Prepare To Be Pampered at Asheville’s Many Soothing Spas
ashevill spa, health care, healthcare, jen charlton, sensibilities day spa, spa theology,
Jen Charlton recalls a moment that sums up what her Sensibilities Day Spa is all about.
“A client of ours who suffers from fibromyalgia came up to me after a massage one day and said, ‘You know, your staff people here are not just aestheticians – they’re healers, too.’
You can’t imagine how great that made me feel.”
Her day spa, which has two locations in Asheville, was on the cutting edge of the health-and-beauty business when it opened eight years ago.
Now Asheville boasts a number of upscale establishments that cater to clients looking for more than a manicure, pedicure or eyebrow wax. Today’s customers are in search of holistic pampering that relieves stress and improves overall health.
“People are realizing that you have to take care of yourself,” says Charlton, a former massage therapist. “Baby boomers, especially, want to stay healthy and looking good, and they realize that natural means of prevention are better than focusing on treatment.”
Her day spas offer a broad array of services, from deep-tissue massages and seaweed wraps to facials that employ organic Hungarian paprika and cooling herbs, all delivered in a soothing environment specifically designed to de-stress and relax.
At Spa Theology, clients don robes and slippers, sip a cup of tea or enjoy a bit of fruit in luxurious surroundings before undergoing such exotic treatments as a Sunflower Salt Glow, Pom Fruit Fetish body treatment or River Rock Massage.
“We’re more than just a day spa – we’re a destination,” says co-owner Ilana Craig. “Think of us as an escape from everyday, a sophisticated contemporary, plush venue for healing.”
The Spa Theology name, she explains, is meant to signify “peace and healing, finding one’s own divinity through relaxation and finding health through the study of one’s own spirituality.”
A long, long way from your mom’s beauty parlor or your dad’s gym, today’s spas emphasize the mind-body connection. Massage, for example, is not only relaxing but also lowers blood pressure, increases circulation and helps release endorphins that enhance emotional well-being.
At Shoji Retreat, massage is part of a unique approach to good health. The Japanese-style retreat offers guests relaxing soaks in hot tubs tucked inside Japanese teahouses with sweeping mountain and forest views. Customers can follow up their tub time with a massage, a sauna or a “contrast therapy” session of alternating hot and cold experiences.
“It’s good for your immune system, your circulation and your skin,” says Shoji administrative coordinator Erin Scholze. “People can spend anywhere from an hour to four or five hours here, depending on what services they want.”
Particularly popular, she says, is Shoji’s organic Herbal Body Wrap, in which an all-organic poultice of sea vegetables and geranium is applied to the skin during a massage, then the body is wrapped for 20 minutes while a massage therapist works on the client’s scalp and feet.
The luxurious Spa at Biltmore Village offers aromatic foot soaks, warm neck wraps, hot towels, complimentary beverages, and robes and slippers to guests who enjoy nail-care services and facials in addition to body treatments, energy therapies and massage therapy.
Among its special packages are the Night on the Town, which includes a Complexion Perfection Facial, Signature Biltmore Manicure, Endless Energy Pedicure, Lip Blooming Treatment, glitter to take home and a glass of champagne.
Now that’s bound to make you feel better!
Story by Laura Hill
Photo by Ian Curcio
