Alternative Cancer Spa Treatments Show Promise

For most of us a cancer diagnosis conjures up images of sterile white hallways, doctors’ long faces, bouts of constant pain, and hours of uninterrupted bed rest. In the past “alternative” treatments for something as large and daunting as cancer were akin to voodoo practices, as varied and unpredictably bogus as going to a palm reader in a strip mall. Now a new practice of healing the cancer patient—not just the tumors—is gaining popularity, although it has been around for almost 25 years.

Bryomixol is an integrative treatment of cancer through a natural product line that is oftentimes used in conjunction with traditional Western methods in order to ensure the stability and well-being of the patient. Developed in Germany decades ago, the formula behind what is now Bryomixol has been used extensively throughout Germany as a natural preventative tool for cancer and other maladies.

The formula was transformed into Bryomixol in South America by Dr. Cesar E. Bertacchini, the current owner and president of the company that finds and manufactures the non-toxic substances that are distributed to his patients. Bertacchini has been treating patients in El Salvador for over twenty years with great success in quelling pain, boosting self-esteem, and calming nerves.

Dr. Fernando Basail, a board certified doctor practicing in the United States, left his full-time medical roots to join Dr. Bertacchini’s cause in El Salvador in order to help members of his own family fight cancer. Although the program takes place outside the United States, all of the equipment and techniques are completely modernized. The treatment is considered holistic but it does not abandon the safety procedures and structure found in conventional medicine.

The herbs and formulas mixed with mineral content are not to be confused with popular over-the-counter supplements. The Bryomixol treatment uses non-toxic and all-natural substances from all over the world in order to help the immune system fight off cancer cells. When cancer settles in your body it disables Natural Killer (NK) cells which are responsible for the fight from your immune system. The blend of natural components is put into the body to reactivate NK cells by re-stimulating the immune system. Essentially, Bryomixol is teaching the body to fight against the cancer by waking up its sleeping soldiers.

The program—as the staff calls it—is more than concentrated herbs. The most important part of the program is to learn about the patient as a whole. Healing with Bryomixol also takes place outside the hospital. Staff members and 24-hour assistants (if necessary) encourage trips to the ocean and outdoor activities like hiking the nearby volcano or merely just sitting outside to absorb the electromagnetic activity of the earth and taking in the serenity of the scenery.

Stressing the individuality of the treatment, the doctors consult with each patient to figure out the best course of action. Dr. Basail stresses that each person’s treatment is different because every person’s cancer is different. Affliction not only affects the body, but the mind and the soul as well. If the doctors are able to pin down just what the patient’s fears and emotions are at any stage of the disease, they are able to better exact the best path to walk them down.

Personal time is important for the specialists because they have all had someone close to them affected by cancer. Every day of the usual ten, the doctor sits with the patient for two and a half hours of treatments, instead of most doctors’ usual pattern of jumping from patient to patient as participating in a relay race.

The feel-better approach to medicine uses psychiatric consults as well as comfortable spa environments in order to calm the patient and get to the root of their emotional pain as well as physical pain. Similar to Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines, a treatment of all three components: mind, body, and soul is integral to its success. With close to an 80 percent success rate for patients being cancer-free for at least five years, Dr. Basail considers that incredible because most of the patients treated turn to Bryomixol because they have exhausted all other options.

Dr. Basail says that five countries in South America have already approved the process—which is comparable our Federal Drug Administration (FDA)—and Bryomixol is close to getting FDA approval in the United States. Although a treatment center in the United States may make people feel more at ease and be better financially, the El Salvador clinic seems to give people the feel of a vacation rather than a medical trip.

By “treating the patient not the tumor” Bryomixol prides itself on its personal treatment and respect. One patient, a young woman working as a nurse in America, recently went through breast cancer treatment and brought her husband and kids along with her to South America. After the “opportunity fell in my lap,” she continued to say the treatment center became another home throughout the ten-day program, “I met some of my best friends there. I’ve become part of their family and I call them my second family. The professionalism I experienced [in El Salvador] compared to what you get in the States doesn’t compare. I didn’t once feel like a number.”

It is important to remember that Bryomixol is an integrative process meaning that it can be used alongside the traditional radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery but it can also stand alone because of its miraculous way of using the body’s own immune system to heal itself.

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Winter remedies: Foods that make you HOT…

Cold foggy mornings, glistening dew on velvety leaves, sky arrayed with feathery clouds and the feeble yellow disc called sun trying vainly to warm the chilly air- are not the only amazing things about winters. Its beauty also lies in the bounty it offers in shape of abundance in nature. From fruits to flowers, winter in tropics is all about colour and diversity.

From dahlia, chrysanthemums and pansies to tomato, lettuce and carrots- the list is unlimited.

In nature nothing exists without a reason. If the word laziness is writ large on the season it is because we are expected to conserve our energies like animals do. And if the bounties offered are huge it is because we eat healthily to guard our systems against the ravages of cold.

Our bodies consume a certain amount of energy to digest food (this is the principle on which zero calorie diet is based as the calories in such a diet is less than the what is required to digest them). In winters heat loss is rapid and hence the energy requirement of the body is more. This is the reason why many animals hibernate in winter when food is difficult to obtain. Their bodies consume stored fat. But we cannot afford the comfort of sleeping through the winter and hence we need special foods for fortification against cold and related illness.

So what do we eat to feel hot and cosy from within? The key lies in the season itself:

Honey: Honey is considered a warm food. That is why its excessive intake in summer is forbidden. It is a must ingredient in Ayurvedic medicines for cough and cold. It contains small quantities of antigens found in flowers and helps in building up immunity. The good news for diet conscious people is that it is not fattening as it contains invert sugar, which is easy to digest. But if you have honey with milk and almonds, you are sure to add a few pounds.

Honey is an excellent anti bacterial agent, prevents moisture loss and is rich in enzymes. A spoonful of honey with lemon in warm water taken everyday keeps one fit and sheds extra flab. But honey during summers should be taken with caution.

Amla: Amla, in ancient medicinal treatises has been referred to as the “remover of all diseases”. The whole of Ayurveda is filled with praises for Amla. Even in its dry form it is among the richest sources of vitamin C. Amla is good for liver, digestion, skin, hair, and controls acidity, blood sugar and cholesterol. Amla is said to contain the key to youthfulness and it is a panacea for all stomach ailments. It is a major ingredient in Chyawanprash taken during winters. Chutney of fresh amla, powdered amla or or amla cooked in sugar syrup taken everyday during winters improves immunity.  Amla can be found in Planetary Herbals Traditional Avurvedic Purifier, 1000 mg, 180 Tablets (Pack of 2)

Saffron: Cultivated in Kashmir and as expensive as precious metals, Saffron or Kesar has been hailed as the source of beauty and health since times immemorial. When consumed with milk it increases body’s resistance and when mixed with cream and applied on face it makes skin clean, spotless and radiant. In winters it can be boiled with raisins, milk and almonds and taken daily before going to sleep. In this form it acts as a great tonic and induces peaceful sleep.

Himalaya Pure Herbs Ashwagandha, Anti-Stress, 60 Vcaps, 250 mg (Pack of 2): Ashvagandha has a rejuvenating effect on body. It is a stress buster and due to its warm effect its consumption is recommended in winters. A popular ingredient of Ayurvedic tonics, it induces sleep, prevents water retention in body and improves immunity.

Organic India Tusli Tea Organic Sweet Rose 18 ct ( Value Multi-pack of FOUR(4) x 6): Tusli is regarded sacred in Indian treatises not for no reason. The immense merit with which it is associated places it atop among “life foods”. Rich in vitamin A, C, calcium, zinc and iron, Tulsi helps body fight all cold borne diseases like cough, cold, sinusitis, pneumonia and all respiratory disorders. It is also a powerful antiseptic and anti malarial agent. This explains why all old British bungalows have Neem and Tusli growing in abundance.

Taken raw with pepper and honey in empty stomach, it is an excellent remedy for cough and cold. It can also be boiled in water, and with a pinch of cinnamon added, this water can be consumed early in the morning to fight cold and increase body resistance.

Gur or Jaggery: ‘In season foods’ are best for health. Gur or Jaggery a gift of winter is also an excellent remedy against its ills. It is considered a warm food and it can be consumed in a variety of ways. It is healthier than sugar as it contains a number of vitamins and minerals like phosphorous, iron, magnesium and potassium and is a natural cure for cough, cold, migraine, asthma, fatigue and indigestion.

Consuming jaggery in winters helps in generating enough heat in the body, thus keeping you warm inside.

Jaggery is not just healthy but also has its own peculiar taste and can be used in a number of ways as a replacement of refined sugar. A spoonful of it can be mixed in warm milk and taken at night. Taken along with fresh ginger it cures cough.

Ginger: Ginger is considered so warm that many times its use is forbidden in summers or by patients, who are not supposed to eat hot and spicy food. It is one of the most medically blessed spices in the Indian kitchen. It contains antioxidants that help build strong resistance. If taken daily in small quantities, it not only keeps the body warm but also cures ulcers, mild fever, acidity, common cold, cough and aids digestion. A glass of ginger ale can help cure flatulence while a glass of hot Yogi Tea Digest, Organic Ginger, Tea Bags, 16-Count Boxes (Pack of 6) can prevent cold. Ginger grated, deep fried in ghee, mixed with honey or sugar and eaten a tea spoon daily is a sure shot cure for irritating cough.

Mustard: Winter food should be cooked in Pure Mustard Oil 500ml
as it not only improves the metabolism rate, but also has anti bacterial, anti inflammatory and anti septic properties. It is rich in micronutrients like selenium, magnesium, zinc manganese, calcium and Omega 3 and is good for skin and hair.

Mustard oil can be applied all over the body before taking a bath as a cure for dry chapped skin. When suffering from cold it can be heated with crushed garlic and applied on chest and nose.

Garlic: As winter is said to affect the proper functioning of the heart (the reason behind maximum heart attacks in this season), Garlic becomes an essential item to be included in food as it not only controls blood pressure and ensures proper flow of blood, but also keeps the body warm and energetic.

Garlic also contains diallyl sulphides which are good for the blood and circulation, lowering bad cholesterol and boosting the immune system. Garlic thus helps in prevention of common cold and flu throughout the winter and fall seasons. One raw garlic sliver can be consumed everyday to build up long term resistance. Or crushed garlic cooked in ghee and mixed with pepper can be taken to cure common cold.

Pepper: Pepper with its anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties is a must have in winters. Besides keeping the body warm it also cures cold, cough and sinusitis. It has also anti fever properties and a peppery soup is the best remedy for winter fevers. Five peppers consumed every day with five Tusli leaves and a teaspoon of honey cures the toughest of coughs.

Ghee: Taaza Ghee, 8-Ounce Jars (Pack of 6)  It is unfair to associate clarified butter or ghee with ‘bad cholesterol’ only. Something whose consumption has been approved through centuries cannot become poison by a handful of freak researches. No doubt the excessive consumption of ghee can create health problems, but only if the intake is excessive and is coupled with lack of physical exercise.

It is rich with antioxidants and acts as an aid in the absorption of vitamins and minerals from other foods. It is good for skin and hair and is said to aid in tissue building process. In Ayurvedic medicines, Ghee is an important ingredient. Ghee made from cow’s milk when applied on chest is believed to cure cold. Onions deep fried in ghee and mixed with pepper when taken hot cure cough. A teaspoon of ghee should be included in diet everyday during winters. It is a good cure for dry skin and also helps build resistance.

That food holds key to life is what we all should firmly believe in. If Japanese have the highest longevity, no wonder credit goes to Sushi, if several tribes of central Asia were war like it was because of the type of food that they ate and also because of the absence of its availability! Food is the cause and cure of most diseases. So watch out what you eat this winter!

Ayurveda, Balanced Body, Beauty Tip

Winter health, an Ayurvedic perspective. 

Courtesy Darci Frankel Spa Owner Hanalei Day Spa  

The winter season Kapha season. The time when the Earth and water elements are predominant and when Kapha dosha has a tendency to accumulates in your system. If you have a tendency toward excess Kapha (phlegm and mucous) to facilitate greater health, take Kapha pacifying lifestyle and food choices which are lighter, warming and stimulating foods, spices and beverages.  Pancha Karma during the winter and spring season helps eliminate excess Kapha.

Here are some signs that indicate you may have excess Kapha in your body:
· Obesity or overweight
· Congestion, runny nose
· Slow or dullness in the mind
· Fatty deposits/lipoma
· Slow digestion, assimilation and/or elimination

Tips for staying balanced in winter:

· Wake up earlier.
· Eat more warming foods which are in season.
· Find a skin brush or loofa mitts at your health food store and dry brush your skin before your daily shower and Abhyanga self massage. 
 · Give yourself a vigorous daily abyanga oil massage to keep the lymphatic system moving. Click here for instructions.
·  Be active and exercise more vigorously.
·  If  it is a cloudy or colder day, add some heating/warming spices like ginger, black pepper, or cayenne to your foods or tea. This will counteract the heavy, cold qualities and help you feel light and clear.
·  Establish a good routine waking up and going to bed earlier. 

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Understanding Ayurvedic Spa Treatments – A Brief Overview

Pampering ayurvedic spa treatments are an individualized way to realize your full beauty and potential.  Ayurveda is the an ancient holistic art that began in India and is one of the oldest bodies of information about healing.  Also known as the “Science of Life” this natural medicine was first described in around 3,500 BC and promotes a balance life in harmony physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally.

Ayurveda focuses on three energies within each of us, which are called doshas.  The three doshas, called Pitta, Vata and Kapha, are related to the five universal elements of space, earth, water, air and fire.  As our health, stress levels and circumstances in life change, our doshas fluctuate and may become unbalanced.  Ayurvedic spa techniques combine aromatherapy and massage with fine essential oils and herbal powders.  Various massage techniques and aromas are used to create a better level of balance of your doshas.  Body massage, facial massage, foot massage and marma point massage are some of the Ayurvedic spa treatments that give you a feeling of relaxation that you have never had before.

The holistic art of ayurveda can ease pain, relieve stress and even help chronic rheumatoid discomfort and offers a myriad of health benefits.  Try a beautifying, holistic ayurvedic spa treatment to look and feel great today.

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Ayurvedic advice for sound sleep

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Garden work is no work at all at Hanalei resort
“Unspoiled … unplugged … unforgettable,” the brochure read. “The sweep of Hanalei Bay with its backdrop of fluted emerald peaks and cascading waterfalls is the stuff dreams and movies are made of (’South Pacific’ and ‘Jurassic Park,’ to name a few).

Hanalei Colony Resort
Address: 5-7130 Kuhio Highway, Haena, Kauai
Rates: Start at $240 per night. Ask about packages, specials and kamaaina rates.
Call: (808) 826-6235 on Kauai; toll free (800) 628-3004 from the other islands

Notes: Forty-eight vacation condominium units have two bedrooms, one-and-a-half or two bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, living room, dining area and lanai. Amenities include a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, and barbecue and picnic areas. A complimentary afternoon mai tai party and all-you-can-eat continental breakfast are offered weekly. An optional lei-making class (nominal fee) follows breakfast. Wireless Internet access, two computers for guests’ use and a lending library of books, toys, puzzles and games also are available free.

Beach and Botany Package: The Beach & Botany Package includes five or seven nights in an ocean-view or premium oceanfront condominium, gourmet picnic lunch, one-day kayak rental for two on the Hanalei River, beachside massages for two, a welcome basket of gifts for gardeners and two annual memberships to the National Tropical Botanical Garden (www.ntbg.org), of which Limahuli Garden and Preserve is a part. Each guest must make a minimum commitment of a four-hour work session on two different days at Limahuli. They can choose the activity that best suits them, ranging from taking inventory and potting plants in the nursery to hiking an unpaved trail to weed and plant trees. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old. Prices begin at $1,994.85, double occupancy, for five nights in an ocean-view unit during low season (Sept. 9 to Dec. 19).
“Enjoy the splendid views of the Hanalei Valley lookout and National Wildlife Refuge — a little further on is Haena State Park located in the shadow of the ancient Ka Ula A Paoa Heiau — the temple of the hula goddess.
“It’s here that we’ve created a tranquil lodging environment built with a sensitivity to the unique character of its surroundings.”
To my boyfriend Rick and me, Hanalei Colony Resort sounded like the ideal escape. Constantly on the go with high-stress jobs, we decided it was time to make time for ourselves in Haena.

Unspoiled North Kauai looked radiant in the summer light. Each time we crossed a one-lane bridge (seven in all between Princeville and Haena), we felt we were getting farther away from our hectic daily lives and closer to what Hawaii was like when the air was filled with the songs of birds rather than the cacophony of crowds and traffic.

Haena is the gateway to the storied Na Pali coast, 15 miles of magnificent wilderness. Hanalei Colony Resort sits oceanfront in this pocket of paradise, with expansive lawns, trees and shrubbery skirting each of its 13 two-story buildings.
Our accommodations were clean, comfortable and gloriously unpretentious.
Feeling right at home, we kicked off our shoes for a walk on the beach. Ten steps and we were there. I’d forgotten how rejuvenating cool breezes, salt water and sand could be.

We awoke early the next morning and made the 10-minute drive to Kee Beach, where the paved road ends and the soaring cliffs of Na Pali begin. It was empty save for a lone paddler ankle-deep in the water, ready to launch his kayak.
Sun, surf, sand and sky surrounded us. We stayed for a while, relishing the peace and beauty.

Unplugged
Hanalei Colony Resort makes it easy to “unplug”; none of its condominiums have televisions, stereos or phones.

Our Beach and Botany package (see sidebar) kept us happily in vacation mode our entire stay. Key components of this brand-new “voluntourism” program are shoulder-to-shoulder work sessions with the caretakers of Limahuli Garden and Preserve, less than two miles from the resort.

Not at all joyless toil, these visits are inspiring learning opportunities in a spectacular oasis. Seventeen of Limahuli’s acres comprise a “garden” of ancient taro patches and culturally significant plants, including many of the “canoe plants” brought to Hawaii by the first Polynesians for use as food, medicine, clothing, shelter and tools.

Limahuli’s “preserve” is a 990-acre blanket of untamed greenery, some of it alien species that are pretty but so aggressive they are overwhelming native vegetation. A major effort is under way to eradicate the aliens and re-establish the natives.
With young, 2-foot-high kului shrubs cradled in our arms, Rick and I joined four of Limahuli’s staffers on a half-mile hike to a clearing in the preserve designated for such restoration work.

We weeded, removed rocks and chose the spot for “our” plants to take root. It felt good being in touch with the earth and out of touch with life as we normally knew it.
Back at the resort, we unplugged even more with lomilomi massages performed outdoors in a thatched-roof hale by therapists from the on-site Hanalei Day Spa. Owner Darci Frankel is a skilled Ayurveda practitioner who offers traditional Abhyanga warm oil massages, Utvartana body wraps and Shirodhara treatments on her menu of therapeutic services.

Although it wasn’t part of our package, dinner at Imad and Yarrow Beydoun’s Mediterranean Gourmet restaurant, also on property, was another delightful indulgence. Every table has an ocean view that will capture your attention; unless, of course, the Beydouns have booked a belly dancer for the evening’s entertainment.

Stuffed grape leaves, gyros, falafel and lamb kabobs are among the house specialties, but options also include perennial favorites such as chicken marsala, T-bone steak and grilled fresh fish of the day. Imad’s coconut baklava is a must for dessert.
After dinner, the beach beckoned. We sat there with bare feet and breeze-tousled hair, mostly in contented silence. It was relaxing and romantic and, yes, definitely unforgettable.

We would be back to reality soon enough. There on the cool sand with stars twinkling overhead and waves dancing at our toes, we just wanted to linger in the dream.

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10 Affordable Spa Vacation Deals

If a spa vacation is on your wish list but you’re not sure you can afford it, think again. There are a number of inspirational spas, transformational spas, and — yes — affordable spa deals options out there. One of the easiest ways to book a spa escape on a budget is to check into a local hotel or resort spa for a long weekend (or longer). Many offer special spa-themed packages and last-minute spa deals that in-the-know locals can cash in on. But if getting away from it all is more your style, you can find lower-cost options for that, too.

“Affordable,” of course, is a relative term. So in this list you’ll find 7 weeklong spa experiences — from soaking in hot springs to fitness retreats offering ultra-healthy cuisine to all-inclusive stays at destination spas — chosen to fit almost any budget.

While cost was definitely a driving factor, ambience and the quality of the spa treatments, activities, and food were also considered in compiling this selection. They’re arranged according to price, from least to most expensive — with a cap of $3,000 for a weeklong stay. (And just in case you can’t quite carve out a full week away, the nightly rates are listed, as well.) Read on to find out where to get the most bang for your buck.

OJO CALIENTE MINERAL SPRINGS RESORT & SPA, OJO CALIENTE, NEW MEXICO

I found this hot springs spa years ago when a friend of mine, living in Taos at the time, insisted I visit. We spent the afternoon (a day pass is $16) lounging in mineral pools containing arsenic (good for skin conditions and arthritis) and lithium (aids digestion and eases depression), sipping spring water, and spreading mud on our bodies then drying in the sun. It was blissful. In addition to 10 mineral pools, the 1,100-acre property has a historic hotel, a restaurant, and a full-fl edged spa. (Massages begin at $80 for 50 minutes and must be booked in advance.)

PRICE: From $109 per night; seven-night stays from $783.

GLEN IVY HOT SPRINGS SPA, CORONA, CALIFORNIA

The Native Americans were the first to enjoy these sacred waters, followed by the Spaniards, and by the 1890s the place had mushroomed into a health haven. Today, guests book into local hotels (accommodations are not available on-site) and then head to Glen Ivy’s spa playground (day admission is $35 on weekdays, $48 on weekends). A selection of soak-supplementing options are available: the legendary Glen Ivy Club Mud, where you can cover yourself in red clay (great for drawing impurities out of the pores and tightening the skin); a grotto for slathering on a hydrating body masque ($25); a wide variety of massages and facials (from $125); and a café serving tasty, healthy dishes made with local ingredients.

PRICE: Area hotels from $124 per night; packages that include seven days admission to Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa and seven nights accommodations from $892.

KRIPALU CENTER, STOCKBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

When it comes to yoga, there are few, if any, retreat centers in the U.S. that can boast more offerings and renowned instructors than the Kripalu Center. (Each year, Kripalu’s 700 yogacentric programs attract more than 28,000 participants.) Its location — 150 wooded acres with a private lake and miles of trails — provides the ultimate setting for peaceful walks and meditative contemplation between yoga sessions, which are held three times a day: early morning, midday, and late afternoon. In between, there’s hiking and canoeing as well as workshops on topics like nutrition and creative writing. Ayurveda, India’s ancient science of holistic medicine, is practiced here and incorporated into everything from daily rituals (awaken before sunrise and give thanks before bed, for example) to therapeutic treatments like massage, nasal cleansing, and herbal detoxification sessions (spa treatments from $35).

PRICE: Dormitory accommodations from $155 per night (twonight minimum); seven-night stays from $1,106.

THE OAKS AT OJAI, OJAI, CALIFORNIA

Founded by legendary fitness buff Sheila Cluff, who still personally leads some of the activities and classes, The Oaks at Ojai celebrated its 30th birthday in 2007. Not surprisingly, there’s a cornucopia of get-in-shape classes, from aqua aerobics to core conditioning with hula hoops to belly dancing. New mission-style spa suites featuring hand-carved headboards and spacious jet tubs in the bathrooms add a feeling of luxury, and select spa treatments benefit from local ingredients, such as the Ojai Olive Oil Body Souffl é ($125, 75 minutes) that uses oil pressed from olives gathered in nearby groves. But it’s the 1,000-calorie-a-day spa cuisine that attracts the majority of guests — many who come with a holy grail weight-loss spa focus. Hikes and walks are popular, too — not to mention gorgeous — amid flowering citrus trees, lavender, and aloe.

PRICE: From $185 per night; seven-night stays from $1,295.

NEW AGE HEALTH SPA, NEVERSINK, NEW YORK

Just two hours from Manhattan in the Catskill Mountains, New Age Health Spa sits on 280 wooded acres combining lovely nature trails with spiritual, New Agey offerings like tarot card readings and a plethora of yoga, tai chi, and meditation classes. Native American rituals are the highlight of the spa menu: Try the Native Sun Purification ($95, 50 minutes), a spa hair treatment using traditional herbs grown in the spa’s greenhouse, or the complimentary Sweat Lodge Ceremony that is offered from April to November on the Saturday evening closest to the full moon.

PRICE: From $209 per night (two-night minimum); sevennight stays from $1,589.

PRICE: From $130 per night; six-night Detox Program from $1,699.

COPPERHOOD INN & SPA, SHANDAKEN, NEW YORK

This intimate destination spa — just 17 rooms — offers an old-Europe feel. Think gilded frames, marble, and wingback chairs. Hiking is the big draw, particularly in autumn’s glorious foliage, but yoga, meditation, and spa treatments (from $60) are popular, as well. Rooms are cozy, and afternoon tea is served daily in front of a fireplace — or on a wraparound deck with Adirondack chairs during the warmer months. The cuisine excludes red meat and instead features local ingredients like free-range chicken, cheese, and seasonal produce.

PRICE: From $325 per night (two-night minimum); seven-night stays from $2,240.

  

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Ensoma Spa

A Nurturing Oasis in Our Bustling Chaos

Ensoma Spa

352 6th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

415.867.6002

REVIEW THIS SPA NOW

Sometimes, a haven away from home is necessary, especially if you’re plagued by officious roommates, a couch-potato significant other, or a floor plan that pretty much precludes luxurious lounging. Getting a facial or massage while you’re at it doesn’t hurt, either. Enter Marion Pernoux Henderson, the lovely, astonishingly grounded proprietress of Ensoma Spa.

So you say you’ve become chary of the one-size-fits-all, clock-watching mentality that suffuses most establishments with the word “spa” affixed to them. A date with Marion’s hands is in tall order, then. And that’s not just because of the oodles of personalized attention you’ll get from this hidden luminary and Jill-of-all Trades–who waxes, exfoliates, and soothes ergonomically tortured limbs back to tip-top condition like it’s no one’s business–it’s also because Ensoma is the kind of congenial, unpretentious space where you can kick off your shoes and, very likely, take a teeny post-pampering catnap.

Sure, you have to walk through blocks of concrete jungle before arriving at the unassuming loft space (which doesn’t have so much as a placard on the door, making the sojourn that much more satisfying given the surreptitious hiding spot), but the contrast between Ensoma and the sidewalk just outside is immense — especially considering Marion’s finical eye for aesthetic details. Forget the sterile bliss of your typical spa. Sun-kissed hardwood floors, artfully placed black-and-white photographs, cushy slabs of minimalist-inspired seating, succulent potted plants, filmy curtains, occasional video projections (Godard, anybody?), and trays of delectable snacks are just some of the treats at Ensoma.

Aside from the chic, homey digs, a visit to Marion’s lair leaves little to be desired. For about four years — amid gigs at major spas – Marion has been applying her own uniquely holistic method of beautifying and bliss-making, one client at a time. Most of her takers pop in for a combo of services — waxing, facial, and massage — and unlike other multi-tasking therapists who tend to be better at one thing, Marion’s equally adept at extractions and alleviating chronic pain. Given her “bodywork/and skincare as healing” raison d’etre, she’s one of those therapists who harks back to the days when your beautician was also your sworn confidante. Simply put, she puts you at ease. The combination of, say, a Brazilian (aided by Marion’s pain-curtailing hard wax) and her endlessly soothing demeanor is almost akin to a long session of yoga.

When I visited Marion, it was for some seriously purr-inducing bodywork and skincare. While she uses a plethora of bodywork modalities–from Shiatsu to Swedish to Thai to regular ol’ deep tissue–there’s a huge emphasis on customizing, in accordance with what her clients need rather than what they want. This means you don’t get to point to a menu of services and choose what’ll be done to you–all you need to do is surrender to Marion’s intuitive knowledge, lie back, and enjoy. As Marion tapped out a distinct rhythm over my achey back and shoulders (always reminding me to breathe, natch), I was roused by the fact that the lightness of her touch was complemented by its depth. I’m not sure if this had to do with her knowledge of pressure points or simply her focus on “encouraging energetic interactions and supporting psychosomatic awareness,” but the session definitely reminded me to make a mental note to give referrals to the chronic-pain complainers in my life.

Marion’s facials — also administered to the accompaniment of aromatherapy and the same eclectic mix of music softly wafting from the speakers — are similarly effective. Using a variety of products ranging from organic blends to clinical-grade formulas for problem skin, Marion customizes all her facials, offering everything from nourishment for dehydrated skin to zit-zapping potions for acneic visages. Her choice skincare lines include Japanese line Pangea Organics, the delectable chocolate and shea butter offerings of Aquadessa, 100% Pure, and Ideal essential oils, which are hand-crafted by San Francisco-based Ayurvedic expert Marie Bourdier. A plethora of warm towels, yummy botanical cleansers and lotions, cucumber slices, and eye pillows were applied with the utmost fastidiousness. An oxygen mask swathed onto my face pre-extractions opened up my stubborn pores and made the subsequent picking-away at dead skin cells surprisingly bearable. Of course, as I emerged from the warm cocoon that is Ensoma, I was hardly taken aback when strangers complemented my ethereal glow. The thing that really surprised me was that I’d spent over three hours getting thoroughly pampered, without nary a sense of the time that had passed.

At press time, dozens of stress-addled clients are guilty for keeping Marion a well-kept secret from spa-sters on the hunt for great brows and a little R&R, but the word is quickly trickling out (psst…Ensoma’s the perfect anodyne, girl!) well beyond the confines of her makeshift urban oasis. Of course, if Marion’s looking for roommates, I’m calling dibs.

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She Spas By The Seaside – Gurney’s Inn & Spa, Montauk

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How many spas can claim a pedicure with a view? At Gurney’s Inn and Spa, situated on the bluffs in Montauk, you can treat your tootsies while gazing out the floor to ceiling windows at the Atlantic Ocean. The spa offers the unusual treat of an indoor filtered sea water swimming pool and men’s and women’s locker rooms that include steam room, sauna, and roman bath. You can even incorporate a work-out in their gym.

With a vast menu of services, ultimate treatments include the Shirodhora Sanctuary Treatment that is an ancient Ayurvedic body treatment for healing and balance. You start with a brush exfoliation then are bathed in Ayurvedic oils. A stream of warm oil is dripped onto the third eye and is massaged into the scalp. Next you are wrapped with warm herb infused towels and when you emerge and take a quick shower, are finished with a rose water spray.

Or how about the couples Peppermint Sea Plunge where you start with a seaweed toning gel exfoliation then immerse yourself in a therapeutic seawater massage in the European Thalasso tub. Next you and yours truly bodies’ are wrapped in a cool peppermint and seawater wrap. Massages include amma therapy, polarity, cranio sacral, trager, and thai where the energy flows in the body are balanced through various pressure points and massage techniques. You have a range of facials to choose from as well as a full-service beauty salon. But the best part is going down and running your toes through the sand, just not if your pedicure-with-a-view polish is still wet.

Note that their spa lobby is undergoing renovation. There is a $25 charge on top of the price of the treatment for the use of the spa facilities. There is also an 18 percent gratuity charge for staff, but this does not include a tip for your therapist.

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Detoxifying in spring is an important part of the ayurvedic seasonal routine, called Ritucharya. Spring is the Kapha season, because the wet and cool weather reflects the moist, cool, heavy qualities of Kapha dosha that predominate during this time of the year (March-June).

Spring cleaning: According to Ayurveda, spring is the best season for detoxification, because nature is already trying to clear out the toxins. It’s the time to help the body to efficiently detoxify the channels and the dhatus [body tissues].

Spring Cleaning Tip: This is a great time to open the body’s channels so spring cleaning can take place. Sip hot water throughout the day to help the channels of the body open, thus allowing the physiology to start its natural detoxification. Ayurveda recommends that you drink approximately one thermos of hot water per day. Drink it while its hot!

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