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YOURWELLNESSSPA 64 DAYSPA | JULY 2015 SNAPSHOT Often, the biggest motivators come from personal experiences. That was certainly the case with the Chap- mans, self-confessed workaholics and parents to two young children. Feeling exhausted and increasingly ex- asperated with their lives, the San Diego couple knew something had to give. Wyatt, president of a thriving architectural practice, was being "eaten away by stress" according to his wife Melissa, who herself was avoid- ing the gym and surviving on junk food. She attempted to jumpstart her workout regimen by attending fi tness boot camps but, she refl ects, "They consisted entirely of workout sessions for eight or nine hours a day. There was no cognitive or behavioral support afterward, so I went right back to my old habits as soon as I left." In a bid to fi nd a longer-term solution, the couple decided to open the type of place that they'd want to visit: a retreat that would include a weight-loss compo- nent but also be fun—and would benefi t generations to come. It would provide drained and depleted clients with the tools necessary to reboot their lives. The Chapmans recruited fi tness and wellness experts and researched properties with facilities and accommodations to match their projected retreat's high level of care. By August 2013, VeraVia—a name chosen by Wyatt that loosely means "true path" in Latin—was ready to open at the Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, California. The retreat consists of packages that last from three nights to four weeks, and focus on four key lifestyle areas: fi tness, medical, nutrition and wellness. It's undeniable that the fi ve-star, oceanside resort's gorgeous backdrop is a major draw. But with so many other luxurious health retreats operating these days, what distinguishes VeraVia from the rest of the competi- tion? DAYSPA spoke with the founders to get the skinny on this new wave of "wellness vacations". CLIENTS ON A CRUNCH One thing that stands out about VeraVia is its all-inclusive, "wraparound" approach. "There are some amazing re- treats out there," acknowledges Wyatt, "but their guests have to seek out and pay extra for medical or psycho- logical services, if they're even offered at all. We wanted An upscale So Cal health retreat helps clients stay true to their wellness resolutions. By Lesley McCave Reboot Camp PHOTO COURTESY PARK HYATT AVIARA