Posted on
November 12, 2012
in
Spa
If you pay attention to all the usual spa news you’d be forgiven for thinking that fish pedis and dung beetle facials are all the rage as the “latest” body and wellness treatments.
Well,
nothing could be further from the truth. If you’re looking for
genuinely unique (and maybe wacky?) spa travel experiences, forget the
usual fads and look out for these instead. Just remember to bring your
credit card.
Born Again at Casa Magna Marriott
What could be more rejuvenating than being reborn? The Rebirth treatment, which is offered at the Ohtli Spa in the CasaMagna Marriott
Puerto Vallarta luxury resort, promises to utilize the healing power of
water to mimic the therapeutic conditions inside the womb.
I guess it’s perfect for those of us who need a reboot to life itself.
The
treatment starts in a pool with the water perfectly warmed to aid
meditative focus. The therapist (midwife?) guides you through rhythmic
movements to relax your mind and body and bring you into a meditative
state which allows your tension and stress to be released, presumably
into the amniotic fluid.
The treatment promises to refresh and
rejuvenate and leave you feeling younger and revitalized. The spa
recommends multiple treatments, but at $140 a session, it’s going to get pricey!
Get Stone Age in a Cave Spa in the Austrian Alps
In
Austria they have an entirely different take on the best setting for a
spa. The cave spas (“Healing Caves”) in Bad Hofgastein, a high-end ski
and spa resort in the Austrian Alps, feature sauna-like temperatures to treat aching joints - perhaps after a day skiing in the surrounding mountains.
- Healing Caves Bad Hofgastein
To
reach the caves, guests actually ride into the heart of the mountain on
a specially-built mine train, which clearly adds to the excitement. The
caves are co-ed, so bathing suits are required. Note: claustrophobic
people need not make an appointment here.
Reiki Healing Energy at Harbor Beach Marriott
Okay
I call this one "unique" since the whole point is to not be touched by
the therapist. Usually some contact is good for a spa treatment, but
sometimes less is better.
- Harbor Beach Marriott
Hailing from the mountains of Tibet to the private beaches of Fort Lauderdale, the spa at Harbor Beach Marriott
offers Reiki treatments based on ancient healing techniques that use
very subtle, light body contact in an attempt to channel life force
energy and create a positive change in your mental and physical
well-being.
- Harbor Beach Marriott
Sometimes
the touch is so light that you are not certain if the treatment is
still in session, but trust me – all that energy afterwards didn’t come
from a 5 Hour Energy shot.
Aquabella Circuit Treatment at Westin Playa Bonita
Back
to the water we go, but this time for the amazing Clarins treatment
called Aquabella, a hydrothermal wellness circuit offered at the
luxurious Westin Playa Bonita in Panama.
- Aquabella Treatment Room at Westin Playa Bonita
By
merging holistic therapy with advanced technology, the treatment
promises to stimulate your circulation via a sequence of treatment
chambers, each one delivering either a hot or cold hydrotherapy
treatment.
- Aquabella Spa - Westin Playa Bonita
They
can be enjoyed in any order you please, but each has its own place in
your personalized therapy so be sure to request advice on your ideal
sequence. Up first is the “rain dance experience shower” for cleansing
before moving on to the vitality pools. A good sweat in the herbal sauna
will boost your blood circulation before the skin gets hydrated in the
“amethyst crystal steam room.”
A first for me was the “pediluvio
stream,” where round river stones massage your tootsies. The last stop
is a lounge in the relaxation area.
Temazcal Sweat Lodge at Viceroy Rivera Maya
The
end of the Maya calendar (and the world?) is just around the corner, so
what better way to spend it than experiencing a purification ritual in a
traditional Temazcal Sweat Lodge at the Viceroy Riviera Maya.
Above we were reborn, but now it is time to return to Mother Nature’s womb.
This treatment is revered as a sacred act and must be performed by a
Shaman. The ritual is said to allow us the opportunity to free ourselves
from unnecessary emotional baggage and give us the ability to live in
only the present.
These are some genuinely unique spa treatments
for you to try, but if you are also looking for some unusual
companionship maybe these monkeys would be willing to join you!
- Ava Roxanne Stritt
Ava Roxanne Stritt
Ava is a travel writer and editor of the blog Spa Travel Gal.
She believes that travel, spa and skincare experiences are not a
luxury, but essential to a healthy body and mind. If her family needs to
find her they just call the local luxury spa.
A renowned expert in
spa and luxury travel, Ava is featured in USA Today, the Los Angeles
Times, Spa Week, Fox News, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution, among
many other publications.
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