Where The Wind Will Carry Me….

Santa Fe breezes are known to gust in May, and I plan on being swept away this week and next to Santa Fe and an entirely new location the Amangiri Resort in Utah.

Santa Fe art inspirations include a new Ansel Adams landmark exhibition at the Gerald Peters Gallery; photographs of monumental size, remember AA work is predigital, his best known images taken from the 1920’s through the 1960’s will be on display, opening night Friday April 30, I will be there! New restaurants, hot cooking classes, a full report soon….

The wind will then transport me to a recently opened Aman resort, located in Southern Utah close to the border with Arizona; Amangiri is a 25-minute drive from the nearest town of Page, Arizona and a 15-minute drive to the shores of Lake Powell. The resort is in the center of the Grand Circle, surrounded by such iconic attractions as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Grand Staircase – Escalante and Bryce and Zion National Parks. If you have ever stayed at an Aman resort you know departing is the most difficult undertaking. Escape into their tranquil world and one never wants to return to every day living.

The Grand Canyon area has been in desperate need of a superb stopping point and I believe the Amangiri might be the perfect solution. I will report back after a week; a personal site inspection is essential before I send you off to this blissful location. Even if you are not headed to one of the Canyon or local lake activities, it appears that the resort and spa will satisfy extreme adventure or a spa escape; a few offerings: rock climbing, fly fishing, hot air ballooning and kayaking experiences – oh of course, the spa is not to be overlooked. I’ve provided a petite taste of their spa offerings. I intend to invest time in achieving balance and become an expert in smudgings!

Savor the descriptions and wait for a full report…if I return!

Amangiri Spa Journeys

Amangiri has created four unique Spa Journeys that enhance awareness in the body and reconnect with the environment. The number four is sacred in the Navajo culture and is reflected in many symbols and traditions. Four sacred colors each represent a direction, a stone and a time of day as well as four sacred mountains and rivers, which are landmarks of the original Navajo territory. The four journeys are designed with these sacred elements in mind and to reflect Navajo healing traditions and holistic techniques. Each journeys last two and a half hours, and is closed with a Navajo chant to bless the body and restore balance.

Dawn Journey – White East Silver Dawn
The Dawn Journey is ideally done in the early morning hours. It begins with cedar smudging, which is used in the opening and closing of traditional Navajo ‘Hozho’ harmonization. Deeply breathing in the aroma cleanses the body’s energy and sets the intent of the session as well as the day ahead. Next, an invigorating body scrub helps to re-energize and boost the physical body and open the skin’s pores, followed by a rhythmic and flowing full body massage using organic oils.

An aroma essence facial compress completes the Dawn Journey, using a facial massage technique called Samandara, which is Sanskrit for “balanced consciousness.”

Midday Journey – Blue South Turquoise Midday
The Midday Journey is meant to comfort, soothe and hydrate the mind, body and spirit. Your journey begins with a full body exfoliation, preparing your mind and body for purification. This process is similar to the Navajo sweat house. Sweat houses were designed to remove toxins followed by drinking of Navajo tea, which contains herbs used to calm and promote healing. Staying true to this ritual, Navajo tea will be served following your experience in the floatation pavilion. The body, now calmed, is prepared for a Full Body Wrap of green clay to cool the body and draws out toxins. Following the Body Wrap, is a Facial to aid in concentration, intuition and perception by opening the Mind’s Eye. The journey closes with cedar smudging.

The Evening Journey specifically focuses on rejuvenation and begins with a cedar smudging. The feet are cleansed and exfoliated, opening the connection between an individual and the earth. Next, the therapist performs a full-body Hot Stone Therapy massage. This deep, soothing treatment relaxes and relieves muscle tension built up during the day. A hot facial compress, in combination with a head and neck massage, will promote awareness and rejuvenation, sealed with a cedar smudging.

Night Journey – Black North Onyx Night
The final journey focuses on grounding the body after traveling and promotes tranquility to aid with sleeping. Cedar smudging begins the grounding process. The feet, which are our connection to the earth, are then cleansed. The body will then be dry brushed to stimulate the lymphatic flow, opening up energy lines in preparation to absorb nutrients from the Red Clay wrap. The Red Clay cocoons the body in earth to promote healing and relaxation and is followed by a massage of the legs and feet. The treatment concludes with massage on the lower back, releasing tension from the spine and relaxing the body.

Think smudging and balance, of ultimate importance. Aren’t you relaxed now?