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REFRESHING RELAXED AND LOW KEY

Lake Austin Spa resort lies in the heart of quintessential Texas Hill Country at the end of a gently winding country road, about 20 miles from downtown Austin. The final few miles mark a farewell to city lights and daily concerns, a passing observed only by white-tailed deer and grazing cattle.

The road rises over a hill, then begins a gentle decline. Suddenly, the green ribbon of Lake Austin can be seen, and as the road veers into the front gates, stark limestone cliffs are revealed on the opposite shoreline, a green mammoth wall of peace and stillness guarding the shores of Lake Austin Spa Resort.

Your first glimpse of Lake Austin Spa Resort may well be the gardens. A bounty of nature, organic fresh herbs, vegetables and aromatic flowers that feed the eye, the body and the soul.

In the cozy bed and breakfast style cottages overlooking the water, each room is kissed with the scent of fresh and uniquely blended potpourri, gathered from the spa gardens

Good nutrition begins in the gardens as well., Organic herbs and vegetables are harvested daily by the spa staff to add distinctive flavors and freshness to satisfying low-fat dishes. Between dining, guests may enjoy soothing massages and exotic spa treatments using essential oils, flowers, seeds, leaves --sharing nature's bounty.

Even moments of retreat are blessed by mood-enhancing aromatherapy mini-gardens spread throughout the spa grounds. In Spring, native Texas wildflowers spread their fragile colors across the surrounding meadows and along our nature trails.

Lake Austin Spa Resort was one of the first spas in the country to shift the focus from rigid diets and 'sweat until you drop" exercising (although they do offer that, too--just try the "cardio-funk" a hip-hop aerobic class taught by two African-American street dancers) to a personal balance of undisturbed relaxation, wholesome food and healthy movement. Those looking for a healthy new lifestyle or a jumpstart on a fitness program have a never-ending selection of health-enhancing activities to choose from. In fact, of all the spas I have visited, Lake Austin Spa resort has the most extensive and most interesting selection of classes that I have seen. I hated to miss them.

But the treatments are so unique and tempting that I tried several.

Imagine being scrubbed by a mango, wrapped in a lagoon or soothed by the sea. All of that happens at Healing Waters, the spa part of the resort. The natural treatments are designed to reduce stress, increase resilience and revitalize your mind and body. It works.

The treatments are based on the ancient healing techniques of aromatherapy, ayurveda, hydrotherapy, moortherapy, and thalassotherapy.

The aromatherapy massage is a unique blend of oils prepared specially for the individual's needs. Native American, Chinese, Greek and Egyptian cultures understood the benefit of pure oils extracted from flowers, vegetables, nuts, wood, leaves and spices. At Lake Austin Spa you can breather deeply and discover how aromatherapy can counteract the impacts of pollution, poor nutrition and daily stress. The full body massage incorporates lymphatic drainage, polarity energy balancing, acupressure and Swedish techniques. A great way to loosen up and relax.

RECOMMENDED TREATMENTS;

BLUE LAGOON: a luxurious blue seaweed mask is applied over the entire body to restore dry and dehydrated skin.The body mask cools the skin all over and the client lies under a heat lamp for the duration of the treatment. This soothes and refreshes, while restoring firm tone. The body mask leaves the skin velvety soft.

TEXAS TWO STEP. You won't find this treatment anywhere else. It combines a natural face lift massage with reflexology. A botanical oil is used to massage the pressure points on the face. Then warm towels are placed on the face. Then the feet are wrapped in warm towels in preparation for reflexology.

LEAN STAR CUISINE. This cookbook of the spa recipes is the perfect souvenir to take home with your commitment to eat and live healthier. And if you can't get to Lake Austin Spa Resort, it is a start to a do-it-yourself regime.

As a "spa-aholic" I must confess that each spa I visit has its most memorable moment. I'll never forget returning to my room with my daughter our first night and joking about the fact that their wouldn't be chocolates on our pillow. Instead we found something much better--stress busters. One night we got a toy yo-yo. Another night it was a Chinese finger puller. These are the unique, unexpected touches that make Lake Austin Spa Resort so special

LAKE AUSTIN SPA RESORT
1705 QUINLAN PARK ROAD, AUSTIN, TEXAS
800-8475637
http://www.lakeaustin.com

reported by: Howard and Madelyn Miller

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