I was at a stretching class recently (bear with me) and the instructor talked about how wellness has become so commodified. Self-care, she argued, has turned into just another thing to check off the to-do list—crammed in between picking up groceries, vacuuming (where does all that dust come from???), and calling that friend who you’ve been neglecting.

Self-care is, of course, whatever you want it to be: going for a run, taking a bath, taking yourself for a nice meal, massaging 15 different oils into your face, reading a book, binging Vanderpump Rules. Unlike in the world of Lisa Vanderpump, there are no rules when it comes to self-care—but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to achieve. Especially in a world that tells us if we don’t post what we’re doing on social media, it doesn’t count.

So how do we get back to the true essence of self-care? Where is authentic wellness hiding? I spent a weekend in the mountains for Whistler’s Nourish series to find out.

The Nourish Whistler Wellness Series runs the entire month of June, combining a curated selection of food and lifestyle events that put wellbeing at the forefront. It’s no secret that Whistler has become an excellent place to vacation—not just in the winter, but in the summer. Mountain biking, hiking, swimming, ziplining, and ATVing are just some of the activities that the resort offers when the sun comes out. But this is also a place of stillness—a place where you can actually catch your breath and reconnect with your own mind. That is, as long as you’re not in earshot of the Longhorn Saloon.

Where to stay

My partner says it best: the second you walk into the lobby of the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, it’s as if your whole body relaxes. There’s something about the high ceilings, the soft wood tones, and the aroma in the air that puts souls at ease. For me, it’s the in-room Le Labo Rose 31 bath amenities that I instantly smother all over my body. It’s also the perfectly soft bed, and the mountain views from my room.

That’s not even to mention the health facilities, which include multiple hot tubs and swimming pools that are all kept at different temperatures for your soaking pleasure. The outdoor lap pool (heated, of course) even has underwater music. Complimentary yoga classes are held daily, and the hotel has an array of additional activities during Nourish, as well—from stand-up paddle boarding to Pilates.

Where to eat

Keeping on the topic of the Fairmont for a moment, the hotel’s onsite cafe Portobello is a great option for breakfast (go for one of the signature bowls with “tomato fondue”) or lunch (the sandwiches!). And do not sleep on the vegan granola bar—that thing is sweet and chewy perfection.

Also at the Fairmont is the fine dining option The Wildflower, where new chef de cuisine Adie Anas is pumping out some incredible dishes—including a tuna tataki with caviar that I supremely hope makes it onto the full-time menu. For those who want to keep things on the healthier side, The Wildflower has a great selection of non-alcoholic wines from Noughty that can be paired with any meal; the sparkling chardonnay is an easy favourite.

Another excellent fine dining option is Wild Blue, located at the edge of Whistler Village and known for its inventive seafood plates created by chef Alex Chen (who Vancouverites may recognize from Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar). I don’t know if anyone’s trout will ever top the Wild Blue smoked steelhead I have here; paired with guanciale crumb, spruce butter, herb gnocchi, and creamy morels, it tastes like everything I love about West Coast fare—fresh, flavourful, light. (Looking for something not-so-light to end things off? The Praline Bar with praline crunch and milk chocolate mousse is an absolute barn-burner.)

And look. Sometimes restaurants are mainstays for a reason—one excellent example being Il Caminetto. Part of the Toptable Group of restaurants that also includes Araxi and Bar Oso in Whistler as well as Elisa and Blue Water Cafe in Vancouver, Il Caminetto excels in its consistency: this is a place where you know you can get excellent service and a fabulous meal that’s actually worth the price tag. Surprise standouts include the hummus (really), the Caesar salad (realy!!), and the bolognese (duh). There is also a mean non-alcoholic blood orange spritz that I highly recommend sipping on the patio.

And finally, for something decidedly more casual, Flute & Fromage just opened in the village, offering a selection of cheeses, crackers, and wines for takeaway or for dining in. The curated cheese boards are excellent, but may I point out another must-order? The chevre salad has even my partner—a self-proclaimed non-salad guy—singing its praises. Greens, pecans, and cherry tomatoes are tossed in a tangy dressing and then topped with pieces of bread that are smothered in creamy goat chevre and honey. No notes.

What to do

“If you take from the land, you always give back to the land,” says our guide at the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre, who asks to be referred to by her traditional name of Halaw. A member of the N'Quatqua Nation, Halaw takes people on tours of the centre and its onsite forest, which includes a selection of traditional plants like dandelion (good for digestion), lichen (good for the respiratory system), pine mushrooms (good for soups and stews), and moss (good for transporting controlled fires). Tours are always available, though special for Nourish, the centre offers a forest walk that ends with an Indigenous tea ceremony (and excellent bannock covered in cinnamon sugar).

Halaw shares with our group that her father and grandfather are residential school survivors, and that her father no longer identifies with his Indigenous culture. “They succeeded in ‘taking the Indian out of the child,’” she says. She learned about her Indigenous heritage from her mother’s side.

“My connection to my culture,” she says, “allowed me to be who I am.” Every year she gives herself a cultural goal. This year’s is to trap a beaver.

Another person working to promote the importance of our relationship with the land is Monica Sander Burns.

“When we come back to nature it makes us want to protect it,” she says, “because we see ourselves as nature again.”

Sander Burns is the founder of Society of Trees: a Whistler-based nature immersion company that helps people reconnect with their surroundings. Her flagship offering is forest bathing: a practise that originates in Japan and has been scientifically shown to help reduce stress. The idea, according to Sander Burns, is that when you place emphasis on your senses, you stimulate neural pathways that lead to your parasympathetic system—which helps your body regulate stress and anxiety.

“It’s about connecting with place,” she says simply. I won’t say too much about the whole thing, because it really should be experienced firsthand to understand. I will say that I went in fairly skeptical and left feeling utterly at peace. One woman in our group was moved to tears.

Alternatively, for something more heart-thumping, Whistler Blackcomb offers 4x4 bear viewing tours that will take you up both mountains in search of the area’s majestic black bears. If the season’s right, you’ll have no trouble spotting any number of bears as they awaken from hibernation and begin feeding season. There is nothing quite like watching a 300-pound animal that can run up to 48 kilometres per hour sauntering through the grass, munching on flowers, to help you understand the importance of slowing the hell down every once in a while.