Wellness Weekends

Wellness Weekends
Rick Coates 3/2/09

The wellness movement has been around for years. For most of those years it was labeled as an “alternative movement” as Eastern philosophies on health, exercise and diet were embraced by only a few in the West. But recently ancient Eastern and other non-Western concepts have moved into the mainstream as more of us look to bring balance into all aspects of our lives.
In Northern Michigan, several health spas have opened in recent years offering a variety of services, including massages, skin care, yoga and healthy menus. As the tourism industry changes, major resorts to B&Bs have incorporated spa services and wellness weekends as added amenities to attract the traveling public.
At The Homestead in Glen Arbor, for instance, a multi-day Yoga Retreat offers four nights’ lodging, nightly meals, twice-daily yoga sessions and a variety of workshops. Other such retreats have been offered at the Petoskey enclave of Bayview and at Watervale in Manistee County.
You’ll also find spa services and packages at Boyne Mountain, the Grand Traverse Resort and a range of smaller hotels and B&Bs throughout Northern Michigan.
The most recent entry offering spa services is Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville in Benzie County.
The Crystal Spa is an 18,500 square-foot “oasis” that offers a variety of “restorative spa services and fitness programs,” focusing on the health and wellness of one’s mind, body and spirit. The Crystal Spa opened just over a month ago by WTS International, an international spa, fitness and recreation management and consulting firm.

WOMEN’S WEEKEND
“We were packed opening weekend and booked solid for the Women’s Winter Tour weekend,” said Donna Mastrianni, executive spa director. “We are still putting the finishing touches to the décor but we are in full operation mode and we are very busy.”
Mastrianni works for WTS International and travels the country setting up spas. She’s impressed with the commitment Crystal Mountain has made.
“They went first class in every aspect of this operation. The Crystal Spa is the only LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) spa in the Midwest and one of just six in the United States,” said Mastrianni. “Equally impressive is their commitment to local – from the food offerings to the original art and photography – it is all local.”
She is also quick to point out that the Crystal Spa has brought 30 new jobs to Benzie County. Mastrianni’s next responsibility is to find her replacement, a full-time spa director to take over for her as she moves on to her next project.
Crystal Mountain has noticed an immediate spike in bookings as a result of the spa opening.
“We have several spa packages being offered, including the very popular ski and spa package. In the summer we will have one tied to golf as well,” said Mastrianni. “We also create seasonal treatments such as the Deep Forest Massage, which is a full-body massage that uses a blend of pine, sage and pink peppercorn to clarify and open the lungs and congested sinuses.”

LOCAL ATTRACTION
While the addition of the spa at Crystal Mountain has attracted the traveling public, residents of the region have also been taking advantage of the services.
“We have guests who come for just the day to ski and schedule a massage, facial or other body treatment when they are done. So this spa is very much for the people who live in Northern Michigan, not just those who travel long distances to use the Resort.”
So what is the fastest growing trend in the world of spa services?
“Couple massages,” said Mastrianni. “We are seeing more and more couples taking in spa treatments together and the couples massage is the favorite. At the Crystal Spa the treatment includes two side-by-side full body massages and may also include a soothing in-room Naturopathic whirlpool.”
Resort spokesperson Brian Lawson said the $5.5 million Crystal Spa is the culmination of a $10 million dollar expansion to Crystal Mountain that began in March 2008.

For additional information on Crystal Mountain and their new spa check out crystalmountain.com.

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