|
|
 |
Escape from LA!(or NY, Chicago...)
(Without REALLY Leaving Town!)
From Home Havens, to Spa Sanctuaries, how to find peace in the midst of chaos
In this day of terrorist attacks and threats of war, we are all feeling the pressures of modern life more acutely. There appears to be no escape route, since the media has had a field day at reporting every nuance of the world's changing climate. It seems as though everyone's life changed after 9/11. Now it is even more crucial for the mind/body/spirit to retreat and recharge at any sign of stress. In fact, new places are sprouting up in every city and town that speaks to the world-weary soul to take a break from the modern ravages of everyday living. It is rare to find a day without gridlock, rush hour traffic at midday or even on the weekends. Gone are those lazy Sunday afternoons with nothing to do but hang out. The term 24/7 became a buzzword with the advent of the Internet. Life is rushing by at warp speed and most baby boomers are caught in a time warp that they cannot understand. Young kids are 7-figure CEO's while many boomers are over the hill and cannot find a decent job for a decent pay.
Everyone, it seems is looking to ESCAPE! Some watch TV, or go to the gym, others play golf, or sports in nature. Many are seeking peace and tranquility from within, from yoga to meditation or prayer at a sanctuary. However, a popular respite is a day at the spa or a weekend retreat at a local resort.
This series of "ESCAPE from….!" Will enable the locals or visitors to find the "inside scoop" on the hidden treasures of their city. From spas, resorts, retreats, or perhaps just sacred sites and soulful places, this is the ultimate book. It may reveal some surprising secrets that only "insiders' are aware, as well as "How To Create Your Own Haven At Home." With simple tips and ideas that are key elements in spas and resorts, how to create the feeling of peace and tranquility at home or right in your own backyard!
Givenchy Spa, "Haute Couture" Oasis in Palm Springs
Work is slow. War is imminent. Weather report: Heavy rains, flooding at times. What to do? Tried to book a day spa on the weekend and they were filled. Guess I'm not the only one feeling the pressures of this chaotic time we are experiencing. Monday rolls around and still no relief in sight. Now is the perfect time to escape from the city!
So, where do you find a retreat, a sanctuary from all the stress, and NOT have to deal with the airport? In LA, as in most cities, the airport is so appalling; it's easier to just stay home. But this time I decided to find a place that was within driving distance, yet felt as if I was really "away from it all". A luxury, pampering spa in Palm Springs is the ideal escape!
I was apprehensive about driving in inclement weather, but forged ahead, knowing that my soul would be replenished and my body revived. It was a dreary, gray day in LA as I headed onto the freeway, with luminous silver clouds hovering overhead. Instead of being fearful, I felt exhilarated, as I anticipated my arrival at the most luxurious spa in the desert. Named after the haute couture designer "Givenchy", I had always dreamed of visiting this resort. It is the closest thing to a French Riviera spa in the US, and more authentic than any ersatz Vegas imitation.
When I arrived at the deluxe property, I was immediately struck by how "white" and grand the exterior felt with royal columns contrasting the rich verdant formal gardens. The lobby was tastefully appointed and tranquil, without the supercilious display of "busi-ness", having chosen a small intimate private check in. The lobby-bar-library was filled with two stories of old bound books.
I immediately checked out my room, which was spacious, overlooking the main garden, and rushed over to visit the spa. This is definitely the "piece de la resistance"! The main entry was the first indication that this was definitely the right choice. It was grand, in all the right ways, without any pomp and circumstance. Sumptuous, yet simply furnished with peaceful warm hues of unpolished stone floors and soft upholstered sofas to melt away. All of my senses were engaged, from the scents of aromatherapy filling the air, to the sounds of a peaceful French garden style fountain reverberating off the stone and high, sky-lit interior. Lots of natural light and soft whispers.
As I entered into the private women's quarters, I was immediately struck by how peaceful and tranquil the energy felt. I had found my retreat. Unlike any other spa I had visited, this one was much grander, especially because it had huge private bathrooms in the ladies lounge. Not the typical stalls, or conventional toilettes. Some had a private shower as well. For those who felt uncomfortable prancing around, it was a safe place to be exposed.
The most impressive spot for me is the indoor heated pool, in a grand scale room with huge French doors opening onto a private sundeck. My personal favorite is to swim in the nude, and if you don't have your own lap pool or feel awkward in nudist colony, this is the best surprise. This is not a small plunge pool; this was ample sized-perhaps 45 feet! Since I am a lap swimmer, I could do it on the diagonal and with enough laps, almost a mile, especially since the spa was deserted. This was the best part of it all, I had the whole place to myself for a while, with some other guests coming and going between appointments. I found out that locals don't go out much in the rain, here in Palm Springs. I guess they use it as an excuse, since the weather here is usually perfect until the hot season.
A 3/4 wall separated the men from the women in the spa/pool area. The men had the identical set-up with warm Jacuzzi and steam, showers etc. The only problem is that you could hear sounds from the other side of the wall. It is quiet, but there is this one guy who is whistling. It is so peaceful that it really didn't bother me, until I started focusing on his whistling. You know how that happens; you finally find peace after chaos and just begin to settle in, until something distracts you. Well this is my time to utilize my meditation skills. Yet, all I could do was hear his medley of show tunes from Camelot to Don Quixote, and then he started in on "It Had to Be YOU" and a Sinatra signature song "I Did it My Way". By this time I am ready to go into the wet steam and it was all I could do to keep my composure.
When I return, there is complete silence again, with the sound of the bubbling Jacuzzi spa and the ultimate experience of total relaxation. This was the moment I was dreaming of, to have peace and serenity, and be away from the city. The rain is trickling through the clouds and I am totally content to lie indoors, around the lavish pool and run in and out of the steam, sauna, showers and spa.
The piece de la resistance is my "Watsu" water treatment. It is a very gentle "water dance" performed by a trained technician who sweeps me across the pool in gentle gliding movements. I totally surrender, with "eyes wide shut", to this magical experience of floating across the surface of the water, like a Zen Parable, doing without doing and it all got done. I would prefer not to describe the details of this unique spa water treatment, which is executed in the warm water pool. Suffice it to say that it feels like a newborn baby, released into the warm water and totally protected, taken care of by this amazing practitioner who allowed me to just let go. It is truly a must for anyone who wants to relax and yet release tension in a safe and nurturing environment. In addition to a great facial or a body treatment, this is the best treatment I have experienced in years.
After the treatment, the only thing left is to bundle up in the lush terry robe and relax again. Back to my luscious hotel suite, I immediately order room service and decided to stay in for the evening and read one of the yellowed, old leather-bound classics from the library/bar. It is truly a day of opulence and tranquility. I am sheltered from the storm and watch the rain watering the amazing rose garden and formal French floral designs outside my wall of windows.
The Givenchy Spa is truly a Haute Couture Oasis in the desert. It is the only spa featuring Givenchy skincare products, and private makeup salon (they even have the perfumed-scented bath foam, cream and shampoo in the room!) Without having to take a plane, you are transported to the Riviera for a pampering respite from the chaos of everyday life.
Contact Givenchy Resort and Spa (800) 511.1925
|
|
|
