Who says you have to travel to the coasts to have a girlfriends’ spa getaway that is right on trend?  Wisconsin spas are serving up treatments that draw on local ingredients, will have you sleeping better, immerse you in the European tradition of “taking the waters,” are eco-friendly, and combine ancient healing with modern wellness.  With so many spas to choose from, narrowing the choices to the “Top Five New Spa Treatments” was, frankly, a bit stress-inducing.  Good thing all these services have de-stressing as the common denominator.  Which, of course, is what makes them especially getaway-worthy.

Indigenous Ingredients:
Aspira Spa at the Osthoff Resort
Elkhart Lake

If you’re looking for an authentic spa experience that pays homage to the land, then Aspira Spa is the place.  The menu of services here was inspired by the lake on which the resort and spa resides, considered sacred by the Native Americans that once inhabited its shores, and the surrounding farmlands, fields and forests. The new Elderberry Facial uses the pretty purple fruit, known to grow wild in the area, from start to finish. Moist towels used to steam the face are infused with elderberry tea.  The exfoliating cream is blended with ground dried elderberries as is the masque.  The final application of moisturizer even includes an infusion of elderberry flower extract.  Other indigenous spa offerings include their Cedars Massage, using fresh cedar boughs harvested from ancient cedars along the shoreline, and the Sacred Waters Massage, using water from the lake warmed in doe-skin pouches.

Sweet Dreams:
Sundara Inn & Spa
Wisconsin Dells

According to the National Sleep Foundation, American women are overworked, stressed out and sleep deprived. Destination spa Sundara made sleep health a focus from the moment it opened in 2003, starting with its quiet setting in a fragrant pine forest, its abundance of silent sports, its calming suites with king featherbeds, and now with its Dream Facial. The facial, which uses all organic products, includes massage of the neck, jaw line, face and forehead to induce relaxation while you rest on a downy featherbed.  When the service concludes, the therapist slips out of the room leaving you time to sleep, rest or meditate. The gentle sound of tingsha bells awakens you. Another absolutely relaxing and mesmerizing experience is to swim in the outdoor infinity pool here which is heated year-round, especially when there’s steam billowing off the surface in the cold weather months.

Indoor Rainfall:
Kohler Waters Spa
Kohler

The Kohler Co. has been in the water experience business for more than 135 years, with its Kohler Waters Spa celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.The spa went all out for the anniversary, with renovated treatment rooms and new services providing a contemporary take on the age-old European practice of “taking the waters” at a natural spring or temple. The Lavender Rain treatment is the most popular of the new offerings.It features a lavender and eucalyptus exfoliation to increase circulation, followed by a warm Vichy shower (think of this as your own personal waterfall), followed by a lavender-infused wrap and full-body massage. Another new service that sounds wonderful – the Acoustic Bath which brings music, sound vibration and hydro-massage together in one treatment.

Eco-Conscious Wellness:
Enso Wellness Center & Spa at Pinehurst Inn
Bayfield

The B&B where Enso Spa is located – Pinehurst Inn - is considered one of the most eco-friendly in the country. That same green philosophy spills over into the spa, which opened just last year. Enjoy the dry sauna before and after your service, and bask in the serene natural beauty that defines this northern tip of the state. While it may be too chilly to take a stroll along Lake Superior, Enso’s Sand and Sea Foot Therapy is as relaxing as a walk on the beach. The service includes a sea salt exfoliation, invigorating peel to soften the skin, hydrating milk bath and cooling gel to bring instant relief to aching feet. A great treat after a day of holiday shopping.

Blending Ancient Healing with Modern Wellness:
Lotus Spa
Eau Claire

There are people who travel to India, Thailand, China and other faraway lands to experience ancient spa modalities. Stay put in Wisconsin and try Lotus Spa’s new Thai Fusion service. This holistic therapy combines muscle massage with assisted yoga stretches, encouraging complete relaxation while leaving you totally energized. You’ll wear comfortable clothes for this service. Be sure to make time to relax in their lounge with its distinctive wave chairs. Another trend that shows no signs of slowing is also evident at Lotus Spa and that’s the integration of medi-spa with traditional spa.

This entry was posted in Things to Do, Spas, Entertainment and Attractions and tagged Features and Profiles