Sagestone at Red Mountain Spa Review
Sometimes you don’t have to travel far to escape. That’s what I discovered this past weekend at Red Mountain Spa in Ivins.
Many local people think of the spa as a place reserved for visitors from out of town, but many of the amenities are available to Southern Utah residents.
One of those is the Quick Escape package ($79), which I tried out Saturday. It includes lunch at the Canyon Breeze restaurant and a 50-minute Swedish massage.
It works. I really felt as if I had left Southern Utah.
Since it had been 10 years since my last real massage, I wasn’t sure what to expect as I drove along Snow Canyon Parkway in the rain, listening to the relaxing tunes of Gomez. My first surprise was the size of the resort. I parked near the restaurant, figuring the spa would be close by. After wandering in the rain for a few minutes I couldn’t find it.
Luckily, a nice employee in a golf cart, John, offered me a ride to the rounded building that houses the Sagestone Spa.
Stepping inside Sagestone Spa is like stepping outside of Southern Utah. Sure you can still see the Red Mountain outside the windows but it’s definitely a more cosmopolitan atmosphere than is often found in the region.
I changed into a thick, heavy robe in the locker room walked out to meet my massage therapist, Katrina. Soon I was lying facedown on a heated massage table as the escape began.
I carry a lot of stress in my neck and upper back so Katrina concentrated on that area as she began to work her magic.
Long, flowing strokes are characteristic of Swedish massage, which is a more traditional massage style. As I relaxed, her hands became waves of therapeutic strength, washing over my tense muscles and gently lulling them into submission.
Although I didn’t fall asleep, I entered into a near dreamlike state, allowing all my thoughts to be carried away with each stroke.
I barely remember Katrina asking me to turn over as she placed a towel behind my neck and a warm cloth over my eyes. During the last half of the massage I discovered places I didn’t even realize were tense.
Even though 50 minutes sounded like a long time at first, the massage was over too soon. I easily could have gone for another hour. Who couldn’t?
As she finished, Katrina told me to make sure I drank a lot of water so I didn’t get too sore.
After changing out of the robe I met John again and he gave me a ride over to the restaurant. He told me the restaurant features a revolving menu to liven things up for the guests.
At Canyon Breeze I met Tracey Welsh, the spa’s general manager and director of operations, and Tami Prine, the marketing communication manager. We went through a buffet filled with an eclectic mix of healthy choices and found our table.
As the music of Norah Jones played in the background we talked of the spa and Southern Utah in general. Tracey agreed with Katrina that many locals get the feeling that the spa is only for out-of-towners. However, the Quick Escape package is targeted specifically for locals like me who want to get away for a few hours for a relaxing massage and a tasty lunch.
The lunch was tasty. For many there is a myth that healthy food doesn’t taste good. But some of the best meals I’ve eaten are healthy ones. You just have to have some culinary talent in the kitchen, and apparently Red Mountain Spa has that.
For lunch I loaded up my plate with a variety of fresh items from the salad bar, including a new novelty for me: roasted soy nuts. Items like this provide a safe alternative for people with certain allergies.
I also noticed while dishing up my food that many of the dishes were marked as appropriate for spa guests undergoing a “cleanse.”
The flavorful roasted veggies were my favorite part of the lunch. However, I also enjoyed the warm chicken and vegetable soup, which was perfect for the cool, rainy day.
I was reluctant to leave the calming atmosphere of Red Mountain Spa after lunch but my quick escape was over. It was time to leave my two-hour vacation and return home.
