Sedona’s Mii amo Luxury Spa Named for World’s Best Spa Therapists

Mii amo wins 2009 ‘Best Therapists’ award from Tatler Magazine. Mii amo at Sedona’s luxury Enchantment Resort is a haven for the Best Spa Therapists in the World.

Tatler, one of Britain’s most prestigious magazines, named Mii amo, a destination spa at Enchantment, as having the best therapists in the world at its third annual spa awards ceremony. The award was presented in London at The Dorchester, Park Lane on May 5th by Melinda Stevens, Tatler’s travel editor.

Since opening eight years ago as the first destination spa within a world class resort, Mii amo has attracted highly trained and gifted spa therapists who are drawn to Boynton Canyon’s sacred energy and the spiritual nature of Sedona. Mii amo was also the first spa to offer full 60- and 90-minute treatments; additional time was built into the appointment to allow for pre- and post-treatment interaction between guest and therapist.

“Each Mii amo therapist brings unique qualities to the spa, and we are able to support and nurture our spa staff in order for them to thrive in Mii amo’s healing environment,” said Mark Grenoble, president of Enchantment Group, Mii amo’s management company. “Our guests continually tell us how their lives have been transformed during their Journey. You find what you are looking for at Mii amo, and our therapists are the key factor in positively affecting our guests’ lives.”

Tatler, a stylish and indispensable guide to Britain’s high society since 1901, visits over 100 spas in the world to find the winners of their five annual awards. Categories include Spa of the Year, Smartest Escape, Most Exciting Discovery, Hardcore Turnaround and Best Therapists.

Mii amo, a Yuman word for “passage” or “journey,” promotes personal transformation through mind, body and spiritual therapies, which range from Ayurvedic Balance to Watsu. The 24,000-square-foot spa in Sedona, Arizona, designed by Gluckman Mayner Architects, harmonizes with the Native American aesthetic and the surrounding red rock canyon, which are both integral to the Mii amo experience. The intimate Mii amo spa village, which offers 3-, 4- and 7-night all-inclusive packages, features 14 guest rooms and two suites; 25 treatment areas, many with views of Boynton Canyon; private outdoor treatment areas; indoor and outdoor pools; library; retail boutique and Mii amo cafe.

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Elaia spa has opened in the Hyatt at Olive 8, Seattle’s soon-to-be LEED-certified hotel — the first hotel in the city to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

A member of the Green Spa Network, a nonprofit trade organization that promotes sustainable and eco-friendly practices in the spa industry, the 15,000-square-foot spa is committed to energy and water conservation, recycling, waste reduction, and the use of natural and organic products in their services.

Elaia (Greek for olive) features 12 treatment rooms with exquisite lighting that creates a warm, honeyed glow. Each room can accommodate multiple treatments, so there’s no need for guests to shuffle from room to room for their next service. (A good thing, since the spa’s hallway looks right onto the hotel’s parking circle.)

Elaia’s Market Fresh offerings are seasonally changing services that use fresh ingredients sourced from Washington state growers. Current Market Fresh treatments include a lavender mint scrub and a white lavender clay wrap ($120 each). Look forward to a cherry mint scrub and wrap in May.

Other treatments include the Elaia Signature massage, which uses certified organic olive oil from Oregon in a massage that blends Swedish and Thai techniques (60 minutes, $110). During the 75-minute Oxygen Glow facial ($175), vitamin-infused oxygen breathes new life into tired skin.

Careful attention to detail, such as customizable music, is apparent throughout the spa, though I did notice a kink or two to work out; I was assured by the spa manager that the incongruous bottle of Ajax I spied near the nail salon will be replaced by a non-chlorinated, environmentally friendly option.

Elaia’s guests also have access to the hotel’s whirlpool and 65-foot lap pool, which are purified through a saltwater system that eliminates the need for chlorine. You can hear music even underwater, and the pool is surrounded by huge windows that look out onto blossoming trees, reinforcing the feel of an oasis in the middle of the city.

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Located on the third floor of the sparkly, shiny and very recently launched Omni Fort Worth Hotel, the Mokara Spa is one of what the mothership is calling its “upscale spas.” And it delivers on upscale with soft robes you almost melt into upon arrival, a calming and comfy waiting room with an expansive view of downtown and an opportunity to hit the sauna and just linger long after being pampered.

Private rooms for massaging, facial-ing and body polishing also feel sinfully luxurious, with softer-than-soft sheets and just-right temperature, which is a big deal when you’re mostly naked. Although eight varieties of massages are featured, from basic Swedish to the signature Mokara, being nine months pregnant, I decided to try the Mother To Be. As the woman who booked the appointment said when I called, “It is 60 minutes of relaxation, which I am guessing you need right about now.”

The experience: The Mokara Spa just opened and, as expected, a few kinks needed unkinking. Nobody answered the phone the first four times I tried to make an appointment, and my first appointment was canceled due to an unexpected spa closing.

Both were handled with apologies and professionalism, though, and a massage is inevitably judged by its relaxation factor. Especially when discomfort has been a way of life for almost 10 months.

I began the Mother To Be by going over a questionnaire with my masseuse: How is the pregnancy going? What hurts? What needs TLC? What do you want from the next 60 minutes?

And with that begins the pampering.

Starting on my back (yes, at an incline, to avoid the pregnancy no-no of lying flat on your back), what I am told is an all-natural, chemical-free whipped shea butter balm is massaged into what have become cankles and extremely swollen feet. Both problems seem like distant memories after a couple of minutes, and this continues on the legs and arms.

Of course, the real test of any massage is when you flip onto your stomach and the kneading and rubbing is focused on the back. And anybody who has been or is pregnant knows there is no way to get there, or even close to there, comfortably.

Instead the masseuse had me lie on my side, gave me a pillow for support and started working on the kinks that had built up after almost nine months of carrying around another person. Then it was on to the other side. And I am not ashamed to say, I have not slept that well in two months.

The massage literature promises to use “tried & tested, safe pregnancy techniques to . . . alleviate fatigue, sooth muscle and joint pain, and improve circulation.” I just know I felt lighter and better.

I woke up just as she was massaging my temples and scalp, which were no longer begging for an Advil and then, poof, we were done way, way, way too soon.

Cost: The Mother To Be is $110 for a 60-minute massage, while a Mokara Mother To Be package, which includes massage, Moroccan Rose Manicure and Instant Revival Pedicure, is $230. A complete list of all spa services, including packages, is available online or in a brochure from the hotel.

Good to know: While adapted for each stage of pregnancy, the Mother To Be massage (like all things during these nine months) is probably best to run by your OB-GYN first. And book now, before the secret gets out about this spa and appointments are harder to come by.

Spa hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday

Information: 1300 Houston St., Fort Worth, 817-350-412

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Looking to put a little spring back into your step? As if times weren’t hard enough, that hour everyone lost last weekend because of daylight saving time has truly taken its toll on all of us. So why not feel reborn again this spring with a trip to The Spa at New York-New York?

Earlier this week, I reviewed one of the more intimate spas on the Strip and one of its blissful treatments, the Escape Stress Body Escape. For those who are dying to go back (or who still haven’t been), The Spa at New York-New York just announced four new spring treatments available for a limited time, now through April 30. Each treatment includes a free cherry blossom-scented candle guests can take home with them to try and help them escape when they can’t make it back out to the spa. After all, we all need to tighten our purse strings a bit in this economy, right?

For those desperate to get rid of those kinks in their back (and we know you have them!), the Cherry Blossom Massage is just what the doctor ordered. Indulge in your own customized massage with combined elements of Swedish relaxation and therapeutic deep tissue. The refreshing scent of cherry blossoms will accentuate the treatment. The Cherry Blossom Massage is available as a 25-minute service for $70, a 50-minute service for $125 and a 75-minute service for $185.

Or, if you’d rather help rejuvenate your skin this spring, be sure to check out the Cherry Blossom Body Treatment. The 50-minute service ($110) includes a full-body exfoliation with a Cherry Blossom scrub that’s designed to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth, followed by an application of Cherry Blossom lotion for a refreshed, hydrated feeling.

Hydrotherapy Soak at The Spa at New York-New YorkThere’s also the 50-minute Cherry Blossom Soak & Glow ($85) which lets guests relax in a luxurious Cherry Blossom-scented bath while experiencing a mini-facial. Your skin will be ready to glow by the time this heavenly treatment comes to an end! Although I haven’t tried the treatment personally, this one sounds too good to pass up!

Finally, for those who are literally looking to put some spring back into their step, the 50-minute Cherry Blossom Pedicure ($80) lets you enjoy all the classic elements of a pedicure paired with a Cherry Blossom foot and leg exfoliation, followed by a foot and leg massage using a yummy-smelling Cherry Blossom lotion. It’s just what your tired tootsies will be aching for after a long day of walking up and down the Vegas Strip–not to mention the treatment gives you an excuse to check out The Spa at New York-New York’s beautiful manicure/pedicure room.

No matter which spring treatment you end up choosing, remember to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment to enjoy The Spa at New York-New York’s private sauna and steam room. There is also a whirlpool in the men’s lounge and two private hydrotherapy soaks in the women’s lounge, which female guests can use even if they don’t book the Cherry Blossom Soak & Glow for an additional fee ($45 for 30 minutes).

The Spa at New York-New York is open daily from 6:30 a.m. until 7 p.m., with services beginning at 8 a.m. It is located on the third floor of the hotel near the Empire Elevator. Call 702-740-6955 for reservations or simply visit The Spa at New York-New York’s online reservation page.

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The Harmonie European Day Spa Experience

The health spa has been around since antiquity. Aroma and massage therapies were first practiced by the ancient Greeks for their healing benefits. Romans added esthetics to their treatments. Then, in the early 1800s, the spa was reintroduced into Europe.
“I had my first facial at 14,” says Patricia Bottero, a native Parisian and founder of Harmonie European Day Spa in Saratoga, CA. “A facial is simply something a young woman in France experiences.”

Bottero, a Los Gatos resident, was trained in the European tradition of skin and body care in Paris, and she continues to go to Europe to update her knowledge. As an esthetician, she first worked in California at a full-service salon, but in 1988, a couple of years later, she created Harmonie Skin and Body Care, now called Harmonie European Day Spa.

“The day spa experience is not about lazy pampering. The day spa is about the necessity we have to honor our femininity, especially at times when everything else and everyone else in our lives seems to be so much more important. Stress alone can make a woman feel unattractive, and if she feels unattractive, she will look that way,” says Bottero.

In an atmosphere influenced by French Loire castles, Harmonie clients are indulged by estheticians in dimly lit private rooms filled with soothing music and sensuous aromas. Estheticians trained by Bottero cater to clients personally, attending to their particular skin and body-care needs.

The spa provides facials, intensive treatments for acne, brown spots and wrinkles; full-body and other massages to promote relaxation and body detoxification; depilatories, thalassotherapy body envelopes–seawater and sea botanical body wraps–to firm, tone and detoxify skin; makeup application and lessons, manicure and pedicure.

One treatment consists of combining thermal seaweed mud with reflexology technique using Chinese acupressure points on hands and feet to relieve tension and essential oils for aromatherapy and to aid circulation.

“We want women to feel beautiful not just look beautiful. A large part of the power of beauty is how a woman feels when she is confident and self-assured,” says Bottero.

The spa offers special packages for expectant mothers, brides-to-be, busy executives and teens. Men’s treatments are also available.

Harmonie was voted Best Day Spa by both the Metro Silicon Valley Magazine and Elle Magazine.)

Harmonie European Day Spa is located at 14501 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, California. For more information call (408) 741-4997

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The much-anticipated Eleven plans to open at Town Square this week. Ever since the shopping mall opened in November 2007, Eleven has been in the building stages with first a March launch, then a Nov. 11 opening slated. But it seems the 20,000-square-foot store is on the brink of becoming a reality.

Inside sits a small retail area that will contain the likes of designers such as Black Halo, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent and T-Bags. “There will be nothing like Eleven in Vegas,” said Nikki Oden, owner of the boutique and spa. “I am literally pulling out all the stops to make it the most decadent, indulgent spa experience you could ever imagine having.”

In addition, the location will include a spa with Eleven’s own organic skin-care line, a deejay booth, butlers on staff and waterfall chandeliers shaped like the curves of a woman. The spa will include a signature brow bar by Damone Roberts.

One treatment room, called Bungalow 69, features only old Hollywood treatments and a jetted bath for two. A private VIP room gives celebs and groups some privacy to indulge in services. And the uber-rich can get to Eleven by landing on the helipad.

The whole place can be rented for events. Mirrors in the makeup bar retract to give the place a more open-air feel when it’s filled with up to 750 guests.

Some of the spa’s treatments include the Champagne and Caviar Facial, Eleven Mink Massages, the Eleven Diamond Manicure and Pedicure and the Flamingo Glo, an exfoliating treatment with a finishing massage.

And world-renowned hairstylist Ken Paves, whose Beverly Hills salon caters to the who’s who of LA, has joined forces with the ElevenSpa Vegas.

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Once upon a time, we paid people to cut, buff and paint our nails.

Once upon a time, we had people shape our unruly eyebrows and rub hot, smooth stones over our sore backs.

Once upon a time, we put time aside to have people rip hair off our legs with wax and wrap us in algae.

Those days, for many of us, are long gone.

Spas obviously want us back. And so, there are deals. Many end soon, so act fast if you’re yearning for pampering. Here are a few that caught our eye (framed, we admit, by slightly unruly brows):

212 Salon and Day Spa: 212’s “Quick Pick-Me-Up” is so tempting in the dead of winter, when our hair and nails are brittle and dull. For $100, you get a mani and pedi, protein conditioning treatment, shampoo and a blow-out.

Calla Lily:  Calla Lily, a spa that offers everything from seaweed body masks ($60) to Brazilian bikini waxes ($80 and up), will take 20 percent off any service through Saturday. Just print out the coupon on the Web site and book your indulgence.

Spa Space:  How about a 75-minute massage? Spa Space is offering its $150 Space Ritual Massage for $120. You need to buy a gift certificate for that massage specifically to get the discount (see the spa Web site for details).

Urban Spa Chic:  Never been to Urban Spa Chic? If your nails are a mess, this might be the time to change that. The spa is offering a $10 mani with a seasonal spa pedi ($48) for first-time clients on Tuesdays through Thursdays.

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Ritz-Carlton Spa, Kapalua, Hawaii  

Several months ago Ritz-Carlton finalized a $180 million transformation at its AAA Five-Diamond Kapalua, Hawaii, hotel with the opening of the 17,500-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Spa, Kapalua. The hotel, which has 463 fully-renovated guestrooms, including 107 Residential Suites, is located on the healing waters of Waihua, which the ancient Hawaiians believed was the most pure form of water.

The spa features 15 treatment rooms, with half opening to private outdoor shower gardens, and all with iPod docking stations with pre-programmed music selections and robe warmers. The spa also features two outdoor couples’ hale (cabanas), men’s and women’s relaxation areas with the depiction of lava stone grotto areas, steam rooms, saunas, and whirlpools, and the only coed indoor/outdoor relaxation area in Hawaii with a whirlpool.

The Waihua concept is evidenced by wood panels carved with images of taro leaves and the dry stone river bed design in the entry. The walls are curved, representing water movement, with water walls in select areas. Guests walk through groves of tall bamboo, and Hawaiian artwork is present throughout the public corridors. Basalt stone floors are found in the treatment rooms, and the lockers are made with mahogany wood. Raw natural ingredients of spa treatments, including Hawaiian sea salt, kukui nuts, awapuhi, and ginger, have been placed in alcoves.

The spa offers a range of Hawaiian-based spa treatments, including authentic Lomilomi massage and Hawaiian healing treatments based on relaxation and rejuvenation. Guests may honor Kupuna Kahiko (ancient elders) from the Honokahua burial site by presenting an offering outside their treatment room.

Many of the spa treatments incorporate natural ingredients in the spa products such as pineapple, papaya, kukui oil, coconut, pumpkin, and blueberry. The spa features a range of innovative facials using Murad products and the natural lines of Naturopathica and Eminence, along with Intraceuticals Oxygen Infusions treatments. The spa also offers pregnancy massage treatments using Mama Mio products. The salon offers a full range of hair, manicure, pedicure, and waxing services; treatments for younger guests, such as a Choco Holic Pedicure; and packages for teenagers, including the Bring a Friend Package, which includes a 50-minute Lomilomi Massage or a 50-minute Ritz-Carlton Signature Facial, side by side, followed by a Fabulous Feet Pedicure.

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Recessionistas listen up — the economic challenges are not an excuse to let your stress build up while the care of your skin, nail and mental health goes down. There are plenty of deals to go around at spas with 17-year spa and wellness industry experience  Mindy Terry has done the digging so that you can savor the relaxation.

“People need the spa experience now more than ever and the slow economic times present great opportunities for spa lovers,” said Terry. “As consumers become increasingly discerning about how to spend their discretionary dollars, businesses are looking for ways to enhance the value of the spa experience, while rewarding and incentivizing their loyal customers. It’s a great time to score a deal on relaxation!”

With current projects spanning the globe from Egypt to Washington, D.C., Terry’s globetrotting lessons will help you stretch your dollar at the spa:

– Capitalize on Slow Times — look for the best deals between Monday and Thursday when business levels are lowest.

– Buy Local — your small day spas and nail salons are great for manicures and pedicures, and while you probably won’t lounge around in a robe and slippers while sipping tea, you’ll still leave with great looking nails.

– Massaging Massage Costs — there are cost-effective ways to find the perfect rub. With locations throughout the United States, Massage Envy offers a membership program where you can receive a massage every month, build them up or even transfer them. No frills here, but if you are worried about your checkbook, it is a great alternative.

– Bundles of Joy — many day spas offer price breaks on treatment “bundles.” For example, buy 10 massages, get one free, or buy three services or more in a day and receive 10-15 percent off.

– Education on Wheels — when staying in urban hotels, Terry likes to hop in a cab and ask the driver where to find the best spas. She has been pleasantly surprised with the recommendations, particularly those found in New York, Chicago, Barbados and Lima, Peru. And, for those resort and hotel travelers who don’t mind missing out on a comprehensive spa experience with large wet areas, access to fitness, meditation spaces, etc., they will save a dime or two by checking out local day spas where they can have a great experience for up to 25 percent less.

– Ommm Online — spa Web sites and e-mail blasts offer last-minute deals on products and services as well as monthly specials, so be sure to sign up. Blogs, e-letters and webinars also provide great tips and techniques for coping with stress and dealing with the pressures of daily life.

You may also want to opt for creating a spa-like living environment at home. Sure, it’s not as glamorous and you have to do the work, though it’s convenient and free …

– Raid the Pantry — Terry has the perfect recipe for creating your own scrub. Take some sugar in the raw and mix it with honey (honey helps moisturize and calm the skin). After reaching a consistency that you like, put a couple drops of essential oil in the mix (Terry loves orange). Microwave for five seconds and take it into the shower with you. Use your hands to slather it all over and rinse. Don’t worry; the shower’s steam will help the honey become less sticky.

– Take a Breather — when you feel stress or anxiety coming on, disconnect from the world for a few minutes with this exercise: Close your eyes and take in a long, deep, belly breath. As you inhale, visualize fresh oxygen flowing through your nose and filling your lungs. Then use your diaphragm to push out the air and, while doing so, imagine all stress, tension and impurities being forced out. Try this ten times and you’ll be enveloped in calm.

– Yoga on the Cheap — yoga cards provide excellent tips for those who want to do it themselves. Check out “OM Yoga Flash Cards” by Cyndi Lee or “The Yoga Deck: 50 Poses and Meditations for Body, Mind & Spirit” by Olivia Miller.

– BlackBerry Massage — take a break from the electronics and give yourself a quick hand massage to increase circulation and lessen fatigue. You will be surprised at how much tension the palms of your hands hold and how much better you feel after this quick rub.

– Cuticle Coaching — nice nails don’t always require money. While in the shower, push back your cuticles while the skin is softer because of the water and heat. Keep a nail file in your purse for shaping while commuting on the train or sitting in traffic (though, don’t attempt while driving!) In addition, always have a clear polish on hand to keep nails looking clean and well-groomed.

– Living the Spa Lifestyle Every Day — mix Epsom salts with a couple drops of your favorite essential oil for a great and inexpensive way to enjoy a therapeutic relaxing bath. Need to lift your spirits? Focus on your favorite piece of art or photograph while practicing deep breathing techniques. Have extra facial moisturizers lying around with only a few drops left? Don’t throw them out, instead use as a quick hand treatment.

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