Wellness Wonderland

Reboot at Lake Austin Spa Resort in Texas Hill Country.

- By Becca Hensley

On the grassy shores of Lake Austin, my husband and I spar — with swords. Don’t worry. We’re not really in danger of slicing one another if we take a misstep, which frankly happens each time I step forward when I am supposed to move backward. In fact, we’re wielding bokken, wooden swords used primarily for martial arts weapon training. Along with other guests, we attempt to follow the footwork and bokken swings demonstrated by our instructor, who softly leads us in bokken practice’s most elementary steps. “It takes hours a day for years to become an expert,” he reminded us when we faltered. The swords, meant to represent real weapons in shape and weight, play a large role in Japanese martial arts training, disciplines from kendo to aikido.

We’ve joined this class on a sunny morning just as the emerald green lake begins to glimmer and a light wind caresses the leafy realms of the trees that edge it. As if wanting to witness our clumsy dance, a blue heron ceremoniously circles above us before landing on the adjacent floating yoga platform. Joining it to stare, a family of ducks waddles from the water. There’s no sound but the soothing repetition of waves tickling the lake’s lips like whispering bells — and our unharmonious grunts as we heave our