pause

At Nobu Ryokan Malibu, a hormone-focused retreat turns menopause into a luxurious escape

Get a group of women over the age of 35 together in just about any setting these days, and one topic is sure to come up: no. Not significant others or children, toxic mom groups, butter, or even favorite episodes fierce competition. It’s perimenopause now. This is. . . Well, serious pop.

The zeitgeist of it all is inspiring more awareness among women of all ages. In recent years, we’ve seen a range of hormone-focused products enter the market, such as beauty lines, premium supplements, sexual health brands, comfort kits, and more. So it only makes sense that destination hotels, which often serve as places for girls’ trips and wellness vacations, start incorporating this issue into their offerings as well. Now, Nobu Inn Malibu are leading the charge with their Hormone Health Retreat, which is in partnership with CURE Wellness Center Combine personalized wellness with relaxation time. Here, ladies can indulge in seaside cocktails and get blood tests and vitamin B12 tests.

Nobu Ryokan is the perfect place for such an experience. First off, this truly stunning hotel perfectly combines nature-inspired minimalist Japanese design with barefoot California luxury (think teak for a few days), blending perfectly with the beachfront setting to feel like a true paradise. That’s no mean feat, just a few miles from the chaos of Hollywood and adjacent to an area recently ravaged by fires. But after passing through the slatted doors, the hotel is eerily quiet and no detail has been overlooked. “The hotel’s size, the ocean in front of it, and the sense of tranquility we’re trying to preserve are all very grounding,” says general manager Amir Vahdani. “Guests often arrive with a lot of stuff, and within the first few hours you can visibly see their mood soften. It feels personal, calm and very human. CURE Retreat Centers naturally incorporate this.” In fact, releasing stress can be an important step in hormonal balance.

Nobu is also located across the Pacific Coast Highway from CURE, itself a comprehensive health and concierge medical destination offering everything from organ testing and sleep studies to aquafacials and hair growth programs. Most people must become members to benefit from this wealth of expertise, but, during these retreats, women can get a taste of it and walk away with a sound understanding of themselves.

In fact, the idea for this retreat—and the Brain and Nervous System retreats they also offer—came directly from what Dr. Lisa Benya, co-founder of CURE, sees in her medical practice every day. “Highly successful, high-functioning women come in feeling exhausted, confused, anxious, not sleeping well, gaining weight, or feeling disconnected from their bodies—and most are told their labs are ‘normal,'” she explains. “What’s abnormal is how they feel. Focusing on female hormones is not only logical, it’s necessary.” Dr. Benya knew she needed to offer women more than a standard 15-minute appointment.

So she and her team created this program for Nobu. And, although it includes reasonably informative assessment and treatment, it doesn’t feel remotely clinical in this fantastic setting. The feeling of care is the most important thing. The day starts with a “healthy breakfast” with a variety of choices, the most famous of which is the Japanese breakfast bento, which includes the most beautiful dried miso seabass ever. After blood was drawn and in consultation with Dr. Benya himself, intravenous fluids were administered (also helpful in relieving hangovers). Next up is a cellular facial, because god knows hormonal fluctuations can affect skin, followed by a personalized exercise session (read: one-on-one yoga on the deck overlooking the sparkling Pacific Ocean!). Finally, enjoy lunch at Nobu, made only with yellow tail jalapeños all An experience worth having. Finally, there is a 90-minute medical massage in the evening for everyone to have a good sleep. Guests then schedule a call with Dr. Benya to review their blood work and discuss possible solutions for their specific symptoms.

So this resort offers plenty of room to kick back and clean off the dirt while sipping a Qui Espresso cocktail by the pool, and there are some real long-lasting benefits. For Dr. Benya, these retreats are perfect for girls’ trips for another reason: “When women travel together, they are creating space to reconnect,” she says. “Retreats enhance this experience by helping them understand what’s going on in their bodies and brains, often at similar stages of life. Hormonal changes can make people feel isolating, confusing, and even awkward—but in a group, these conversations become normal, honest, and healing. A shared journey deepens connections.”

Ideally, guests return home well rested and rested, with real data and a sense that they are not alone in their discomfort in their daily lives and that there are real solutions. Vahdani agrees, “Our goal is simple: for guests to leave feeling more relaxed than when they arrived.”