Arizona’s Spa Trends

From classic treatments like massage and facials to imaginative offerings inspired by Native American traditions, you’ll find endless spa options in Arizona.

By Edie Jarolim

What do you get when you mix ancient Native American traditions, energy centers nestled among red rock spires and years of experience soothing sun-zapped skin? A state at the forefront of the spa world.

Arizona caters to bliss seekers with world-class destination spas, grand resort pamper palaces and top-rate freestanding centers for relieving stress. To get a bead on the latest trends, we’ve checked in with a few of them.

Aji
Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort, Chandler
Steeped in the lore of the Maricopa and Pima peoples, on whose land the spa resides, Aji (“sanctuary” in the Pima language) emphasizes its Native American heritage in such signature treatments as the Blue Coyote Wrap, which includes an application of Azulene mud and a telling of the ancient legend of why the coyote is not blue.

But, according to spa director Kristi Kjar, the latest news is from overseas. On December 15, Aji is debuting – and, for three months, garnering exclusive U.S. rights to – a line of vinotherapy treatments, incorporating stems and skins from Italy’s Tauleto winery into such products as grapeseed body scrub, bath gel and essential oils.

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa
Biltmore Fashion Square, Phoenix; Westin La Paloma, Tucson; Wigwam Resort, Litchfield Park
The doyenne of beauty centers – the first one opened on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue in 1910 – Elizabeth Arden has changed with the times, but still tends to focus on traditional favorites. Gabriel Anderson, the sales and marketing manager of the spa at the Westin La Paloma Resort, says, “There’s a great brand loyalty. People love to come in to the different locations, knowing how dependable the services will be.”

Dependable – and dependably indulgent. Recently introduced, the Ultimate Arden Facial adds a warm stone upper body massage, hand softening, eye-contouring and makeup application – to name just a few details – to its basic exfoliation, cleansing and toning with premium Arden products.

Hashani
J.W. Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, Tucson
You might expect to find moisturizing treatments like the Sonoran Desert Quench Wrap at Hashani, which means “saguaro cactus” in the language of the local Tohono O’odham people. But, says manager Marissa Sokolowski, Hashani also aims to surprise the spa savvy, those seeking something completely different. To that end, recent additions to the massage menu include such Far Eastern imports as Cupping, applying suction cups to the body to drain toxic fluids and stimulate the flow of chi; and Ashiastu, a foot massage with a twist: a therapist grasping bars attached to the ceiling kneads the client’s back with his or her feet.

Mii amo, A Destination Spa
Enchantment Resort, Sedona
Voted the world’s number-one destination spa by the readers of Travel+Leisure magazine in 2007, Mii amo draws guests who, according to general manager Annika Jackson, “are looking to become more of who they are, to find a better way to live their lives.” A setting amidst the red rocks of Boynton Canyon, sacred to Native Americans and believed by many to host a powerful vortex (energy center), helped inspire such “Connect with Spirit” services as Harmony, where a variety of healing techniques are customized to each guest to realign the body and clear its energy pathways. The recently introduced Inner Quest, which pays homage to Native American rituals, incorporates sacred plants and a Circle of Life blanket that re-creates the warmth of a sweat lodge.

(Updated by the Arizona Office of Tourism - 2009)

Going?

Aji, Sheraton Wild Horse Pass
Phone: (888) 625-5144; Spa: (602) 385-5759
www.wildhorsepassresort.com

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas
Phone: (866) RED-DOOR
www.reddoorspas.com

Hashani, J.W. Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa
Phone: (888) 236-2427; Spa: (520) 791-6117
www.hashanispa.com

Mii amo, a Destination Spa at Enchantment
Phone: (888) 749-2137; Spa: (928) 203-8500
www.miiamo.com