South Florida Spa Lovers Celebrate Miami Spa Month

While the mercury rises in Miami, the prices at South Florida’s spas are dropping—again. From now until August 31st, relaxation seekers can enjoy $99 treatments (normally valued at $199 or more) at 36 different spas thanks to the third annual Miami Spa Month. These healthy havens are offering everything from classic massages to mango manicures. And, if the specially priced services do not pique the interest of spa-goers, some spots, such as Spa at Icon Brickell at the Viceroy, are offering 15% off services during the promotion period. This year, eight new spas are participating in the promotion, including:

•Bliss Spa, W South Beach

•Elemis Spa at Village of Merrick Park

•Exhale Spa at the EPIC Hotel

•RockResorts Spa at Tempo, Miami

For a complete list of participating spas, click here.

Skincare Guru Kate Somerville Launches New Book

Celebrity facialist Kate Somerville recently launched the book Complexion Perfection! (Hay House, 2010), a practical how-to guide to getting clear, radiant skin regardless of age, ethnicity, skin type, or concern. In the book, Somerville discusses simple strategies for achieving a clear complexion and helps readers understand cutting-edge treatments, technologies, and ingredients. My favorite part of the book is the section on how diet and lifestyle impact the skin. Did you know that almonds provide a very high degree of antioxidant protection, that blueberries fight inflammation at the cellular level, and that spinach helps protect against skin aging? Somerville also says that tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, which can help reduce the risk of skin cancer, and even cooler is she says that eating a sauce made by simmering tomatoes in olive oil has been shown to protect the skin from sunburns, about the same amount as using a sunblock with an SPF of two or three. Interesting!

The Four Seasons Entices Guests to Eat, Pray, and Love Their Way Through Bali

I consider myself very lucky to not only have a job that I love but to also truly enjoy the people with whom I work. In fact, my co-workers and I probably spend as much time together outside of work as we do during business hours. And because we are an all-female staff, one of the things we love doing together is seeing girly movies. On our most recent outing to see “Sex and The City 2″ (of course), we got very excited by the preview for the upcoming movie “Eat, Pray, Love,” based on the novel by Elizabeth Gilbert. For those who have not read the book, it documents one woman’s journey to discover who she truly is by eating her way through Italy, praying her way through India, and falling in love in Bali. Following that theme, the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts just introduced the Bali, Pray, Love package for two. Available through December 2011, guests can experience their own rebirth with this journey, which includes:

• Two nights accommodations at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay and two nights accommodations at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

• A personal consultation with Ketut Liyer, the actual Balinese medicine man who served as inspiration for the book, as well as a visit to his home, just as the author did

• A private Balinese cooking class at the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay Cooking School, as well as a private candlelit dinner for two

• A 90-minute Balinese couples’ massage

• A guide to the top 10 most romantic on-island experiences prepared by the resort’s Love Concierge

• All transfers between airports and resorts, a floral bath upon arrival, and daily breakfast for two

The package starts at $3,000 based on double occupancy, which is a little steep for us here at American Spa. Instead, we already set a date for our movie night, where we will live vicariously through Julia Roberts.

A Spa Enthusiast’s Epic Adventure

Although it’s always nice when the city clears out for a holiday weekend, I wasn’t looking forward to spending this recent one in town. Instead, I took advantage of an invitation to embark on a two-day inaugural cruise on the Norwegian Epic. Boasting the largest spa at sea, 20 restaurants, a casino, three waterslides, a sports complex, and more, Norwegian Cruise Line’s new ship more than lives up to its Epic name. With performances by the Blue Man Group, Cirque du Soleil, and a variety of Nickelodean characters, such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, boredom is probably the one option not available on the action-packed ship. However, relaxation can be found onboard at Mandara Spa & Salon, which features a menu that offers everything from Go Smile Tooth Whitening ($199, 30 minutes) and Botox and Dysport injections (starting at $350) to more traditional spa therapies. While I packed in as much as I could in the two days I was at sea, it wasn’t nearly enough time to try everything the ship had to offer. I did manage to find time to visit the ship’s Ice Bar (here I am donning a fur-trimmed parka to survive the frigid 17 degree temperature), a place I wouldn’t mind revisiting right about now while in the midst of an east coast heat wave. Look for more on the Norwegian Epic and its Mandara Spa & Salon in a future issue.

Summer Sun Tip: Slather Your Feet With Sunscreen

I’m a person who wears flip-flops nearly every day of the summer, so a recent press release from New York City podiatrist, Oliver Zong, M.D., of NYC Footcare, served as a very good reminder about my daily sunscreen application practices. According to Dr. Zong, it’s important to remember that skin cancer can affect any part of the body, including the feet. Unfortunately, people often forget their feet when protecting their skin from the sun. Even fewer think to check their feet for suspicious moles or markings. He points out that malignant melanoma of the lower extremities usually occurs on the soles of the feet, in the spaces between the toes, in the areas around the nails, and even under the nails. Take this as a reminder to be thorough in your daily sunscreen application—and don’t forget your feet! It is also equally important to do self-examinations, and if you detect any changes to a mole or skin lesion, Dr. Zong recommends visiting with your dermatologist as soon as possible. We all love a little summer sun, but as we enter the hottest months of the year with the most dangerous sun exposure risk, take a moment to slather on some sunscreen and be sweet to your feet!

Spa-Goers Make Beautiful Music Together at
One&Only Palmilla

A day at the spa normally means taking in some peace and quiet. While enjoying the sound of silence is very necessary, shaking this idea up a bit and making some noise is sometimes very beneficial. During a recent trip to Los Cabos, I was lucky enough to visit One&Only Palmilla where I partook in Musical Therapy with the small group of writers and editors I was traveling with. As we made our way through the stunning grounds of the resort, we came across a palapa that is situated on a bluff overlooking the Sea of Cortez that was set up for a major jam session. There were different types of drums, rattles, flutes, rainsticks and we were going to be playing all of them. Our musical stylings were brought out and directed by our patient leader, Mexican-born contemporary musician Antonio Zepeda. There was a touch of intimidation mixed with skepticism when the group first laid eyes on the scene. Zepeda’s soothing voice and calm demeanor talked us through a very rusty beginning as we “played” our instruments and he successfully guided the group into a definite groove. The more confident we got while playing, the more relaxing and fun it was for us, and, dare I say, we were making music. The combination of the breathtaking setting of the palapa with the steady beat we were producing seemed to create a lulling affect that allowed us to get lost in another world—sixty minutes just flew by and I was feeling rejuvenated by the end of it.

This Musical Therapy is part of a Three-Day Joyful Journey Package offered at One&Only Palmilla. Priced at $650 per person, this package (not including accommodations) focuses on mind-body wellness by bringing together activities that are scientifically proven to reduce stress, such as meditation, painting, massage, and laughter. For more on this package—and for what’s hot on the Cabo spa scene—check out the July issue of American Spa.

What Are Some of the Most Effective Ways You’ve Managed to Improve Customer Service?

“Spa Mirbeau’s staff is committed to providing professional and personalized service that exceeds our guests’ expectations. We maintain a detailed guest history, which includes preferences on beverages, products, therapists, and treatments; escort every guest when possible; and anticipate the guest’s needs with an ‘offering before being asked’ approach to service. We also provide testers with brief demos for all spa products that are carried in our retail store. Operationally, the spa managers and supervisors conduct daily role-playing sessions with our staff to ensure that their comfort level is to a point where all service steps are delivered in a comfortable and natural manner. Training alone can inform your staff on what to do, but if the delivery is awkward then it undermines the effort made to exceed the guest’s expectations.”—Chris Pulito, general manager, Mirbeau Inn & Spa (Skaneateles, NY)

The Wauwinet Debuts Nantucket-Inspired Treatments

Nantucket’s picturesque island beauty, historic architecture, and rich traditions have long lured adventurers from the mainland. Now, thanks to four new Nantucket-inspired spa treatments at The Wauwinet’s Spa by the Sea, this New England isle is even more appealing. Taking inspiration from Nantucket’s quaint cobblestone streets, the Cobblestone Massage ($225, 90 minutes; $155, 60 minutes) uses heated basalt stones combined with essential oils to soothe aches and pains. Sticky seaweed won’t annoy spa-goers when they experience The Atlantic Seaweed Body Wrap ($210, 90 minutes), which uses natural seaweed that is abundant in minerals, vitamins, and enzymes to detoxify and nourish skin. Nantucket’s Salt and Sea Scrub ($155, 60 minutes) will have water lovers in their element with a scrub that incorporates a blend of aromatic sea salts, mineral salts, and essential oils to remove impurities, dead skin cells, and stimulate circulation. Mimicking the soothing experience of gazing at the local lavender fields, The Lavender Crush ($155, 60 minutes) includes an aromatic full-body exfoliation and massage that is sure to melt stress away. Spa-goers might just catch a case of island fever after experiencing these soothing specialties.

The Spa at Trump Offers New Fitness Program

The Spa at Trump at Trump International Hotel & Tower (Chicago) is offering a fitness program inspired by the recent opening of the River Walk at Trump International. The new fitness classes, including Summer Awakening Yoga and Summer Walking Club, utilize the River Walk’s setting adjacent to the Magnificent Mile. Guests can exercise while enjoying the serene atmosphere and beautiful views of the river and surrounding area. “The opening of the River Walk motivated us to implement challenging alternatives during the summer months,” says assistant spa director Amy Mashlykin. “Our trainers designed these classes specifically to celebrate the beauty of the space along the Chicago River while providing guests with fitness-oriented socializing opportunities.”

Signing Off: Cancer