spa palm springs

Rejuvenate, Recover, Renew!

Soak in hot mineral water, enjoy a massage, and face the world with a refreshed spirit.

June Allan Corrigan Current PSL, Health & Wellness

spa palm springs
PHOTOGRAPH BY GETTY IMAGES

Want to hit the reset button? You’re in the right place. The Coachella Valley is known for its many fine spas and bountiful natural hot springs primed to refresh both body and soul. Whatever the desired outcome, your retreat starts here.

In order to detach from a noisy life — even for only a few hours — it’s essential to unplug. The physical and mental health benefits of periodically going screen free are well documented — not the least of which is providing a respite from EMF (electric and magnetic fields) exposure.

It’s something the Sunstone Spa at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Rancho Mirage takes seriously. Reconnecting with the earth — also known as “grounding” or “earthing” — can be very therapeutic, which is why the facility uses conductive materials , which shield EMF radiation.

"Grounding" reduces inflammation and takes stress off the body,” says Daniel Spencer, Sunstone’s spa director. “We have chairs made of a carbon material, grounded carpeting, and all of our treatment tables have a grounding pad.”

Sunstone Spa offers an array of massage therapies and body treatments on grounded tables, including the popular Milk & Honey Retreat. Designed for two, the treatment includes a warm bath, a sugar scrub, and a massage treatment complete with heated stones. “Milk and honey are both hydrating and replenishing, which is important in our desert climate,” Spencer says.

You could say the noise of everyday life recedes to an even greater degree at The Spring Resort & Spa in Desert Hot Springs. There’s no television in sight at this boutique hotel graced by three sparkling mineral pools and several private soaking tubs. A whisper-only policy is also in place.

“We have signs around the building that say ‘Shhh! Quiet only,’” owner Wayne Krygier says.

Studies have shown that whispering triggers a warm, tingling-type sensation that starts from the crown of the head and spreads down throughout the body. This is known as autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR), sometimes referred to as “brain tingles.” The sensation is typically followed by calm and relaxation.

“When conversation is at a low, low volume, everything resets,” Krygier says. “It’s hard to duplicate that in our noisy day-to-day lives.”

massage

If attaining peace and calm is paramount, the Find Your Zen Ritual at Spa La Quinta at La Quinta Resort & Club should help matters along. It’s one of several body renewal therapy treatments offered. At Spa La Quinta, the Signature Massage is noteworthy as well because it begins with a grounding ritual and aims to restore balance within the body’s energy system.

Spa La Quinta recently outfitted 29 treatment rooms and two couples' suites with new Oakworks Britta treatment tables that therapists can discretely adjust to an individual client’s comfort level, says Christina Cabrera, director of spa and fitness. They work especially well for clients with breast sensitivity due to augmentation, mastectomy, or post-surgical tenderness. They also feature a pillow with an open space to avoid all pressure on the eyes and sinus cavities.

Of course, if time or possibly funds for extensive spa treatments are in short supply, “taking the waters” never fails to renew. People have been harnessing the healing power of the hot mineral springs for thousands of years. Fortunately, in the desert, the experience is near.

Miracle Springs Resort & Spa in Desert Hot Springs offers day passes. Here, education is part of their mission. “We have a board that identifies the mineral content of the waters,” says owner Michael Bickford. “We like to point out the characteristics of the water so that everyone understands the healing properties. Relief from arthritis, back pain, and varying ailments are all real possibilities — but so is a simple restoration of outlook and spirit.”

There are bubbling bodies of water and mountain views visible from wherever you stand on the pool deck at Miracle Springs Resort & Spa.

“The aesthetics of the water, the blue sky, the mountains, the sun and the palm trees — those are all the main ingredients for a rejuvenating experience,” Bickford beams.

So, go ahead. Make the desert your reboot destination. You wouldn’t be the first and you certainly won’t be the last because the possibilities are endless.

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