Skaná, The Spa at Turning Stone unveils
Authentic American Indian Sweat Lodge
Skaná
Spa’s Sweat Lodge Ceremony Features Traditional Storytelling, Drumming, Chants
and Prayers That Have Been Used For Centuries as a Way of Spiritually Cleansing
Body and Soul
VERONA, NY (August
1, 2007)—Skaná, the Spa
at Turning Stone in upstate New York is proud to be one of the only spas in
the world to offer an authentic sweat lodge ceremony for its guests. An enterprise
of the Oneida Indian Nation, Turning Stone introduced the sweat lodge with an
evening ceremony on July 29.
American
Indians have used the sweat lodge for centuries as a means of cleansing the body
and purging the spirit of impurities while expressing gratitude to the Creator
and giving thanks for a personal gift of rebirth.
Turning
Stone’s three-hour sweat lodge experience features interpretative storytelling,
drumming, chants and prayers led by Native American guide, Kakwiranoron (pronounced
Gagwila-nolon) Cook. Cook grew up in a family where sweat lodge ceremonies were
part of day-to-day life with his mother’s people, the Oglala Lakota (Sioux)
in the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. His father is a Mohawk Indian from
Central New York.
Cook oversaw the construction
of the sweat lodge, which will be used year-round. It’s about four-feet high
and able to hold up to 15 people. The oval-shaped lodge has a frame made of red
willow trees which are constructed in such a way as to represent the four quarters
of the universe. The whole lodge is the universe in an image, and the two-legged,
four-legged and winged peoples and all things of the world are contained within
it.
There is a fire pit in the center
of the sweat lodge, and one outside the lodge where rocks are subjected to intense
heat. The rocks represent Grandmother Earth and the indestructible and everlasting
nature of the Creator. Cook said the sweat lodge ceremony is often an intense
experience that feels like a rebirth for many people. “You come out feeling
energized and transformed,” he said. “It can really be moving for people.”
Nominated by Spa Magazine as “Best New Spa of 2007,”
Skaná Spa features a 33,000-square-foot state-of-the-art spa, salon and
fitness facility. Skaná Spa treatments, based on American Indian healing
therapies use nature’s gentle healing herbs, leaves and flowers combined
with state-of-the art massage and skincare techniques to sooth and nurture guests
from head to toe.
Skaná Spa was
named to Conde Nast Traveler’s “2007 Hot List” and Spa Magazine’s
“Hot 100.” Skaná Spa guests stay at the luxurious AAA Four Diamond
Lodge at Turning Stone, recently named U.S. and Canada’s “Most Excellent
Resort” by Conde Nast Johansens Luxury Travel Guide.
Turning Stone is
the largest resort, spa, gaming, entertainment and golf complex in the Northeast,
and is one of AAA’s top 20 diamond-award winning resorts in North America.
Nestled in the breathtaking Mohawk Valley Region of New York State, Turning Stone
is just 35 miles east of Syracuse Hancock International Airport.
For information and reservations, please call 800-771-7711
or visit www.skanaspa.com.
