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Truly, Madly, Deeply Relaxed: Stillwater SpaCopyright © 2007-2008 Travel Alberta, All Rights ReservedWritten by: Travel Alberta Spa vacations can last an hour or a week. Within an hour, it's the attention to details at Stillwater that lets the cumulative weight of the work week in my shoulders begin to drift, as water and hands gentle my back. And the relentlessly reassuring sound of the Vichy water, sprayed from the nozzles above, shoos my tangled worries away as if they were tumbleweeds. If only I'd known that to be brushed, rubbed with Brazilian sea salts, slathered in mud, tucked in a cocoon, scrubbed with a Canadian Maple concoction and scalp massaged until my head tingled would result in my new, enlightened understanding of the word 'serenity'. I would have tried it sooner, rather than rushing afterwards to schedule these treatments at Stillwater (at the Hyatt Regency Calgary) as a gift for my wife. I mean, every guy likes to score some points, and this is a sure-fire winner. But that's the only rushing that arose from my spa vacation (over the course of a morning) spent at Stillwater Spa. I live in Calgary, but for business and leisure travellers, this oasis of calm should be a welcome respite from the hurly burly of getting things done daily – whether you're passing through the city toward a Canadian Rocky Mountains holiday or preparing for a summer event like the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede (July 7-16 this year). Alberta's international gateway cities of Calgary (gateway to the Canadian Rocky Mountains) and Edmonton (gateway to the North) are each home to world class urban spas that provide swift access to unruffled peace. Here's a look at some urban spa options when you're visiting Calgary or Edmonton. Please check website resources at the bottom of this story for pricing. Treatments Spotlight: Stillwater (Hyatt Regency Calgary) Cool water garnished with a thin wedge of grapefruit; the fluffy white robe and blue massaging sandals; the treatment room, with its inspired and peaceful bowl arrangement, set out and then rolled up in a bamboo mat. All set the tone for a superb spa experience beneath dimmed lights. I started the morning at the Hyatt with a signature breakfast dish, a new addition to the Hyatt hotel menus that provides selections which reflect regional tastes and traditions. It gives you a way into local flavours that you might not find otherwise. And you'll find that there are regional slants in the spa treatments as well. Stillwater Assistant Spa Director Jennifer Cooke designed the Canadian Maple Body Scrub, a regional specialty. Stillwater is the spa brand for the Hyatt and you'll find each location has certain signatures, including scents. Jennifer began my spa vacation with a full body loofah exfoliation. A combination of Brazilian (okay, not Canadian) sea salts, essential oils and fragrances is enhanced with the Canadian Maple scrub, which carries a fairly light scent that echoes Canadian Maple syrup (though this scent is more likely to transport you to sweet memories of the forest, rather than the breakfast table). Once you're thoroughly exfoliated, you can enjoy the therapeutic Vichy shower aimed at each and every tender area, including those sometimes achy, precise points on your back and legs. Urban Renewal Body Masque Another treatment that works well for the urban traveller is the Urban Renewal Body Masque. This one is designed to detoxify and hydrate the city dweller's skin, and given Calgary's dry winds, it's a good one. You can customize your mud with a variety of blends. I chose Green Tea and Lime Leaf, which had a slightly invigorating scent, though there are citruses and floral options available, among others. The treatment began with me lying on my stomach, while Jennifer applied a full body dry brush application. This step prepares the skin for the Baltic Black mud, by removing old and dry skin cells, so that the skin can absorb the mud's benefits. Organic colloidal improves skin texture and the mixture enhances cell turnover, while deeply hydrating. Once it was applied, I was comforted by the warmth of an electric blanket. And while the mud worked its magic, I enjoyed a relaxing face and scalp massage. The scalp treatment is rich in alpha hydroxyl acids and a stimulating assortment of mint essential oils. It was during this 20 minute period that I was truly, deeply, madly relaxed. Next, I was released from the cocoon (not that I wanted to be) and enjoyed a warm shower to rid myself of the mud during this morning spa vacation. At the end, I was lathered in deep moisture with the same scent (Green Tea and Lime Leaf) that I chose when I customized the mud. During these treatments (usually 60 minutes each), there is a gentle layering and un-layering of towels, like a magician's trick. It's almost as if your body is being lightly shuffled in a deck of cards. Pure magic, easily accessed. And if you want, you can choose from in-house products (I purchased the Green Tea and Lime Leaf Body Butter – okay, not very manly, but I wanted to relive the experience) and the mint revitalizer conditioner for my too-full-of-things-to-do skull. Other Urban Spa Choices At Ripley Ridge Retreat in Calgary, you can actually take a tour of the wild flowers that grow at the nestled-in-the-forest facility and choose items that will go into a personalized treatment, such as the Wild Rose that is indigenous to Alberta. At Institute de Santé, which combines medicine and wellness with spa experiences, there is a Wild Rose Body Wrap and Rose Seed Scrub treatment that I've thoroughly enjoyed. At RNR Wellness in Calgary, men will find a great menu of treatments designed specifically for guys, aside from the menu for women and couples. And at Eveline Charles (in both Edmonton and Calgary), skin balms such as Calming Orange can help you relieve tension and soothe your skin. About The Author:
*** Digital Reprint Rights *** *** Author Notification *** We ask that you notify the author of publication of his or her work. Travel Alberta can be reached at: travelalberta@raremethod.com *** Print Publication Reprint Rights *** If you desire to publish this article in a PRINT publication, you must contact the author directly for Print Permission at: travelalberta@raremethod.com
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