Elemis Spa at the Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables, Florida
Julie Register visited this day spa in Florida in March 2003

In December, my son and I enjoyed the Elemis Spa at Mohegan Sun in Southeast Connecticut. Three months later, I am in Miami and discover that a new 7,000 square-foot Elemis Spa has just opened in an upscale shopping mall called the Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables. I am curious to see what the day spa, the first in the US, is like and waste no time getting an appointment. 

The large, bright, airy spa entry has retail displays, seating areas and the spa reception desk. The mable floor and stone walls and dark wood displays give the area a solid, grounded feeling.

The orchids and small oriental occasional table just hint at what's behind the large stone wall. As I enter the inner spa, I pass through a small foyer with a table holding a statue of Buddha, an orchid and candles. The light is lower. I have begun my journey and started the decompression process. In the women's locker room, I exchange my clothes for a robe and slippers.

I walk into the hall where the lights are low and hear the tranquil sound of flowing water. A large wall fountain is the source. I cross the space and enter the Calming Lounge. I am struck by the decor -  beautiful fabrics on plump pillows and throws, an Indian tapestry hanging on the wall, statuary. The lights are low and the room is comfortably warm (unlike the over-air conditioned spaces of the many spas in the Miami area). A bar along one wall offers teas, water and fruit. I settle into one of the comfortable chairs, complete the lifestyle consultation form and relax.

Jeannette, my therapist, soon comes to collect me and leads me to Ruby Heaven, a treatment room with walls washed in a rich, warm, deep red color and ceiling draped with a gossamer ruby-colored fabric. A colorfully patterned cover brightens the massage table, a carved wood mirror and handmade Thai silk wall hanging add interest to the walls, burning candles glow on the shelves. The other eight treatment rooms, with names such as The Scarlet and Crimson Retreat, The Earth Retreat, Rustic Retreat, Golden Retreat, Violet Retreat, Opal Retreat and Lavender Retreat include massage and facial rooms, a couples room, a Thai massage room and Purple Heaven Suite with dry-float bed and shower and are all equally interesting.

Elemis designed them to subconsciously stimulate all the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste and perception) with a blend of exotic cultures, colors and textures from around the world, including tapestries from India, Turkey and Thailand, Indian Saree silks, lanterns from Turkey and other touches from Bali, Tibet, Polynesia, Japan, Morocco and Thailand.

Jeannette begins my Well-Being Massage the way each Spa-Therapy at Elemis Spa begins - with the Welcome Touch, a gentle cleansing of the feet to help release tension. She dry brushes my skin to stimulate the lymphatic system. I am given the choice of massage oils - Stress-a-Way to soothe and relax, Spirit Reviver to uplift and detoxify, Muscle Melt to ease away aches and pains or Chakra Balancing to help rebalance mind, body and spirit. I choose Chakra Balancing. I like the aroma of Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Geranium, Palmarosa, Vetivert and Ylang Ylang. Jeanette proceeds to give me a truly fabulous massage. She visits pressure points on the legs. She uses a cream that gives a simultaneous sensation of hot and cold on the shoulders. The 60 minutes pass all too quickly. Jeannette begins The Awareness Journey to gently lead me into the present and rings the Asian chimes to signal the end of the session. I take a deep, slow breath and nudge my mind back into consciousness. I slowly get up, put my robe on and return to the Calming Lounge where I stay, enjoying the relaxed sensation, for quite a while.

I enjoyed my visit to Elemis Spa so much, I returned a few days later to try their Thai Massage, one of my favorite massages that I had not had for over a year. Thai Massage is an ancient art of healing the body that uses passive stretching and gentle pressure techniques along passages called "meridians" to unblock latent energy and re-balance the system. Thai massage also helps to adjust the skeletal structure, increase flexibility, relieve muscular and joint tension and stimulate the functioning of internal organs. Unlike most massages, you are fully clothed, so it is important to wear light, comfortable clothing. Danielle provided me with 90 minutes of this great massage - beginning, of course with the Welcome Touch and ending with The Awareness Journey and Asian Chimes. This massage is has limited availability, so if you are interested in having it, I suggest you schedule well in advance.

Elemis Spa offers treatments with touches from ten exotic cultures including Thai Massae, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, Chinese Tui-Na, Indian Ayurvedic, Japanese Shiatsu, Reflexology, Reiki, Middle Eastern, Swedish Massage and Balinese Massage. Treatments on the spa menu include facials (Japanese Silk Booster with Pro-Collagen, Vit-C or Oxygen, Aromapure, La Therapie), massage (Well-Being, Deep Tissue, Aroma Stone, Thai, Hawaiian Wave Four Hand, Mother-To-Be), and body treatments (Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow, Total Glow Self Tanning, Ionithermie Algae-Detox, Fennel Cleansing Cellulite and Colon Therapy, Exotic Coconut Rub and Milk Ritual Wrap or Float, Exotic Frangipani Body Nourish Wrap or Float). Elemis Spa also offers a four-week detox and wellness program.

In addition to the treatment rooms, Elemis offers a salon with a complete range of hair and nail services. Their are six pedi-spas and the manicure and pedicure areas have the same decor elements as the spa. Last but not least, Elemis Spa offer a Kid's Playspa, a childcare service available at specific times, supervised by a licensed counselor and free for the duration of the time of mom's or dad's service. 

I also picked up more skin care products for my son, who began using them after a facial at Elemis in Mohegan Sun.

Elemis Spas are located in Coral Gables, The Aladdin in Las Vegas, The Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, and in the UK.