Over the past few years Eastern healing therapies have crept into the mainstream spa. And although this should be considered a good thing, spas sometimes fail to deliver a truly authentic experience.
Enter Avia Spa, the East-West Sanctuary in Santa Barbara, California. Having opened a little over six months ago, Avia is quickly becoming the place du jour for Santa Barbara locals and tourists in the know.
Upon entering the spa, you’ll be greeted with the lulling sound of the bamboo water fountain dripping into a beautiful slate urn. Soothing, rich earth-toned walls and natural materials like slate and stone instantly provide a grounding, calming atmosphere. The massage huts feel exotic with thatched roofs and light colors, while the floors and walls of the wet treatment rooms are covered in slate.
Suzanne Gore and her husband Martin (Depeche Mode guitarist) felt the need to create a sanctuary that would fulfill the needs of even the most busy parent. (The Gores’ have two children, whom the spa is named after – Ava and Viva.) Along with the spa, Avia also features (through a separate entrance) a mod salon, a beautiful yoga studio, as well as a retail shop.
I opted to try the Eastern themed menu, but the spa offers treatments from both hemispheres. The Neem Anti-Aging facial by Sundari skincare was quite honestly the best facial I’ve ever received. The Salt Stone Aromatic Glow which combines a pine nettle scrub, a heated stone massage, and a Vichy shower, was simply indescribable.
Gore also had the foresight to hire a certified acupuncturist as part of her spa team. My shirodhara treatment with Amy left me in a state of goo, both mentally and physically. The best thing about Avia? You can purchase a membership. For more information call (805) 730-7303 or visit www.aviaspa.com
– Melissa B. Scott
March/April 2004
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