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Fourteen stories above the vast, dry Arizona desert prevails the highest spa in the state, a contrasting 13,000 square foot oasis of hydration and relaxation: The Spa At Talking Stick in Scottsdale, AZ. Stunning red mountains and expansive flatland views add a soothing touch seen from the spa’s terraces, Jacuzzi, showers, changing rooms, relaxation rooms and from the nail/hair salon and fitness center. Yet with all the beauty surrounding it, the real beauty started where it always should – from within. The spa’s facilities were excellent, and I was truly blown away by the treatment I received: The Desert Lavender Massage.
But first, a few hours by the pool.
From way up in the spa, you’d never know that downstairs in the Talking Stick lobby is a swinging casino, and outside a lively pool filled with people playing pool football and drinking beer.
The “pool” situation upstairs looked more like this:
And the lounge chairs like this:
And the treatment room like this:
And then the bliss began. My massage therapist Marcia left me in this beautifully appointed room to remove my robe and slippers and lay face-up on the soft, warm massage table.
When she returned, the first part of the treatment began with a dry body brushing exfoliation. Gentle bristles “scratched” up and down the right side of my body, then the left, then I flipped and they made their way up and down my backside. My boyfriend Ray received the same massage as me (in a different room), and this was the part of the treatment he couldn’t stop raving about afterwards. The bristles were invigorating more than they were exfoliating, and certainly left you wanting more.
The body brushing ended (noooo!), and the massage began (okay, fine), using desert lavender and wild chaparral oil. A hot rolled-up towel cradled my neck. What I found particularly interesting about the style of massage was that rather than doing the traditional back first, then legs, arms, etc., this massage started on the right side, covering all body parts, and then shifting the towel and massaging the entire left side. First laying face down, and then I flipped and Marcia did the right-left switchoff as I laid face up. Ray’s massage was the same right-then-left style – it wasn’t just Marcia – it was the spa’s signature style for this particular massage. A hot towel cocooned my feet at the end too. And it was INCREDIBLE – so incredible that I paid Marcia the biggest complement a massage therapist could be paid: I fell asleep.
Lavender + amazing massages tend to have that effect on people.
In a haze of half-slumber spa ecstasy, I felt the third part of the treatment begin, my personal highlight. Using ever-so-soft tufts of raw Pima cotton, Marcia lightly brushed my body using feather-light strokes. Up and down the right, up and down the left. My memory jogged back to a post from a few months ago about that tickling spa in Spain, and solidified to me that tickling spas must be opened in the United States as well. And they must invest in very large quantities of raw Pima cotton.
And then the final touch: a spritz of Cucumber Hydrosol Mist on my face. I breathed in the misty veil as it awoke me with a refreshing dose of hydration, in my new beloved desert oasis.
I slowly levitated (got up) from the the table, took a sip of water, re-robed, and floated out to meet Marcia outside the treatment room. She recommended I spend some time in the steam room, because in addition to the massage she had also done some energy work on me and that the steam would help relax my joints and muscles, and I was supposed to let the energy work sink in. Unfortunately I had a rehearsal dinner to be at in 45 minutes, but I can imagine the relaxation would have been taken to even greater heights.
Speaking of heights, I snapped some photos from all the pretty viewpoints (shower, lockers, etc). There’s no place like Arizona to spa, especially when you can look out over it.
Even the hallways are luminous!
The Spa at Talking Stick’s Spa Week extension is over now, but they’re working on their holiday specials as we speak. Check out their spa menu for all their carefully crafted treatments to rebalance, restore and elevate your well-being.
The Spa at Talking Stick Resort
9800 E Indian Bend Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85256
877.724.4687
Disclosure: All treatments were comped for editorial consideration.
By week’s end you should be all set to indulge in those relaxing $50 spa treatments. This time around you can book your bliss in 36 states across the country (and in Toronto)… and no matter where you go, your spa day should feel very much like a vacation. BUT: Imagine the state of bliss you would be in spa-ing away at an actual luxurious resort destination? You can! Here are a handful of West Coast resort spas participating in Spa Week this season. Get your massage or facial fix at these stunning spa settings in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Washington, and Nevada—and there are more on 
$50 Spa Week Treatments: 50 Min Adobe Mud Wrap, 50 Min Sacred Nature Organic Facial or 50 Min High Altitude Relief Massage.
$50 Spa Week Treatments: 50 Min Aromatherapy Facial, 50 Min Organic Aromatherapy Massage or 50 Min Aromatherapy Pedicure.
$50 Spa Week Treatments: 60 Min Huntington Signature Facial or 50 Min Shampoo and Blow Dry.
$50 Spa Week Treatments: 50 Min Full Body Swedish Massage, 50 Min Tranquility Facial or 50 Min Radiance Body Wrap.
$50 Spa Week Treatments: 45 Min Custom Full-Body Massage or Facial, 45 Min Make-Up Application With Lesson or 45 Min Personal Training Session.
$50 Spa Week Treatments: 60 Min Detoxifying Monticelli Mud Wrap with Full Body Exfoliation, 60 Min Renewal Facial to Stimulate Cells and Resurface Skin Texture or 45 Min Invigorating Moroccanoil™ Ritual with Paraffin Hand Massage Treatment.
$50 Spa Week Treatments: 50 Min Relaxation Massage or 50 Min Hot Stone Essentials Massage, 50 Min Mint Deep Cleansing Facial or 50 Minute Pumpkin Facial.
$50 Spa Week Treatments: 50 Min Kiwi Pineapple Wrap, 50 Min Catamaran Tropical Body Buff or 50 Min Catamaran Collagen Facial or 50 Min Lemon Drop Pedicure.
$50 Spa Week Treatments: 65 Min Package: Includes Herbal Mineral Bath and Wrap and Eyebrow Wax or 70 Min Package: Includes Herbal Mineral Bath and Wrap with Light Therapy Treatment.
$50 Spa Week Treatments: 50 Min Botanical Kinetics Facial, 50 Min Aroma Journey Massage – Choice of Ylang Ylang, Tangerine, or Vanilla Aromas, or 50 Min Aroma Journey Manicure/Pedicure – Choice of Ylang Ylang, Tangerine, or Vanilla Aromas.
FIRST, THE BABY: Needles of the holistic sort have been proven to help with infertility, conception, pregnancy, and post-partum care. So much so that women who are using In Vitro to get pregnant are more successful if they pair it with acupuncture. Dr. Dana Price at ilumina Healing Sanctuary is one of only four doctors in Arizona who is an American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM) Certified Practitioner. She is celebrating ten years in practice and has been working with western doctors, OBGYNs and hospitals who believe in the power of acupuncture in helping the body conceive and heal itself.
NEXT, YOUR WRINKLES: Embrace the natural face lift known as facial rejuvenation, acupuncture face-lift or cosmetic acupuncture. Whatever you want to call it, it’s caught the attention of more and more women who prefer not to undergo surgery or chemical injections like Botox, yet aren’t keen on the sundried fruit look for skin. The idea behind the success? People have a lot tension which gets concentrated in facial muscles causing wrinkles. Acupuncture creates relief and softens the tension so hinders the lines from forming. Read my account of an 
Phoenix, Arizona – If you’re looking to expand your business and connections, stop by the Arizona Farmer and Chef connection this Monday, October 4th 2010. This is meant to be “a gathering designed to foster collaboration and wholesale direct market opportunities between local farmers, ranchers, chefs and other food buyers who are committed to expanding and strengthening local and seasonal food networks.” Check out their featured speakers, breakout sessions, networking, and a wine and cheese reception at the Intercontinental Montelucia Resort and Spa – 4949 E Lincoln Drive – Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 Click 
Los Angeles, California - Thanks to the LA County Fair, this rustic festival encourages us to forget those soy lattés and milk some cows, pet some horses, and enjoy some wine, beer and an array of food. Some extra features include the Budweiser Clydesdales, the all Creatures Barnyard Racers – a group of fast racing pigs run through the mud, live music performances from the Summertime Concert Series – some headlining performers have included Jessica Simpson and The Village People, special performances like the aerial high wire show put on by The Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean and Circus regulars like the Stars of the Peking Acrobats from China perform. Click 
Denver, Colorado – “Dust off your running shoes and set your alarm for Sunday, October 3 when 60,000 participants are expected for the 18th annual Komen Denver Race for the Cure. The race, which starts and ends at the Pepsi Center, has three events: the 5K Co-Ed Run/Walk at 7:00am, 5K Co-Ed Walk at 8:00am and the Family 1-Mile Fun Walk at 9:00am.” Click 
New Orleans, Louisiana – Oktoberfest is done New O’leans style.. Featuring live bands, German food and beer, wine and schnapps, and Souvenirs from Germany – it’s held every year at Deutsches Haus, which is located at 200 S. Galvez Street in New Orleans. The Haus opens at 5:00 PM each Friday and 1:30 pm Saturday through October 25th – Meals are available at 5:00 PM until 10:45 PM. Click 
St. Louis, Missouri – The best restaurants in town will be showing off their finest dishes at the 2010 Taste of St. Louis. This three day event features food, art, music, cooking demonstrations and more. The Taste of St. Louis is held at Soldiers Memorial at 12th and Market Streets in downtown St. Louis. Click 
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