Wellness Travel as a Reset: How Intentional Trips Support Long-Term Well-Being

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Is wellness travel just a vacation—or something deeper?

In this reflective episode, Sheri Davidson, licensed acupuncturist and wellness coach, explores how intentional travel helps us reconnect with our natural rhythms and reset our overstimulated nervous systems. She breaks down why true rest is so hard to find in our everyday lives, how slowing down while traveling isn’t laziness (it’s a skill!), and how the real magic happens after the trip—through integration.

Whether you're a wellness seeker or someone who creates retreat experiences, this conversation offers thoughtful insight into how travel can shift not just your schedule, but your entire approach to well-being.

🎧 Hit play now and start making wellness fun, flexible, and fulfilling.

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Wellness Riverboat Cruise
Magna On The Danube: https://www.amawaterways.com/destination/europe-river-cruises/2025/magna-on-the-danube

AmaMagna: https://youtu.be/23-5Qy3skM0
AmaMagna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM1GHLA2EF4

Flyer link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGB9S7QIww/ztr_gd0uoOpUR1WMb1agfQ/view?utm_content=DAGB9S7QIww&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

Tami Hiroka
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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:19):
Hello, wellness Adventurous.
Welcome back to another episodeof the Wellness Inspired
Podcast, a place where you canfind inspiration, motivation and
empowerment in the pursuit of awellness adventurous.
Welcome back to another episodeof the wellness inspired
podcast, a place where you canfind inspiration, motivation and
empowerment in the pursuit of awellness lifestyle.
I'm your host, sherry Davidson.
I'm a wellness coach,acupuncturist, trail runner and
former interior designer inHouston, texas, and I am deeply
passionate about health andwellbeing.

(00:41):
And, as always, I'm here withmy co-host, finn.
And if you're new to thepodcast, finn is my Terrier, mix
, rescue dog, trail runner andloyal companion.
He is also a therapy dog andgreeter at Element 5 Acupuncture
and Wellness.
And I want to start thisepisode with a little honesty.
I used to think of travel as anescape, something fun, exciting

(01:03):
and totally outside theeveryday.
But over the years, somethingshifted.
The more I traveled withintention, the more I realized
the right kind of travel isn'tabout running away from your
life, it's about getting closerto yourself, your rhythms, your
wellbeing.
It's not an escape, it's areset.
And as I get ready to host myvery first wellness river cruise

(01:27):
in Europe this spring we leavenext week actually I have been
thinking a lot about whatwellness travel really offers us
and why it is so much more thanjust a luxury or splurge.
So in today's episode, we'rediving into the idea of the
reset, why we need it, what itreally looks like and how to

(01:48):
carry the experience with uslong after we return home.
But before we get started, Ihave to do this one last time.
For all those avid listeners whohave turned in the podcast over
the last year, you've likelycaught wind of the Wellness
River Cruise.
Well friends, the WellnessRiver Cruise.
Well friends, the moment hasarrived.

(02:14):
Mark your calendars for April,the 20th 2025, as we set sail on
an unforgettable seven-nightcruise along the Danube River.
We'll traverse throughpicturesque landscapes of
Austria, germany, hungary andSlovakia.
Prepare for many activesightseeing adventures,
including invigorating hikes,scenic bike rides.
And Slovakia.
Prepare for many activesightseeing adventures,
including invigorating hikes,scenic bike rides and even a few
brisk runs maybe.
Alongside these activities,indulge in the serenity of yoga
sessions, engage in enlighteningwellness discussions and savor

(02:37):
the flavors of locally sourcedcuisine.
Excitement is already brewing,as several enthusiasts have
secured their spot.
For those intrigued, I'll putthe link in the show notes In
episodes 63 and 64, a Journey ofWellness and Wonder on the
Danube with Amar Waterways.
I had the pleasure of havingLaurie, a representative from
Amar Waterways, and Tammy, aseasoned travel concierge on the

(03:00):
podcast, to discuss the fullriver cruise experience.
So feel free to check out thoseepisodes for more information
if you like.
This all has to happen quickly.
The cruise is around the corner.
If you're interested, put yourdeposit down quickly.
It's not a lot to hold yourspot.
And there it is.
Folks, that is the last timeyou will hear that piece.
You might hear another one, butthe Wellness River Cruise is

(03:23):
coming to an end.
Okay, well, let's jump in.
Why we need the reset.
Modern life doesn't exactlyroll out the carpet.
For rest, we're always onresponding to emails, keeping up

(03:46):
with schedules, checking boxeson our never-ending to-do list.
Believe me, I know about thosenever-ending to-do lists.
I have a to-do list for theyear, I have a to-do list for
the month, for the week and forthe day, and boy is it
satisfying to just check one ofthose boxes off.
So yes, I know about thenever-ending to-do list and even

(04:10):
our wellness routines.
Things meant to support us canstart to feel a little rigid
like just one more thing we haveto get right the green smoothie
, the meditation app and theperfect morning routine.
But sometimes the most powerfulway to reset isn't by adding
more, it's by stepping away.

(04:32):
When you physically removeyourself from the patterns and
pace of your everyday life,something starts to shift.
Your nervous system finallygets a chance to soften, your
breath slows down, you feel yourbody in a way that's easy to
forget in the day-to-day.
That space, that pause, it'swhat allows your system to

(04:53):
recalibrate and that's the kindof rest I'm talking about.
I know every time I travel and Iknow it will happen when I
leave next week for Europe Everytime I travel it takes me a
good day or two just to drop toa slower pace.
I just want to go, go, go, gogo, and then, after about a day,

(05:13):
I start to slow things down,and then I began to realize how
on I was and how much I reallyneeded the reset.
Okay, now let's talk aboutslowing down and what that
actually looks like, because Iknow for some of us, especially
those who thrive on structureand productivity, that can feel

(05:35):
uncomfortable.
But slowing down isn't laziness, it's a skill, and in today's
world it is also kind of radical.
What I love about travel,especially wellness centered
travel is that it naturallycreates opportunities to slow
down.
You wake up without an alarmclock, you walk more.

(05:56):
You linger over mills, younotice your surroundings instead
of pushing past them.
You may move your body on oneday on a hike, a run, a walk
through a new city, and thencompletely rest the next.
You realize that movement andrest aren't opposites, they're
partners.
And when we're not squeezingourselves into the usual

(06:18):
schedule, we start to rememberwhat our natural rhythms feel
like, and that's the gift.
In early March, I was at MiravalMiraval, austin.
They have three I think there'sone in Arizona, hawaii and
Austin, but it's a resort andthey have something called
Mirabal Mode.
It is basically digital detox,unplug, be present and reconnect

(06:41):
with your best self and nature,and this definitely made me
slow down and look around aswell as connect with other
people.
I'm not super addicted to myphone.
I can't say I don't use it atall.
It's because it is in my hand.
I do feel a little nakedwhenever I leave my phone at
home, like I did the other day,but I don't.
I don't have a problem puttingmy phone down and it's just a

(07:04):
good reminder that I'm okaywithout it.
Life will go on and it doesn'thave to be glued to my hand and
in my face all the time.
So, yeah, good, good, goodreminder and good practice.
Okay, so you go on this greatwellness trip.
So how does this translateafter the trip?

(07:26):
You do all these wonderfulthings, you go through digital
detox, you walk through nature,you reconnect with yourself, you
meet others, you do all thesegreat activities like yoga and
hiking, and actually did a hillsand drills class, which was
super fun in Austin.
But your trip comes to an end,the time has come to go home.

(07:47):
How does your experiencetranslate after the trip?
Because here's the part thatgets me every time, because it's
something I've noticed inmyself and in so many others the
real shift happens after thetrip ends.
You come back with insights,with clarity, with a nervous
system that's not constantlybuzzing, but re-entry.

(08:09):
It's a thing.
The inbox is full, the schedulepicks up, the energy of go, go,
go returns fast.
And here's the truth If we'renot intentional those beautiful
takeaways from our time awaythey start to fade.
Integration, the process ofcarrying the trip's lessons into
daily life, is where thelong-term change lives.

(08:32):
Sometimes that looks likemaking small tweaks to your
routine.
Sometimes it's protecting oneor two habits that you loved on
the trip and giving them a placein your week, and sometimes it
means having a little extrasupport.
I have found that the mostlasting impact happens when
there is space for continuedreflection, when you can stay

(08:55):
curious, explore what's stickingand gently course correct
without pressure.
That might look like journaling, conversations with people who
get it, or simply slowing downenough to ask yourself what do I
want to carry forward from thisexperience?
For some I'm going to givemyself a plug here.
It's also where wellnesscoaching comes in, not as a fix,

(09:16):
but as a gentle, ongoingintegration.
And if you happen to be someonewho leads retreats or host
wellness experiences, building acontainer for that post trip
reflection can be one of themost meaningful gifts you can
offer your guests, becausewellness travel changes you, but
it's the integration thatsustains you and that's where it

(09:39):
really takes root.
So I'm going to wrap it up herewith some closing thoughts.
Whether you are heading off ona wellness retreat or simply
taking a long walk in yourneighborhood park, remember this
slowing down isn't somethingyou have to earn.
It's a radical act of care, ofpresence, of trust, and
sometimes what you need isn'tmore doing, it's more noticing.

(10:01):
So if you're feeling stretchedthin or sensing that something
needs to shift, maybe the answerisn't pushing harder, maybe
it's creating space for rest,reflection and whatever comes
next.
If this episode stirredsomething for you, I'd love to
hear about it.
Share it with a friend, or takea moment to reflect on your
favorite way to reset.

(10:22):
And hey, if you're someone whocreates wellness experiences,
let's keep the conversationgoing.
There is so much potential inwhat happens after the trip.
I'll be back after the wellnessriver cruise.
I'm sure I will have so much toshare with you.
Maybe I'll even see you on theriver.
Who knows?
Until next time, keep exploring, keep discovering and keep

(10:44):
moving forward toward ahealthier, more adventurous life
.
Thanks for tuning in to thewellness inspired podcast and I
will see you next time.
If you like what you hear,please subscribe to the podcast
and share with your family andfriends.

(11:05):
You can also give me a ratingand review.
Wherever you listen to yourpodcast, it helps others find me
as well.
To get updates on new episodesand wellness inspiration in your
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Go to the wellness inspiredpodcastcom to sign up.
I'll put the link to thewebsite in the show notes so you
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Also, there's a Facebookcommunity at the wellness

(11:27):
inspired and you can follow meon Instagram at wellness
underscore inspired.
If you're in the Houston area orjust visiting and interested in
our services acupuncture,herbal medicine, cupping, zen,
shiatsu or dry needling therapycontact us.
You can find out more on ourwebsite at element5omcom that's
element5, the number 5, omcom,and again, I'll put the link in

(11:50):
the show notes.
If you're interested in healthand wellness coaching, we can
connect in the clinic or on Zoom.
Reach out to us and we'll getyou on the schedule and, as
always, I would love to hearyour feedback.
I am dedicated to bringing yougreat content that is inspiring
and informative, with an artsy,fun, edgy spin.
Thank you so much for listening.
We'll meet here again next timeand remember, never stop

(12:12):
exploring, learning, loving andbeing you.
Bye.