SURPRISE YOUR SWEETHEART WITH THE LOVING LUXURY TREATMENT WHERE A TUB WITH BATH BUBBLES IN A PRIVATE PATIO GARDEN IS STREWN WITH ROSE PETALS. evoked pre-war Vienna. In came airy, natural contemporary design motifs. All 57 redesigned guest rooms now boast plush, hip furnishings in olive, charcoal, and oyster hues with seagrass accents. French oak floors, sumptuous feather beds, luxurious sitting areas, glass chandeliers, and patios round out the in-room experience. Outside on the 28-acre estate, two pools, fire tables, and sparkling crystal chandeliers adorn public spaces. Exceptional service prevails, from the folks who carry your bags to your room to the spa pool attendant eager to take your food order and beyond. Gathering spaces abound with cabanas and seating areas overlooking the vineyard and gardens. Peruse flora and fauna at your leisure while you indulge in the complimentary fruit, fresh cheese, and crostini. And as a memento of your visit, take home those two gift bottles of Bernardus house wine. AURA Smile as you follow the spa attendant down the short corridor that leads to the Warming Room, the jewel of The Spa at Bernardus. You’re simply preparing to indulge in the happy experience of settling into supreme comfort. As you gaze at the high ceilings with exposed beams, you note how the sunshine streams in from the skylights and bounces off the beaded chandeliers. 84 South Bay Accent Pale walls, cream sofas and matching leather chairs are arranged around the room’s focal point: the copper hooded fire pit that has warmed thousands of robed guests for more than a decade. While the previous motif featured darker walls and with deep earth tones, in its California Rustic makeover, the revamped space exudes a much lighter feel. Large impressionistic paintings with wisps of white, blue, and yellow hint evoke a sense of airiness. A pair of extra wide French doors open to a 100-degree spa pool embraced by grapevines and low waterfalls. We suggest you take a nap on a chaise lounge or the modern white hammock that comes with a canopy shade. Awake to snack on fruits and nuts, available on the side buffet tables, accompanied by a range of beverages. In the entry, you can purchase gift items and spa products. A separate room is designated for nails and hair salon services. APPROACH There, there. Have you been stressed? Need to realign your mind with the heart and body? The Tuning Fork Ritual, $150 for 50 minutes, represents Bernardus’s spa strategy, which is to offer treatments that restore balance and harmony. Imagine lying on the massage table face up. Your therapist enters the room and takes a small wand to rim the edges of a Tibetan singing bowl, which now emits a ringing sound to clear the air. She takes out a pair of metal tuning forks, striking them against a plastic pad to activate the vibration. The tools are gently placed on touch points on the top of your head, face, wrist, and the ankles. You turn over so she can work on the meridian points along your back and legs. If you sense vibrations travelling through your bones from head to foot, you are hardly alone, says spa therapist Colleen Ingram. Many experience such vibes, and come away retuned. The last step is the application of rose oil covering the body in smooth strokes. According to therapist Ingram, people experience different sensations during the treatment. “Some say they are very relaxed, and other have gotten emotional because they feel like they are breaking off an PAUL DYER; OPPOSITE: RACHEL WEILL BERNARDUS LODGE AND SP A Specially-designed treatments and a wellness program restore balance and harmony at the award-winning spa (right). Relaxing in the resort’s sun-drenched pool.
South Bay Accent - Feb/Mar 2016
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