As a full-time travel editor and mother of two myself, I'm always interested in talking to other working parents about the pressures of juggling full-time roles. It seems we live in a time when, not only do we need to succeed professionally while raising smart, kind, well-adjusted children, but we're expected to look and feel happy, healthy, and perfectly content to do so. Unfortunately, self care is one of the first things to go out the window as a parent when free time is scarce.
I sat down with model and actor Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, fresh off the launch of her new clean beauty business, Rose Inc., and the birth of her daughter. As no stranger to a packed schedule, she spoke of the importance of listening to your own body, creating wellbeing rituals you can actually stick with, and the incredibly healing power of traveling to a beautiful place with a good friend.
Personal wellness is such a buzz word right now, and it means something different to everyone. What does it mean to you?
For me, it means trying to find the best version of yourself. It’s a quest that is evolving constantly, but I define wellness as that striving to find the healthiest you, mentally and physically. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned how important this journey is in my day to day life. Honestly, in my 20s, I didn’t even think about wellness. It sounded… crunchy? Or like it was something older people pondered. But I was young and things were easy. At that age, you hop out of bed feeling great, and you have the free time to go to the gym every day because you aren’t juggling crazy deadlines and endless commitments. But in my 30s, especially after I had my second child and was dealing with some postpartum issues, I experienced, for the first time, what it was like to feel unwell.
What did you do to start feeling better?
It was maybe three months after I gave birth to my daughter and I was stressed out and having headaches all the time. I felt uncomfortable in my own body. I went to a day spa and the therapist looked at me and said “hot, then cold.” I said, “thanks, but that sounds horrible, and I’m not getting into that cold pool.” But then I was in the sauna and the plunge pool was sort of beckoning to me. Childbirth was fresh enough in my mind that I figured freezing water couldn’t be that bad. And I knew I’d have bragging rights. It was amazing! I’m a cold convert. There’s nothing like it. I finish every morning shower off with a blast of cold water. And these little things, these routines and seemingly small rituals, matter. They can make a big difference in how you feel, mentally and physically.
Besides cold plunging, anything else you do daily to feel healthy?
I’ve always been a gym bunny. My mom was a fitness instructor and working out and going to the gym have always been a part of my life. If I can get to the gym three times a week—and do some weight and resistance training and pilates—I’m very, very happy. In terms of diet, I’m not super rigid about anything. I have noticed that I feel better when I drink a lot of water and don’t eat a ton of gluten or sugar. The only supplement I’m religious about is a probiotic. If I could add one thing to my daily routine, it would be meditation. But at this point in my life, when I try to meditate, I just fall asleep.
What about big wellness resets—have you done any?
Until recently, the answer was no. I’d never done any destination spa trips or week-long detoxes. But an opportunity came up to go to Joali Being in the Maldives with a good friend and I jumped on it. My second child had turned one and I knew that I could realistically leave town for a bit, and I really felt like I needed some sort of reboot. Joali Being was my first wellness retreat and I loved it. I had done some research and other places I found seemed very clinical—and yes, there’s a time and place for that—but it wasn’t what I needed just then. I needed the wellness part and a holiday!
Sounds dreamy–set the scene for us.
You come by seaplane, which is such a dramatic way to arrive. It had been a very long UK winter and the weather there was still lousy, so to step into the sun and the heat was healing in itself. Members of the Joali Being team are there to welcome you, with huge smiles and cold drinks. From the minute you arrive, it’s very easy to slip into island life—there’s an immediate sense of just letting go.
As far as the approach to wellness, there are so many different experiences you can have while you’re there. There wasn’t a strict plan that you have to follow, or certain rules. One person in your party could have a glass of wine in the evening and another could choose not to drink, which I think creates this approachable and relatable wellness experience and something that I found very relaxing. I’d heard stories from friends who had done wellness getaways before and had to smuggle chocolate in their suitcases. It isn’t that vibe at Joali Being. You’re met wherever you are on your wellness journey. If you want to be super hardcore, fine. If you want more of a beach vacation or some mix, fine too.
What did your daily routine look like there?
I didn’t have a set routine, but my friend and I did sort of fall into a rhythm. I’d wake up whenever I naturally woke up because that never happens back home. My friend and I would have coffee on the beach and then we’d then usually hit the gym—normally when I’m traveling I never want to go to the gym, but this one was gorgeous. Some days we did pilates or yoga in this stunning pavilion where you’re surrounded by plants and then after we’d hit the beach. In the afternoon, we’d do a spa treatment or have some sort of experience. One day, we did a perfume-making class, another day we did a tea tasting and a tea sommelier taught us how to pour correctly. Apparently, most people are doing it wrong–especially if you’re British! We did a sound bath and took lots of saunas–there are saunas all over the property and the Joali Being team drops different scents into the heaters.
Did any treatment stand out?
I had a Watsu session for the first time. I’ll admit that I was a little hesitant at first, but it was amazing. I hadn’t heard of Watsu, but basically a therapist puts your legs in floats and then sort of holds and drifts you through the water for about an hour. You’re totally weightless and it’s supposedly a sort of “back in the womb” experience. Some people get quite emotional. I really let go and I have never relaxed like I did during that treatment.
How did you feel by the time you left the retreat?
Like a shiny new person! I felt really happy, calm but energized. I was ready to get back to the family and I felt like I could take on anything. Which was a good thing because I returned home to two kids with norovirus!
Any big life lessons learned?
I had a one-on-one consultation with one of the Joali Being doctors when I arrived. We talked about a lot of things; about being present in your life and about keeping stress levels in check. He had this saying that I loved: There’s a pill for every ill, and an ill for every pill. I will remember it forever. Medication is an amazing help for many things but I took his statement to mean that certain issues, including stress levels, have to be fixed more holistically. You can’t really take a single pill and poof, your stress is gone. It’s about long term choices–about diet, fitness, and mindfulness.
Are you a wellness traveler now? Will you do it again?
Well, when you’re on a trip like this with no kids and no work, it all feels effortless.The challenge of course is incorporating some of what you learned and how you felt into your life once you’re back to the hustle and bustle.
This trip made me realize how important it is to take the time to go away by myself or with a friend. As well as what a huge privilege it is to be able to do something like this. When my friend and I said goodbye, we promised that this sort of major reset would become an annual thing.
Joali is a 2023 Readers' Choice Award winner for the best resorts in the Indian Ocean. View all of this year's Reader’s Choice Awards winners here.
