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Relaxation and Adventure at Red Mountain SpaBy Valerie SummersSituated in one of the country’s most extraordinarily beautiful areas, Red Mountain Spa is set amidst the lava beds and towering red sandstone cliffs of southern Utah. It offers those who would temporarily escape the frantic city pace an opportunity to bask in the serenity of the environment, immerse in an active outdoor multi-level adventure, be pampered with an unending list of special services and/or learn about spa cooking and alternative healing.
Back at the spa, fitness classes continued throughout the day. Choices included: spinning, back to abs, strength circuit, aqua box, pilates and the New York City Ballet workout. On the relaxing side, we enjoyed a variety of yoga and stretching classes.
After an active day and a good meal, we enjoyed evening programs featuring lectures on a variety of topics. During my stay, iridology, acupuncture, introduction to meditation, visualization techniques and a star party were scheduled. Unfamiliar with iridology, the art of evaluating the systems, organs and tissues of the body through examination of the iris, quite a few guests, including me, found the subject so interesting that we signed up for private sessions offered by Ian Anis. Several of us agreed that the evaluation and recommendations for improving health were well worth the visit. Couples who checked in with Ian gathered additional insight into one another. Taste is another important aspect of Red Mountain where flavorsome, healthy spa cuisine was expertly prepared. Each morning we helped ourselves to an assortment of breakfast foods from the hot table. Next to each dome-covered dish, a sign designated the food value, caloric content and appropriate serving size. Lunch followed the same setup but with the added salad bar with choices of low calorie dressings. We served ourselves salads and soup at dinnertime, but orders were taken for entrees, accompanying vegetable dishes, dessert and beverage and served by the staff. Wine and beer were available for those wishing to compliment the healthy gourmet cuisine. Several of us, wishing to take part of the spa experience home, opted to participate in cooking classes led by the executive chef, who, with his dynamic personality, should be destined for a healthy TV cooking show. A variety of massages, wraps and pedicures were available from basic to luxurious. Nothing could be more relaxing after a day of activity than a before bedtime spa treatment. I loved the Red Mountain Revitalizer which gave me a sense of renewal literally from head to toe and included hair treatment, body exfoliation, facial cleansing and all-over massage. The Canyon Stone Facial, using Hungarian organic skin care products, expertly applied, actually left my skin clean, soft and glowing. From the top down to the bottom, the ultra deluxe 80 minute Honey Avocado Pedicure felt like a facial for the feet. After our activity-packed days, we all looked forward to returning to our rooms for a good night’s sleep. Red Mountain spa’s accommodations feature both cozy hotel-style rooms with private bath or luxurious, spacious new villas. The latter includes a large living room and bedrooms enhanced by fireplaces, kitchen facilities and huge bathrooms featuring Jacuzzi tubs, separate shower and double sinks. Few spas offer the variety of adventure, treatments and classes included at Red Mountain. Surrounded by the intense colors of the red cliffs, black volcanic lava, green trees and azure sky, I departed with a renewed sense of vitality. For information:Red Mountain Spa Images by Valerie Summers |
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Feeling the need for a
well earned respite, I booked myself into the Red Mountain Spa for some
R&R. While there, I encountered an eclectic group of fellow spa enthusiasts
from all over North America. Among them, as expected, were a number of solo
women, several family/friend combos, and a few couples including
honeymooners who commented “We could not have chosen a better place to begin
our married life.” An 80-something year old couple, after renewing their
wedding vows following 60 years of marriage was spending their second
honeymoon at Red Mountain. They chose to begin this part of their lives
together in an optimal mode for continued good health.
With
an enormous variety of healthy, relaxing and invigorating options, many
guests choose to begin their day with a guided hike. The core of Red
Mountain’s outdoor activities is its hiking program with three levels of
hiking choices offered for all abilities. Each day the hikes took us
to different locales, some of the most beautiful in the wilderness of Snow
Canyon State Park adjacent to the spa property. A wishing pyramid of
rocks placed by spa guests overlooked Paradise Ridge leading from Paradise
Canyon. Along the trail, an outcropping nicknamed the Kodak Rock, featured a
giant hole where hikers perched for perfect picture taking
opportunities. Climbing the undulating surface of the red Petrified Sand
Dunes provided other unusual and stunning settings for adventurous outings. An advanced hike along
the Green Valley Barrel Cactus Trail displayed fantastic rock formations,
hidden caves, unique, indigenous barrel cactus and views of outlying areas
from the top of the trail. 
Horseback
riding, golf, bicycle riding, and hiking and rock climbing in nearby Zion
National Park took us outside of the spa grounds. On one of the horseback
riding trails I, along with several other guests, traversed the Anasazi
Ridge overlooking monolithic Red Mountain and on the other side, the Santa
Clara River meandering through the canyon below. We temporarily abandoned
our mounts to cautiously climb along gravel covered paths winding among
gigantic multi colored sandstone/limestone boulders to view ancient
petroglyphs.