by Anne Dimon
Following my Ocean Wellness cruise with Explora Journeys, I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Carillon Miami Wellness Resort. Located on the white sand shores of Miami Beach, Carillon Miami is located 14 miles from Miami International Airport and 29 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Tammy Pahel – VP of Spa & Wellness Operations at Carillon Miami – who has been in the industry since 1989 and with this wellness-focused, 100-luxury apartment resort for the last seven years – tells me that Carillon Miami focuses on Integrative & Functional Medicine, designed to teach guests how to change the course of their own health. “We give people the opportunity to find wellness their own way,” she says.
One of the resort’s tag lines is actually “wellness your way.” Tammy explains that a guest can meet with a Wellness Concierge as well as a dedicated medical practitioner to personalize a wellness program to meet specific needs and reach intended goals. Multi-day retreats are also customizable.
Salt Float available in the Carillon Spa – Photo courtesy of Carillon
In keeping with the latest trends under the umbrella of “wellness” advances in technology has taken the spa experience to a whole new level. Since mid 2020 when the Carillon Miami spa (one of the largest on the Eastern Seaboard) introduced “touchless therapies” the number of touchless experiences now available to Carillon Miami guests has increased from seven to 24.
The Touchless Wellness Circuits fall under the umbrella of these “touchless therapies.” Of the seven Touchless Wellness Circuits offered at Carillon Miami, I choose the Relaxation and De-stressing Circuit. Treatment coordinator Armaldo Morales guides spa guests to his or her scheduled session and explains the benefits of each technological experience.
As I prepare to lie on the raised bed in the V.E.M.I. (Vibroacoustic Electro Magnetic and Infrared Therapy) station, Armaldo explains that the vibrations I will feel will help rid the body of what she refers to as “electronic smog” created by the electronic devices we use on a daily basis. She says the treatment also recharges and energizes the body’s cells, and helps realign the chakras. Wearing headphones and listening to a binaural beat for this 30-minute session helps the body enter a meditative state. There are six different stations in this circuit and It does what it claims to do, allows guests to totally relax and enjoy the experience.
One of the more unique technology offerings at Carillon Miami is The Biostation with its extensive menu of Nutrient IV Therapy including injections priced from $10, to 5 to 45-minute sessions priced from $50 for bFortified – Harness Glutathione, your body’s most powerful antioxidant, to $169 for bImmune – Boost immunity with B & C vitamins. One of the tag lines for The Biostation is “Redefining preventative healthcare at every touchpoint”
Of course, beyond the technology there is much more to offer for those guests with wellness as their primary focus. One is the on-site gym. Open 24 hours, the hotel team schedules a wide variety of movement classes beginning at 8 a.m. each day and running through to late afternoon. The list of sessions offered is extensive. For instance, Pilates, Hatha Yoga, Boxing Circuits, Strength & Balance, Cardio with a Flair, Aqua Boxing, Rhythmic Cycling. Meditation and Stretch, Tango Dance and many others – a total of 250 fitness classes per week. “We offer options for every fitness level and every age – from teenagers (16 plus) to seniors over 90 years young,” says Tammy.
She points out that “wellness is meant to be woven throughout a property, not just the spa and the gym.” Here at Carillon Miami, it even extends into the guest rooms. One of the resort’s most recent technology partners is Bryte Beds. Installed in all luxury apartments, the AI-powered Bryte Beds allow guests to scan a QR code to assess how you sleep, and it shifts the bed/mattress according to each guest’s individual sleep patterns. Multi-day sleep retreats are also offered.
When it comes to culinary offerings, Chef Chris Robertson tells me ingredients are purchased locally whenever possible. Formerly with Ritz Carlton, Chef Chris says due to more restrictive and lifestyle choices, it’s a unique time to be a chef. Healthy food options are available in the resort’s four on site restaurants, plus in the spa, around the pool and in-suite dining. It should come as no surprise that signature dishes include the local “catch-of-the-day” – coastal specialities such as Cedar Key littleneck clams.
Carillon Miami continues to be a leader in the wellness resort space.
