The rain poured down on the tropical forest, drumming against the roof of The Vessyl's open-air restaurant. The scent of wet earth and leaves filled the air as the sound of the jungle grew louder, punctuating the silence. The retreat, nestled on 118 acres of rainforest, was a far cry from the hustle and bustle of daily life. For the first writer invited to experience the property, the stay was a chance to unwind and reconnect with oneself.
The Vessyl, founded by Josh Stanley, one of the Stanley brothers behind Charlotte's Web, was more than just a wellness retreat. It was an immersive experience that combined sound, breathwork, heat, cold, movement, and meditation to create a unique atmosphere. The retreat's centerpiece was the Frequency Dome, a circular sanctuary that combined spatial audio, 4K projections, and a vibrating floor. The result was a sensory experience that left guests feeling like they were inside the sound itself.
The writer, no stranger to the world of wellness, found that The Vessyl's approach was refreshing. Unlike other retreats that focused on rigid itineraries and prescribed paths to transformation, The Vessyl allowed guests to explore at their own pace. Some practices resonated immediately, while others took time to sink in. The writer, however, was particularly drawn to the Bio-Well scan, which used an electro-photonic response to produce visualizations that practitioners interpreted through an energetic wellness framework. The reading revealed a score labeled "psychology" that reflected the pace and stress of the writer's life, prompting a realization that the nervous system could use some support.
The retreat's focus on somatic breathwork and therapeutic exercises was also a highlight. The writer, who had experience with panic attacks, found that the permission to step away and regulate their breathing was a game-changer. The experience allowed them to notice their emotions and physical sensations without judgment, rather than trying to contain or move on from them.
The Vessyl's most unusual experience, however, was its use of horses. Guests spent time learning how to approach the horses and earn their trust, emphasizing communication, awareness, and what was being conveyed without words. The horse was the feedback, responding to what was actually standing in front of it. The writer found that this experience was remarkably simple yet profound, allowing them to slow down and connect with another living being.
As the stay came to a close, the writer reflected on the experience. They realized that The Vessyl's approach was not about achieving a specific state or feeling a certain way, but rather about slowing down and noticing what was happening inside themselves. The retreat had given them the space to let go of distractions and tune into their own rhythms. The writer left The Vessyl with a newfound awareness of the noise they carried and how different they felt when they stopped filling every empty space.
The Vessyl's emphasis on self-sufficiency and quiet reflection was a breath of fresh air in a world that often values productivity and busyness. As the writer looked out at the rainforest, they knew that the experience would stay with them long after they left the retreat. The Vessyl had given them a gift: the space to notice, to breathe, and to reconnect with themselves. And that was something to build upon.
Written by: The Logfather | The Citizen Edition
“That's my final word.”