Wellbeing for the whole being: feeding the mind with knowledge, feeding the body with health.

"The field cannot be seen from within the field," Ralph Waldo Emerson once famously observed. Nowhere is this more true than with regard to taking the full measure of our lives. We may begin by evaluating our health, our relationships, our purpose--making New Year's resolutions to break bad habits and turn over new leaves. The reason so many of these resolutions tend to melt with the warmth of spring is contained in Emerson's axiom: we lack the necessary distance to gain perspective on our problems, and the necessary knowledge, tools and support to make lasting changes that significantly impact the quality of our lives.

That's where the LifeAdvisors at the California WellBeing Institute come in. Heavily grounded in evidence-based best-practices for healthy living, the LifeAdvisors work hand-in-hand with Registered Dieticians, medical experts, exercise physiologists and spa therapists to guide guests through individually tailored programs. Using tools such as a proprietary LifeQuality profile, a nutrition assessment, medical screenings, and fitness evaluations, LifeAdvisors work with guests to create a personal LifePlan complete with goals and motivators for creating lasting lifestyle changes.

"Our mission is to teach people how to eat, exercise, and live happier, healthier lives," says David Murdock, founder of the California WellBeing Institute. Well known for his mantra, "knowledge is power," Murdock has invested heavily over the years in studying the link between nutrition and health. Animated with a boundless curiosity, Murdock has taught college-level classes at UCLA about the discipline of what he calls "Creative Imagination." Given this hands-on experience with education, he was determined to develop thought-provoking, paradigm-shifting programs that would take the most recent and relevant scientific discoveries about health and package them in a way that would inspire people to rethink their choices and make better ones.

In order to help him in this mission, he hired Heidi Geier as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the California WellBeing Institute. Geier brings nearly 30 years of experience in hospitality, sales and marketing to the job. She says launching the WellBeing Institute has drawn on all her skills--and challenged her to develop new ones, "because what we've created here is unlike anything that exists anywhere. Our programs reflect the complex, interconnected nature of health and emotional wellbeing. Our unique, 360-degree approach to personal transformation assesses and addresses all aspects of guests' lives, from diet to stress management, from disease prevention to outer beauty, from fitness to longevity."

Guests will also have access to advanced, integrative medical services that include genetic testing, cardiovascular evaluations, cancer screenings and bone density measurements. Physicians of the California Health and Longevity Institute, Inc. will work with LifeAdvisors to give guests a comprehensive, "360-Degree" view of their health as well as personalized strategies to help them make lasting changes to their lifestyle. Between consultations and workshops guests may indulge in a pampering massage or water therapy treatment at The Spa at Four Seasons, enjoy a sumptuous, healthy meal at one of Four Seasons' fine restaurants, or take a relaxing stroll through the expansive gardens and waterfalls that comprise the facility's elegant, serene landscape.

Three-day packages, or "signature experiences," all include LifeAdvisor sessions, medical assessments, complementary medical treatments, rejuvenating spa treatments, nutrition consultations and unlimited access to fitness sessions. For those with less time there are "introductory experiences," which range from a few hours to a full day. The "LifeKitchen," for example, is a two hour session that is an educational culinary adventure, combining a gourmet meal with an opportunity to learn about superfoods and healthy cooking techniques.

Part of the philosophy of the California WellBeing Institute is a commitment to follow-up and ongoing guest support. "We want people to gain the ability to sustain the kind of changes they experience during their time with us," says Ms. Geier. "Research suggests that it takes about 21 days to break a bad habit or for a lifestyle change to take root and become second nature. We can help guests begin that process here, and then continue to work with them so that making healthy choices becomes a pleasure, not a chore. It's like the old adage: 'Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a destiny:' We will guide guests along the path to a healthier destiny and support them on their way."