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SuePur Destinations:
Making a Spla-lash at the Red Mountain Resort & Spa
by Susan
Purdy
Spas seems to be
rubbing everyone the right way these days. Sheryl Sciro,
president of the media division of Spafinder,
says spas are growing so quickly in the U.S., that 2000 day
spas are expected to be operating this year, up from only 20
in 1980, and 220 resorts, nationwide, now have full spa facilities.
Sheryl finds that, “Women, especially those between the ages
of 35 to 60, love visiting a resort spa because it is a safe
space, where they can meet interesting people, and take off
all the 'masks' - no suits, no makeup, no titles.”
So I’m in vogue. I love the resort spa experience, with the
various treatments offered, the soft adventure sports, and the
camaraderie of other women. And, I just discovered a great
spot that delivered the full spa experience and didn’t break
my budget. 
The Red Mountain Resort
& Spa, in Ivins, Utah, is like summer camp for
adults, only you don’t have to put name tags in your underwear.
Set a few miles from the town of St. George, Shape Magazine
called this beautiful oasis, “The best outdoor fitness program
located in the most scenic area of any spa.” But what
makes this experience special is the staff; warm, friendly,
and especially helpful, they made me feel at home the moment
I checked in. Red Mountain guest, P.J. Prevo, from Evanston,
Illinois, agrees with me. That’s why she has been coming
to the spa for eight years. “I find this environment very
caring, and very low key. The focus is on well being,
and I like to stay 4 to 5 weeks. My husband joins me for
two weeks, and when he leaves, I stay on. I meet the most
wonderful people and each time I’ve made one or two good friends
that I’ve stayed in touch with. We often try to book the
same weeks the following year.”
Single women make up 70% of the guests here, and the “Ya Ya
Sisterhood” atmosphere also extends to room reservations.
Red Mountain will arrange roommates for you, or you can come
with your own posse and stay in a room for three or four. I
made my spa appointments when I booked my reservations, a convenience
I appreciated, as some spas will not take reservations until
48 hours before arrival. And, the two most expensive treatments
that I selected, were included in my package rate. I signed
up for a one-hour summer-special $29 massage; a Desert Rose
Facial - said to be especially good for aging or sensitive skin;
reflexology - a healing technique based on the theory that all
body parts, organs and glands are associated with reflex zones
or points; and the “house special” treatment, the Red Mountain
Revitalizer.
This last treatment would have knocked my socks off, had I been
wearing any at the time. I was so relaxed afterward, I
could have slipped under a closed door. My 80 minute treatment
began in a tiled room, where I lay on a table, discreetly covered
by two towels. My hair and scalp were massaged using a
Cimburi bark extract. I still don’t know what Cimburi
bark is, but it felt wonderful. A mini-facial followed,
providing just a hint of what was to come during my regular
facial, and then I was exfoliated. I’ve been exfoliated
before, but this time, my skin looked and felt as soft and silky
as a teenager’s. (All small exaggerations are due to the
state of euphoria I felt, and in no way reflect on the credibility
of the rest of the story.) It was the ultimate spa experience,
and I considered whisking Stephanie, my therapist, back home
with me.
One afternoon, I met Deborah Evans, the General Manager for
Red Mountain Resort & Spa. This native Texan knows
her stuff. She has been a chef, massage and spa therapist,
author, educator, and has a 20 year work history in the spa
and health retreat field. She is instrumental in bringing
the latest health innovations to Red Mountain such as special
evaluations and tests. I left with a personal profile
and an aerobic evaluation, which showed I had been exercising
at too fast a rate, and by slowing down, I would burn more fat.
My tester, Mary Ann Smith, also explained, “For every pound
of fat you have on your body, your body requires 3 to 5 calories
to keep it alive. For every pound of muscle, your body
requires 35 to 75 calories a day to keep it alive. So
the more muscle mass you have the more calories you burn, and
the faster you lose weight.”
Spa guest, Sophia Aprahamian, a real-estate broker from California,
joined me in several activities. One morning we hiked
the Petrified Sand Dunes in the Red Mountains with our guides
Lori and John. The red rocks were naturally sculpted like
narrow tiers on a wedding cake, with swirls of burnt orange
icing creating a colorful vista against the blue sky.
Three hours flew by, which amazed me as I had never hiked up
the side of a steep hill, let alone a mountain. But it
was easier than I thought, especially with Lori’s
helping hand reaching out for me on occasion. They suggested
we go hiking the next day, but I was satisfied that I
had pushed my “envelope” that day, and could now rest on my
laurels. Besides, there was so much to do that I wanted
to spend time on some of the many other activities.
I attended a wire sculpture class and made a necklace of beads,
wood, and wire. Let’s just say Tiffany’s has nothing to
worry about. I sat in on several lectures given by soft-spoken
psychologist, Dr. David Tate. We gathered in a large gazebo,
fitted along the roof line with nozzles that let out fine
mists of water in the warm air, to cool and refresh us.
It was magical. We spoke about “The Inner Game of Life”
and we spoke of relationships, especially our relationship with
self. I learned to meditate, and came away feeling refreshed
and renewed. In one of his printed hand-outs, Dr. Tate
shared the story of Nadine Stair, 85 years old, from Louisville,
Kentucky, and I will share some of it with you:
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
I’d like to make more mistakes next time. I’d relax.
I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been
this trip. I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains
and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less
beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but
I’d have fewer imaginary one. You see, I’m one of those
people who live seriously and sanely hour after hour, day after
day. If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot
earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.
I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.
I left Red Mountain feeling rejuvenated both in body and mind,
and I can’t wait to return. Perhaps I’ll see you there.
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Susan Purdy is a freelance
writer specializing in travel, food, and lifestyle. She is a member
of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and her work
has appeared in many publications including the Saturday Evening
Post, Brides, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Meridian, Ms., Woman’s
World, First for Women, Country Accents, and Country Inns. Susan
Purdy can be emailed at Suepur@aol.com
for comments and questions.
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Copyright© 2001 Susan
Purdy for SeniorWomenWeb
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