At 51 years old my body suddenly felt like a runaway train. I gained weight for no reason, and I had all the classic symptoms of perimenopause that derailed everything I thought I knew about how my body worked. I was in desperate need of not only a detox but also a transformation—and I found it at We Care Spa in Desert Hot Springs, California.
This Luxury Wellness Retreat Gave My Body the Reboot It Needed
Specializing in liquid fasts and detox cleanses, We Care Spa humbly began in 1986 as a mother-daughter duo operating from a spare bedroom where seekers came to heal from chronic debilitating illnesses. Since then, it’s grown into a holistic luxury detox retreat with a strong celebrity following.
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“For over 10 years, We Care has been my absolute favorite place to press the reset button,” Liv Tyler said. While Stockard Channing, another frequent celebrity guest, reported a “sense of renewed vigor.” Other celebrity regulars include Matt Bomer, Tom Ford, Heidi Klum, Joaquin Phoenix, Cameron Diaz, and Andie McDowell.
We Care Spa’s philosophy is simple yet profound. To live in harmony with ourselves and the world we must detox. Its signature detox program embraces a mind-body-spirit formula that combines a liquid nutrition fast and daily colonics. The more your body purges impurities, the faster it can function at an optimal state.
We Care Spa’s founder Susana Belen, now well into her 80s, visits the property almost daily and defines a toxin as “anything that gets into your body that it cannot use or get rid of.” To achieve optimal health and a sense of wellness, she asserts that we must lower our toxic load.
Beginning the Detox Program at We Care Spa
Understandably, I had palpitations about a four-day liquid fast. Yet there wasn’t time to ruminate as I was quite busy. Between tracking the morning, afternoon, and evening drink and supplement schedule, supportive spa appointments, drinking more water than ever before, yoga, and naps in the shade by pool — I hardly had time to entertain intrusive thoughts while interrupting my normal routine.
“For over 10 years, We Care has been my absolute favorite place to press the reset button.”— Liv Tyler
In between colonics, spa treatments, and wellness classes, I jiggled on a vibration plate to stimulate lymphatic drainage. The chi vitalizer circled my ankles in a figure eight motion to stimulate blood flow. Breathwork, shaman blessings, a prayer flag ceremony and more classes provide spiritual restoration.
While wellness talks such as Long-Term Vitality and Gut Health and Digestive Recovery provide a new framework of information that I could implement at home.
We Care Spa: My Experience at a California Wellness Retreat
We Care Spa has 20acres to explore that cultivates healing energy and sacred space in nature. I blissed out in much needed sweet solitude at a myriad of chill spots dotted throughout the property. The floating bed soothed my nervous system. I sat in “my own energy” under the mediation pyramid which allowed me to go deeper and longer into mediation.
I experienced aha moments while walking the labyrinth that balances our physical, spiritual, and mental bodies and invites introspection.
To be social, I breezed into the Lotus Room —a spiritually chic, light-filled communal area where the much-anticipated evening detoxifying soup is served.
We Care Spa alumni were quite chatty and generously offered fasting tips to us first-timers. It was a delight to saddle up at the pool bar and join in the lively chats while the Detox Mixologist whirred up our drinks. I overheard a smiling guest say, “Enjoy the castor oil,” as her friend took a shot.
Have you been ever done or considered a liquid detox program? Please share your experience with the community in the comments below.
Getting My Mind Body & Spirit on Board Was Surprisingly Easy
Sticking to the program was less of a challenge than my mind anticipated. I had prepared for it by following every pre-detox recommendation, such as no meat, dairy, or coffee at least three days before arrival. Surprisingly I wasn’t hungry during the fast, and I discovered that adding cinnamon made the detox drink so tasty I looked forward to it.
The more your body purges impurities, the faster it can function at an optimal state.
During my time at We Care Spa I bumped up limiting beliefs about myself. Checking the weather before driving up it was a whopping 114 Fahrenheit. The first day I looped on an old story that I “don’t tolerate heat well” but quickly learned that it wasn’t close to being true. It turned out, I was just fine. I simply slowed my pace down between getting my daily colonic, dipping in the saltwater pool, and chilling by the juice bar in the shade. I also stayed very well hydrated.
The Joy of Liquid Fasting and Detoxing
California’s We Care Spa alumni sang the praises of day three. That’s when the magic happens and they were right. I woke up bursting with energy and a pure sense of joy poured out of me. I felt an intense love for myself and my body that I hadn’t felt in years. This loving feeling extended to the world and others around me. These feelings of joy and bliss were absolutely invigorating. Since nothing in my outside world had changed, I wondered if this was my natural state of being? Was it the toxins from pollution and the food I eat that suppressed this natural state of bliss? And could I experience this amazing feeling every day by living more toxin free?
Bellen asserts that when you stay hydrated and detox the program unlocks new potential for daily energy. She says that this is the path to lifelong wellness, tranquility, and revitalization — by giving your system a break from solid foods, it frees up energy that powers up the skin, lungs, kidney, colon, and liver to release more waste and toxins.
Supportive Treatments and Classes
Every guest creates a custom itinerary for their stay. In addition to the liquid fast and daily colonics, there are over 40 supportive treatments and daily classes that range from educational to spiritual renewal.
Classic treatments include The System Recovery Master Treatment that begins with dry brushing. Then your body is slathered in castor oil and cocooned on a warm amethyst mat while you enjoy a scalp or foot massage. A Biofeedback session measures the frequencies of your cells, tissues, and organs. Afterwards the practitioner provides customized remedies based on your results for a lasting effect. The (Holi) Facial brings out your after-detox glow with Agent Nateur, a toxin-free botanical skincare brand.
Holistic Luxury Rooms and Suites
Dotting the desert landscape with mountain views along paths winding through bougainvillea, energizing crystals, elegant sculptures, We Care Spa’s 28 guest rooms and suites are designed for rest, restoration, and to remove all toxins.
I felt an intense love for myself and my body that I hadn’t felt in years.
Suites have large soaking tubs for magnesium clay baths, circadian light systems to restore your natural sleep cycle, and a seven-layer air purifier to remove all toxins. All linens, towels, and bathrobes are organic cotton. The Club Suite boasts a private oasis garden with Balinese flair, bamboo shower and outdoor soaking tub. While the Executive Plus Suites offer over 600 square feet of curated outdoor space with daybeds and a private fire pit.
Leaving We Care Spa
Just as there’s a protocol before coming for your detox – there’s a recommended exit strategy to maintain the optimal levels of cellular energy you achieved throughout your detox.
In sum, slowly introduce soft foods and mostly plant-based back into your diet for the same number of days as you fasted. Also get into the habit of chewing every bite more than you ever have before. This is all to promote lifelong habits of wellness that raises the energy in your body.
While that state of bliss I experienced on day three invariably comes and goes in my everyday life – it left an indelible energetic footprint embedded in my memory. I know that joy is my natural state – and like a cork held underwater that will always rise back to the surface, I know that joyous feeling state is always there. It’s just a matter of removing the layers of toxicity that cover it up for my body to express it.
Not to mention that the inches I lost at We Care Spa haven’t come back – not even with cheat days. Stepping back into the world after my three-night stay at We Care Spa, in California, I felt triumphant in mind, body and spirit. I was eager to integrate all I learned into my life from this renewed high state of self-love and boundless energy.
Getting There
Getting to We Care Spa is incredibly convenient. Fly into Palm Springs International airport. Private transport can be arranged to the property which is an easy 20-minute drive. Or rent a car with your choice of auto rentals at the airport such as Enterprise or Budget. If driving from Los Angeles or San Diego, it takes approximately two and a half hours.
