Some Like It Hot

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).

Ten Thousand Waves

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).

The Well Spa at Miramonte

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).

Tags: Ah Spa., Alternative medicine, Austin, Bathing, Destination spa, Haleakala volcano, Hana, Hawaii, Health, Honua Spa, Hospitality/Recreation, HOTEL HANA-MAUI, LakeHouse Spa, Massage, masseuse, Maui County Hawaii, Medicine, Moxibustion, Natural Disaster, paint, paint bake, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe, Skin care, Spa, Texas, The Well Spa, Thermal bath, Traditional Chinese medicine, USD