This is officially a spa kidnapping.

I believe one of my duties – not just as Spa Week’s editor-at-large – but as a human being on this earth, is to share the benefits of the spa lifestyle with as many people as possible. If I can get one billion people to go to the spa or have a transformative wellness experience in their lifetime, I will die a happy woman. My life calling is clear: Indulge, and make it attainable for others to do the same. (Thank God for Spring Spa Week – don’t wait another minute to book!)

While I was staying down in Miami with Dashama, one of our spa stops was the Spa at Shula’s in Miami Lakes. In the middle of Shula’s circle, a quiet and unassuming neighborhood of condos and various business, we were pleasantly surprised to discover this gem, longtime members of Spa Week.

We slipped into soft white monogrammed robes and spa shoes, locked our things away in the very nicely equipped changing room, and settled into a quiet relaxation area. We hadn’t eaten much and were quite hungry, so we were thrilled to find a variety of teas, a big plate of fresh strawberries and grapes, an assortment of grainy crackers available to us while we waited on cushy leather recliners.

Shula’s wanted us to experience their seasonal treatments, as this AVEDA spa is constantly coming up with new dynamic spa experiences to try each month. Dashama went first for the Warm Wintergreen Stone Massage & Body Scrub, a 45 minute warm stone massage followed by a 15 minute Wintergreen full body scrub. I went in to snap some photos of her treatment (like all normal spa-goers do… or not…), and vicariously felt the stones gliding up and down her oiled body.

My turn was next. I was taken to another dark and quiet room for Shula’s other seasonal offering: The Mandara Treatment. It included a deep cleansing facial, a warm neck and scalp massage, a grapefruit paraffin hand & foot treatment, a dead sea salt body exfoliation and a full body hydration. It started with the scrub, after which I was escorted to a nice strong shower to rinse off the salt, and told to use as many towels as my heart desired. My hands slivered all over my silky smooth body – I love that feeling! Before going back to the room I took a detour in the bathroom and was elated to find a full-blown tushy spa, AKA a heated toilet sea with a multi-speed bidet. Ah, the simple joys.

I returned my treatment bed, which was wrapped in fresh towels and blankets, and waiting for me was a small snack. How did she know I was still hungry? Or rather… how did she know I’m always hungry?

After I enjoyed my tea party for one, I couldn’t really tell you what came next, because I slipped into a state of deep spa slumber. I vaguely recall a mix of the softest, gentlest hands imaginable running up and down my body, complete immobilization by way of warm paraffin solidifying around my extremities, and a parade of delicate, delicious-smelling substances applied to my sleeping face.

Needless to say, I did not get any photos. We will both just have to imagine that The Mandara Treatment was ninety minutes of complete and wholly therapeutic bliss.

After a post-treatment visit to the tushy spa, I slowly changed back into my clothes. I went outside to find a private outdoor relaxation area, and Dashama relaxing in it. We both agreed: It’s far from South Beach but well worth the trip. The Spa at Shula’s is a Miami Lakes must-try!

On the way out, we couldn’t resist a little AVEDA shopping spree. I mean, look at this place! We both took home a few new hair products and a vibrant sense of season spa healing.

As we walked to the car Dashama said to me “Thank you for taking me here. I’m always so busy but this really reminded me that I need to treat myself more. I need more spa in my life. This was amazing.”

Spa kidnapping… SUCCESS!