Feel good vibes at Shou Sugi Ban House

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We were on the Sacred Sound Journey at Shou Sugi Ban House, an intimate wellness resort in the hamlet of Water Mill in Long Island, NY

Shou Sugi Ban House is the brainchild – and passion – of Amy Cherry-Abitbol, ​​a former corporate lawyer with a deep interest in health and wellness. In 2014, Cherry-Abitbol participated in Harvard Business School’s “New Paths” executive training program for women looking to change careers and explore new opportunities. In 2015, she and her business partner, Kathleen Kapnick, purchased the watermill property and then spent four years developing it, including renovating a barn, installing a heating system and geothermal cooling, solar panels and gardens.

Welcome

Behind the gated entrance, guests are greeted by a large Buddha statue which sits in front of the spa building. Beyond the spa studio is the resort’s main barn, an open space for meeting, filled with comfortable lounge chairs, dining tables, a show kitchen, and a private area for guests.

The resort is nestled in three landscaped acres, surrounded by tall conifers. “We want the retreat to feel like a healing container, a safe haven,” Webber said during our site visit. Asian-inspired gardens surround and crisscross the cluster of low-rise cedar buildings, home to 13 independent suites, a healing arts center, main barn, spa, light-flooded meditation studio, and exercise studio with bay windows. glazed windows that can be opened for outdoor lessons. Pebble paths wind through the property, circling rolling herb gardens. There are pretty views, strategically placed, everywhere: stone fountains, sculptures, ornamentals and trees. A pebble courtyard houses a gas fireplace, and an outdoor saltwater pool takes center stage among guest suites – a subtle nod to the natural elements of fire and water.

In your bedroom

Each guest studio is approximately 400 square feet, with its own entrance and a small outdoor garden and patio. Rooms aren’t overly spacious or opulent, but they’re upscale with a minimalist Asian design philosophy. Think: white on white and neutral straw and blonde beach accents, modern bathrooms with heated floors, glass-enclosed tubs and showers, plush linens, and gas fireplaces. The rooms are flooded with natural light.

A suite of guests.Handout

Time to relax (and play)

“People have different wellness interests and everyone has their own path,” says Webber. To this end, customers will find a wide range of a la carte wellness offerings including sound trips, aromatherapy, crystal healing, energy balancing, hypnotherapy for the sleep, shamanic healing, numerous yoga classes, tea tastings and nutrition workshops. There are also a variety of fitness classes (a morning exercise class is free, others are available for an additional fee), such as pilates, core stability, aqua fitness, and tennis instruction. In season, there are guided off-site hikes, beach trips, and boat trips around Peconic Bay.

And, of course, there’s the spa, which has the same minimalist and basic vibe. There are five treatment rooms, infrared and dry saunas, a steam room, plunge pools, an outdoor Watsu pool, a rooftop terrace, and a menu with a plethora of body treatments.

Time to eat

Celebrity chef Mads Refslund, one of the co-founders of Danish restaurant Noma, repeatedly named the world’s greatest restaurant, and co-author of “Scraps, Wilt & Weeds: Turning Wasted Food into Plenty”, is the chief consultant of the complex. .

Healthy, plant-rich cuisine is at the center of Shou Sugi Ban House’s culinary program, with an emphasis on seasonality and sustainability, and the intensive use of herbs and spices. One day for lunch we ate grilled shrimp and mussels in dill and yuzu broth (there were also vegetarian options), accompanied by a grilled avocado with ponzu and toast. of chickpea hummus with hazelnuts. At dinner, we chose grilled salmon, served with an endive salad with walnuts and orange vinaigrette, an endive salad with slices of green strawberries and a bowl of earthy enoki mushrooms served with bean sprouts. crispy and a shoyu sauce. If you think a good glass of wine would go well (as we were), forget it; it is a complex without substance (although they do serve caffeinated coffee in the morning).

At the end of the line

This is a small, upscale, Asian-influenced wellness resort, offering top-notch, innovative and scientific treatments and programming. The staff are encouraging and friendly, and willing to personalize your stay. But you will pay dearly for the experience. Guest suites start at $ 1,100 per night, including daily breakfast and a morning exercise class. The Sacred Sound Journey costs $ 225. The 60-minute private access to the hydrotherapy facilities is $ 200. A 60-minute massage starts at $ 200.

Apparently, it is worth it for a lot of people; Shou Sugi Ban House has been popular throughout the pandemic and is gearing up for a busy summer season. “I have given seven sound healing sessions in the past week or so,” Webber said. “There has been a lot of trauma over the past year and people are looking for ways to relieve stress. I think we’ve learned that our health is the only real wealth we have.

Shou Sugi Ban House, 337 Montauk Hwy, Watermill, NY, 631-500-9049; www.shousugibanhouse.com


Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be contacted at [email protected]


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