain their vitality, both inside and out.

I wouldn't say there's one favorite service or amenity at Revival. They all work so beautifully in concert with each other. Revival is truly a one-stop shop

with infrared sauna and cold plunge, laser resurfacing and facials, weight loss, IV therapy, devices that help with pelvic floor strengthening, muscle building and fat loss, injectables, all the way to power and yin-restorative yoga classes, sound therapy, breathwork and a myriad of workshops. Revival harnesses and hosts those experts and devices and makes them accessible to our community.

How does your vision for Revival reflect longevity in the wellness community?

My vision for Revival started long before the med spa expanded into the wellness and yoga space. My tagline was "Mind, Body, Beauty" from its inception. I believe that they're all interconnected. It was my intention to foster community and create a space that could help care for the people in it. A place where people could feel connected and engaged with one another. A place to gather that involves healthy choices.

Being nestled above the river in the heart of Riverwalk at Edwards is such a gift. Our beautiful yoga studio offers a serene, light-filled space available for private events, workshops, celebrations, wellness gatherings, photo shoots, community meetings and more. We set ourselves apart with calming energy and stunning river views, to host the perfect setting to bring people together in an inspiring and peaceful environment. It's not just the wellness community; it's the community as a whole that I'm seeking to educate and inform in an intentional and authentic way. If we can make small changes and thoughtful choices every day, it creates a ripple effect that leads to big change over time, in our bodies, our community, and our planet.+

Revival Med Spa, Yoga, Recovery, Acupuncture 175 Main St. Unit C-106, 107, 108 Edwards, Colorado 970.855.0136 revivalvail.com

This cover feature is a sponsored partnership.

MEET THE TEAM

KIM FULLER

Publisher + Editor-In-Chief

Based in Vail, Colorado, Kim is a freelance writer, editor and photojournalist in addition to her role as co-founder at Jaunt Media Collective, the publishing company behind Well., YOGA + Life, Spoke+Blossom and Covered Bridge. When she is not diligently writing and editing in her mountain nook, teaching yoga around town or finding a new adventure, find Kim at a local café or craft brewery where she enjoys the more indulgent side of inspiration. See more of her work at kimfullerink.com and follow her on Instagram @lifeinfull

BOBBY L’HEUREUX

Publisher + Director of Partnerships

At the heart of his work, Bobby thrives on community and connection. As co-founder of Jaunt Media Collective, the company behind Well., YOGA + Life, Spoke+Blossom and Covered Bridge, Bobby successfully develops and sustains collaborations with entrepreneurs and businesses all over Colorado and beyond. Bobby lives in the Vail Valley and is the founder of Big Heart Big Hands, a nonprofit that supports mountain safety and awareness. He teaches a weekly yoga class that is always led with a big smile and a relaxed demeanor. Learn about all his ventures at jauntmediacollective.com

PEPPER L’HEUREUX Director of Happiness

When he’s not perched atop stacks of magazines or playing fetch in the Jaunt office, find Pepper lounging paws-up on his Orvis recovery couch. Pepi loves to watch the door and collect mail when it’s dropped through the slot, distract other office dogs from any sort of paw-ductivity and barge into the bathroom without knocking. While maybe one day Pepper will stop chewing up the mail enough to qualify for an HR position, his excessive level of daily joy keeps him as a valued team member. Follow along @pepi.thehappy

LEXI MARSHALL Managing

Editor

Lexi’s love for the mountains led her to plant roots in Denver, Colorado. You’ll often find her waking up with the sun and burying herself in a computer, glasses on. Outside of writing and editing, she likes to read, hike and lead yoga classes. Learn more at lexireich.com

CHELSEA CONNOLLY Creative Director

With a cultivated eye for design, Chelsea's work has been influencing luxury publications and brands for over 15 years. Chelsea calls Breckenridge her home, but the Colorado native has been shaped personally and professionally by living all over the world. In addition to designing Well. and Covered Bridge, you'll find her spearheading the look and feel of award-winning beauty brands and world-class restaurants. Chelsea enjoys the outdoors, live music, yoga and Pilates, gardening, traveling and spending time with her husband and two sons. Follow her @thechelseaconnolly

CHLOE WASSERSTROM

Community Engagement Coordinator

Chloe finds comfort in the Colorado air and the stories woven throughout nature's peaks and valleys. When she is not exploring the world around her and translating it onto paper, you can find her on her yoga mat, on a pair of skis or her head in a book, most likely with at least three hydrating beverages nearby. The passionate storyteller finds joy in exploring the balance between stretching and strengthening as she guides yoga flows, and the profound presence within each turn while teaching skiing to young spirits. Follow her @chlowass

LENTINE ALEXIS WANTS YOU TO TRUST YOUR BODY

Boulder, Colorado's Ayurvedic Athlete

Lentine Alexis has navigated multiple careers in the past 20 years, from professional triathlete to classically trained pastry chef to student and teacher of Ayurvedic medicine.

“I’ve lived many lives,” she says and laughs.

As different as each step in her unconventional journey may seem, they are threaded together with a common theme: food as a source of fuel, joy and community.

lentinealexis.com

Alexis envisioned a career for herself in clandestine services, but you might say the universe had other plans. When she was unable to get a work visa after moving to Okinawa, Japan with her then-partner, Alexis threw herself into sports instead. She began training for ultradistance triathlons, but the foods her coach recommended were not available on the small island. Alexis turned to local foods instead.

“The more I leaned into real foods to

fuel my training, the better I felt,” she explains. As Alexis explored Okinawa’s local foods, she also found community. “Even though I couldn’t speak Japanese fluently, I was able to have really meaningful connections with others through food.”

Those experiences sparked a desire to help others find a deeper connection with their bodies and community through food. It led her to study patisserie and baking at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She’s since lived in the Pacific Northwest and San Francisco Bay Area, returning to Boulder, Colorado in 2013 to focus on sports nutrition and Ayurvedic medicine.

“That thread of connecting through food, and understanding that food has a deeper meaning than just fuel … is the thread that has connected all my life and work experiences,” Alexis says.

Three years ago, as she entered yet another stage in her life, motherhood, Alexis launched her own business — using her diverse knowledge and experience to help clients achieve their personal best by balancing fitness and nutrition through the lens of Ayurvedic wisdom.

Alexis creates recipes, cooks and coaches for clients ranging from elite athletes to people navigating eating disorders, illness and depression. Whether cooking for a team of professional athletes at a competition, preparing nutritious and delicious food to fuel another client’s Denali summit attempt or helping clients heal their bodies through Ayurveda, her goal is the same: to empower them.

“What I want for my clients is to feel free and to trust themselves deeply,” she says. “The body is incredibly wise. Understanding body wisdom is really important.” +

Lu Snyder Writer

BY

KALI BASMAN’S APPROACH TO TRAINING THE MIND + HEALING THE BODY

kalibasman.com

Kali Basman is more than the founder of Kali Durga Yoga. The Colorado local, mother, partner and devoted Dharma student is the pioneer behind the integration of Buddhist psychology, internal family systems (IFS) therapy and yin yoga. These three bodies of thought intersect and manifest to heal trauma and optimally train the mind. She guides people from self-judgment to selftrust and from fragmentation to wholeness, inviting every individual to restore dignity back into a relationship with themselves.

ONE-OF-A-KIND INTEGRATED WORK

Basman holds a master’s degree in environmental public health from UCLA and certifications in IFS therapy, trauma-informed yoga and yin and restorative yoga. Her work evolved organically from lived experience, professional training and years of practice and teaching yoga. Think of Basman’s work as a formula,

each element added together leads to an authentic life well-lived. Basman breaks down each element. First there is Buddhist psychology — a map of the mind teaching “us how to meet experience with awareness rather than reactivity,” Basman says. IFS therapy is a “therapeutic model that understands the psyche as composed of ‘parts,’ each carrying protective roles and wounds. At our core is self: a steady presence characterized by clarity, compassion, curiosity and calm.” The third essential element is yin yoga: the meditative practice targeting connective tissue, fascia, the meridian system, stillness and nervous system regulation.

Often times, people understand their patterns on an intellectual level but remain stagnant psychologically and emotionally. “By working through the body, the nervous system and compassionate awareness, transformation becomes embodied rather than conceptual,” Basman explains.

IGNITING LONGEVITY

Basman believes longevity is not solely quantifiable. She views the word as a way, a continuity of vitality, clarity and presence. She shares that “it is the capacity to remain supple in the body, adaptable in the mind and open in the heart.”

Her integrated work ignites longevity in a way that does not merely add years to a life.

“Through Buddhist psychology, we cultivate equanimity and reduce suffering caused by grasping and aversion,” Basman says. “Through IFS, we reduce internal polarization and free the energy bound in protective patterns. Through yin yoga, we nourish connective tissues and regulate the stress response.”

When asked what tips she has to inspire longevity using her work, Basman emphasized the following:

• “Slow down enough to listen. Stillness is medicinal.

• Befriend your nervous system through breath and long held, supported postures.

• Meet inner parts with curiosity rather than criticism.

• Align with seasonal rhythms instead of pushing against them.

• Practice compassion — toward yourself and others — as a daily discipline.”

Working alongside Basman is an immersive experience designed for deep transformation, blending ancient wisdom with modern therapeutic insight. Beyond leading weekly classes at Yoga Pod in Boulder, Colorado, she leads retreats and teacher trainings across the country and internationally. She also offers virtual practice bundles and online courses, including a twice-yearly IFS immersion. +

Chloe Wasserstrom Community Engagement Coordinator @chlowass

MYSTIQUE MEDICINALS

New Apothecary and Wellness Club Featuring Medicinal Mushroom Tinctures, Yoga, Ecstatic Dance + a Deep Sense of Community

Mystique Medicinals, a recently opened studio located between Frisco and Breckenridge, Colorado along Highway 9, is positioning itself at the forefront of the growing functional wellness movement. The business operates in two parts: an apothecary focused on functional mushrooms and a wellness club centered on movement and ceremonies.

Studio founder Kat Carter — a longtime Breckenridge yoga instructor, retreat leader and Ecstatic Dance Colorado innovator — says her goal is to offer a community gathering space to connect over functional mushroom grow labs, “flow labs” (a container to play with flow state consciousness), movement and meditation classes, vinyasa and Rocket-style yoga, sound healings, tarot readings, ecstatic dance and more.

“Community is needed now more than ever,” Carter says. “We need to

mystiquemedicinals.com

seeking help for everything from perimenopause symptoms to mental chatter.

“A client came in needing help with calming her mind,” Carter says. “With a blend of different functional mushrooms, we were able to help her. She noticed a change within a week. She’d regulated her nervous system. Her partner noticed positive changes and she felt more confident in her ability to be with herself.”

provide spaces for healing, conversation and expansion that aren’t centered around alcohol.”

Members are seeking alternatives to conventional health products alongside gatherings built around mindful connection, mental health and longevity. On the apothecary side, Mystique Medicinals creates products that promote cognitive health, vitality and overall wellness. Shelves are stocked with functional mushrooms, adaptogenic supplements and nootropic formulations — think lion’s mane, reishi, turkey tail, chaga and cordyceps. The handcrafted herbal extracts have been shown to support immunity, brain health and cognitive function.

Clients are drawn to the natural light and plant-filled former garage — powerful Tenmile Range peaks to the west, flowing Blue River to the east. They come for one-on-one consultations,

Mystique’s community wellness calendar is a revolving sandbox of healers, musicians and therapists curating offerings for all ages and physical abilities. The ultimate goal, Carter says, is to provide a safe space for integration where plants, breathwork, movement and expression collide.

“Traditional yoga studios focus on movement and have a singular focus,” Carter says. “This is a holistic approach where we’re focusing on how plants can help our minds and bodies, and movement helps support us somatically. All of these are tools for integration. I believe integration centers are the next thing. Our goal is to be a safe space for that.” +

Lisa Blake Writer

GROTTO SPA AT THE WESTERN HOTEL

An Underground Retreat Where Historic Stone, Thermal Ritual + Thoughtful Bodywork Invite Deep Restoration

In a town celebrated for soaring peaks and mineral-rich waters, Grotto Spa at The Western offers a more intimate kind of retreat. Tucked beneath The Western Hotel — an 1891 landmark thoughtfully restored and reopened in 2023 — the spa feels both rooted in Ouray, Colorado’s past and distinctly attuned to modern wellness. The hotel now includes 16 suites, while below ground, the spa unfolds as a quiet, stone-lined sanctuary devoted to slowing down.

The setting is part of the allure. Original historic stonework, soft lighting and natural textures create an atmosphere that feels hushed and cocooning, as though the bustle of town has been left several layers above. “The vision of the Grotto Spa has always been a tangible space for rest, relaxation and renewal,” says Susanne Wood, general manager and partner. “We wanted

botanicals, while the Ultimate Skin and Body Ritual pairs massage and facial into one comprehensive reset.

guests to connect to a place steeped in history, while exploring the outdoors and returning to a space that supports the body, mind and soul.”

At the center of the experience is the thermal circuit: a warm soaking pool, cold plunge and cedar dry sauna that encourage guests to move intentionally between heat and cold, stimulation and stillness. Inspired by Nordic traditions, the circuit emphasizes contrast — elements of heat, cold and quiet that help restore both body and mind. “Here, you feel history close by as you soak,” Wood says, noting the spa’s proximity to the building’s original stonework and tunnels. Grotto Spa offers massages, facials and body treatments shaped by botanical ingredients and a seasonal, sensory approach. Signature treatments blend regional inspiration with modern wellness: the Southwest Azul Corn Glow polishes skin with blue corn and

The spa is part of a larger vision led by owner and designer Kyle Zeppelin, who has long prioritized wellness spaces in his projects. At The Western, that philosophy extends beyond the Grotto Spa itself, with thoughtful details like freestanding soaking tubs placed in unexpected areas of guest rooms to encourage a slower pace. “The Grotto was carved out during the renovation to create a place of solitude and elegance,” Wood says.

After a day spent hiking or exploring the San Juans, the experience feels especially complete. “The spa offers full respite after time in the mountains,” Wood adds.

As an inspiring space, Grotto Spa stands out for the way it reflects its surroundings. It honors the rugged history of Ouray while creating room for softness, stillness and care. +

Kim Fuller Publisher + Editor-In-Chief @lifeinfull

The New Luxury of Living Well

Modern luxury has evolved from the curation of fine objects to the pursuit of a seamless harmony between personal vitality and the natural world. An emphasis on mental clarity, physical vitality and environmental consciousness transforms the places we inhabit into an integral part of our long-term well-being.

From air quality to recovery spaces, wellness-driven design has moved from trend to expectation. Advanced air purification systems, hospital-grade filtration and humidity control are becoming standard in luxury properties, especially in Colorado, where air quality alert days and high altitude can impact our respiratory health.

Wellness Features for Better Living

While Colorado boasts clean drinking water, some homeowners install water filtration systems to ensure a balance of minerals. Circadian lighting systems, which are designed to mimic the body’s natural rhythms, are also gaining traction, helping to regulate sleep cycles and improve overall energy levels throughout the day. This is especially benefi-

An emphasis on mental clarity, physical vitality and environmental consciousness transforms the places we inhabit into an integral part of our long-term well-being.

cial to those who travel from other time zones to their mountain getaways in Colorado.

Luxury homes are also incorporating dedicated wellness spaces that rival private clubs and five-star resorts. Infrared saunas, cold plunge pools and fully-equipped recovery rooms are sought-after amenities.

Elite athletes, and anyone who wants to bounce back after skiing, hiking or biking, are adding features like hyperbaric oxygen chambers to support cellular repair and cognitive recovery. To support respiratory wellness, custom salt rooms are also being added to homes as a Zen-inducing relaxation space.

Home gyms have evolved into comprehensive training studios, often featuring specialized flooring, integrated technology and dedicated spaces for yoga or meditation. These environments are designed not just for fitness, but for restoration and longevity, reflecting a broader cultural shift toward proactive health management.

Biophilic design is another defining element of wellness-focused homes. This approach emphasizes a connection to nature through materials, light and spatial design. Expansive glass walls, indoor-outdoor living spaces, natural wood and stone finishes and thoughtfully designed landscaping all contribute to a calming, restorative atmosphere.

Families who prioritize healthy foods are exploring the installation of living walls with hydroponic vertical gardents near the kitchen to allow immediate access to fresh herbs and produce. Greenhouses provide an opportunity to grow organic fruit and vegetables throughout the year for abundant options for cooking.

Technology Meets Personalization

Technology also plays a pivotal role in the luxury wellness experience. Smart home systems now extend beyond convenience to include health monitoring and environmental optimization. Homeowners can control air quality, lighting, temperature and even soundscapes with precision, creating personalized environments tailored to their needs. Some homeowners are even incorporating sleep-enhancing technologies, such as smart mattresses and blackout automation, further reinforcing the home as a sanctuary.

Ultimately, wellness is about creating spaces that not only look luxurious, but also provide a luxury living experience. The most meaningful home improvements are those that support how we want to feel each day — rested, connected, inspired — because “living the life you love” often starts at home.

MELISSA STRONG’S STORY

A Memoir on Climbing Through Adversity

MTRAGEDY TAUGHT ME THAT SOME OF THE TOOLS I REQUIRED TO GET THROUGH WERE ALREADY WITH ME. I HAD TO DIG DEEP, BE OPEN TO THE LIGHT, ACKNOWLEDGE THE GOOD AND TURN AWAY FROM THE DARKNESS.

MELISSA STRONG

elissa Strong’s story is one of resilience, recovery and the courage to live her truth. In her debut memoir, Climbing Through: A Courageous Story of Grit, Healing, and Second Chances, she reveals an unbreakable spirit shaped by hardship and hope. The book begins with Strong’s life story to April 2, 2017: the day when Strong “died a little bit and came back to life.” While literally taking her dream to open a restaurant into her own hands, the avid and sponsored climber found herself in an electrocution accident that resulted in partial hand loss in her home.

Each page is grounded in authenticity and candor as Strong shares her deeply personal journey as a climber, restaurateur, woman, wife, daughter and sister, and how these roles intersect. With multifaceted strength at its core, her perspective on life offers something meaningful for every reader. Strong advocates for finding something that brings you joy, emphasizing that in the wake of adversity, the lessons learned through joy can carry you through the moments you need them most.

“We can discuss how each sport offers different rewards and triggers different emotions, but it all comes down to enjoyment,” Strong writes. “It’s not about standing on top of a cliff or a boulder. It’s the process. It’s how you get there that captivates me.” Readers will quickly learn that everything Strong has accomplished in life, and every life lesson in between, has prepared her for the day and the days following when her hands, the parts of her that had allowed her to climb rock formations and serve plated dishes to customers, changed forever.

Reading Strong’s words feels as if she is sitting across from you, simply telling you a story. As though you’re splitting a crisp bottle of rosé on the patio of her Estes Park, Colorado establishments, Bird & Jim and Bird’s Nest, surrounded by Colorado pines, refreshing mountain air and Strong herself.

“We humans can do amazing things that we’d never dream possible,” Strong says. “Tragedy taught me that some of the tools I required to get through were already with me. I had to dig deep, be open to the light, acknowledge the good and turn away from the darkness.”

Her story lingers long after the final page, inviting readers to meet their own challenges with grit, grace and an open heart. +

Chloe Wasserstrom Community Engagement Coordinator @chlowass

THE HEALING WISDOM OF THE FOREST: TIMELESS LESSONS OF RENEWAL, TRANQUILITY, AND JOY

By Anthony D. Fredericks

GIANT SEQUOIA TREES, WHICH OFTEN LIVE FOR 3,000 YEARS OR MORE, NEVER STOP GROWING THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. KEEP THIS IN MIND: NEITHER ARE YOU EVER FINISHED; YOU ARE ALWAYS A WORK IN PROGRESS.

The path of a life well-lived is also, hopefully, a long journey. It might be compared to a trail that winds through a forest of experiences, eventually leading the wanderer back to oneself, enriched, elevated and enlightened.

Quoting Henry David Thoreau, “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.”

Indeed, the forest holds secrets to contribute to our happiness and longevity. Trees are forever teaching, showing us patience, teamwork, comfort, self-reliance, protection, friendship, gratitude, sustenance, growth, beauty, strength and spirit.

In his most recent nonfiction work, bestselling and award-winning author Anthony D. Fredericks reveals how trees, “nature’s best teachers,” can guide us to unlock the power of personal wisdom. Part travelogue, part natural history, part science and part psychology, The Healing Wisdom of the Forest: Timeless Lessons of Renewal, Tranquility, and Joy offers 65 diverse and inspiring essays such as “In Awe.” Each entry also includes tips for putting daily action into practice, journaling and reflecting on how different trees embody the ideas shared.

Fredericks is known for his “poetic elegance” in writing about the natural world. He also stays true to facts and details regarding his subjects, always impeccably researched. His passion and reverence for trees are a constant in many of his creative works for all ages, as in this excerpt from one of his many children’s books …

One day,

One special day, You will teach others to say, “Thank you, trees!”

And in that saying

A smile will cross their faces

Reminding them that trees

Enrich our lives

With peaceful wisdom, Lasting truths, Good foods, And life-giving medicines.

And in that gratitude

Others, too, will surely feel

The true spirit of trees;

Not just for now,

But forever and always.

I couldn’t wait to read Fredericks' newest work! Every evening, I found myself completely immersed in the wealth of quotes and interactive thoughts offered in his original essays. I would often page back to a favorite short chapter to refresh an idea, then to review and remember its message, nodding in agreement. I will return frequently to this book, purposely not shelved away but remaining handy by my bedside.

I hope others will enjoy these same practices to thrive along the long path, to reduce everyday stress and to bring out our best when we heed the wisdom of trees.

As every tree is unique with rings and bark telling an individual story, The Healing Wisdom of The Forest stands out among other popular “tree-themed” books. It’s a keeper. +

Iphotograph pregnant athletes doing what they do. Jess Moynihan bouldering in Colorado’s Front Range. Madison Hernandez throwing punches in a boxing ring. Erin Steff flowing through yoga on a paddleboard. None of it is staged. These are real athletes in real conditions who happen to be growing a human at the same time. I started this series because pregnancy is one of the most overlooked chapters of a woman's life, and I thought it deserved better than soft light and a white dress. The bump is sculptural. It's surreal. And it's temporary. I want to help women see this version of themselves as something powerful, not something to endure quietly until it's over.

ETHAN HERROLD

THE MINDFUL TOOLBOX

Teaching Kids Simple, Lifelong Practices for Peace + Self-Regulation

Jessica Noll believes she can help heal families by teaching children mindfulness habits. She does this through The Mindful Toolbox, her business based in Crested Butte, Colorado. Noll partners with local schools and offers out-of-school programming to teach mindfulness lessons that are approachable for young children. The children gain healthy habits that they can call upon at any time and will last a lifetime.

Noll describes herself as a child with big emotions. “My mother didn’t know tools to help me,” she says. During her 20s, Noll found yoga and did yoga teacher training. “This was the first time I found peace in my body,” she recalls. Noll went on to graduate college to earn a degree in family studies, human development and special

education. After college, she worked for Asanas for Autism and Special Needs, a program that gave her the framework to build The Mindful Toolbox.

Once moving to Crested Butte six years ago, she started a kids yoga program at Thrive Yoga Crested Butte and began incorporating mindfulness practices into their lessons. From there she began to grow her own businesss. Today, she teaches all ages — from local preschoolers to middle schoolers — about strategies from The Mindful Toolbox. Noll runs after school, summer camp and school breaks programs in Crested Butte and Gunnison, Colorado for youth. “My camps and programming are all about building connections,” Noll says.

“My goal is to teach a wide range of

tools and then let children choose which tool fits well in their toolbox,” she adds. “I’ll take things that I learn from my mindfulness practice and from my everyday life then translate that into kid land.” She enjoys incorporating fun things the children are into, like Pokémon or animals, into applicable practices. “The tools become a digestible way for kids to interact with yoga philosophy and mindfulness,” she says.

Some key elements to The Mindful Toolbox are practices like balloon breath, which is the first exercise Noll teaches children. She has even taught this tool to children as young as 18 months old. Another practice that teaches concentration and allows children to slow down their emotions is called "Peace Begins With Me” finger medita-

PHOTO BY LO STORER

tion. The child holds their hand out and touches their thumb to each finger while saying each word of the phrase, “Peace Begins With Me.” Lastly, a favorite among all of Noll's students is developing their comfy cozy time, which is laying in savasana pose, or supine on one's back, with a stuffed animal on their belly. From there, students take their stuffy for a balloon ride by controlling their breathing.

Noll suggests mindfulness habits can be brought into the home through simple exercises that use yoga foundations with a childlike twist. For example, doing a sun salutation but calling it a yoga dance. Or walking around with a stuffy on your head and not allowing it to fall. Exercises such as these teach body awareness and balance. “By teaching where their body is in space, they learn mindfulness as a somatic practice,” Noll says.

“The goal is to teach children how good peace feels, and then as adults they will know peace is a non-negotiable to their own practice,” Noll says. “By creating small

habits that are implemented in 30 seconds of calm time, they will be able to access that habit during a situation of being scared or hurt.” These tools help children navigate conflict and provide self-regulation skills. “We have to start new from this generation by teaching them these strategies from a young age so they can learn ways to act, not react,” she says.

Noll believes if a generation is empowered to know peace within themselves, they can create a greater world that knows peace. +

DESTINATION INNER DISCOVERY: CIVANA

Next-Level Spa Decadence, Movement and Intricately Tailored Personal Growth Unite in the Sonoran Desert

There’s an exclusive zip code north of buzzy Phoenix and trending Scottsdale that’s master planned around upscale wellness and leisure. Carefree, Arizona (yes, that’s the town’s actual name) is wrapped in saguaro-studded Sonoran Desert beauty, posh horse ranches, top-tier golf greens and private estates. The affluent sanctuary just 35 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport boasts street names like Tranquility Lane and Nonchalant Way. It’s all blissfully intentional.

Comprising a little more than 20 of Carefree's carefully preserved acres, CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa is transcending health travel, reaching beyond scrubs, soaks and savasanas, and rolling out a mindful, modern menu of chakraand nature-based therapies.

Founders Marc Skalla and Adam Ross

opened CIVANA — a play on “nirvana” — in 2018 with the goal of inviting more people into wellness by providing more choice, joy and accessibility through seasonally evolving programming, spa and culinary experiences.

“CIVANA was intentionally created as an approachable alternative to traditional destination spas and conventional wellness resorts,” says Julia Lavine, chief brand officer. “Rather than operating as a heavily structured retreat, we offer a flexible and approachable model that allows guests to engage at their own pace.”

This framework, centered around more than 100 weekly classes, hydrotherapy spa amenities and a robust plant-powered culinary program, supports long-term well-being by emphasizing sustainable practices.

Inner fire vinyasa flows, floating sound healings, “pick-your-proof” happy hours and soul-awakening journaling and manifesting workshops are the tip of the personal growth iceberg.

Guests take home stress management

and integration tools from morning intention-setting ceremonies and evening gratitude circles. Breathwork, aerial stretch, restorative yoga and numerology classes provide opportunities to reflect and reset. Joyful Journey and Stars Align zodiac programs weave movement, positive mindset and personal energy.

The goal is to create an experience where slowing down happens through immersion rather than instruction, and small, consistent habits are taken home and used as everyday well-being approaches.

“We help guests integrate the practices learned at CIVANA into their life by offering wellness experiences that are designed to be repeatable and practical beyond their stay,” Lavine says. “Many of our movement and mindfulness classes, including breathwork, mobility, strength and meditation, intentionally focus on techniques guests can continue at home.”

The spa emphasizes an aqua therapy circuit designed to support circulation, recovery and nervous system regulation. Guests flow throughout hydrothera-

py elements such as the Kneipp walk (oscillating between two shallow pools ranging between 50 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit), a cold deluge shower, a sanarium (a mild, humidity-controlled sauna) with five levels of steam and a Watsu therapy pool.

Massage options naturally include hot stone, Swedish, Thai and deep tissue. But for the zen-seekers willing to go next level, CIVANA’s bodywork menu features a two-hour transformative Spirit of the Desert treatment, beginning with a guided meditation and grounding sound bowls followed by oils, rhythmic motions and steam-warmed poultices of delicate flowers and herbs.

Leaning heavily into its zero-deprivation approach, dining menus support steady energy through balanced, satisfying dishes. Locally sourced produce and nutrient-rich ingredients show up in vegan matcha pancakes made with fresh berries, cacao nibs, local raw honey and coconut whipped cream. Zero-proof wines and nonalcoholic beer options are

available across the resort and a mindful mixology cocktail and mocktail class serves as an interactive alternative to traditional bar culture.

As wellness culture shifts, CIVANA evolves, turning its lens to more handson everyday well-being. Gone are the days of jam-packed retreats loaded with exhausting physical itineraries. Today, it’s about flexibility and individualized comfort.

“Guests are increasingly looking for experiences that support long-term lifestyle habits, including recovery, moderation and emotional health, rather than highly structured or prescriptive retreats,” Lavine says. “In response, we continue to expand programming and offerings that feel flexible, accessible and aligned with how people want to live beyond their stay.” +

Lisa Blake Writer @lisananblake | lisablakecreative.com

BY THE NUMBERS

20+ private acres

144 spacious rooms and suites

22,000-square-foot award-winning spa with 23 treatment rooms

5,000 square feet of fitness, yoga and meditation spaces

3 resort pools and an outdoor hot tub

3 retail destinations

2 dining options, Terras and Seed

A fleet of complimentary resort bikes to explore Carefree, Arizona

SETTLE IN AT CHIPETA LODGE RESORT + SPA

Refreshed Spaces, Renewed Vision and a More Intentional Stay in Ridgway, Colorado

When I arrive in a beautiful place like Ridgway, Colorado, I usually think about where I’m headed next — the trail, the drive, the open space just beyond town. But on this visit, I found myself staying in.

Under new ownership, Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa has been thoughtfully refreshed, and the shift is something you feel right away. It reveals itself in the details, starting with a more welcoming arrival, a smooth check-in and yes, freshly baked cookies. It all sets an easy, relaxed tone.

That intention is exactly what drew owner Shari Mezrah and her husband, Todd, to the property.

“We found ourselves talking a lot about what was a great stay, how things could have been improved and what makes an exceptional stay away from

home,” she says. “This love for searching for the ultimate guest experience motivated us to create something special that could be delivered at Chipeta Lodge.”

What they saw was a place with “great bones,” and the opportunity to build something more meaningful around it.

Throughout the property, that approach shows up in subtle ways. The Great Room and Sun Lounge feel like places you actually want to spend time, not just pass through.

“Chipeta Lodge naturally lends itself to a retreat-style wellness experience because of its setting,” Mezrah says. “Surrounded by the San Juan Mountains, our guests are immediately invited to slow down, disconnect and reset.”

Completely redesigned, Chipeta Lodge Spa by ISUN leans into a slower pace without forcing it. I didn’t feel like I

had to follow a schedule or commit to a full reset. It was enough to step in, take a breath and let the space do its work.

That flexibility is what stayed with me most. There’s no single way to be here. You can spend the day moving — hiking, biking, exploring — or not move much at all. Both feel equally valid.

“It allows guests to engage as much or as little as they choose,” she says. “The combination of natural beauty, quiet pace and freedom of experience is what transforms a stay here into something that feels like a true retreat.”

And then there’s the rooftop. The White Buffalo Rooftop Bar quickly

became my end-of-day ritual. A drink in hand, the San Juans stretching out in every direction, the light shifting as the sun drops. It’s simple, but it lands.

Even with the updates, the heart of the lodge is still intact. It feels familiar, just more dialed in.

“While the resort has been modernized, the character and charm of Chipeta Lodge was retained,” Mezrah says. “That was important to us.”

By the end of my stay, I realized I hadn’t rushed off property the way I normally would. I stayed for sunset. Then dinner. Then a slow morning the next day.

For a place I’ve visited before, that felt like something new. +

1. Scoria Zafu Natural Meditation Cushion

A supportive seat for meditation, breathwork or quiet moments at home. Filled with natural buckwheat hulls and wrapped in durable cotton canvas, it offers stable lift while maintaining shape over time. A built-in handle makes it easy to move from studio to living room. $109 scoria.ca

2. Stem Zero

Crafted for full flavor without the alcohol, this line of zero-alcohol ciders is brewed from the start as a true 0.0 beverage. Each can features real fruit, just 60 calories and a touch of apple cider vinegar for balance and prebiotic support. Launch flavors include Blueberry Lime and Apricot Haze, both crisp and refreshing. $12/four-pack (12 oz cans) stemciders.com

3. Thule Chasm Laptop Backpack 26L

Built for commutes, travel and everyday carry. A padded laptop sleeve and structured compartments keep electronics organized, while durable, weather-resistant materials protect gear from the elements. Clean lines and thoughtful storage make it ready for wherever the day leads. $160 thule.com

4. Dagne Dover Allyn Tote

Equal parts polished and practical, this structured carryall is built for days that move from work to wellness. The interior includes a cushioned laptop sleeve, space for shoes or clothes, a neoprene water bottle holder and interior pockets with a detachable key leash. A magnetic tab closure expands when needed, and REPREVE recycled lining adds a sustainable touch. $400 dagnedover.com

5. TIARA Natural Deodorant

A clean, plant-based formula designed to keep you fresh throughout the day. Free from aluminum and synthetic fragrances, it relies on natural ingredients to neutralize odor while remaining gentle on skin. The compact tube travels easily from gym bag to carry-on. $17 shopmytiara.com

6. Fender x Teufel ROCKSTER GO 2

From sunrise hikes to backyard yoga, this ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker delivers powerful sound wherever you go. Aluminum drivers and a passive bass radiator create deep audio, while side-mounted speakers produce virtual surround sound that makes it sound truly enormous. Dust and waterproof protection, plus up to 28 hours of battery life, make it ready for adventure. $99.99 us.teufelaudio.com

7. Savon Du Bois Vacation in Provence Hand & Body Lotion

Hydrates and softens skin with a nourishing formula that absorbs without feeling heavy. The botanical scent evokes lavender fields and warm summer air in the south of France. A small everyday ritual that feels like a quick escape. $26 savondubois.com

8. Nellie’s Laundry Cubes

Laundry day gets simpler with these premeasured cubes that dissolve quickly in hot or cold water. The formula skips harsh chemicals while remaining tough on dirt and odors. Packaged in a compact tin, they reduce plastic waste and keep storage tidy. $25 for 64-pack nelliesclean.com

9. Dear Lucy Marine Antioxidant Serum

Lightweight hydration meets antioxidant-rich protection in this fast-absorbing serum. Marine botanicals help support a brighter, balanced complexion while defending against everyday environmental stressors. A simple addition to any skincare routine. $118 dearlucyskincare.com

10. VELOUS Active Flip

Designed for recovery and everyday comfort, this sandal blends performance support with casual style. A contoured EVA footbed cushions each step, while the breathable mesh strap keeps the fit light and secure. Ideal for post-workout errands or easy summer days. $60 velousfootwear.com

HOT, COLD + HERE TO STAY

Why Contrast Therapy Is the New Longevity Ritual

Atradition as old as time has worked its way back into the modern wellness scene, and for good reason. Contrast therapy, the practice of alternating between intense heat and cold for two to three cycles, involves back-to-back sauna and cold plunge sessions. With roots spanning cultures and continents, its resurgence has been most heavily shaped by Finnish and Nordic styles.

Contrast therapy has gained popularity through health experts like neuroscientist Andrew Huberman and physician Mark Hyman. Praised for its science-backed benefits including increased circulation, reduced inflam-

mation and muscle soreness, improved metabolic and vascular health, nervous system regulation, immune support and better sleep — effects attributed to the blood-pumping action of alternating hot and cold therapies.

In a world of overstimulation, chronic stress and digital overload, people are increasingly seeking it out for a different reason: camaraderie.

VISIT-WORTHY SPOTS IN COLORADO:

Red Rocks Sauna

Denver, CO

Just west of I-25, Red Rocks Sauna feels like a hidden summer camp for adults.

Tucked behind trees and a wooden awning, the space offers camper-style changing rooms stocked with natural self-care products, an outdoor fire pit ringed with chairs and blankets and a grounded social atmosphere. Open seven days a week, it’s a favorite for midday remote-work breaks and those craving a lively, Friday night social scene, with its adjoined brewery and burger joint equipped with plenty of outdoor seating and friendly dogs.

Owners and couple Alivia Cannistra and Joe Nevrivy are passionate about

making contrast therapy accessible beyond traditional wellness circles. It’s for "anybody from athlete to neighbor who needs to breathe or has had a hard week,” Nevrivy says. “We’re all about leveling the playing field. We’ve built the space around human connection.”

Nevrivy often leads guests through cold plunge sessions in one of three double-filtered baths, while enhancing the experience with aromatherapy in the new Voyageur sauna, which features high seats for a full-body sweat — think Texas cedarwood with eucalyptus or soothing lavender.

Community is the heartbeat of this space. Between guests swapping numbers after a session or joining onsite community events like boxing, aerial silks, bi-weekly run clubs, monthly happy hours or Saturday socials sold at a reduced rate, there is always something worth checking out at Red Rocks Sauna.

Fire Within Sauna Paonia, CO

For those craving a deeper immersion in nature, Fire Within Sauna is a mobile, wood-fired sauna serving natural settings like trailheads, ski areas and mountainous regions across western Colorado.

Hand-built by co-owner Brendan Delaney using Finnish and Nordic techniques, the sauna combines local cedar and aspen with high horizontal windows and skylines that frame the surrounding landscape. Guests will often read or meditate silently during sessions, exiting to cold plunge in a nearby river or simply feel the brisk wind tickle their skin under a night sky bursting with stars. “It can be kind of a spiritual experience,” says co-owner Aubrey Ridd. “Nature is our partner in this.”

Fire Within Sauna regularly appears at weddings, retreats, farm dinners and community gatherings, with plans to expand its presence this summer and fall at yoga festivals, workshops and other health-centric public events. Visit their website for a calendar view of pop-up sessions in Montrose, Paonia and Grand Junction.

“We’re relearning the social practice of not being on our phones and sitting with people who you don’t know yet,” Ridd explains, describing the allure of the experience.

Ember & Ice

Silverthorne, CO

As one of Summit County’s mobile sauna and cold plunge experiences, Ember & Ice is based at The Block Hotel & Commons, welcoming both locals and tourists alike.

The shingle-roofed barrel sauna is intimate and cozy, with a bubble dome window facing nearby peaks. Inside, flames gently lick the glass of the wood-burning firebox, while the warm scent and soft creak of the wood create a meditative, nature-soaked bath.

Guests can plunge into one of two cold baths or drop into the river just 30 feet away.

“Contrast therapy promotes a healthy, sober and active lifestyle with mental clarity and community,” says Devon Suggs, one of the company’s six founders. “It’s a way to step away from technology and reconnect with yourself, others and nature.”

Beyond Summit County, Ember & Ice hosts numerous events at its Boulder location at Eben G. Fine Park, including yoga, ceremonial breathwork, somatic sauna baths with drums and chanting, men’s circles, Sauna Sister nights, guided Wim Hof-style cold plunges and Grill and Chill community potlucks. Their events are rooted in a shared interest of contrast therapy, which in turn sets the tone for deeper, authentic human connection.

Portal Thermaculture Boulder, CO

One of Colorado’s pioneers in social contrast therapy, Portal Thermaculture offers a hands-off retreat in the North Boulder Art District where guests can find their own rhythm. The outdoor nook features two Scandinavian saunas with hourglass sand timers and wood stoves burning aromatic apple and cherry woods, two jet-fitted cold plunges, an outdoor shower and lounging areas where wisps of incense curl gracefully into the air.

While conversations with strangers and friends often begin in shared sauna and cold plunge, the real magic unfolds next door in Orbit — an eclectic, 70s zen–inspired communal hub layered with curated vintage furniture, visionary digital collages and ambient lighting. Upstairs, a coworking space overlooks a cozy gaming area and an event space dressed in geometric rugs and floor pillows. Monthly programming spans breathwork, qi gong, documentaries and indie film showings, DJ sets and intimate music shows, as well as sound baths, tai chi and more.

“The inside space is the creative cell of Portal,” says Ollie Massolo, Portal’s creative director. Because contrast

therapy often leaves guests feeling relaxed and inspired, Orbit offers a tactile environment that invites them to continue exploring, creating and ideating in community. +

NOTICE, TEST, ADAPT

Yoga for Lifelong Mobility

Every day, without realizing it, your body repeats a handful of shapes — your habitual slouch, uneven stance and limited reach — until your nervous system treats them as the only safe way to move. It quietly records how you sit, stand, walk and move, then treats those patterns as normal.

The SAID principle (Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands) explains that your body adapts to the demands — or lack of demands — you place on it. Limited ranges of motion, slouching or standing on one hip become the default setting for joints, muscles and the nervous system, effectively shrinking the map of where your body feels safe to move.

While the nervous system sets conservative limits on the range of motion for safety, you can renegotiate those limits through gentle, repeated practice at the edges of that range. To move more effectively and feel more embodied, start by noticing the movement patterns you’ve unconsciously practiced for decades.

Body awareness is your internal sense (proprioception and interoception) that lets you feel your location in space and how your body is functioning. Cultivating awareness and gradually expanding range of motion improve daily function, reduce injury risk and support the strength, balance and mobility linked to healthier aging.

In a previous issue, my article “Yoga and the Art of Aging Well” introduced a practice I developed that integrates multiple yoga styles with functional movements. Use the following Yoga to Thrive self-tests and movements to gradually teach your nervous system that expanded, more functional ranges are safe.

SELF-TESTS FOR ALIGNMENT

To check the alignment of your feet, ankles, knees and pelvis, stand in front of a mirror. Before starting, shake it out by swinging your arms and marching in place. Then come to a natural standing position and notice:

• Do one or both feet turn in or out?

• Is there more weight on one foot, or on the inside or outside of your feet?

• What do your knees do in a small squat? You can use a wall for support. If your knees collapse in or bow out, place a block between your thighs and gently squeeze it in chair or bridge pose to retrain knee tracking.

• Is one hip higher than the other?

• From a side view, is your pelvis more tucked under (posterior tilt) or tipped forward (anterior tilt)?

CHECK FOR CORE STABILITY

Next, notice whether you can move your legs while keeping the pelvis and ribs relatively still.

• Lying on your stomach, bend one knee. If your back arches or your hips lift, it may mean your hip flexors are overactive, or your abdominals are not engaging.

• Lying on your back, bring your knees over your hips at a 90-degree angle. Keep your pelvis neutral and lower one foot at a time to the floor. Notice whether your pelvis stays stable or your back arches. For a modified option, start with both feet on the floor and lift and lower one leg at a time. To increase core stability, use arm and leg extensions in a tabletop position. Progress to bringing your elbow and knee together on your exhale and reaching back out on the inhale. Practice boat pose (navasana) or hold warrior 3 (virabhadrasana III) with your hands against a wall.

These small, repeated challenges show your nervous system that new shapes are safe. Over time, that expanded map of acceptable movement can support greater stability and ease in everything you do. +

Carrie Lehtonen Health Coach + Yoga Teacher @fireflycommunity fireflycommunity.com

SHOULDER AND HIP MOBILITY

The following movements encourage positive adaptation and help expand your strength, stability and range of motion over time. Stay within a tolerable challenge level. Repeating these regularly invites a new normal.

Shoulder mobility: Raise your arms overhead. If your shoulders shrug to your ears or your back arches, test your shoulder rotation by lying on your back with arms at 90 degrees (cactus) against the floor, then slowly rotate your forearms forward. If your shoulders roll forward before your forearms get close to the floor, return to cactus and gently press your elbows and arms into the floor for five seconds, then relax. Repeat a few times, then retest. Then, from a tabletop position, walk your hands forward and to the left, and send your hips to the right for a side body stretch; take five breaths, then switch sides.

Hip joint mobility: Lie on your back, hug one knee into your chest and notice whether the opposite hip remains stable on the floor. Then, with both knees bent and feet on the floor, put a block between your knees and secure a strap around your thighs. Place your fingers in your hip creases and lift one leg slightly. If the psoas pops first, slightly press the knee in and out to engage the hip abductors and adductors, which help stabilize your hips when standing.

Release the psoas: Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat. Hug one knee into your chest and extend the other leg long on the mat, pressing through the heel. Stay for several breaths, then switch sides. For a more passive release, take savasana with a pillow under your shoulders.

BY

THE CENTRAL AXIS

Why Longevity Depends on a Clear Inner Conduit

At its simplest, longevity refers to lifespan: the total number of years an individual lives. But modern medicine increasingly understands longevity through layers of functionality: VO₂ max as a measure of cardiovascular vitality; grip strength as a predictor of mortality; and markers such as gait speed, muscle mass, bone density, executive function and memory.

These metrics matter. They reveal how well the organism is performing over time. Yet I believe beneath this data lies the quiet pulse of a more vivid question: Is the inner conduit clear?

In the yogic body, the central axis is not metaphorical. It is anatomical, energetic and perceptual. It runs through the spine, yes, but also through attention. It

is the subtle channel that organizes posture, breath and our sense of orientation in the world.

Classical yoga names this channel sushumna nadi. Taoist physiology refers to it as the penetrating vessel. Contemporary anatomy traces related pathways through the spinal cord, the dural tube, vagal networks and the fascial sheath that suspends the organs like a luminous riverbed. Different languages, one lived experience: when the body’s central axis is coherent, we feel upright without rigidity and open without collapse.

When the axis is congested through chronic bracing, emotional armoring or unresolved trauma, the body compensates. The shoulders grip. The psoas shortens. The diaphragm hardens and

lifts. Breath becomes shallow. Over time, this subtle misalignment taxes the nervous system and quietly drains vitality.

A clear inner conduit allows energy to move vertically. The pelvic floor and crown are no longer estranged from one another. The three diaphragms (pelvic floor, respiratory diaphragm and soft palate) act like responsive pistons along this central line, circulating pressure and vitality with minimal internal friction.

From a nervous system perspective, coherence along the axis supports vagal tone. The vagus nerve — traveling from brainstem to belly — mediates rest, digestion, immune regulation and social engagement. When the spine is chronically compressed or the breath restrained, vagal signaling diminish -

es. When length and buoyancy are restored along the midline, parasympathetic regulation becomes more accessible. The body remembers its inherent resource of safety: an inwardly generated steadiness.

Modern longevity science increasingly emphasizes strengthening adaptive capacity: prioritizing recovery, mitochondrial efficiency, metabolic stability and muscle mass to sustain energy and function over time. Yet if the inner river is kinked, no amount of supplementation or optimization fully compensates. Efficient cellular energy depends upon unobstructed circulation: mechanical, neurological and perceptual.

The vital practice of yoga refines this axis from the inside. In sustained postures, superficial musculature softens and deeper fascial lines from soles to crown become perceptible. The spine hydrates. Intervertebral discs receive nourishment through decompression

and oscillation. Attention stabilizes along the vertical line, and the mind’s outward scattering begins to settle. A vertical mind wastes less energy than a horizontal one. It is less fragmented by distraction and less pulled by reactivity.

TO TEND THE AXIS, WE BEGIN SIMPLY.

Stand and feel your feet. Let weight distribute evenly across heel and forefoot. Sense the pelvic bowl widening. Allow the spine to rise without thrusting the ribs. Soften the back of the heart. Imagine the crown lightly suspended, as if by a filament of light. Then breathe, allowing the diaphragms to ascend and descend like a quiet tide, or the slow pulse of a jellyfish floating in open water.

Over time, this gentle vertical integrity becomes a way of living. We age differently when we are not perpetually collapsing or bracing against gravity. Joints bear load more intelligently. Organs

receive fuller circulation. Breath deepens without force. The nervous system oscillates rather than hardens.

Longevity is not merely about extending years. It is about preserving clarity within those years.

A clear central axis is not rigid; it is dynamic, like a reed in water, responsive and permeable. When the conduit is open, life moves through us without obstruction.

To cultivate longevity, then, is to tend the inner river. To clear the channel through which breath, awareness and vitality flow. When the axis is luminous and steady — we are not simply surviving longer, we are inhabiting our lives more completely. +

1. Nomadix Changing Poncho

This is your portable privacy, beach towel and cozy layer all in one. Made from ultra-absorbent, quick-drying recycled fabric, this stylish poncho is soft against the skin and practical in the elements. Ideal for river dips, cold plunges and chilly dawns at the trailhead. $69.95 nomadix.co

2. Exped Typhoon 15 Waterproof Backpack

Built with durable, welded seams and a roll-top closure, this no-frills pack keeps your essentials dry in any weather. Whether you’re paddling, hiking or commuting in a downpour, it delivers dependable protection without fuss. $100 expedusa.com

3. GCI Outdoor Comfort Pro Rocker

Lean back, rock gently and let the day slow down. Designed with spring-action rocking legs and breathable mesh support, this lightweight camp chair brings porch-like comfort to any campsite, tailgate, riverbank or backyard hang. Easy to pack, even easier to relax into. $75 gcioutdoor.com

4. Adidas Sport Eyewear Anemos Light

Built for runners and cyclists, this lightweight style pairs a streamlined frame with HD optics for clear visibility in changing conditions. Anti-fog ventilation helps maintain airflow, while mirrored and photochromic lens options adapt to shifting light. Available in two sizes and compatible with a prescription clip-in. $163/$213 photochromic adidas.com

5. KETL Mtn. Apparel Tomfoolery Chino Travel Pants

Stretchy, durable and quietly technical, these chinos move effortlessly from trail to travel day to dinner. Made with performance fabric that breathes, bends and resists wrinkles, they’re built for movement without looking like “outdoor pants.” We love that they’re adventure-ready with a polished, put-together look. $99 ketlmtn.com

6. Arcade Adventure Mag Belt

This flexible, micro-adjustable belt updates an everyday essential with a magnetic buckle that clicks securely into place with one hand. Stretch webbing offers all-day comfort, while durable construction and recycled yarn add performance-minded appeal. Equally suited to the trail, travel days and daily wear. $49.95 arcadebelts.com

7. Lems Switchback Sandal

A lightweight update to a fan favorite, this sandal pairs breathable knit comfort with a streamlined, adjustable fit built for movement. Designed for everything from river days to daily wear, it features a secure strap system, quick-drying knit tongue and grippy outsole for slick surfaces. $125 lemsshoes.com

8. Helinox Royal Box Shade

A portable retreat for beach days, picnics and campground lounging, this lightweight shade structure offers SPF 50+ protection in a compact, easy-to-set-up design. Durable ripstop fabric and high-strength aluminum poles keep it sturdy, while roll-up sides let users adjust airflow and views. Sized to fit two chairs and a small table. $274.95 helinox.com

9. Helinox StringTrees

This lightweight, packable game brings a playful mix of shuffleboard-style strategy and outdoor fun to camping trips, park hangs and backyard gatherings. Players toss rings toward scoring zones or knock competitors off the line to gain an edge. At just 8.5 ounces packed, it’s easy to bring along. $59.95 helinox.com

10. La Sportiva Prodigio 2 Running Shoes

Built for runners who crave speed and feel, these trail shoes blend plush cushioning with precise control. Light, responsive and grippy on mixed terrain, they make every mile feel like a smooth conversation with the trail. $170 lasportivausa.com

THE ART OF THE HARVEST

Seeking the Oak Acorn

In the authentic High Country, true decor and luxury aren't found in what is bought, but in what is gathered. Rarely can humans safely salvage from the forest without legal or animal retaliation; however, the acorn can be kept by human squirreling. It’s a slow, intentional practice — mimicking the squirrel’s frantic, rhythmic harvest and mirroring that ancient patience of seasonal abundance — that can procure a lifetime of prosperity.

Before wheat or corn, the acorn was the world’s original superfood. From ancient Greeks to Indigenous tribes of California, communities relied on these "nutrient bombs" as a primary staple for a concentration of healthy fats, complex carbohydrates and proteins that often outperformed modern grains. The acorn’s reliability as a "food bank" provided the caloric stability that transformed humans from nomadic wanderers into settled, thriving communities. Essentially, some can attribute modern civilization to the foraging of acorns — a bit of a leap, but justified.

“Here in Colorado, the Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) is considered a true ‘keystone’ because of its roles in sustaining ecosystems across a range of landscapes and conditions,” explains Sheehan Meagher, outdoor programs coordinator of Wilderness Workshop, based in Carbondale, Colorado. “Gambel oak thickets have evolved with plant and animal life for centuries and are a font

of biodiversity, supporting hundreds of species of caterpillars, moths and other insects and, as a result, an abundant variety of birds.”

Acorn hunting conditions change each year, always dependent on moisture and temperature. The harvest is at its seasonal best from late September through October, just as the mountain air turns

READY FOR A LITTLE TASTE? TRY A "FORAGER’S LATTE."

LEACH A HANDFUL OF ACORNS, ROAST THEM UNTIL DARK BROWN AND THEN GRIND THEM TO CREATE THE ACORN GROUNDS. SIMMER TWO TABLESPOONS OF ROASTED ACORN GROUNDS WITH A CUP OF OAT MILK, A DASH OF MAPLE SYRUP AND A PINCH OF CINNAMON.

crisp, the hummingbirds have left for the season and the aspen leaves begin their transformation. Foragers won't find many acorns above 9,000 feet; they prefer the transition zones between the high plains and the sub-alpine forests. If you’re using them for decor, look for those dropped after a first frost; the caps tend to separate more cleanly then.

Be present and aware, as you aren’t the only one on the journey. Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays will usually forage in pairs or groups, and have been known to steal hoarded acorns from Acorn Woodpecker granary trees. “Acorns are the fall superfood for bears, deer, squirrels, turkeys, jays, woodpeckers and a host of others — especially during high-production ‘mast’ years when Gambels produce abundant fruit,” Meagher adds. +

Julie Bielenberg Writer @countrygirlcitytricks

It’s still a material world, and once you’ve experienced the quiet allure of the acorn, you’ll begin to see the charm of the forest as your home sanctuary. Whether it’s the heritage weight of an iron doorstop or the delicate glint of a silver charm, these high-country favorites bring the whimsy of the oak grove into the home.

Most importantly, where are you going to store your acorn? The Acorns Project is a line of inspirational gifts featuring the symbolism and mystique of the acorn. “I’ve crafted mystique boxes and paint kits; they offer authentic intention to the giftee for collection,” explains Daniela Vitali, founder of The Acorns Project. Crow & Key in Carbondale is a Colorado favorite that carries the Fable England line. Their cheeky squirrel charms and enamel pins feel like found forest treasures. For a more rugged, handcrafted aesthetic, look for Mendocino Jewelry Studio’s acorn pendants at Zacchariah Zypp & Co in Crested Butte, Colorado. crowandkey.com, zypp.net

Illuminate your mountain evening with the acorn-shaped Nite Ize lighting collection. They cast a soft, amber glow reminiscent of a twilight forest. niteize.com

Pipsticks provides a hit of nostalgia with high-end acorn and squirrel stickers. They are perfect for nature journaling and can often be found at Explore Books in Aspen or Townie Books in Crested Butte, Colorado. explorebooks.org, towniebookscb.indielite.org

Elevate the kitchen with a sturdy antique gold squirrel door stopper, or a minimalist squirrel dish. These heavy-duty, heritage-quality items are frequently stocked at Mountain Man Vail and Woodland Breckenridge. mountainmanvail.com, woodlandbreck.com

FLOW STATE

Finding Longevity, Joy + Stewardship on Colorado’s Rivers

Iwas first drawn to Colorado’s waterways as a stand-up paddler, discovering both inner balance and outer strength while floating down its rivers. The tranquility of remote stretches, coupled with the intensity of whitewater, inspired me to explore deeper ways of accessing and understanding the river. Developing river skills and learning proper etiquette are essential steps toward responsible recreation — opening the door to a lifetime of meaningful experiences on the water.

David Geddes, community engagement manager of the Eagle River Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Upper Colorado and Eagle River watersheds, believes one doesn’t need to be an avid angler or extreme paddler to be a river enthusiast. He shares his advice on preparing for river recreation by always checking local rules and

regulations for your chosen activity, such as permits needed for fishing, where and when it’s safe to swim and where you are permitted to access the river by boat. Being responsible on the river goes beyond just wearing life jackets. Protect the river by securing trash, using doggie bags and biodegradable sunscreen. Geddes draws attention to preventing the spread of aquatic nuisance species by cleaning, draining and drying your gear to prevent the spread of invasive species. “It is important to remember that the river is a force greater than you,” he says. “Rushing water does not care about your personal safety, nor is it able to stop itself from spreading pollution or invasive species. Humans may be able to alter a river’s flow with massive dams and incredibly long aqueducts, but we are still responsible for protecting ourselves and being good stewards of the

resource we all rely on.”

Geddes finds that by spending time near the Eagle River or its tributaries, he’s reminded how connected we are to the rest of the Southwest. Colorado’s waterways flow both east and west because of the Continental Divide; specifically, the Colorado River (which the Eagle River flows into) provides water to 40 million people and over 5.5 million acres of farmland from Colorado to Mexico. “This means the snowmelt you see outside your window could one day come out of someone's sink in Las Vegas, Phoenix or even Mexico,” Geddes remarks. Our waterways remind us how interconnected we are to the greater world.

From the perspective of someone who is literally knee-deep in our rivers, Brendon Glenwright, a fly-fishing guide for Gore Creek Fly Fisherman, loves having the outdoors as his office. He finds his passion for fly fishing makes teaching it much easier to share the joy. “Putting a person on their first fish ever is an exciting feeling for all parties involved,” he says. He sees people enjoying the hobby of fly fishing because it brings them outdoors and immersed in nature. “There is a sense of serenity when you’re out in the middle of a stream that meanders through the mountains,” he shares.

Many of Colorado’s rivers are in remote locations without cell service. Planning and preparing for all situations help river users surrender and go with the flow. Glenwright notices his clients coming from cities are able to escape and not worry about a phone call. “I feel like that gives them a chance to fully relax and let their guard down,” he says.

When I sit “passenger princess” on my raft, I reflect on the opportunities to slow down, engage in conversation, laugh with friends and create memories. The skills I’ve learned on the river I will teach to my family, along with lessons on staying safe, treating the river with respect and, most importantly, just going with the flow. +

Kaitlin Emig Writer @sunflower_lion

5 ADVENTURE BASECAMPS YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF

Get Away in Style and Comfort at These Elevated (and Beautifully Off-Radar) Mountain Resorts and Lodges

Fewer things are more satisfying than sweating outside all day doing something you love and falling happily exhausted into plush beds knowing that bountiful rest and nourishment are yours for the evening.

Hikers, bikers, river enthusiasts and rock climbers — these are the Colorado inns and lodges to book when you want easy access to adventure followed by cozy accoutrements.

Tumbling River Ranch

Nearest town: Grant, CO

Go for: Front door Pike National Forest and Mount Evans Wilderness hiking and biking.

Skip the cooking, camp clean-up, bears and bugs, and feel taken care of at this inclusive historic ranch just south of Guanella Pass. Tumbling River Ranch first opened in 1946 and, following an $8 million facelift, reopened in February 2026. By day, explore the rare geo-

graphic sweet spot where the millionplus-acre Pike National Forest meets rugged Mount Evans Wilderness. Roll out of your cabin to a vast network of forest roads and gravel bike routes. Tap into preferred local outfitters for a guided rock climbing experience on nearby Keyes Rock. Hike Guanella Pass’ Square Top Lakes or check easily accessed 14er Mount Bierstadt off your list.

Spend the evening oscillating between riverside cedar hot tubs, a barrel sauna and the cold plunge, then gather around the communal fire pit before indulging in a Colorado farm-sourced, family-style feast.

“Our ranch is the perfect private hideaway to come back to after an adventurous and exhilarating day of exploration,” says owner Jasen Mark. “Here you will unwind in the tranquility of the ranch while nourishing your soul with shared moments by campfire, dining in our grand lodge or relaxing in our wellness area under a canopy of trees along the river.”

Eagle River Inn

Nearest town: Minturn, CO

Go for: Fly-fishing and top-of-the-world hiking with an unbeatable kid- and dog-friendly homebase.

During winter months, this stylish 13room adventure inn sits at the end of the Minturn Mile, spitting backcountry skiers out from their Vail Back Bowl journey onto Minturn Saloon barstools for celebratory margaritas. In the summer, guests hike the Minturn Mile (a.k.a. Game Creek Trail) from the Eagle River Inn’s parking lot up and over to Vail’s green slopes with an optional gondola ride down to the village base area.

Those who favor two wheels or a fishing rod are in luck — Meadow Mountain’s Everkrisp Trail and trout-filled waters lie just outside. Cast from the edge of the

property, bike the paved rec path to Vail or zip over to the Minturn Bike Park with the kids.

Eagle River Inn will store equipment and bikes when you’re not using them. They’ll feed you a complimentary European-style continental breakfast. And staff will gladly set you up with guided whitewater rafting May through July. Traveling with your own ducky or kayak? Use the on-property Eagle River put-in. Don’t miss Jeep access up the road in Red Cliff or the Saturday Minturn Market, held June through September.

Monument Glamping

Nearest town: Monument, CO

Go for: Relaxed creekside cabins and safari tents are a short distance from Pike National Forest, popular lakes and Ford Amphitheater concerts.

This glamping spot sits just outside of historic downtown Monument, Palmer Lake and Manitou Springs, and bills itself as the perfect middle ground for couples with varying definitions of “roughing it.” Compromise is found in fluffy pillows and queen- and king-sized beds, lounge chairs, electricity and speedy Wi-Fi alongside 6.5 peaceful hillside acres. Walk the property, taking in lungfuls of fresh piney air, dip your toes in cool Monument Creek or cast a line into the clear waters. Take off for a day of hiking in Pike National Forest, tackle the

Manitou Incline and marvel at Garden of the Gods’ red rock formations. At night, rest tired bones in creative accommodations that span a safari tent with a private bathroom and memory foam bed to a tiny home with a sitting deck and hot tub. Late check-outs, waived pet fees, soft robes and ice service come standard.

Outside Inn Nature Hotel

Nearest town: Salida, CO

Go for: Easeful tiny home vibes on 35 acres — just a stone’s toss from famed Arkansas River recreation and legendary mountain biking.

When we’re in urban environments, we can experience sensory overload, tension and mental fatigue. Natural settings help minds and bodies relax, reduce cortisol and lower heart rates and blood pressure. Outside Inn Nature Hotel founder Ben Cherrey shares these National Library of Medicine stats on his homepage, urging visitors to take care of themselves by booking one of his dozen nature-inspired dwellings.

Well-appointed cabins, a greenhouse, an A-frame, a chalet with a stargazing sleep loft and hammock-style abodes are wrapped in comforts nestled against the San Isabel National Forest. A Scandinavian-inspired wellness area beckons with a custom-built sauna, cold plunge, hot tubs and a bathhouse, connecting guests to nature through thoughtful design. A one-mile

nature trail snakes through the property for get-up-and-go hiking, while hundreds of miles of mountain biking zig-zag across the land. Nationally acclaimed whitewater rafting awaits on the Arkansas River through Browns Canyon with more mellow stretches flowing east of Salida.

Nearby, the Rainbow Trail’s continuous singletrack runs along the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains for roughly 100 miles from Salida towards Westcliffe. Guests tick off bucket-list Monarch Crest mountain bike rides and return to Outside Inn for quiet, star-studded recovery time.

Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa

Nearest town: Gateway, CO

Go for: Access to remote red rock hiking and biking on the gorgeous zero-crowds Colorado-Utah border paired with delicious southwest cuisine.

When you want seclusion and pampering, point your compass towards Gateway Canyons. Former Discovery Channel founder John Hendricks dreamt up this luxe Colorado red rock family resort in 2005 after falling for the beauty of the Unaweep Canyon. Gateway Canyons feels like a secret hideaway, sitting on 500 acres at a comfortable 4,500 feet. The Uncompahgre Plateau, Piñon Mesa and La Sal Mountains open up to a vast outdoor playground where guests are encouraged to ride horses, hike or mountain bike in the high-desert ponderosa pine or get deep into the backcountry on an off-road ATV tour.

Spend afternoons lounging poolside and indulge in the onsite specialty coffee bar, al fresco cantina and southwest-influenced grill. Luxurious rooms and suites in the Kiva Lodge or Kayenta Lodge feature custom Peruvian furnishings while spacious casitas reveal vaulted ceilings and stone tile outdoor showers. Take in views of the majestic palisade rock formation rising over 2,000 feet above the small community of Gateway and drink in some of the clearest night skies in the state.+

Lisa Blake Writer

WHAT EXTREME MOUNTAINEER RYAN KUSHNER TEACHES US ABOUT LONGEVITY

At extreme altitudes, the body begins to shut down. Oxygen thins. Muscles cannibalize themselves. The brain slows. Climbers call it the “Death Zone.” Most rely on bottled oxygen and high-altitude support teams to mitigate the damage.

Ryan Kushner does not.

The Denver-based bellman at Four Seasons Hotel Denver climbs some of

the tallest mountains on Earth without supplemental oxygen or sherpa support — a purist approach that strips mountaineering to its most unforgiving terms. “I want to test the mountain as real as possible,” Kushner says. “I carry all my gear. There’s no bottled oxygen. I’ve trained my body basically to the point where I don’t need it so far.”

At 44, Kushner is candid about the risks of high-altitude climbing. But his story didn’t begin on an 8,000-meter peak. It began in Minnesota, at 255 pounds, winded by stairs. After moving to Colorado in 2008, he attempted his first 14er, and was “absolutely destroyed.” He promised himself he’d climb one every summer. The next attempt was just as humbling.

That winter, he decided he’d had enough. “I remember looking at myself in the mirror,” he says. “I just didn’t like the way I looked. I said, ‘you can’t continue

like this.’” He didn’t overhaul his life overnight. He added cardio to the end of workouts and tweaked his diet. Over six months, he lost 55 pounds. “When the summer rolled around, it was like a light went on,” he says.

That year he climbed 15 Colorado 14ers. Then came Mount Rainier. Then Pico de Orizaba in Mexico — the third tallest peak in North America — where he first crossed 15,000 feet and felt what he describes as a euphoric rush. I can’t believe I’m this high. I can’t believe I can still breathe here. The peaks kept getting bigger: Bolivia, Denali, Aconcagua. Eventually, the Himalayas.

Today, the mountains that once flattened him have become training grounds. “I carry water jugs up 14ers in the summer,” he says. “I’ll mountain bike the dirt road to the trailhead, then load up my backpack with water and carry it up the mountain. It sounds crazy to a lot of people, but to me, that’s just normal.”

ADAPTATION — AND LIMITS

In a sport defined by hypoxia, Kushner has learned both the resilience and fragility of the human body. In 2024, long COVID settled in his lungs just as he was preparing for an expedition to Pakistan. For a climber who forgoes bottled oxygen, it was terrifying. “Is my mountaineering career over?” he says he remembers thinking.

After a battery of lung tests, doctors delivered unexpected news. “They said, ‘Your lungs are a little bigger, and you absorb 28% more oxygen than the average person.’ That was very interesting for me to find out.”

Still, experience has taught him restraint. On Aconcagua, a teammate developed pulmonary edema after ascending too quickly. Kushner helped carry nearly 100 pounds of gear down the mountain before attempting — and completing — the summit alone. “You just learn how you do at altitude,” he says. “A lot of it comes with experience.”

THE FALL

If altitude tests physiology, injury tests identity. In 2019, while rappelling — something he had done “literally thousands of times” — Kushner lost focus for a moment. “It’s like driving on the highway and looking down at your phone,” he says. “I took my eye off one small detail and fell 30 feet.”

He broke three discs in his back. His leg wrapped around a rock. His spinal cord was nearly severed. His liver was lacerated.

When he woke up, he asked three questions: Was his girlfriend (now wife) there? Did his parents know? Would he walk again? “The doctor said, ‘Yeah, you’ll walk again. You’ll probably never climb again.’” Kushner pauses. “That’s all I needed.” Rehabilitation, he says, was “95% mental.” Physical therapists were worried he might push too hard because he was so determined to return. Today, one leg is nearly an inch shorter, and he wears a large heel lift. There are aches. But he has since returned to the Himalayas.

When hotel guests mention their own injuries, he often shifts the conversation. “How’s your mental? How’s your headspace?” he asks. “That’s the number one thing that will get you back.”

PURPOSE BEYOND THE SUMMIT

By day, Kushner is the first face many guests encounter at Four Seasons Denver. “There aren’t many jobs that will give me one or two months off to go climb a mountain,” he says. After some initial hesitation, the hotel embraced his pursuits. He now summits with the Four Seasons Hotel Denver logo stitched across his jackets and beanies. “I feel very fortunate to be in the position I’m in.”

Climbing, he admits, can be selfish. So, he reframed it. Over the course of his career, he has raised more than $42,000 for causes ranging from the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of his grandparents to childhood cancer treatments for a friend’s son with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, to the alpine rescue team that saved his life after his accident.

REDEFINING LONGEVITY

For a man who has stood atop some of the world’s most dangerous mountains, longevity isn’t about stacking summits. “It means enjoying it,” he says. “As soon as I stop enjoying it, that’s it.”

This year, work constraints shortened his usual two-month Himalayan expedition to one month. Instead of forcing a bigger objective, he pivoted to a remote peak in Kyrgyzstan. “There are many beautiful options around the world,” he says. “It doesn’t have to be the biggest peak. I’m excited to experience somewhere new.”

That perspective — shaped by time in Bolivia, Nepal, Pakistan and Peru — may be the greatest lesson mountaineering has given him. “You realize sometimes we have our life perspectives totally wrong,” he says. “People focus on food, family, surviving and enjoying life together. You start to appreciate every moment.”

THE INVISIBLE TEAM

Behind every summit photo is a quieter story. Kushner credits his parents, his sisters — one of whom paused medical school to help him recover — and his

wife, who has endured the uncertainty of watching him leave for some of the planet’s most volatile terrain.

Longevity, he says, isn’t about conquering the highest peak. It’s sustaining the passion long enough to keep going.

As long as he’s still excited to shoulder a pack and step onto a new trail — even if it’s just the steep foothill behind Red Rocks where he has trained hundreds of times — he considers himself rich in the only currency that matters.

“As long as I’m excited to look forward to these trips,” he says, “that’s the longevity.” +

Lexi Marshall Managing Editor @lexi_marsha11 | lexireich.com

WANT TO LIVE LONGER?

Smart Ways to Fuel Your Microbiome

What you eat doesn’t just feed you — it feeds trillions of hungry microbes in your gut that may influence how well and how long you live. These microbes (a mix of bacteria, fungi and other single‑celled organisms) are mostly concentrated in your digestive tract.

These chemists not only help you break down your meals but also produce essential nutrients you can’t make on your own, protect you from disease and influence which parts of your DNA are switched on or kept quiet.

Scientists studying centenarians in Ita ly, Japan, China and other regions have found that those who reach old age in relatively good health tend to have more diverse gut microbiomes. Researchers of ten describe microbiome diversity using alpha diversity scores — reflecting both the number of different microbes present and how evenly they’re distributed — as well as uniqueness measures, which cap ture how distinct an individual’s overall gut profile is compared to others.

As we age, particularly after 65, the diversity of our microbiome declines significantly, but there are steps we can take to nurture it. Rather than relying on high‑end biohacks, nourishing the gut microbiome may be one of the most accessible and sustainable ways to support longevity.

According to longevity research, diets rich in diverse plant foods and fiber help regulate immune function, reduce chronic inflammation and even influence cognition and resilience to age related disease. In contrast, industrialized diets high in ultra‑processed foods, added sugars and unhealthy fats are linked to a less diverse, more pro‑inflammatory microbiome.

Every time you eat, you’re feeding someone. The key is to feed the beneficial microbes and starve the harmful ones.

MAKE PLANT DIVERSITY YOUR NEW METRIC

Instead of focusing on one or two so called superfoods, use “plant points” to increase the diversity of plant foods in your diet. Count the distinct plant types per week (whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices) and aim to gradually increase that count to 30 or more. Each distinct plant type counts once per week, even if you eat it multiple times. Thirty might sound like a lot, but you can reach it by:

• Swapping one‑note salads for rainbow bowls with beans, seeds, multiple vegetables, herbs and rotating grains (barley one day and quinoa another)

• Boosting your breakfasts, soups and salads by adding nuts and seeds

• Eating vegetables and fruits of different colors

FEED THEM FIBER DAILY

Fiber is your microbes’ primary fuel. When they ferment it, they produce short‑chain fatty acids that help support the gut lining, strengthen immunity and promote metabolic health. Analyses of U.S. dietary data from the National Library of Medicine suggests that only about 5% of Americans meet the recommend ed daily fiber intake — roughly 25 to 30 grams for most adults. Increase your fiber intake with these practical swaps:

• Choose intact or minimally processed whole grains (oats, brown rice, whole‑grain bread) instead of refined versions

• Include at least one fiber‑anchor meal a day: e.g., bean‑based chili, lentil soup or a grain‑and‑veggie bowl

• Add a piece of fruit, a handful of nuts or beans to meals

STARVE THE TROUBLEMAKERS

Cut back on ultra‑processed foods loaded with sugar and fat. Diets high in added sugars, refined carbohydrates and ultra‑processed fats are linked to reduced microbial diversity and signs of gut barrier damage and inflammation. Reduce consumption of ultra processed snacks, sugary drinks and fast food that crowd out fiber‑rich foods by:

• Replacing one daily sugary drink with sparkling water with citrus

• Swapping packaged desserts for fruit‑and‑nut options

• Switching from fried fast food to home‑cooked meals using olive oil or other healthier fats, with plenty of plants Keep in mind that microbiome chang es reflect patterns over weeks and months, not single meals, and that there is no one “perfect” gut profile. There’s no need for lab tests to start. Every extra plant, fiber‑rich swap and step away from ultra‑processed foods is a small nudge toward a more resilient gut — and poten tially a healthier, longer life. +

Carrie Lehtonen Health Coach + Yoga Teacher @fireflycommunity fireflycommunity.com

Modern Loneliness in Adults:

Parenting, Partnership and the Myth of “Having It All”

BY JENNIFER WEINTRAUB

Your calendar is packed. Your phone is constantly buzzing. And yet, somewhere between the school drop-offs, work deadlines and late-night scrolling, you feel more alone than ever.

Loneliness doesn’t always have to look like being alone. Often, it shows up when people surround you and still feel unseen.

The Pressure Cooker of “Having It All”

When everyone looks like they’re thriving, it’s easy to play the comparison game and feel like you’re falling behind.

“The idea of having it all is amplified here because it’s easy to look around and see people’s homes, families and everything they do,” explains Skylar Hertzfeld, a Vail Health Behavioral Health therapist.

The myth of “having it all” suggests you can be a present parent, a supportive partner, a successful professional, a caring friend and an endlessly adventurous human simultaneously. But most people are just trying to stay afloat.

Here’s the thing: you can have it all, just not all at once. Chasing that impossible work-life balance leads to parental burnout, resentment and a disconnect from the people we care about most. Here’s what you can do to restore that balance:

1. Values First

“Your values ebb and flow depending on where you are in life,” Hertzfeld says. “When you don’t know your values, you can start neglecting the things that are important, which creates a quiet misalignment.”

Defining what matters right now helps create boundaries that protect your energy. Hertzfeld recommends reviewing your calendar and asking a simple question: Does this reflect my values? If your schedule is packed with obligations but leaves no room for friendship, rest or connection with your partner, loneliness can creep in even when life looks full. Clarifying your values gives you permission to say yes or no with intention.

2. Start Smaller Than You Think

Rekindling friendships can feel daunting, but reconnection doesn’t require a grand gesture, just a first step.

“Send a quick text to say ‘I’m thinking of you,’ or reminisce on a moment that reminded you of that person,” suggests Hertzfeld. “People love to receive those messages, and they tend to come through when you need them the most.”

Then, take it one step further: make a plan, and put it on the calendar. Moving the connection out of the group chat and into real life is where momentum builds.

3. Why In-Person Still Matters

In-person connection leaves you feeling more fulfilled than a phone call. You pick up on non-verbal cues: tone, body language and facial expressions that create a sense of safety and empathy.

If you rely on texts to catch up, try inviting someone to meet up. More often than not, people are craving the same thing and waiting for someone to make the first move.

4. Partnership is Built in the Small Moments Connection isn’t always about big actions; sometimes it’s about brief moments.

Emotional isolation in relationships can exist even when you share a home. Recognizing your partner’s bids for connection, those small attempts to engage, touch or talk, can make a powerful difference.

Pausing to respond, even briefly, sends a message: I see you. The dishes can wait. The email can sit for another minute. Those micro-moments add up to emotional closeness over time.

Another way to connect: doing the things you love together. “Plan a date night or day around the activities that originally brought you together,” says Kady Svitak, a Vail Health Behavioral Health therapist. You might have to get creative with timing, but those shared moments build strong bonds.

When Loneliness Signals Something More

If loneliness starts to feel heavy, persistent or shows up physically, it might be time to get support to manage stress. Behavioral health professionals at Vail Health Behavioral Health offer therapy, mental health services and crisis support.

Loneliness isn’t a personal failure; it’s a human signal to remind us that we’re wired for connection. And sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is to let someone know you don’t want to feel alone anymore.

If you or someone you know are struggling and need immediate assistance, please call the free 24/7 crisis hotline at 970-306-4673.

HERBS + PERIMENOPAUSE

Holistic Health Professionals Weigh in on Hormone Balance + Midlife Support

Brain fog. Sleep disruption. Weight changes. Hot flashes. Mood swings. Joint pain. Erratic periods. Rage. Anxiety.

These are symptoms women in their 40s and 50s report during peri menopause. The years leading up to menopause — when a woman’s men strual cycle has officially stopped for 12 consecutive months — are a hormonal rollercoaster marked by fluctuating estro gen and progesterone levels. The result? Intense physical and emotional shifts that can span a decade or longer.

There are two parallel and palpa ble women’s health shifts happening: Menopause is no longer a “suffer in silence” chapter. Women are educating themselves and their sisters, daughters and besties to move through this phase of life with grace and optimal health. Next, there’s a strong return to food and herbs as medicine to ease some of these life disrupting symptoms.

“Usually women come to me because they’re having a hard time sleeping, their digestion has changed, or stress levels are high and energy levels are low,” says Emily Stock, herbalist and owner at Moab, Utah based Sundial Medicinals. “Anything that tips the scale into ‘this isn’t working anymore, I need help.’”

A clinical herbalist for nearly 12 years, Stock serves as a birth doula and is pas sionate about helping women through pregnancy, postpartum and perimeno pause. Her Main Street Moab apothe cary is stocked with handcrafted herbs, teas and tinctures. She’s been known to recommend vitex (also called chaste berry) to support progesterone, the gentle cooling herb shatavari to support hormone synthesis and California poppy, a sedative herb, to help with sleep.

“Herbalism is a really nice place to work on those root foundations of health — good sleep, nutrition, stress manage ment and exercise for bone and hormon al health,” Stock says. “Which is where I usually start. Along with herbs.”

Dr. Kim Nearpass of Mountain River Naturopathic Clinic seconds that notion. The naturopathic practitioner believes, when it comes to women’s hormonal health, herbs do work. But not when they’re used like pharmaceuticals.

“Herbs are not drugs,” Dr. Nearpass says. “They don’t work like drugs. They have their own energies; they work syn ergistically together.”

Patients coming to her Frisco, Colorado office seeking help with perimenopause symptoms undergo a two hour initial exam that includes a comprehensive hormone assessment, digestive analysis and physical exam, along with any necessary testing. Dr. Nearpass will then make rec ommendations around nutritional changes, lifestyle shifts and herbs.

“There is no one way that women go through this,” she says. “It’s such a unique experience and nothing is normal. Lots of times, it’s lifestyle, burning the candle at both ends, working 70 hours a week. You’re stressed out and aren’t taking the time to listen to your body.”

Both professionals agree: the journey is a delicate balance of biology and lifestyle.

In our fast paced screen focused world, nervous system regulation is just as important as nutrition, which has a big effect on how women process hor mones, Stock adds.

“We have this opportunity in peri menopause,” she says. “We can set ourselves up for success and have this good base. We can build tools to call on when we feel out of balance.”

For Stock, that toolkit can include soaking up natural sunlight first thing in the morning to set up a cortisol rhythm for the day, helping to optimize melatonin for solid nighttime sleep. It looks like aiming for 30 grams of protein for breakfast to give the body steady blood sugar and the nutrition it needs to build muscle, repair itself and make hormones. It looks like taking screen breaks throughout the day to soothe the nervous system and incorporating

AN HERBALIST'S PERIMENOPAUSE TOOLKIT

Small daily habits that can make a big difference.

MORNING SUNLIGHT:

Step outside first thing to set your cortisol rhythm and support deeper sleep at night.

PROTEIN-FORWARD BREAKFAST:

Aim for 30 grams of protein to stabilize blood sugar and give your body what it needs to build muscle and make hormones.

SCREEN BREAKS:

Regular pauses throughout the day help soothe an overtaxed nervous system.

MOVEMENT MIX:

Strength training, yoga and cardio each play a role in bone and hormonal health.

HERBAL WIND-DOWN:

Try an herbal tincture in place of a glass of wine to ease into sleep naturally.

a balance of strength training, yoga and cardio. And it looks like choosing an herbal tincture over a glass of wine at night to wind down before bed.

“We have such a push through kind of culture that’s not helpful to women’s health,” Stock says. “Respect the rhythm of what your body needs in a daily way and allow yourself the time and space to do that.”

Learn more about herbs, hormonal health and managing perimenopause symptoms and contact these women’s health professionals at sundialmedicinals. com and mountainriverclinic.com +

Lisa Blake Writer @lisananblake | lisablakecreative.com

PLAY! IT’S WHAT YOU’RE MISSING

“The joy of play is the ecstatic feeling of liberty,” says Peter Gray, Ph.D., in his essay on the value of play for Psychology Today. Who couldn’t use more ecstasy?

I grew up thinking adult play was normal behavior as my parents cycled through softball teams, racquetball part ners and board game nights. My mom sledded wholeheartedly, once sailing off into the woods on an icy run like the iconic Chevy Chase scene. Family ice skating and bike rides were weekly events during my teen years. And then, I grew up … and forgot.

In my suburban world, parents faded into chauffeurs and coaches. Of course our kids don’t want to grow up! My own adulthood felt boring. I was stiff, deplet ed, old beyond my years, but I didn’t want to just watch the fun anymore. I thought, if wild, purposeless play gives kids energy and happiness, why not me?

TRY YOUR BIGGEST CHILDHOOD LOVE

I’ve always loved climbing trees, so I took my kids on a park tour for “the good kind.” Minnesota offers thick trunked

oaks and pines that bled sap onto my clothes as a child.

Finally, we found a line of ponderosa pine with perfectly spaced branches. I let the kids wrestle the adrenaline of start ing something new, then climbed 20 feet up a tree between them. I’d never been so high off the ground of my own power as an adult. It was dizzying, exhilarating. I closed my eyes and felt the tree sway slightly with the breeze. All the day’s smiling hurt my face.

REVISIT OLD JOY POINTS

It turns out, I still love ice skating as much as I love to swim. Canoeing was once a favorite summer activity, and now I paddleboard frequently, loving the mix of sunshine and water. As I ticked boxes, I realized that all of the things my younger self liked were still enjoyable as an adult. Joy hadn’t gone away; I had.

PLAY INTO CONNECTION

According to the National Institute for Play, “The social nature of many play ac tivities strengthens bonds … and creates a sense of belonging.” Friends and I play board games regularly, rotating homes

Our neighbor Nelva is 85. On warm mornings, she bikes up and down the street exactly three times, wearing a red helmet and her biggest smile. I think of Nelva’s smile when I decide how to play. Sometimes I’m too exhausted to think of anything after a long day wrapped in traffic, meal-prep still on the horizon. But dancing in the kitchen while the water boils, my favorite song so loud, the floor reverberates, changes the day’s mood. Whatever elicits that smile is worth pursuing. Go find it!

each round. It’s exciting to play longer games with others who enjoy the chal lenge. Plus, there’s yummy food. We’ll spend six to 10 hours — lost in both play and chatter — and have built excellent friendships around this activity.

Two years ago, I started a sports camp in my neighborhood. Strangers and their kiddos signed up to play low key team sports, cycling through kickball, dodge ball, soccer and capture the flag for one hour every Tuesday night. Within a few weeks, group members began coming an hour early to potluck together on the grass. Soon we all stayed until well past dark, enjoying each other’s company. +

Christine Emming Writer cemming.com

WHEN LONGING BECOMES YOUR LOVER

Q+A With Amanda McCracken

After going viral for her essay on late in life virginity — and fielding unsolicited advice on national television — Amanda McCracken set out on a decade long investigation into love, intimacy and why longing felt safer than commitment. The result is a memoir braid ed with neuroscience, attachment theory and hard won self inquiry. “Longing in and of itself is not bad,” she says. “There’s the kind of longing that eats away at you and blocks you from seeing the bounty right in front of you. And there’s a longing that nourishes your soul and ignites creativity. Nurture that longing.”

out if something was wrong with me for wanting to reserve sexual intercourse for a committed and loving relationship. And why was it taking so long?

The mission turned into a 10 year journey talking with other late in life virgins, psychologists on attachment styles, psychi atrists on grief, neuroscientists on ADHD and addiction, rabbis and porn stars on intimacy, mind fulness gurus on self love and sociologists on online dating apps and hook up culture. What I discovered was that limerence (obsessively ruminating about an idealized love interest in hopes of emotional reciprocation) for unavailable men had become a form of self protec tion and self sabotage in a dating world where physical intimacy was encour aged and emotional intimacy shunned. The result of this research became my memoir plus, When Longing Becomes Your Lover: Breaking from Infatuation, Rejection, and Perfectionism: A True Story of Overcoming Limerence.

ant, it took peeling back layer after layer to believe I was worthy of the committed and loving relationship I desired.

Your journey blends personal experience with neuroscience and psychology. What did you learn about how prolonged longing affects the nervous system — and what healing can restore over the long term?

I learned that my ADHD brain, which struggles with dopamine regulation, sought novelty in potential partners and used serial crushing (hyperfixating on a romantic interest) to get that hit of dopa mine. Unpredictable partners felt thrilling and engaging, so I often confused in tensity for compatibility. In speaking with neuroscientists, I learned how limerence was part of the trigger behavior reward system. If the trigger is boredom, the behavior might be checking their socials for ruminative fuel. The reward was the dopamine from simply anticipating a response from or connection with that crush. Longing is a muscle I strength ened and fueled with the uncertainty generated by online dating apps.

Well. spoke with the Boulder, Colora do–based author about her new book and how her exploration of longing, intimacy and self worth connects to this issue’s theme of longevity — not just in love, but in emotional well being.

When your book began to take shape, what personal experiences and questions about love and intimacy felt most urgent for you to explore on the page?

In 2014, I sat beside Katie Couric on her show as a 36 year old virgin to speak about late in life virginity after my New York Times essay "Does My Virginity Have a Shelf Life?" went viral. When the cameras stopped rolling, Katie leaned over and told me I should just have sex. She said folks at the studio thought I had fairytale princess syndrome. That comment shook me to my core and spurred me on a mission to figure

You write that longing can feel safer than real intimacy. When did you begin to realize that this pattern was affecting your emotional longevity?

The moment of realization occurred the summer before I turned 40. As I was sitting with my somatic therapist who I’d been seeing for several months, she looked up from her notes and told me, “Amanda, longing is your lover.” My pattern: 1) Fall for some charismatic emotionally unavailable male who showed me a pinch of interest; 2) Put him on a pedestal; 3) Research the heck out of him to figure out how I might prove my worth; 4) Hook up, usually with the help of alcohol; 5) Ruminate about a half baked relationship that only exists in my head; 6) Feel anxious when ghosted and then despair when “unchosen.” And while recognition of a pattern you’ve followed most of your adult life is import

I took time to assess my two decades of dating and the well worn self belittling path I’d trudged. I saw the men I’d idealized for who they actually were and learned to re direct my longing into something that was nurturing, like planning a trip or working on my book. Every night for several months, I wrote in my prayer journal the mantra, “I’m ready for and worthy of a deeply loving and intimate relationship.” Eventually, I believed it, but not until several months after I’d met Dave.

As you moved from longing toward presence, how did your definition of love — and what it means to live well over a lifetime — begin to change? Through somatic therapy, my nervous system learned to recognize that a reliable, transparent partner who adored me was safe and healthy, not a boring end to my search. Love wasn’t electricity and idealiz ing the other. Nor was it to be won through suffering like my years of endurance run ning had taught me. Love was knowing I could count on someone to show up every day and accept me for who I am (and vice versa). It’s a lesson I am trying to demon strate for our daughter. +

PLEASE PASS THE SAUERKRAUT

3 Recipes With the Fermented Favorite

Scientists have found that your gut — sometimes referred to as your “second brain” — is home to a community of microbes, helping you make choices that affect your longevity. According to The Psychobiotic Revolution, this community, known as your microbiota, communicates with your second brain, and its state can affect everything from your immune system to your food choices to your inclination towards anxiety and depression.

You and your gut bugs have a symbi otic relationship; if you help them, they’ll help you.

This beautifully complex system of bac teria living inside, on and all around you is designed to help elevate not only how your physical body moves through life, but the quality of your mental and emotional vitality. Unfortunately, many aspects of our modern lifestyles can hurt your gut micro biota, including drinking too much alcohol, eating excess sugar and fried foods, over reliance on antibiotics and being inactive. So, how do we help our microbiota help us? Eating fermented foods is a great place to start.

“Fermentation is a means of food pro cessing where we let beneficial bacteria do all the work,” explains Dianne Koehler, owner and director of Nutrition Therapy Institute in Arvada, Colorado. “The bac teria feed on components of food and essentially ‘pre digest’ it using similar

chemical breakdown processing our own bodies would do later in digestion.”

“During the fermentation process, bacteria produce a myriad of beneficial byproducts, including certain B vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin K2; biologically active peptides that support gut health, immune function and antioxidant activity; and enzymes that help optimize diges tion,” Koehler adds.

Sauerkraut — German for “sour cabbage” — is one of those fermented powerhouse foods that you can easily make at home to support your gut health (thus supporting most other aspects of your health).

Koehler shares, “Most people report im proved digestion as a result of eating fer mented food. And that's great — but better digestion is just the tip of the iceberg given the dominance of optimal digestion for helping to support body function overall.”

You can add sauerkraut to almost any meal, or eat a spoonful of it for some daily gut TLC.

If you’re seeking to support your quality of life and the lives of those around you, serving a homemade meal with gut helping sauerkraut is a simple, meaningful act of love. +

Kristen Grace Writer @kristen.grace_

SAUERKRAUT

Yields: 1 jar

1 head cabbage (purple or green)

1 1-liter jar with a tight-fitting clasp lid

2 Tbsp salt

1. Before cutting the cabbage, reserve a few leaves from the exterior and set aside, then slice one head of cabbage into thin pieces.

2. Using a large bowl, massage the cut cabbage with two tablespoons of salt. The cabbage will begin to release its natural juices (brine). Let the cabbage rest for 15-30 minutes.

3. One handful at a time, place the cabbage into your jar, pressing down on it with your fist to release even more liquid.

4. Once all your cabbage is in the jar, pour any remaining juice from the bowl on top. The cabbage should be fully submerged in brine. If it's not, create extra brine with one cup of water and 1 teaspoon of salt, and add until the cabbage is fully submerged.

5. Now take your reserved cabbage leaves and place them on top. Press down again, ensuring everything is covered with brine (this prevents mold). If you have a canning weight, you can use it now.

6. Seal the jar and place it in a cool, dark place such as a pantry, with a plate underneath.

7. Allow it to ferment for one to four weeks (the longer, the sourer). Burp the jar each day by opening it to release gas build-up. Continue to ensure all the sauerkraut is always fully submerged in brine.

8. Once you have reached your desired flavor, keep your sauerkraut in the fridge and enjoy often for a happy gut!

SWEET + SOUR SALAD

Spring mix

Shredded apples

Shredded carrots

Sauerkraut

REUBEN TACOS

Tortillas of choice

(If you have sourdough discard, mix 1 cup of that with 2 ½ cups flour, 1 tsp salt, ¹/₃ cup olive oil and ½ cup warm water. Divide into 16 equal pieces, roll out and cook on preheated cast iron pan.)

Ground beef

Sauerkraut

Swiss cheese

Thousand Island Dressing

(Make it with mayonnaise, ketchup, relish and spices to taste.)

JUNE

GoPro Mountain Games

Vail, CO / June 4-7

Adventure enthusiasts unite at this mountain-lifestyle event. Participate in biking, kayaking, running, hiking, disc golf and yoga while surrounded by brilliant music and art. This is guaranteed fun for active, mountain-loving people, including families and spectators. mountaingames.com

Bend Yoga Festival

Bend, OR / June 11-14

Rooted in respect for nature, yogic philosophy and science-informed practice, this inclusive four-day event brings together yoga, outdoor adventure, meditation, music and education in indoor and outdoor spaces throughout historic downtown Bend, Oregon. It’s designed for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. bendyogafestival.com

Smoky Mountain Yoga & Wellness Festival

Waynesville, NC / June 19-21

Corresponding with the International Day of Yoga and Summer Solstice, this second annual event is filled with fitness classes, sound healing sessions, breathwork, wellness education, live music and entertainment, wisdom and wellness talks, vendors, local artists and more. smokymountainyogafest.com

Aspen Ideas: Health

Aspen, CO / June 22-25

As the opening segment of the renowned Aspen Ideas Festival, join the event shaping the future of health, medicine and science. The health-centered four days are designed to introduce you to extraordinary innovations in the charming, luxury mountain town. Take part in morning yoga sessions, guided nature walks at the Maroon Bells, opportunities to network, delicious meals and more. aspenideas.org

Telluride Yoga Festival

Telluride, CO / June 25-28

Spend a long weekend deepening your connection and inspiration with yourself and your surroundings. The esteemed annual event features over 100 offerings in yoga, meditation, hiking, stand-up paddleboarding yoga, music, wellness and wisdom talks, social gatherings and more. Attendees are guided by world-renowned scholars, creatives and teachers. tellurideyogafestival.com

Nantucket Wellness Festival

Nantucket, MA / June 26-28

On the quaint island off the coast of Massachusetts, this wellness festival empowers participants to create a personal blueprint for a happier, healthier life. Through a variety of fitness classes, discussions and workshops, you will gain the knowledge and tools to add longevity, balance and vitality into your days. nantucketwellnessfestival.org

Sweat Life Festival

San Diego, CA / June 27-28

Whether you are an avid athlete, weekend warrior or curious about how to live a more balanced life, the Sweat Life Festival is your moment to break free and get moving. The event includes a variety of fitness classes, yoga sessions, guided meditation and breathwork, locally sourced craft mocktails, food trucks, recovery tools, live music and more. sweatlifefestival.com

JULY

Colorado Black Arts Festival

Denver, CO / July 10-12

Celebrate African American art and culture in historic Denver City Park West, Colorado. Join for an important Colorado journey honoring creativity, diversity and heritage. Dive into captivating exhibitions, dynamic performances and engaging workshops that showcase the radiant community. colbaf.org

Crested Butte Wildflower Festival

Crested Butte, CO / July 10-19

Frolic in the heart of Colorado as you immerse yourself in stunning, natural wildflower landscapes. Choose to fill your days with 200 workshop options, including painting, photography, culinary arts and guided hikes. Celebrate and protect these precious blooms as the nonprofit organization champions wildflower preservation and fosters appreciation for our natural habitats. crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.org

Tennyson Street Fair

Denver, CO / July 17-18

More than 200 local restaurants, artisans, creators, live musicians and breweries line the streets in this bazaar-style festival. For the fourth year, this community event celebrates the iconic small businesses along Denver’s Tennyson Street and beyond. tennysonstreetfair.com

Maine YogaFest

South Portland, ME / July 17-19

The Maine YogaFest is rooted in community and connection. Flow and practice with like-minded people at Southern Maine Community College. The event is committed to giving back. In fact, $10 from every ticket sold is donated back to the event’s non-profit partners. maineyogafest.com

Asheville Yoga Festival

Asheville, NC / July 23-26

Amidst the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains, with lush forests, crystal-clear rivers and many hiking trails, this yoga festival provides a sanctuary for outdoor yoga and meditation sessions. Asheville is a city full of holistic wellness centers, farm-to-table restaurants, breweries, spas and shopping. loveshineplay.com

Nurture Through Nature:

Summer Yoga Retreat

Loveland, CO / July 31-August 2

Embrace the sweet serenity of daily yogic life at Wilder-Nest Retreats with Holistic Yoga School. Your time will take place on a private 100-acre ranch nestled in the vibrant Rocky Mountains. Align yourself with illuminating energy from the sun on your mat, on a paddleboard and with three vegetarian meals per day. holisticyogaschool.com

AUGUST

Movement and Memories:

A Cape Town Journey

Cape Town, South Africa / August 1-6

Influencer Sophia Karisa from TourHero will be your trip leader and fellow adventure seeker on this six-day, five-night excursion. This journey is for travelers who crave both momentum and meaning — those who chase sunsets, savor flavors and find renewal between adventure and rest. tourhero.com

Women's Whitewater Rafting, Yoga & Music Trip in Lodore Canyon

Vernal, UT / August 13-16

Cradled between two steep and beautiful red canyon walls, this section of the Green River winds through the Uinta Mountains and features some of the best beaches in the American west. The expert river guides and chefs prepare your meals to keep your body and mind fueled for this holistic retreat. You’ll be joined on this trip by yoga instructor Jenny Palmer and singer-songwriter Emily Hicks. bikeraft.com

Taos Mountain Wellness Festival

Taos, NM / August 14-16

Previously known as the Taos Mountain Yoga Festival, these transformative three days emphasize self-care, mindfulness, the power of holistic wellness and outdoor movement. The purpose of the festival is to focus on wellness as a whole, wellness as a lifestyle while you enjoy the beauty of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. taosskivalley.com

Rise Wellness Festival

Hedley, BC / August 27-31

Explore how to integrate more play and fun into your life through yoga, wellness workshops, DJs and live music, spa offerings, artisan vendors, alternative healing modalities and more. Right along the Similkameen River, bask in the beauty of the Canadian wilderness as you connect to yourself, others, nature and your spirituality. risewellnessfestival.ca

Grown Strong Retreats: Croatia

Šimuni, Croatia / August 29-September 5

Surrounded by the Adriatic Sea, far from crowded tourist hubs, enjoy a week of fitness, adventure and community. Start your days with refreshing beach workouts and hikes, explore Pag Island, taste local cuisine, swim in crystal-clear waters and more. retreats.grownstrong.com

SEPTEMBER

Denver Yoga Summit

Denver, CO / September 11-13

Join inspiring teachers, speakers and wellness leaders for yoga classes, workshops, meditation and live music against the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountain foothills. This year’s theme invites us to explore yoga as a way of living and being, both on and off the mat at the Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms. denveryogasummit.com

Sunnyside Music Festival

Denver, CO / September 12

Unite through music at this event, supporting local bands, artisans and youth organizations. Join for a free, family-friendly experience that fosters community spirit and celebrates local talent. sunnysidemusicfest.org

Fall Equinox Yoga Retreat in Sonoma Wine Country Sonoma, CA / September 18-20

Balance your chakras, practice yoga and meditation, hike in nature, enjoy local farmto-table cuisine and biodynamic wine tasting. The retreat will be held on a private ranch surrounded by rolling hills of vineyards and nature where you can freely move, breathe and balance your soul. bodyflows.com

Women’s Arizona Yoga & Spa Retreat

Carefree, AZ / September 24-27

Tucked among more than 20 acres of Arizona’s succulent-studded Sonoran Desert, experience personalized wellness and award-winning hospitality. Enjoy the path to a happier and healthier you through extensive yoga, mindfulness, spa, nature and community. innerdimensionyoga.com

Boulderthon: Boulder Marathon Boulder, CO / September 27

The Boulderthon is back for the fifth year in a row! This course features a new start downtown, then leads through the beautiful back roads of the valley below the iconic Flatirons, before winding you to an epic, one-of-a-kind finish on the historic Pearl Street Mall. Spend your weekend in the happiest and fittest city in the country. boulderthon.org

OCTOBER

Park City Wine Festival

Park City, UT / October 1-3

The Park City Wine Festival is a premier destination event where master winemakers, culinary greats and enthusiastic guests gather to play, wine and dine against the beauty of the fall season. There will be rare tastings, three grand tastings, immersive wine experiences and more. parkcitywinefest.com

Majestic Sardinia: A Yoga & Nature Retreat

Sardinia, Italy / October 4-10

For seven days and six nights, you will have the opportunity to enjoy Sardinia, Italy as your playground for exploration, introspection and reconnection. Bask in the crystal-clear waters, stunning vistas, dreamy nature baths, rich agriculture and ancient ruins steeped with history. Savor the local food, olive oils and wine. yogaadventuresworldwide.com

Yoga & Rock Climbing Retreat

Kalymnos, Greece / October 10-17

Experience the perfect blend of adventure and serenity, where the Kalymnos landscape provides the backdrop to this adventure-oriented retreat. Taking place in the world-renowned climbing destination, this time of year is ideal for climbing conditions. Expect exploration, connection and breathtaking views. wildhavenhealing.com

An Autumn Ouray Women’s Yoga, Hot Springs and Hiking Retreat

Ouray, CO / October 14-18

Come along to the ever-charming town of Ouray, nestled in the San Juan Mountains, where you’ll rejuvenate amid the colorful fall leaves. Each day unfolds with moments that leave you feeling increasingly refreshed as you participate in guided hikes, enjoy the hot springs and spend intentional time on your yoga mat alongside like-minded women. marysusanstults.com

Path of Love USA

Loveland, CO / October 24-31

Established over 30 years ago in India, this residential personal development and meditation retreat is now conducted in 17 countries, on five continents and in six languages. This meditation and personal development retreat will challenge and enrich you, inspiring you to reflect upon your life’s meaning and fulfillment. pathretreats.com

NOVEMBER

Gratitude Yoga Retreat

Gateway, CO / November 5-8

Nestled in the Palisades of western Colorado, this yoga retreat offers a long weekend of self-care, exploration and outdoor adventure. Participants will dive into the chakra and meridian systems, enjoy the resort’s amenities and take advantage of surrounding hiking and biking trails. Three nourishing meals are included each day. mariegreenyoga.com

22nd Annual Yoga Jambalaya

Yosemite, CA / November 7-8

Balanced Rock hosts a weekend of yoga, movement, wellness and community just outside of Yosemite National Park. The event is being held at the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort & Health Spa where participants can enjoy invigorating and restorative flows, facials, journaling, breathwork and more. balancedrock.org

Mesmerized in Morocco: A Yoga & Culture Retreat

Morocco / November 7-14

Days are anchored by yoga and unfold through select cultural experiences: a traditional hammam and massage, privately guided medina exploration, belly-dancing instruction, camel rides along the Atlantic Ocean and a hands-on tagine cooking experience. Each moment is intentional, allowing Morocco’s texture, color and cadence to reveal themselves naturally.

yogaadventuresworldwide.com

Trekking Adventures Through Peru's Natural Wonders

Peru / November 27-December 4

Test your endurance along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, across Rainbow Mountain and the waters of Humantay Lake. Venture to the wildlife-rich Ballestas Islands, bask in the golden dunes of Huacachina and sip local wines and pisco. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, culture buffs those craving a reset. tourhero.com

ALWAYS KEEP YOUR SMILE. THAT'S HOW I EXPLAIN MY LONG LIFE.

JEANNE CALMENT

Jeanne Calment (1875–1997) was a French supercentenarian and the oldest person in history with a verified age of 122 years and 164 days — the only person documented to have lived past 120.

BY

Howard Head Sports Medicine helps people of all ages and abilities get back to the activities they love. Working with the world’s top orthopaedic doctors and researchers, our patients benefit from innovative physical therapy techniques, state-of-the-art equipment, and experienced physical therapists.

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