Whole Foods Market, which energized the natural products community last week with its GMO labeling announcement, is working on other ways to take the healthy living market to new levels. According to USA Today, the growing retail chain plans to open a high-end health resort near its Austin, Texas headquarters by 2016.

Along with pampering themselves with spa services and delicious, healthy food, Whole Foods' resort guests would also be treated to the latest thinking in healthy living. "Think of it as a center where people would go for a day, a weekend or a week for healthy lifestyle education," Whole Foods Co-Founder John Mackey told USA Today.

Mackey said the idea for the health resort came from an internal Whole Foods program that has successfully helped employees lose weight and improve their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

In the end, the idea will be an experiment designed to move more people along the healthy living spectrum. "I’ve seen it improve the lives of hundreds of our team members," Mackey said. 

As someone who recently attended Whole Foods’ Academy for Conscious Leadership, I know firsthand how successful the retailer and its people can be at educating and spreading a way of thinking that is at the heart of the company's success. For that reason, I think Whole Foods' health resort concept has legs, and I for one would be happy to spend a future vacation at a health resort in Austin.

What do you think? Would you plan a stay at a Whole Foods Market healthy living resort? Share your thoughts in the comments below.