Hola !
Hope the day is all you want it to be! Just an quick note to mention what a just discovered ...a new spa! I haven't been there so I can't comment on it (yet) but there is a special going on $45 for a 60 minute Signature massage! There are several days left to purchase at this price! The spa is called SKIN SPA...
Check it out!
http://therightdeal.spaweek.com/deal/new-york-city/
Until next time!
Ciao!
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Spa-Tastic!
Some how I just knew I would write my next entry as soon as I landed after my trip from San Francisco and Napa Valley. No such luck.
Alas life gets in the way. Someone I loved passed and it's been difficult to focus. Add to that it happened while I was away on this fabulous vacation so I will have to find my own closure.
Spa-ing and writing can be cathartic, so I'm writing. Where to start? Well since this is a spa blog...
I was completely spellbound by this trip! The spa was Indian Springs in Calistoga.
http://www.indianspringscalistoga.com
After the hectic week in San Francisco at my sorority conference, Napa Valley and the first winery was all that was left to relax and unwind to a slower (not really) pace. This lovely spa and resort was the next stop and should be on the top of anyone's list when planning a vacation!
First, if you've never taken a spa vacation you should. Up until now, I've written only about Day Spas primarily because of the proximity to where I live ...but this ... (some where I have to fit a full spa vacation out of NYC in my schedule..)
The location of the spa was in a town called Calistoga - outside of Napa. Indian Springs offered a Wet Pool (not sure I mentioned this before as I have been to one spa in Brooklyn, NY that offered it) but it's where you can enjoy the pool facilities if you're not interested in spa-ing generally for a fee of $25. The pool has its own location..
What was interesting about this spa was facilities where in separate buildings - so the Natural Bath was one location, and the Pool another, yet another was the relaxing area.
The inside of the spa was quaint! I loved the scented lotions even purchased the cucumber lotion!
I'm seriously considered ordering this bathrobe! OMG it was heavy and warm and plush...and just wow! And it's green! :)
One of the paths that lead to the outdoor "recovery" area. It's the place you relax and sit while drinking tea, or juice and perhaps light snacks (in this case orange slices)
in order to just take a moment and enjoy and "just be". What a quiet and serene spot!
But the spa...I booked a Swedish massage and a mud bath. Mud baths are what California resorts are known for so while I wanted my favorite - a Hot Stone Massage ..I got the package with the Mud Bath!
The spa is simply beautiful..unlike NYC spas in a singular space or a floor, there was an outdoor path to get to various rooms!
While outside the view of the mountains was breathtaking! There was an outdoor lounge to wait for your services after changing. It was soooo peaceful...I didn't have my camera so I missed the really great pics :(
First was the mud bath..my oh my.. I do recommend asking questions before you book of you are uncertain of things like mud temperatures, and whether one can enjoy it if you have any physical limitations.
The mud..well was muddy. Lol. It was weird settling into smelly lava for about 25 minutes..the lava actually begins to stiffen and it's quite uncomfortable for some. My bestie was next to me making faces ..lol
I suspect it was a little claustrophobic I enjoyed it and fell asleep. This was definitely a help to keep me still :) The mud was hot well not as hot as I take a bath but it was hot. They provide you with shower caps (cause you know a sista can't mess up the 'do!).
The mud was messy and you must rinse in the shower..my reccomendation..this is best enjoyed nude if you are not squeamish. Otherwise... make sure you rinse your bathing suit and you very well!
After the mud I hopped into a tub of hot water and relaxed while the staff feeds you cucumber water and provides a scented wash cloth - Ice cold for your forehead. (I think it was lavender scented..) This helps to lower your temperature as the bath was hot as well...It was a very earthy outdoors feeling..
My skin felt like butter after! I could feel the impurities gone! Supposedly that is what mud baths are known for. If you look at nothing - check out this link because it's exactly what the mud bath looks like...and some history of the orgins of mud baths which date back as far as Wappo Indians.
http://www.calistogaspas.com/mud_baths.htm
Next up was the massage. I will say I was not impressed - the NYC Asians (forgive me I'm not stereotyping but most of the spas I've been to besides some African American Owned Spas were Asian operated) still top my list for strength of the massage. I will say it was relaxing and I was enjoying the conversation so I didn't mind. My particular technician was much more chatty than I was used to however...
All of this faboulousness for $200.00! That's right. What one GREAT service in NYC would cost plus tip! I want to say we were in the spa for 3 hours at least and I felt like I was floating on air afterward!
I even enjoyed the gratitutde tree...and while writing this I know what I am grateful for ...Do you?
I am ready and willing to have a spa vacation.. Back to Cali or Arizona as there is nothing like this setting :)
If you've had a spa vacation and care to share, send me an email and guest blog!
Until my next entry.... Ciao!
Alas life gets in the way. Someone I loved passed and it's been difficult to focus. Add to that it happened while I was away on this fabulous vacation so I will have to find my own closure.
Spa-ing and writing can be cathartic, so I'm writing. Where to start? Well since this is a spa blog...
I was completely spellbound by this trip! The spa was Indian Springs in Calistoga.
http://www.indianspringscalistoga.com
After the hectic week in San Francisco at my sorority conference, Napa Valley and the first winery was all that was left to relax and unwind to a slower (not really) pace. This lovely spa and resort was the next stop and should be on the top of anyone's list when planning a vacation!
First, if you've never taken a spa vacation you should. Up until now, I've written only about Day Spas primarily because of the proximity to where I live ...but this ... (some where I have to fit a full spa vacation out of NYC in my schedule..)
The location of the spa was in a town called Calistoga - outside of Napa. Indian Springs offered a Wet Pool (not sure I mentioned this before as I have been to one spa in Brooklyn, NY that offered it) but it's where you can enjoy the pool facilities if you're not interested in spa-ing generally for a fee of $25. The pool has its own location..
What was interesting about this spa was facilities where in separate buildings - so the Natural Bath was one location, and the Pool another, yet another was the relaxing area.
The inside of the spa was quaint! I loved the scented lotions even purchased the cucumber lotion!
I'm seriously considered ordering this bathrobe! OMG it was heavy and warm and plush...and just wow! And it's green! :)
One of the paths that lead to the outdoor "recovery" area. It's the place you relax and sit while drinking tea, or juice and perhaps light snacks (in this case orange slices)
in order to just take a moment and enjoy and "just be". What a quiet and serene spot!
But the spa...I booked a Swedish massage and a mud bath. Mud baths are what California resorts are known for so while I wanted my favorite - a Hot Stone Massage ..I got the package with the Mud Bath!
The spa is simply beautiful..unlike NYC spas in a singular space or a floor, there was an outdoor path to get to various rooms!
While outside the view of the mountains was breathtaking! There was an outdoor lounge to wait for your services after changing. It was soooo peaceful...I didn't have my camera so I missed the really great pics :(
First was the mud bath..my oh my.. I do recommend asking questions before you book of you are uncertain of things like mud temperatures, and whether one can enjoy it if you have any physical limitations.
The mud..well was muddy. Lol. It was weird settling into smelly lava for about 25 minutes..the lava actually begins to stiffen and it's quite uncomfortable for some. My bestie was next to me making faces ..lol
I suspect it was a little claustrophobic I enjoyed it and fell asleep. This was definitely a help to keep me still :) The mud was hot well not as hot as I take a bath but it was hot. They provide you with shower caps (cause you know a sista can't mess up the 'do!).
The mud was messy and you must rinse in the shower..my reccomendation..this is best enjoyed nude if you are not squeamish. Otherwise... make sure you rinse your bathing suit and you very well!
After the mud I hopped into a tub of hot water and relaxed while the staff feeds you cucumber water and provides a scented wash cloth - Ice cold for your forehead. (I think it was lavender scented..) This helps to lower your temperature as the bath was hot as well...It was a very earthy outdoors feeling..
My skin felt like butter after! I could feel the impurities gone! Supposedly that is what mud baths are known for. If you look at nothing - check out this link because it's exactly what the mud bath looks like...and some history of the orgins of mud baths which date back as far as Wappo Indians.
http://www.calistogaspas.com/mud_baths.htm
Next up was the massage. I will say I was not impressed - the NYC Asians (forgive me I'm not stereotyping but most of the spas I've been to besides some African American Owned Spas were Asian operated) still top my list for strength of the massage. I will say it was relaxing and I was enjoying the conversation so I didn't mind. My particular technician was much more chatty than I was used to however...
All of this faboulousness for $200.00! That's right. What one GREAT service in NYC would cost plus tip! I want to say we were in the spa for 3 hours at least and I felt like I was floating on air afterward!
I even enjoyed the gratitutde tree...and while writing this I know what I am grateful for ...Do you?
I am ready and willing to have a spa vacation.. Back to Cali or Arizona as there is nothing like this setting :)
If you've had a spa vacation and care to share, send me an email and guest blog!
Until my next entry.... Ciao!
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