DAYSPA is the business resource for spa & wellness professionals! Each issue covers the latest in skin care, spa treatments, wellness services and management strategies.
Issue link: https://dayspamagazine.epubxp.com/i/902908
C o n t i n u o u s W e l l n e s s dayspamagazine.com • december 2017 • [ 27 ] Continuous Wellness Increasingly, spa treatments are regarded as merely a fraction of the overall wellness experience; nowhere is that more evident than in ingeniously built, health-oriented resorts. "We as a culture are starting to pay attention to factors that impact our quality of life. We are awakening to the reality that the less adulterated something is—meaning, the closer it is to its natural state—the more beautiful and healing it becomes," explains Veronica Schreibeis Smith, CEO and founding principal of Vera Iconica Architecture in Jackson, Wyoming. "This includes our built environment, and destination spas and resorts are beginning to catch on." Consider Hodges Bay Resort & Spa, a facility to be opened in mid-2018 and located on the Caribbean island of Antigua. "Here, the spa is not only a place to go for a massage, facial or mani/pedi, it also spills over into guests' daily activities," explains Kobi Karp, founder and principal in charge of Miami- based Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design, which is working on the project. From a design standpoint, that means thoughtfully building the opportunities to practice wellness throughout the facility. "Areas specifi cally designed for pre- and post-meal stretching or yoga are right next to the oceanside dining area; in another spot, suspended hammocks welcome guests to relax and experience sound therapy," Karp says. "We give hints and signs everywhere." In addition, spa technology has come a long way, and designers are taking full advantage of the opportunity to harness innovation and inject healing experiences into every aspect of a guest's spa journey. From sound therapy chairs to sleep pods, there are a multitude of ways to outfi t a space for optimal wellness. Even lighting can play a role, notes Alexis Ufl and, owner of New York City-based Lexi Design. "Most of our clients are now looking to create spas devoted not only to face and body but also minds and emotions," she says. "Most recently we've been incorporating the treatment of seasonal aff ective disorder (SAD) with lighting known to help boost happiness and vitality, calm anxiety and increase mental clarity. This can be accomplished with new types of bulbs that emit enhanced spectrum light." COURTESY KOBI KARP ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN Hodges Bay Resort & Spa lobby Spa at Hodges Bay Resort & Spa Indura Beach & Golf Resort aerial view