It seems that today’s hottest trends in relaxation are, well, hot. Heat treatments ranging from baths to warm mud and hot stones have long been praised as the cure-all for several ailments. Feast your eyes on our four spa picks for experiencing the ultimate heat-seeking mission.
Hotel Hana-Maui and Honua Spa
On the map: Hana, HI
Ah Spa…. Retreat from the tourist hordes and experience Hawaii in its natural state — craggy sea cliffs, brilliant green fern forests, vibrant shades of tropical blooms and the dormant Haleakala volcano looming in the background—in the town of Hana on Maui. Experience a traditional pohaku massage (here called the Ali’i Hot Stone), in which a masseuse kneads your stiff muscles with heated lava stones and native ti leaf to heal, rejuvenate and balance your mind, body and senses ($140 for an hour).
On the map: Santa Fe, NM
Ah Spa… Soak your tension away in this high-desert Japanese adobe. Take your pick from communal, women-only or private outdoor tubs, some of which offer inspiring views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains ($15 day pass for communal or women-only bathing).
On the map: Indian Wells, CA
Ah Spa… Adding an artistic twist to warm mud therapy The Well Spa offers guests a Pittura Festa per Due (Italian for painting party for two). Armed with brushes and a palette of mud ranging in color from coral to yellow and brown, you and your partner paint each other’s bodies (paper suits optional). Then, you’ll lie outside in a shaded cabana, letting the smooth, earthy coats of paint bake into brittle shells. An aesthetician will escort you both to a cool open-air shower for a rinse, followed by a relaxing application of soothing lotion ($100 per person for 45 minutes).
The LakeHouse Spa at Lake Austin Spa Resort
On the map: Austin, Texas
Ah Spa…This intimate Lone Star destination spa offers a wide spectrum of services inspired by East Asian healing therapies, including acupuncture and moxibustion. Therapists at the LakeHouse Spa use no needles for this treatment; instead, they apply a loosely wound cone of moxa (mugwort) wool — known as tajii moxa — directly onto the skin, light the top and snuff it out just before it reaches the flesh, producing herbal smoke and a warm tingling ($135 for 50 minutes).
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