It was a Saturday afternoon in West Palm Beach, and my face was wedged into a machine called a Visia Skin Analyzer.
I closed my eyes, and the machine flashed a few times, spitting out a few images of my face, accompanied by an in-depth analysis of my UV spots, wrinkles and clogged pores. I was at Body+Beauty Lab, a day spa at the recently opened hotel residence, AKA West Palm.
I recently spent a weekend staycation at the hotel, enjoying a hydro facial at Body+Beauty Lab and biking around West Palm on one of the hotel's complimentary bicycles. Between activities, I stopped by the property's fresh food market, A.Market on Olive, for kale salads and pressed juices. The AKA West Palm Beach opened in 2022, and the hotel's debut coincided with the area's wellness push.
"The amenities at AKA West Palm are perfectly in tune with the recent wellness resurgence in West Palm Beach, offering guests a seamless blend of luxury and holistic well-being," said Jordan Rowan, general manager at the AKA West Palm. "From our state-of-the-art Technogym Fitness Center to the wellness treatments at Body+Beauty Lab, AKA provides an environment where guests can not only relax but also rejuvenate.
"As West Palm Beach embraces a lifestyle focused on health and balance, AKA West Palm stands as a sanctuary that reflects this transformative shift, elevating the wellness experience in the heart of the city."
Part of my wellness staycation included an outdoor fitness class at CityPlace, West Palm Beach's downtown shopping and entertainment district. The open courtyard and lawn are the location of group yoga sessions, high-intensity interval training and Stroller Strides, workouts designed for "new moms with kids in tow."
CityPlace (formerly known as Rosemary Square and The Square) has gone through a number of transformations and now features several new health-forward restaurants like Planta, True Food Kitchen and Pura Vida as well as a sleek Lululemon boutique and a pop-up pickleball court, CityPickle.
An early-morning outdoor cycling class, one of the many activities held for the inaugural Eudemonia wellness summit. Photo Credit: Courtesy of SHW Studios for the Eudemonia Summit
Eudemonia summit
West Palm Beach's reputation as a "business only" city has slowly changed over the past few years, and its culinary offerings, new hotels and embracing of health-forward community activities have made locals and visitors take notice.
"Wellness is no longer merely a trend; it has become a fundamental aspect of life, enhancing the quality of experience for both residents and visitors in the Palm Beaches," said Milton Segarra, CEO of Discover the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach County's tourism marketing organization. "Our region is blessed with sunshine and beautiful beaches, so it has always been an ideal destination for health and wellness seekers. Today, travelers are increasingly seeking wellness offerings at hotels, destinations and restaurants, and West Palm Beach excels in providing these."
The city also caught the eye of organizers of Eudemonia, a three-day wellness summit that took place early last month at the Hilton West Palm Beach and the adjacent Palm Beach Convention Center. Loosely translated as "well-being" in Greek, the inaugural event featured health and wellness industry experts, top neuroscientists, yoga teachers and physicians.
"We see West Palm as an ideal destination for a number of reasons," said Sean Hoess, founder of Eudemonia. "Besides the great weather in November, there are amazing transport options by air and rail and an affluent local population deeply interested in health and well-being. West Palm Beach is also a boom town, with massive development poised to transform the city over the next five or 10 years. We're excited to play a small role in the city's exciting future."
In keeping with its Greek name, the event kicked off with an evening toga party. Mornings featured sound baths, cold plunges, celebrity-led fitness classes and walking meditations. In the afternoons, guests were privy to over 200 sessions focused on science-based prevention and longevity, all centered around five elements of good health (movement, nourishment, mental optimization, restoration and connection). The event attracted attendees from all over the country.
The Amrit Ocean Resort features the Aayush Hydrothermal Experience, a co-ed, indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy circuit. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amrit Ocean Spa & Resort
Offerings at Amrit Ocean Resort
About 15 minutes north of West Palm Beach, the newly opened Amrit Ocean Resort on Singer Island is leading with its wellness offerings.
The property features a four-story, 103,000-square-foot spa and wellness facility, the largest in Florida. "Amrit" means "elixir of life" in Sanskrit, and the luxury spa includes European, Chinese and Indian wellness traditions and techniques. I stopped by on a Saturday, and as someone who has visited dozens of spas, I was impressed by the size of the Amrit Ocean Resort's spa facilities and the depth of services.
During my spa day, I enjoyed a handful of services, including a session in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber, a red light therapy treatment and a hot stone Himalayan massage.
The spa is also home to an Aayush Hydrothermal Experience, a co-ed, indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy circuit. Visitors can also experience integrated wellness services in partnership with board-certified physicians.
Amrit's commitment to health also includes nutrition. I dined at the hotel's oceanfront restaurant, Tula, which has a menu that adheres to a 70/30 principle: 70% plant-based, 30% animal protein dishes.
"Travelers are becoming more aware of the importance of prioritizing their health, and at Amrit, we strive to meet that need with amenities that support a sustainable, healthy lifestyle," said Akram Kawasmeh, executive director of wellness and spa at the Amrit Ocean Resort. "Every experience, amenity and treatment we offer is designed to rejuvenate and recenter our guests, empowering them to leave feeling refreshed and reminded of the crucial role wellness plays in leading a healthy, balanced and fulfilled life."
The hotel is set on 300 feet of private beachfront, and you could certainly stay overnight in one of the gorgeous oceanfront guestrooms, but even a day at the Amrit Ocean Resort's spa is enough to leave you rested and rejuvenated.
Like other wellness additions around West Palm Beach, the Amrit is poised to attract travelers looking for a getaway that also improves their physical and mental well-being.
I've lived near West Palm Beach for nearly a decade, and those of us here have watched the city slowly transform into a world-class wellness destination; we're just glad others are catching on.