Just moments from the iconic Malibu coastline, the Center for Health & Wellbeing, located at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, offers a variety of multi-day immersion retreats that promise rejuvenation and transformative experiences for the mind, body, and soul. Guests find themselves surrounded by experts from health-focused centers around the globe and participate in a host of activities – from cooking classes to guided hikes and meditation – all while benefiting from the latest fitness diagnostic tools and CURE Medical’s highly individualized health and medical experiences. The Center brings together a unique fusion of cutting-edge therapies and ancient practices, all aimed at fostering a holistic approach to physical fitness, nutritional harmony, and a balanced lifestyle.
The Center for Health & Wellbeing: A Journey to Holistic Wellness
Nestled in the heart of the Santa Monica Mountains, on the expansive grounds of a lush, 12-acre estate, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village is set between the beaches of Malibu and Santa Barbara’s vineyards. Offering a sun-splashed side of California life, it is a true haven for those ready to take care of themselves – mind, body, and soul.
Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, a AAA Five Diamond hotel, unveiled its Center for Health & Wellbeing in 2022. This state-of-the-art center provides a proven approach to wellness rooted in the five tenets of health: nutrition, life balance, medically sound data, fitness, and healing spa therapies. It’s this philosophy that guides each customized service. Crafted by experts using the latest in science and technology, the Center offers three finely tuned retreats: Sustainable Weight Loss, Optimum Performance, and Spa & Beauty. Each represents a truly holistic experience, inclusive of an individual consultation with a program advisor, delectable meals from the Wellness Kitchen, a rejuvenating 60-minute spa treatment, and a comprehensive body composition analysis.
Daily life-enhancing activities include group workshops, workouts, one-on-one private consultations tailored to specific areas of focus, guided hikes through the scenic Santa Monica Mountains & Malibu coastline, and morning meditations. The Wellness Kitchen comes to life with hands-on cooking classes, providing not just nourishment but also knowledge, encapsulated in the Wellness Kitchen cookbook.
In a significant stride toward overall wellbeing, guests can embark on a transformative journey through targeted retreats, flexible wellbeing stays, day passes, memberships, and corporate retreats, each offering a unique blend of luxury and health-focused experiences. More than a mere facility, it is a sanctuary where accredited experts employ a time-tested approach, guiding guests on a journey toward sustained optimum health. The team, composed of on-site registered dietitians, exercise physiologists, clinical psychologists, and mindfulness teachers, collaborates closely with each guest. In addition, CURE Medical, the recently inaugurated Med Spa, provides exclusive access to cutting-edge medical services through a carefully assembled consortium of physicians and therapists committed to delivering unparalleled care.
Where Comfort Meets Serenity with a Touch of Hollywood Legacy
Bathed in a sun-kissed palette, the lobby is adorned in natural hues; it stands as a gateway to a realm of equanimity, setting the stage for the transformative experiences that await. A pre-arrival phone call ensures that your welcome gift is tailored to your specification and is waiting for you as you step into one of the 269 guest rooms and 39 suites. Each guestroom features residential-style décor and a soothing, welcoming atmosphere with a touch of old Hollywood magic. From soft velvet upholstery to mahogany furnishings and sparkling chandeliers, the color palette is reflective of botanicals and the nearby ocean waves, and rooms are set off by graceful views of the resort’s manicured gardens and the Santa Monica mountains. Each bathroom is a spacious retreat with marble and granite appointments, large soaking tubs, and boutique amenities.
Nourishment for the Soul
The culinary journey at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village offers a meticulously curated and refined dining experience, weaving exquisite craftsmanship and elegance. With an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and freshly picked herbs from the onsite garden, the hotel’s dining establishments attract guests and locals alike, drawn to the inspired menus and beautiful natural surroundings. Coin & Candor, a traditional California brasserie, where wood-fired cooking techniques are infused with refined sophistication, provides an all-day dining menu that draws regional inspiration. Under the culinary guidance of Chef Jesus Medina, Coin & Candor’s seasonal kitchen serves up a variety of creative and healthy dishes, and the delectable desserts, pastries, and breads are designed by former French Laundry pastry chef Patrick Fahy.
Strengthening the Body and Mind
A state-of-the-art fitness center awaits those seeking to elevate their physical health. The center, equipped with cutting-edge facilities, complements the diverse wellness offerings, providing a space for guests to engage in invigorating workouts tailored to their individual needs. After strength and conditioning, venture into the 40,000-square-foot spa, the largest of its kind in the Four Seasons family, for a spectrum of healing therapies that seamlessly blend traditional practices with cutting-edge treatments.
To make fitness goals a reality, guests can forget the scale and turn instead to the Bod Pod, a sleek machine that uses air displacement plethysmography to break down body composition into fat and fat-free mass, or to the VO2 Max Assessment, an exercise test performed on a treadmill where you are connected to a machine that analyzes your expired air to measure aerobic capacity and max oxygen consumption. This type of data analysis of body composition and cardiovascular fitness sets the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village apart from other wellness retreats and will take your health journey to a whole new level. Hotel guests are welcome to do Bod Pod and VO2 Max testing analysis without attending the wellness retreat.
The Cooling Calm of The Cove
Unveiled as one of the property’s newest offerings, The Cove is an alfresco retreat capturing the carefree and vibrant essence of Southern California. The Cove boasts an expansive design favoring cobalt blues, deep oranges, and verdant greens that work in harmony with its teak wood and white metal finishes. The Cove features three invigorating whirlpool spas, an opulent main pool, terraced lounge seating, exclusive private daybeds, and colorful hammocks shaded by majestic date palm trees. As the first stars of twilight come into the sky, tiki torches and a sprawling 40-foot wall of fire cast a dazzling golden hue over the property. Add to the experience with The Cove Pool, Kitchen & Bar, where the menu celebrates seasonality and local ingredients with flavors inspired by the shores of Baja California and the lively Mediterranean region.
The Center for Health & Wellbeing offers each guest a way to define, achieve, and maintain their individual health goals. If you are looking for a wellness retreat where health and luxury converge, The Center will set the stage for an experience that transcends expectations.
Article and Photos by Raquel Baldelomar
Raquel Baldelomar is an entrepreneur, author, and journalist. She is author of Sugar Crush (HarperCollins, 2015). Her journalism focuses on how travel leads to a unique kind of productivity, creativity, and wellness. She can be found at https://www.instagram.com/rbaldelomar/.
