Every vacation is a chance to escape, but too often the benefits are fleeting, disappearing the moment you step outside. But for a unique, holistic experience that lasts, step up and get more than just a massage at Sensei’s two ultra-luxury locations. With an evidence- and technology-driven approach, we’ll help you make lifestyle changes that will thrive long after you leave our Lanai or Porcupine Creek resorts.
The brainchild of software pioneer Larry Ellison and renowned physician and scientist David Agus, M.D., these well-being retreats have the track record to back up their mission, and on Lanai, they partner with the Four Seasons to highlight their premium hospitality. We spoke with Megan Carlson, VP of Brand at Sensei, to find out more about the science behind these unparalleled wellness programs and everything you need to know about the experience.
Choose the Sensei Resort that’s right for you
Teacher Lanai
Can’t decide between lush Lanai or the desert oasis of Porcupine Creek? “It depends on what type of traveler you are,” explains Carlson. The private island of Lanai offers a slower pace of life, isolation and immersion in nature, while Porcupine Creek’s 230 acres boast state-of-the-art tennis and golf facilities in the renowned dining and shopping hub of Greater Palm Springs.”[Lānaʻi] “It’s like Hawaii 30 years ago,” Carlson adds, “while Porcupine Creek is less than three hours from Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, making it the perfect weekend getaway.”
Professor Porcupine Creek
Start a guided wellness program
Sensei’s education-focused approach combines private time with highly trained experts, technology that measures baseline health data to create a personalized plan, and integrated research findings that provide up-to-date recommendations. “We’ve worked hard with our team to find the right mix of events that match our guests’ intent,” Carlson says.
Whether your goals are fitness, nutrition, mindset or meditation, your curated itinerary begins to build before you even step foot in a Sensei facility. Complete a pre-arrival questionnaire to collect everything from dietary restrictions to injury information. Once you arrive, you’ll be paired with a Sensei guide and go through a range of assessments before beginning your customized program.
And even if you don’t know what your goal is, Town & Country Only time will tell, and that’s what editor Leena Kim discovered during her January visit to Lanai. “I wasn’t looking for any epic life hacks during our one-on-one fitness and nutrition sessions,” Leena says. “Rather, I was looking for the answer to a simple (but not so simple) question: ‘Am I doing this right?'”
More luxurious elements of Sensei Stay
dining: Through “Sensei by Nobu,” a culinary partnership between acclaimed Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Dr. Agus, guests can enjoy fresh, nutritious dishes such as grilled fish, meats and grilled vegetables, created with optimal health benefits in mind, as well as Nobu classics such as Black Cod Miso and Crispy Shiitake Salad.
What to see: Porcupine Creek surrounds the resort with stunning views of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains, and the lanai features an outdoor sculpture garden featuring works by renowned artists.
rest: Guestrooms are lavishly appointed, from beds draped in 600-thread-count Italian sheets to spa-like bathrooms with rain showers and ultrasonic hair dryers. Select rooms also feature deep soaking tubs, gas fireplaces, private balconies and patios, and full kitchens.
Adopting evidence-based techniques
The resort’s unique, data-driven approach to wellness, called “The Sensei Way,” focuses on the interconnectedness of movement, nutrition and rest, and all of its offerings follow (and overlap) these paths, from hiking, yoga and tennis to sushi-making, art walks, vision board workshops, aquatic bodywork treatments, meditation and sleep coaching.
And the path is led by Sensei Guides, who each hold graduate degrees or advanced certifications in their field or specialty. These physiotherapists, exercise psychologists, mindset experts and nutritionists extend preventative health science to how you interact with the world, how you fuel and how you recover. “The real power of this team is that we’re all under the same roof and talking to each other,” Carlson says. “The collective goal is the magic that holds it all together.”
One-on-one sessions offer the added option of biomarker testing, which allows for a more in-depth level of assessment and delivers actionable information. For nutrition, a finger prick blood sample is used to measure cholesterol and blood sugar levels. For fitness, a treadmill VO2 max assessment measures aerobic and cardiovascular fitness. For mindset, a biofeedback device graphs heart rate variability to show how your thoughts and emotions are affecting your body.
Professor Porcupine Creek
Communicating information through unique technology
Sensei’s patent-pending thermal body mapping system was developed for spas where experts take thermographic images of guests’ bodies and use the results to identify areas of concern that may be causing discomfort, sensitivity or pain.. “It’s very sophisticated and allows the guest and the therapist to have a deeper dialogue about what’s going on, understand imbalances and be able to better target the massage based on that data,” Carlson said.
Sensei’s proprietary software also enables an unparalleled level of personalization behind the scenes. Health details, as well as everything from preferred wine types to allergies and sleep preferences, are all shared in real time with the team members directly supporting the guest’s stay. “Whether it’s the person at the spa, a nutritionist or a fitness guide, they’re communicating and sharing relevant data points so that the conversation can pick up where we left off,” Carlson says.
Living better after check-out
Before they leave, they’re given a personalized “Growth Guide Report” with assessment information and instructions, including exercise, meditation and nutrition tips, so they can continue working toward their goals after they return home. “What often surprises our guests is the things they’re already doing right, and that they’re actually doing a lot better than they thought they could,” Carlson says. “And they see how achievable we can make it for them. We don’t put them in an unrealistic environment that they can’t recreate at home.”
Lina says her recent experience fit that description perfectly: “Working with my guides, Lydia and Mike, to refine the habits I already had in place provided the most valuable and lasting lessons, and I’m especially grateful that Mike coached me in my deadlift up to 125 pounds in our very first session, which was, of course, quickly followed by a much-appreciated foam rolling session.”
If you’re looking for a luxury experience that will create lasting lifestyle changes, Sensei Wellness Retreats will help you align your actions with your intentions.
