By SARAH SHMERLING | Managing Editor
Photos by The Oaks at Ojai
You’re tired. You’re busy. You’re overworked. You need a break to reset and recharge, but the thought of traveling far away is daunting and exhausting. What about a short drive to our next-door neighbor, Ventura County?
The Oaks at Ojai offers guests a chance to focus on overall wellness, fitness and nutrition—and is only a 70-mile drive from Pacific Palisades, located in the quaint city of Ojai.
The award-winning Oaks was founded by internationally known fitness expert Sheila Cluff, who, at 80 years old, continues to make the rounds and visits the location to chat with guests. (I saw her on the location on Saturday, looking fit and fabulous in a colorful poncho.) She designed the Oaks as a communal, familial place that has often been described as an adult sleep-away camp, which is exactly how I would describe it.
The prices of rooms vary on what they offer and how many people are staying. Based off my experience, it seemed that at least one-third of Oaks guests were traveling by themselves. The Oaks at Ojai has a roommate program, so if you are interested in coming alone, you can still get the discounted rates (and meet a new friend!) by sharing a room.
The Oaks is an all-inclusive program, so during a stay, three meals plus snacks and beverages, 12 optional fitness classes, hikes, lectures, and more are included each day. Guests have access to a swimming pool, mini gym area (complete with machines and weights), steam room, and indoor and outdoor hot tubs. On-site spa treatments are available for an additional cost.
When I walked onto the property, I was immediately immersed. Common areas, like the dining room, gym and spa, are all cellphone-free zones, which at first was stressful, but after a few hours felt freeing. No emails, texts, phone calls to interrupt my experience.
Over the course of my stay, I got to try a little bit of everything that the Oaks has to offer, from the food, to the fitness classes, to a lecture and a spa treatment.
The food at the Oaks is crafted to be about 1,200-1,500 calories per day, with breakfast, morning broth, lunch, afternoon vegetable and smoothie snacks, and dinner.
My favorite meal we had was Grilled Chicken with Peanut Sauce, served with rice and bok choy. Each meal at the Oaks is prepared without additional sodium and features foods that are balanced with good fats, high in protein and include complex carbohydrates.
Lunch always starts off with a cup of soup. One of the lunch offerings—Chile Relleno Bake—is served with tortilla soup, black bean salad with greens, and Oaks’ sour cream and guacamole. A healthy alternative, this Mexican-themed meal is only 350 calories—and delicious.
In order to get the full relaxation experience, I signed up for a spa treatment: Seasonal Scrub. Being that I visited The Oaks during Ojai’s famous Pixie Month, my seasonal scrub featured a tangerine sugar scrub. Immediately after the treatment, my skin felt softer and smoother, and I left the spa area feeling relaxed and ready for a nap.
Other treatments that the Oaks offers include Joint Health Arica Massage, Skin Authority and G.M. Collin Clinical Treatments, Ojai Olive Oil Body Souffle, Himalayan Hot Salt Stone Massage and more. There is also an on-site salon, which provides Hair Services, Brazilian Blow Out and Nail Services.
Between meals and lectures, guests are invited to participate in fitness classes throughout the day. When I’m at home and on my current schedule, I work out four to five times per week, mostly taking Zumba and Barre classes. While at the Oaks, I took Aqua Cardio, Zumba and Interval Training classes. I was most challenged by the Interval Training, which is outside of my normal routine, but after each class, I walked away feeling like I had a good work out.
Other classes guests can take are Qigong, Tai Chi, Top to Bottom Toning, Yoga, Hula Hoop Fitness and more.
The Oaks at Ojai is located in the heart of the small city, so if you get bored or restless, there are dozens of shops and miles of trails to explore—all in the immediate area. Though, in my three-day stay, I didn’t have time to leave the property once.
The Oaks at Ojai offered me the perfect balance of seclusion, fitness and good, nutritious food to allow me to recharge and return home with a boost of energy.
I’m already dreaming of my next escape.
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