From vinotherapy to desert mud wraps, spas are making use of their natural surroundings to create signature treatments that differentiate themselves from the pack.
“Spas are choosing ingredients that are native to or associated with their area or region, such as barbecue sauce in Texas; chocolate in Hershey, Pennsylvania; maple syrup in Vermont; and coffee in Seattle,” says Lynne McNees, president of the International Spa Association (ISPA). “Wine is often
incorporated in treatments in the Sonoma and Napa valleys of California, seaweed is commonly used in coastal locations and sand is popular for many tropical properties.”
About 28 percent of spas in the U.S. offer local or indigenous treatments, according to a 2007 ISPA spa industry study. The experience can often be educating for attendees and have long-lasting impact.
“Spa managers are absolutely using the unique hook of local, indigenous treatments to draw attention to their spa,” McNees says. “Treatments such as the lomilomi massage experienced during a meeting in Hawaii or the sea salt and coconut scrub enjoyed while attending a convention in Florida help guests to have a memorable experience.”
Hawaii’s plethora of spa treatments often features native ingredients and practices. At the Kahala Resort & Spa in Honolulu local ingredients include volcanic ash and clay for wraps, lemongrass for cleansing and sea salts for exfoliating and soaking. The relaxing Kala Ko‘iko‘i Lomilomi treatment is a native lomilomi massage using a hand-carved lomilomi stick and warm pohaku, or stones.
According to Stuart Kotake, Kahala’s director for catering and conference services, the spa’s setup is also unique.
“The spa is designed to take you on a journey. You go through a heavily forested area in back of the spa and come into courtyards,” he says. “It’s a departure from the traditional lounge; it’s set up to remove you from the standard experience, to differentiate yourself from what is out there.”
The Anara Spa at the Grand Hyatt Kauai uses the native island red clay from Mount Wai’ale’ale, as well as kukui nut oil and island sea salts for exfoliation in its Hawaiian Salt Glo Scrub. The spa’s Kauai Clay Ritual incorporates a whole menu of local ingredients, starting with a body polish of Hawaiian sea salt, coconut oil, mango and cocoa butters, vanilla bean, and vanilla essential oil. The clay mask itself, a purifying red clay from Kauai, helps remove environmental toxins from the skin and body.
Mud is also a main ingredient at many desert-based spas, such as the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Scottsdale.
“A lot of mineral mud is mined in Arizona, which has magnesium, zinc, iron, and copper, good for healing,” says Wendy Brown, the Arizona Biltmore Spa’s services manager. “It’s a self-heating mud—once you have minerals together it has a popping and sizzling effect. It’s a nice way to re-mineralize the skin. It’s nice to be bundled and swaddled.”
The Biltmore also uses local basalt stones in its Sonoran Stone Massage, which relieves muscle tension and sore joints. Its Dream Catcher Aromatherapy Massage takes inspiration from Native American traditions. A Native American woman from Tucson creates the chakra oils that help balance the body.
Mexico’s spas also take advantage of indigenous culture and native spa ingredients. The Riviera Maya’s Maroma Resort and Spa was built based on Mayan “sacred geometry,” using calculations by Mayan astrologists to make sure every room was in its place for a reason. It also added a temezcal, or sweat lodge, to the spa, an ancient Mayan cleansing ritual.
Maroma’s signature treatment is its Kinan Ritual, which begins with a body exfoliation with honey and salt, followed by a detoxifying wrap made from medicinal herbs cut straight out of the resort’s garden, including chamomile, lemongrass and rosemary.
The wrap is followed by a four-hands massage with two massage therapists.
“A shaman from our region came here to teach our therapists the technique to do the massage,” says Dante Alvarez, Maroma’s spa supervisor.
Maroma also incorporates more than 30 herbs in its Hot Healing Poultice treatment, in which a pouch filled with steaming herbs and essential oils such as ginger and bougainvillea is used on the body to open the pores, release tension and improve circulation.
Also taking advantage of its fertile environs, the Cliff House Resort & Spa on the coast of Maine uses an infusion of mostly locally grown berries in its Maine Blueberry Body Wrap.
“Maine’s blueberries are a great detoxifier and one of the best antioxidants,” says Mary Weisheit, Cliff House spa director.
The wrap also includes seaweed algae, though not from local waters. Its native Juniper Berry Wrap uses a detoxifying juniper body gel that helps relieve pain from rheumatoid arthritis, and also acts as an energy booster. The Cliff House Stone Massage uses local stones from Bald Head Cliff.
“The stones have a special energy in them; energy from the ocean itself,” Weisheit says. “The cliffs are right out our door.”
Indigenous cranberries are a primary ingredient for Evensong Spa in Green Lake, Wis., in its body wraps, manicures and pedicures. In Evensong’s Botanical Body Journey, a cranberry clove body wash is used, along with cranberry lotion, according to Tammy Gillespie, assistant spa director for Evensong.
“The cranberry is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C and ellagic acid, which is good for connective tissue,” Gillespie says.
Evensong is part of the Heidel House Resort, known for its recreation options, including golf. The spa offers the Hole-in-One Golfer’s Massage, designed for pre-game conditioning using a muscle soothing arnica oil on specific muscle groups.
At Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa in the Adirondacks in Upstate New York, the signature Adirondack Maple Sugar Body Scrub makes use of locally mixed maple sugar to rehydrate and re-mineralize the body.
“It’s an incredible mixture of sugar and maple sugar that is really exfoliating. It increases blood circulation, takes off dead skin, and the scent of the scrub is soothing and relaxing,” says Mary Jane Lawrence, spa director at the Spa at the Mirror Lake Inn. “We try to hit other senses using music and candles, creating a sense of well-being. This is a more experiential treatment.”
Location also plays into the spa menu at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort in Braselton, Ga., which has its own vineyards, golf courses and conference center. The Spa at Chateau Elan uses grape seeds in a number of treatments, though they are imported from Napa Valley.
“Crushed grape seed is high in antioxidants. Grape seed oil is high in vitamins C and E and helps moisturize skin,” says Crystal Wright, assistant spa director.
In its signature Chateau Winery Ritual, Cabernet passion fruit grape seed is used as an exfoliating scrub. Other options include a rosehip grape seed mud mask for a facial and the Anti-Oxidant Winery Bath, an anti-aging treatment that rehydrates the body.
As for future spa trends, McNees sees even more emphasis on specialization in treatments.
“A related trend is the customization of spa experiences,” McNees says. “One size no longer fits all as spa-goers desire experiences that are tailored to their personal needs and desires. From booking time instead of a treatment, to selecting the background music, lighting, room temperature, and massage oils, being a spa-goer is not a spectator sport.”
