Spas

Ten Great Holiday Spa Treatments From Coast To Coast

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) — Nov 29th 2010 at 11:02AM

The holiday season kicks one's stress drives into high gear. Whether you're hosting a holiday with the immediate family or a soiree for you and 250 of your closest friends. Spa treatments - even those that aren't as luxurious as the ones we've selected below, have been shown to reduce stress, boost immunity and oh yeas - get you at least a few hours of much-needed peace and quiet.

Book one of these for yourself or a loved one (or spa together for a great holiday experience!). We've selected a variety of treatments offered coast to coast. Al of the treatments listed below are available through the holiday season, and many are also bookable into the spring.

Hot Toddy for the Body at L'Auberge de Sedona
Spa in the splendor of nature at Sedona resort L'Auberge when you book their special "Hot Toddy for the Body," a spirit-lifting holiday cocktail for the whole system. The treatment begins with a cornmeal body scrub rich with clove, organic orange and cinnamon with a warming body wrap of sweet soy, calendula and orange oil. $130

Peace, Joy and Harmony at Qua Baths & Spa
We could all use a little peace, joy and harmony this holiday season, and even better when those relaxing moments come at a spa. Try Atlantic City's Qua Baths & Spa holiday treatments for whichever feeling you hope to inspire. Joy comes in the form of a European facial featuring a frangipani sugar hand exfoliation and paraffin wax treatment. Find Peace in a back and foot ritual with a Ginger, Rosemary & Lemongrass foot exfoliation preceded by a pressure reflex point massage of your feet, followed by an Arnica & Shea Butter exfoliation of your back and a relaxing Marine Oil Swedish neck, shoulder & lower back massage. If it's Harmony you're after, balance your Chakras with a stone massage and exotic milk hair mask followed by the same Marine Oil massage. $180 each.

Bindi Rebirth at The Boulders
Want to enter 2011 looking and feeling like a new person? Book The Boulders' Bindi treatment. Based on the ancient Ayurvedic arts, this herbal exfoliation, aromatherapy massage and comforting body wrap is bound to make you feel fresh and new. $205.

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Sweat Out Holiday Indulgences in the SlimDome

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) — Nov 27th 2010 at 8:00AM

Chances are, you've spend the past few weeks - and Thanksgiving weekend in particular - overindulging on your favorite foods. Prep for the next round of holiday festivities with a trip to your local SlimDome, an infrared sauna that promises up to a five percent reduction in body weight in just one 45-minute session.

We recently have become devoted to this treatment, which burns 400 to 600 calories per session and is safe enough to use daily. The process is easy - one simply lays inside the dome, a rather coffin-like device that slides up almost to the user's neck. A super-absorbent towel is placed on top of the dome's spongy padding ... because we guarantee you'll sweat ... profusely.

Unlike a regular sauna, the Dome only reaches temperatures of 110 - 140 degrees Farenheit, but it uses infrared technology to penetrate 1.5 to two inches beneath the skin's surface, generating a subcutaneous sweat that doesn't dehydrate but purges toxins from the body at a significantly higher rate than a regular sauna session.

And, because your head and face is outside the Dome, you won't feel nearly as hot.

The sauna may also have health benefits - D.C. area spa owner Amy Boyce of PureSkin (the only D.C. area spa to carry the Dome) says that her mother used the Dome daily after being diagnosed with unhealthy levels of mercury in her system. After a month of regular treatments, she was completely healed.

So here's to being both healthy - and happy with your weight - this holiday season.

Tags: pureskin bethesda, slimdome, spa treatment, washington dc, weight loss

Hotel Guanahani & Spa on St. Barth's to Reopen December 15

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) — Nov 23rd 2010 at 9:31AM

The Hotel Guanahani & Spa on the picturesque island of St. Barth's will reopen its doors in mid-December after a major overhaul and renovation of the property.

The largest resort on St Barth's, the Hotel Guanahani & Spa's renovation was led by award-winning architect David Schwarz, interior designer Miami, Fla.-based Luis Pons and local architect Nicolas Lossent from Lotus Architects.

Most rooms are being renovated and one new, luxurious suite will be built on the property. Located in a remote setting on the beachfront, the Admiral Suite will resemble a villa and feature 2 spacious bedrooms, exclusive access to a small private beach and breathtaking views of the lagoon. The suite will feature custom-designed furniture that incorporates elements of leather and wood.

Gallery: Hotel Guanahani & Spa on St. Barth's

The Swimming Pool at the Hotel Guanahani & Spa on St. Barth's

The Spa at the Hotel Guanahani & Spa on St. Barth's

A newly remodeled suite at the Hotel Guanahani & Spa

A Newly Remodeled Suite at the Hotel Guanahani & Spa on St. Barth's

Tags: awards-main, caribbean, CaribbeanBeaches, CaribbeanDestinations, CaribbeanTravel, Hotel Guanahani, Hotel Guanahani Spa, luxist-awards, spa, St. Barths, st. barts

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Intraceuticals Oxygen-Infused Facials Promise Celebrity Skin

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) — Oct 21st 2010 at 10:02AM

Thanks to HD cameras and the ever-present paparazzo flashbulb, celebrities and their makeup artists are forced to spend increasing hours attempting to achieve dewy, youthful-looking skin. Australian skincare line Intraceuticals believes they've found an answer.

A product that has drawn a cult following from names like Madonna, John Galliano, Rachel Zoe, Justin Timberlake and more, this unique line is delivered to the skin through both at-home treatments and in-spa oxygen facials.

The makeup artists behind movies like Sex and the City and shows like American Idol also swear by Intraceuticals oxygen to get clients TV-ready, and producers for music videos featuring celebrities like Katy Perry noticed that their retouching costs were reduced, at times by thousands of dollars, because the star's skin was so much better-looking.

Now non mega stars can achieve the same results. We had the chance to sample the new Intraceuticals Oxygen Facial at The Ritz-Carlton's Sports Club/LA in Washington, DC last week and see for ourselves what it felt to be pampered like an A-lister. The therapists promised brighter, smoother-looking skin with a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.

Tags: celebrity facial, intraceuticals, ritz-carlton, sports clubla

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PuLi: The First Urban Resort And Spa In Downtown Shanghai

by Susan Kime (RSS feed) — Oct 19th 2010 at 9:01AM

The urban resort idea is growing in the United States. I have written about it recently for Luxist, regarding the Millennium Towers in San Francisco. This residence hotel offers a type of experiential, urban sanctuary that is particularly needful, especially in electric, busy, hyper-urban settings.

This concept is new in the Far East, and the PuLi Hotel and Spa is the first luxury urban resort in the city of Shanghai, and in China. The 26-floor, 209 room and 20 suite hotel is centrally located, in the heart of Shanghai's business, shopping, sightseeing and entertainment districts. There are also views of JingAn Park, The hotel is also located by sky bridge to the new multi-use development Park Place..

"We have been very successful with this new idea," said Yvonne Mak, Director of Sales And Marketing for PuLi. "The urban resort fits in so well with what our guests want: the busier the city, the more they need a sanctuary. Our goal is to offer an experiential oasis for the guests, so they can feel they are miles away from the intensity of city life that is in reality, right outside the hotel doors. Therefore, the spa, the dining, the architectural and interior design of the hotel all work together to exude a kind of peace and simplicity."

Tags: Anantara Spa, china, china travel, JingAn Park, PuLi Hotel, Shanghai, Urban Resort Concepts, Urban Resorts

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Start 2011 With the "Ultimate Healthy Beginning" at Canyon Ranch Miami

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) — Oct 12th 2010 at 8:01AM

After all those rounds of holiday parties, we're sure you'll need a detox - after all, we certainly do. What better place to kick off your New Years Resolution than at Canyon Ranch Miami Beach, an industry leader in both spa and wellness? They've designed the Luxury of Wellness package, a series of three five-night programs that are customized to your specific needs.

Priced at a cool $45,000, this package is limited to those with fairly deep pockets, but it does offer a comprehensive vacation and wellness experience. Plus, who wouldn't want to spend three weeks a year in Miami?

The package includes a a pre-arrival interview to assess the guest's overall health; completely stress free travel with luggage delivery service, private airport pickup, and more. A host of comprehensive diagnostic tests are conducted to establish the ideal course of action. Private session options with in-resort practitioners (think acupuncture, energy healing, life style management, exercise physiology, etc.) are aimed at leaving the guest with all the tools necessary to take home to improve their health.

Tags: ashiatsu massage, canyon ranch, canyon ranch miami, canyon ranch miami beach, fitness DVD, luxury of wellness, massage, spa package, spa packages, spa treatments

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One and Only and Physique 57 Partner On Fitness Retreats

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Oct 9th 2010 at 8:01AM

It's a little early to get started on New Year's resolutions but if you are anything like me fitness will probably be on the list. Instead of heading to the gym you can really treat yourself, enjoying a fitness retreat on Paradise Island, Bahamas. One&Only Ocean Club has partnered with acclaimed fitness program Physique 57™ on two exclusive four-night fitness retreats.

The weekend retreat includes four nights in the Caribbean's most luxurious resort, two daily Physique classes on the outdoor beachfront pavilion, a gift bag with Physique 57™ DVD set and more. The retreats are scheduled for January 13-17 and May 12-16, 2011.

Physique 57™ is an exercise method that uses isometric exercises and orthopedic stretches. Interval training sets incorporate muscle-defining arm exercises, intense thigh and seat sequences, waist-chiseling abdominal moves and fluid stretches to create a long and lean physique.

The One&Only Ocean Club also has a Balinese-style spa featuring eight private treatment villas and the package comes with two $50 spa certificates. The weekend event opens with a welcome beach barbecue catered by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges. Guests will enjoy personalized butler service, daily fruit bowl and afternoon champagne and strawberries, complimentary access to on-site fitness center, wireless internet access, a pillow menu, nightly turndown service, CD and DVD library, twice-daily maid service, access to the One&Only Ocean Club concierge, pool concierge services including a selection of music and periodicals in addition to complimentary access to the VIP KidsOnly programming. Package pricing starts at $1,450 per person based upon double occupancy for a total of $2,900.

Tags: bahamas, fitness retreats, One and Only, one only ocean club, paradise island, physique 57

Queen Mary 2's Canyon Ranch SpaClub: Pure Bliss on the Atlantic Ocean (with Video)

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) — Oct 6th 2010 at 9:31AM

Perhaps the most decadent, and most relaxing experience one could ever imagine, is time spent at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub while crossing the Atlantic Ocean on Cunard's Queen Mary 2 ocean liner.

The Queen Mary 2 is equipped with a 22,000 square foot spa, which is one of the largest ship-based spas in the world. The spa facilities include 24 treatment rooms, a luxurious aqua-therapy facility and a beauty and hair salon. For those seeking exercise, there's a fully-equipped circuit gym with free weights as well as a large cardio facility that is outfitted with state-of-the-art elliptical trainers, stationary and recumbent bicycles, a variety of treadmills and stepping machines. Much of the equipment is equipped with individual televisions and iPod docks. Fitness trainers are available for individual sessions.

While the Canyon Ranch SpaClub isn't quite as elaborate as visiting the world-renowned Canyon Ranch destination locations in Tucson, Ariz. or Lenox, Mass. (and a Luxist Awards' Nominee for Best Extended-Stay Spa), it is extremely impressive nonetheless. And in some ways, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub aboard the Queen Mary 2, which opened in 2004, is even better. Where else can you enjoy the historic and romantic experience of crossing the Atlantic on a beautiful ocean liner while experiencing the healthy lifestyle offered by Canyon Ranch?

Gallery: Canyon Ranch SpaClub on Cunard's Queen Mary 2

Canyon Ranch SpaClub on the Queen Mary 2

Tags: awards-main, canyon ranch, Canyon Ranch Cooking, canyon ranch spa, cruise, cruise ship, cruises, cunard, Cunard Cruise Line, CunardCruiseLine, luxist-awards, ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, spa, spa treatments, transatlantic, transatlantic crossing

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Squeeze out the Stiffness from a Long Day of Teton Hiking

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) — Sep 29th 2010 at 11:02AM

If you head out to Jackson Hole, still a playground for the wealthy, despite the lingering effects of the recession, a jaunt through the mountains is probably on your itinerary. The Grand Tetons are simultaneously challenging and inviting, and you need to respond to that call! After having scaled peaks or stumbled along trails, however, your body will need some relief. The Avanyu Spa at the Snake River Lodge & Spa is the perfect fit for rejuvenating your weary muscles.

I visited this spa on a recent getaway to Jackson Hole and can tell you the staff's talented hands are the perfect antidote to the strain and pain that comes with an active vacation. The Avanyu Spa offers 17,000 square feet of pure relaxation ... with the exception of the gym on the fifth floor. It's a great place to get in shape, but I just can't bring myself to compare exercise to bliss – it's just not my nature.

The range of treatments is fairly wide, and includes a variety of unique massages (e.g., Komodo Massage, Sleeping Indian Custom Massage and River Stone Massage), as well as desert salt exfoliation, several facials and other skin treatments.

The spa's layout was certainly interesting. The gym is on its uppermost floor, and the four below included treatment rooms, locker rooms and, on the first floor, an indoor pool and access to one outside. An elevator transports you from one to the next. At first, this seemed cumbersome, but that's probably because I'm constantly in a hurry. Quickly, I came to realize that the forced wait encouraged a bit of patience, moving me into the mindset that a spa visit encourages.

Gallery: Snake River Lodge & Spa

The lobby at the Snake River Lodge & Spa

Tags: grand tetons, jackson hole, Jackson Hole Wyoming, resort, resorts, RockResorts, snake river, spa, spa review, spa treatment, spa treatments, wyoming

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Spiritually Surrender to Weight Loss at The Lodge at Woodloch

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) — Sep 11th 2010 at 9:01AM

If the summer has left your jeans a little snug, The Lodge at Woodloch, a destination spa in Hawley, Pennsylvania that's popular with health seekers on the New Yorker to Philadelphia corridor, may have a solution. Spiritual guru Marianne Williamson will be putting in an appearance in early November, to mark the publication of her new book, A Course In Weight Loss: 21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering Your Weight Forever. Four of Williamson's nine books have become New York Times bestsellers, and while I've not cracked its cover, it doesn't take a marketing genius to realize that the title contains words likely to make it very popular indeed.

The weekend package runs November 5th-6th, 2010, and includes Williamson's lecture, a signed copy of her book, and a weekend of activities at the resort. All details here.

Tags: pennsylvania, spa, spirituality, weight loss

Sheraton Rolls Out Shine For Sheraton Spa Concept

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Sep 8th 2010 at 12:01AM

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts has announced their new spa concept. Shine for Sheraton will debut in new properties worldwide and as a new spa solution for existing properties; it will be in 17 hotels by 2011. Germaine de Capuccini, a leading global spa and skincare brand, has been designated as the preferred product partner for Shine spas. According to a press release Sheraton has spent $6 billion in a "brand revitalization effort."

The spa offers five signature treatments: a massage, facial, body treatment, manicure/pedicure and a treatment for two. The brand's signature new spa offering is currently available at select hotels in China, Vietnam, the Maldives (shown above) and the Slovak Republic. The global roll out of Shine for Sheraton will continue with 12 openings scheduled over the next 15 months including the Sheraton Shanghai Hong Kou, the Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng and the Sheraton Yantai Golden Beach Resort followed by further expansion in North and Latin America. The spas will be decorated in warm creams, browns and burnished gold with accents of cobalt blue, tourmaline and coral using materials such as marble, onyx, mahogany, polished metal and glass.

Tags: maldives, sheraton, Sheraton Hotel, SheratonHotels, shine for sheraton, spas

t spheres, a Pocket Spa for Travelers

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) — Sep 7th 2010 at 2:02PM

It's not easy to bring the luxuries of home on the airplane with you anymore. With TSA regulations and bag checking fees, bringing a bottle of your favorite calming lotion or even face cream can be challenging. t spheres is a new product which aims to give you that do-it-yourself spa experience right in your hotel room (or your living room, or your office) without creating a hassle at the airport. We tried a set on a recent trip to see if these little aromatherapy balls can really be considered "luxurious."

The t spheres, or "tranquility" spheres, were created by Stephanie Whittier, a professional massage therapist who has studied "movement in relationship to pain relief" for over 17 years. The compact burlap package consists of two rubber balls about two inches in diameter and a mini spray bottle filled with the aromatherapy oil you select when purchasing. Spritz the oil on your hands or the spheres and massage it into the spheres to begin.

Once your t spheres are oiled-up and smelling great, there are all kinds of therapies you can try. For example, you can roll them under the sides of your spine on the floor, stick them behind your lower back while you work in a chair, and roll them under your feet. You can simply rub them into the back of your neck or along the backs of your legs; anywhere you feel needs relief. You can heat or cool them to create whatever relaxing, tension-releasing sensation you prefer.

Tags: aromatherapy, Brooke Shields, Coldplay, diy, do it yourself, massage, Rita Wilson, spa, Stephanie Whittier, t spheres, t-spheres

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Madeleine Euro Spa in Manhattan

by Bobbie Leigh (RSS feed) — Sep 2nd 2010 at 2:01PM

Make no mistake. The tidy little space where aesthetician Madeleine Friedrich does manicures, pedicures, facials, and waxing is something of a time warp. Her studio is on the second floor of an old building and looks as if nothing has been changed for at least 25 years. So why do high profilers who could easily book their bikini waxes at Bliss or Lucy Peters return month after month to this simple place. Friedrich, who has a PhD from her native Romania, is a perfectionist. She also knows more about waxing that probably anyone in Manhattan. Her secret: "take the root out," she says showing a client the difference between waxes which break the hair and her special honey was treatment which evicts the hair roots from your skin."Many clients have troubles with in-grown hair which has to be treated with special care," she says

Working alone or with an assistant using only natural products, Friedrich specializes in Brazilian waxing but as one client says, "You get waxing and an hour's psychotherapy all in one visit. Although she is a well-guarded secret among women and some men (clients' boy friends or relatives only), she does facials and everything else the old-fashioned way. Many facial treatments today consist of multiple massages, creams, and masks. Not chez Friedrich. "I have a medical background so I do extractions with sterilized needles," she explains adding that no one is going to leave her tiny studio with so much as a blackhead, an errant eyebrow, or less than perfect pedicure. Madeleine Europe Spa is at 1095 Second Avenue between 57th and 58th Street: by appointment only 212-593-5297.

Tags: bikini wax, facials, NYC aesthetician, pedicures

Sip N' Spa: QUA Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace Las Vegas

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) — Sep 1st 2010 at 10:02AM

QUA Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace Las Vegas is bringing new meaning t

o "reading the tea leaves" with their unique tea sommelier program. Every therapist at the spa is required to undergo a special training program, conducted over a four-month period, each focused on a different type of tea.

"Tea is the number two consumed beverage in the world," said Chrystal King, QUA Spa Director. "We think of this program as ... another form of education for our guests."

Trainings focus on the practical - steeping times, proper water temperatures, and properties - as well as the historical background to each tea and the proper tea for certain conditions. At least twice yearly, therapists undergo updates to the treatments as new teas are added to the program.

Co-branded with Art of Tea, the spa offers 22 unique blends in categories like black, white, green and oolong to pair with the 72 different treatments on their spa menu. Some treatments, like the spa's "Hourglass" signature service, aren't branded with a specific tea, but therapists consult clients to design both a treatment program and a tea that will pair well with client's specific requests.

For example, a client looking for a boost post-facial might opt for a collagen-enhancing white tea, says Angela Tedesco, the spa's tea program director. Of course, they can also pair the teas with a specific concern unrelated to the treatment, Tedesco adds.

On a recent visit, my facial/massage combination was topped off by a detoxifying tea featuring ginger and lemon - the perfect Rx after a long night at the hotel's famed nightclub, PURE.

Clients looking to take the relaxation home can also purchase the teas from the spa's boutique.

The writer's travel and expenses were sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment, but her opinions are completely her own.

Tags: art of tea, CaesarsPalace, Las Vegas, qua baths and spa, spa

Trump Spa's Turkish Hammam Has Suds Appeal

by Amy Cortese (RSS feed) — Aug 31st 2010 at 8:00AM

Is your skin in need of a little TLC after a long hot summer of gelatinous humidity and city soot? The spa at the Trump Soho has just the cure.

The newly opened spa has nine treatment rooms within its well-appointed 11,000 square feet, but what really sets it apart is its take on the hammam - the traditional bathhouses of Morocco and Turkey. The Trump folks claim it is one of just two authentic luxury hammams in the U.S. (the first being at the Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas) and the only one in New York. Ok, apparently there are other hammams in the Big Apple, but none whose tiles and materials have been sourced exclusively from Turkey and Morocco or that feature a domed ceiling and tiny pinhole lights that mimic the pin pricks of natural light found in many traditional hammams.

So, on a late summer day, I headed to Soho to check it out. Stefan Drobel, assistant spa director for The Spa At Trump, led me through the spa, stopping at the Tepidarium, a chamber where one is supposed to warm up before entering the baths. The steam and sauna facilities, alas, are still awaiting a final green light from city health inspectors. Then it was on to my Turkish hammam treatment, which Stefan assured me would detoxify and purify my skin. I changed into a robe and was led to a black- and white-tiled room - one of two hammams at the spa. Wearing nothing but the disposable mesh undies provided, I was instructed to sit down on a heated marble "belly slab" (which is big enough to accommodate couples, if you so desire). The mosaic tiles shimmered in the dim light and the little pinholes of light glittered like stars in the sky. My "hammam attache," Jenny, was wrapped in a towel from the waist down -- my first clue to what was to come. She promptly commenced filling silver bowls with warm water and pouring them all over me. That simple act elicited a surprisingly soothing, almost primal, sensation of warmth, and I felt the tension in my body melting away. I laid down and more bowls of water cascaded upon me. Then she donned a slightly coarse "kesa" mitt and gently exfoliated my skin, first front, then back, and always followed by more nurturing water.

Tags: hammam, spa, spa review, Turkish bath

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