Florida: Spa getaways close to home

BELLA VITA RETREAT
Bella Boot Camp participants hit the beach at the Ocean Sands Resort & Spa Bella Villa Retreat in Pompano.

Looking for the ideal Florida spa getaway? Here are a few ideas to get your search started.
Note that many Miami-Dade spas are offering $99 treatments this month as part of Miami Spa Month.

A similar program in Broward County, Lauderdale Spa Chic, will be offered in September,

• Mayfair Hotel & Spa
Pet-friendly boutique hotel with 179 rooms and suites in heart of Coconut Grove, with rooftop infinity pool, sundeck and skybar to be completed this year; Jurlique Spa uses holistic and whole body elements.

• Delano Hotel 

Services at the center of chic’s rooftop Agua Spa, which has 360-degree views, include Lavender Basil Bamboo scrub, White Cloud Algae body mask treatment with Italian white mud body wrap, rub with essential oils.

• Red Door Lifestyle Spa, Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center & Spa, Weston.
Serene, Asian-inspired spa offers summer values. Through Sept. 30, the Girlfriends’ Getaway costs $187 per person, double occupancy and includes a 50-minute massage or facial, manicure and pedicure, make-up lesson, two days of fitness classes and two days of spa faciliaties. 954-349-5500;

 

• Bella Vita Retreat, Ocean Sands Resort & Spa, 

Offers the Bella Boot Camp fitness program. One week (six nights) including hotel room, three meals a day, fitness classes, nutrition analysis, body composition and $200 spa credit, is $2,495 single occupancy, $1,895 double; three-night camps are $1,595 single, $995 double.

• Naples Grande Beach Resort

Golden Door Spa has private gulf-front couple’s spa villa with private whirlpools, soaking tub, sundeck, patio. Services include Mommy-To-Be pregnancy massage or Mommy-&-Me mother and baby massage.

• Don CeSar Beach Resort

The majestic pink resort recently opened a new 11,000-square-foot Spa Oceana with skin care treatments, body wraps, salon services and barber; plus spa services including reflexology, Thai massage, Mommy-To-Be massage, Reiki massage, plus aromatherapy and aromastone massages.

• Sandpearl Resort
Clearwater Beach’s newest resort has 253 gulf- or bay-view rooms and suites. Yoga massage, Thai and stone massages are among the spa services offered.

• Sawgrass Golf Resort & Spa

Spa at Sawgrass is a 25,000-square-foot Zen sanctuary with body treatments and wraps, hydrotherapy baths, massage, including Thai (yoga) massages, facials and salon services. There’s also yoga, Pilates and spinning classes.

• Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

Ritz-Carlton Spa services include body wraps, scrubs, and polishes, massages for moms-to-be, Hadashi massage where therapists balance from bars while using their feet to relieve muscle tension, energizing facials and Slumber Therapy reflexology treatment, plus full-service salon and fitness center.

• Casa Marina Resort & Beach Club

Ocean Breeze massage on the beach; body scrubs, masks and more.

• Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa

 Spa specials include a Mango Mud Wrap, Chocolate Kiss wrap and caviar facial with ”micronized” caviar and pearl extract.

• Canyon Ranch Spa Club at Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center

Polished surroundings, well-trained staff, silk robes lined in plush terry, hot moist towels and fruits in the tea lounge create a harmonious setting. Treatments include various massages, energy therapies including reiki, body wraps, ayurvedic oil treatments, facials and full salon services.

• Ritz-Carlton Orlando,

From spacious and elegantly appointed lounges to the private spa pool and cafe, the 40,000-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Spa is, simply, one of the most beautiful in Florida. Treatments include herbal friction massages, Thai massage, a Tuscan Citrus skin cure, Emerald Green Body Masque, plus cellulite treatments, facials, baths, body polishes and salon services.

• Sanibel Harbor Resort & Spa

Named one of the ”Top 10 Spa Resorts in the U.S.” by Conde Nast Traveler. The spa has a full range of massage, facial, salon services, plus BETAR (Bio Energetic Transduction Aided Resonance) bed session ($75), one of only 16 worldwide, where sound waves bathe the entire body, promoting relaxation.

• Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa

Aquagene Spa offers a range of services, including poolside massages, teen manicures and pedicures.

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The luscious fig is surely the most sensual of fruits

A symbol of fertility in many cultures, the fig has long been revered as an aphrodisiac. The ancient Greeks believed figs were a gift from Dionysus, aka Bacchus—the god of wine, wanton behavior, intoxication, and ecstasy—and sacred to Demeter, goddess of the harvest and fertile soil. Figs are believed to have been the favorite fruit of Cleopatra, and they reputedly played a crucial role in her suicide; having decided to take her life in 30 B.C.E. after Mark Antony’s defeat and death, Cleopatra asked that an asp be delivered to her, concealed in a basket of figs.

Fig is the first and most mentioned fruit in the Bible, making its entrance in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve cover themselves with fig leaves. Some scholars claim that a fig, not an apple, was the unspecified forbidden fruit. The fig’s healing properties are referenced in the Bible, when Isaiah recommends a poultice made of figs to cure a boil.

The fig is native to Turkey, which remains the largest producer of the fruit, followed by California. The fruit is actually a flower inverted upon itself, and the trees are relatively short, about twenty-feet-high. Fig trees are extremely prolific; they usually produce two crops per year, and some bear fruit for up to 100 years—one of the reasons the fruit symbolizes fertility as well as longevity.

It was one of these impressive trees, growing behind her Atlanta shop, that inspired Jill Jones to add a Cranberry Fig collection to her Bidwell Botanicals line about five years ago. Her research into the fig’s beneficial properties proved fruitful. “Figs have been used both topically and as a diet supplement for ages due to their high vitamin content,” explains Jones. “Figs also have natural AHA properties that were used as far back as ancient Egypt to help refresh and brighten the skin. What they probably didn’t know, scientifically anyway, was that fig fruit contains very high levels of phytochemicals that help fight cancer and filter UV rays, thus protecting the skin.” Jones intended Bidwell’s Cranberry Fig collection to be a seasonal offering, but her customers changed her plans: “We brought it out for the holidays then tried to shelve it, but it was really popular—people were up in arms!”

Indeed, figs seem to fuel a fetish following. Californian Brook Harvey-Taylor, founder of Pacifica, says she was inspired to create her Mediterranean Fig Soap and Body Butter when she first tasted the fruit of a fig tree flourishing next door to her beachfront home about seven years ago. “Once I finally ate a fresh one, I was hooked,” she rhapsodizes. She also fell for the fruit’s intoxicating aroma. “The scent of figs is said to be calming,” she notes. “I can’t think of anything better for skincare than taking time to relax and get rid of stress. The ability to really do this is what leads to long-term health and beauty.”

Yet, it’s not just the fragrance that fosters fig fans. Lynn Shulman, founder of Toronto’s Elixir Spa, uses 100 percent organic fig extract in her most popular treatment, the Exfoliating Fig Enzyme Facial. “The reason I chose fig is because ficin [also known as ficain], the enzyme in figs, is twenty times more powerful than papain (papaya enzyme). It does a fantastic job of exfoliating the skin without irritation.” Skincare leader Dermalogica is also using fig for ficin’s exfoliating properties; its Exfoliating Body Scrub includes powder from the fruit and the tree’s latex (a milky sap), which has a higher concentration of the enzyme.

Los Angeles dermatologist Vicki Rappaport can’t verify the higher potency of ficin: “Papain and ficin come from the same family of cysteine proteases. If ficin is stronger, it’s still weaker than most known exfoliators in skincare.” Noting the perpetual search for the latest, hottest, natural ingredient, she says, “Fig as an ingredient is somewhat untapped but emerging as the sexy new kid on the block. Figs are rich in oils in both the skin and the seeds and they have some mild antioxidant properties, which of course helps reverse damage in the skin. And, most of all, fig as an ingredient usually smells luscious.”

That luscious smell was apparent when I recently previewed the new Cranberry Fig Conditioning Body Scrub at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts. “We were tired of the traditional lavender- and citrus-type scrubs,” explains Spa Director Colleen Stiers of her decision to introduce this treatment. “I was looking for something different but still effective. After doing some research we found the fig was Cleopatra’s favorite fruit and has been used for over 2,000 years for its health and skincare benefits. This antioxidant-rich fruit revitalizes the skin by fighting the damaging effects of the sun and environment.” The treatment begins with a full-body exfoliation using Bidwell’s creamy Cranberry Fig Shea Butter Sugar Body Scrub, which is removed with warm towels, and continues with a relaxing soak in a hydrotherapy tub, followed by a light application of cranberry fig moisturizer. The rich fragrance turned heads—everyone I passed wanted to know what smelled so good—but better than that was the long-lasting benefit of moist and smooth skin.

While the Mediterranean pairing of fig and olive is prevalent—as in fig soaps from Israel-based Noveya and Australia’s Mor Cosmetics— cranberry is another popular partner. Unlike Jones’s experience at Bidwell, Bella Lucce founder Lela Rain Barker hasn’t been swayed by customer demand; spas offer her Cranberry Fig Antioxidant Wrap only as a holiday-season special. That won’t be the case at a new spa concept she is helping develop for Marriott properties in the Middle East, North Africa, and India. Sarray Spa, the first of which will debut at the new Marriott resort in Doha late this year, will offer treatments full of fig extract, fig powder, and fig concentrate. “We chose figs as a key ingredient primarily because of their importance in Arabic culture,” says Barker, noting that her new fig formulations will be available in the United States only via internet sale.

 

Cranberry Fig Conditioning Body Scrub
Canyon Ranch, Lenox, MA
(800) 742-9000

Cranberry & Fig Body Smoother
Canyon Ranch Spa Club at the Venetian, Las Vegas, NV
(877) 220-2688

Fruits of the Shore Body Treatment
Lake Austin Spa Resort, Austin, TX
(800) 847-5637

Make it at home
Moisture Mineral Mask

Courtesy of Brook Harvey-Taylor, co-founder, Pacifica

“This (facial mask) recipe is very Santa Barbara—the lavender, figs, and avocado are all very important here. At the farmers market, all of these ingredients are available almost all year.”

Ingredients

• 1 ripe fig, peeled
• 1 tbs. honey, preferably local and organic
• 1 tsp. avocado oil
• a few drops of lavender essential oil

Preparation

Puree ingredients together and apply to face for at least 10 minutes. This will be sticky but well worth the results. Honey provides moisture and acts as a carrier for the nutrients in the fig. Avocado oil is full of skin-loving essential fatty acids. The fig will also act as a very mild AHA and will leave your skin smooth.

 

just calm down spa’s At-Home Fig Scrub

Courtesy of Tara Oolie, founder, just calm down spa

This facial scrub can also be used on the body if you increase the amounts of the ingredients, retaining the same proportions.

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/8 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup finely chopped figs
• 1/8 cup oatmeal
• 1 oz. vanilla extract

Preparation

Mix ingredients together, then massage onto skin for a few minutes. Rinse thoroughly

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Finding the real Canyon Ranch experience

TUCSON, AZ Not only did I have no idea what I was getting into, I had precious little time to figure it out. So, I just dove right in. I had known for three months that I was headed to Canyon Ranch in Arizona and needed to fill out a questionnaire on health and fitness needs, et cetera, but, well, you know, I get so busy, I didn’t have time. Turns out Canyon Ranch was created for people “too busy” to take care of themselves.

In less than a week, I’ve learned as much or more than I learned my freshman year at college, and I want to stay in touch with many people I’ve met, like several members of the staff, like Cathy and Beth.

My best friend, Kay Fuller, and I have spent the last week in Tucson at Canyon Ranch. It was created nearly 30 years ago to give people a solid plan to make and reach manageable wellness goals.

Fine, I thought. I’m already losing weight with Weight Watchers, and, duh, I know that I need to exercise. In fact, I can, with a bit of searching, produce several fitness plans that I’ve been given by doctors, YMCA staffers and the stack of health-conscious magazines I seem to accumulate.

“Tell you what,” I told myself, “I’ll schedule a couple massages, maybe a pedicure and spend a few days by the pool.”

Isn’t it funny how life turns out so differently than you expect?

We arrived last Sunday. By the time the guy in the SUV picked us up at Tucson International, I’d gotten a bit nervous. Stressed, they’d call it at Canyon Ranch.

We checked in, found our room on the humongous ranch and found the Life Enhancement Center where we would spend most of our time. The get-to-know-you session was scheduled for 4 p.m.

Oh my. By this time, I’m pretty stressed. Who are these people? Will I like them? Will they like me? Will it matter? How quickly can I slip back to the room, maybe over to the gorgeous pool across the street?

Within minutes we figured out the two rules for the week: keep your cell phone in your room and have fun.

And we got to know one another. It didn’t take long.

The Life Enhancement Center was begun as a program to help executives regain balance in their lives. Today, it is a comprehensive medical program that determines precise health markers, and the ultra-qualified staff follows up by customizing strategic plans to restore a healthy balance.

In other words, they work with us to develop exercise and nutrition plans we can live with, incorporating spirituality, tips to create good habits and mediation.

In that first meeting, the 20 or so LEC guests introduced one another with name, hometown and goals.

With goals ranging from becoming more outgoing to becoming fit, we shared our stories and our past frustrations.

“None of our guests are knowledge-deficit,” said Kate, one of the nurses. The key is to find plans that we can take home and follow.

So for the past week, I’ve done things I never thought this Valley girl would do, and I’m not just talking about free weights.

I took walks at 7 a.m.

I practiced chi gong.

I learned the ins and outs of Chinese tea. I even learned to drink it without sugar (adding sweetener would break the instructor’s heart, I think, and I would never break George’s heart.)

I even went a week without carrying my cell phone.

If you asked me what I learned, I’ll be tempted to tell you about my resting metabolic rate or the trick to getting the most from 30 minutes on a treadmill, but that would be about 5 percent of the story.

Cathy and Beth are incredible trainers.

• They taught me that the most important part of attaining a healthy lifestyle is just showing up, even if it seems impossible.
• They taught me that watching out for someone else while keeping an eye on my own horizon makes me even stronger
• They taught me that helping someone else carry their load lightens mine.
• They taught me that falling isn’t the same as failing, but that falling short is.
• They taught me that it’s OK to feel sadness in my heart, if I search around for the joy within.
• They taught me that when it seems things will never get better, that life isn’t always what it seems.
• They taught me that you never lose those whom you have loved. You just find them in different places.
• They taught me that the best muscles to work on are the ones I use when I laugh.
• They taught me all this while they were learning with me.

They are not paid staff at Canyon Ranch. They were first-timers just like Kay and me.

In the past five years, Cathy has fought and beaten colon cancer, their mom and dad died in a plane crash, Beth gave birth to her darling Joey, both sisters divorced and, through it all, they keep each other going.

They came to Canyon Ranch to heal together and support one another.

Life kept happening to them, but not only have they kept answering life’s challenges, they have bravely shared their stories, their sorrows and their blessings.

They had no idea that while they came to Arizona to learn, that their natural ease with overcoming obstacles made them great life instructors.

Who knew that at Canyon Ranch — where the rich and famous come for spa treatments — that I would walk away so much richer for knowing two women I’d never met before?

We will keep in touch, of course, as we leave this gigantic, grownup summer camp of health and fitness.

I can’t wait to hear how much greater they’ll become.

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