“Increasingly, everything we do seems to be in the company of others — and on a regimented schedule. We jet off to foreign countries, on dates predetermined by a higher power (yoga instructors, dietitians), to eat raw meals and practice downward dog alongside complete strangers. In an essay on “The End of Relaxation,” the writer Sadie Stein pointed out that trendy wellness retreats appeal, in large part, by offering the ultimate luxury: freedom from having to make any decisions, since the itineraries are decided for you. And in our day to day, we’re more likely than ever to spare ourselves the agony of having to decide where to go or what to do — and just stay in (lest our choices disappoint us).”
