La Costa Resort and Spa

Aug 25, 2010 by HHNSTAFF

By: Holistic Healing News – Trina Becksted and Andrea Ervin

Summer arrived late in San Diego. Coming from Scottsdale where temperatures have been soaring to well over 105 degrees for months, I can honestly say I was a bit chilly while sitting on the bay, not that I was complaining!

Then, on Wednesday of last week, summer decided to smile down on the Southern California coast and it felt marvelous! But San Diego wasn’t my destination or reason for visiting California. I was going thirty miles north to the coastal town of Carlsbad, a city that feels like a vacation.

Carlsbad has many treasures to offer an eager visitor: Legoland (a Lego-lovers paradise), Carlsbad Caverns (hidden subterranean limestone caverns that are breathtaking in a way that only nature can pull off), premium outlet shopping malls, and an impressive stretch of beaches laden with sun bathers, surfers and sand castle builders.

 I had the pleasure of being in Carlsbad for summer’s debut and enjoyed ideal 80 degree temperatures while relaxing at La Costa Resort and Spa. The resort spans 400 acres of lush gardens and golf courses and is so near the coast that I could smell the fresh ocean breeze and feel its moisture on my skin.

The resort is not the only draw to this Carlsbad paradise. The Chopra Center for Wellbeing, founded by world-renowned holistic physicians Deepak Chopra, MD, and David Simon, MD, is also located on grounds. People come from all over the world to visit the Chopra Center, and to relax and play at the resort and spa. La Costa first opened its doors in 1965 and was the first spa resort in the United States.

Gentile yet fun, it is every bit a five star resort, while remaining very child friendly. The resort was bustling as summer kicked into full swing. Golfer’s came to enjoy the PGA Championships 18-hole courses. Families came to swim, play and tumble down water slides at the family pool complex. Tennis enthusiasts took advantage of La Costa’s 17 hard clay courts. I, of course, came for one of La Costa’s invigorating body treatments.

I was met by Spa Director Michelle Frye who very graciously showed me around the grounds. Michelle became spa director in May, but is no newbie to the spa scene. One of the many stints on her impressive resume included some time at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, Hawaii.

Michelle set me up with Elizabeth, a knowledgeable and talented therapist. I already knew that La Costa offered massages and body treatments designed to indulge, invigorate and inspire, and I wanted to try them first hand. I had to settle on one (even though I would have tried them all, time permitting) so I asked for the La Costa signature treatment and placed myself in Elizabeth’s very able hands.

The recommended treatment was the Spanish Herbal Body Rub and was 100 minutes of bliss. Elizabeth began the signature treatment by expertly exfoliating my skin, polishing it into a fresh and rejuvenated state. She then rubbed native Spanish herbs and oil all over my body, marinating my skin in lavender, rosemary and olive oil (which is how I like to prepare my leg of lamb, by the way) but she used the utmost care of course! It was a truly exotic and thrilling blend!

With newly refreshed skin, I was embraced in a heated body wrap for detoxification. Elizabeth then gave my hair a deep conditioning and massaged my scalp using sage oil as I slipped into a state of complete relaxation. I showered off before beginning the final stage of my treatment: a full body lavender massage.

As every muscle in my body relaxed and rejoiced under Elizabeth’s careful hands, the sweet smell of lavender invaded my senses This invigorating experience is only one treatment on a menu of many.

The list includes a few different body treatments, a Thai massage (the lazy man’s yoga), pressure acupressure, reflexology and lymphatic drainage, but there are many more options to suit any spa connoisseur’s fancy.

All spa guests have access to the Agua de la Vida, a place to soak and open your pores before a massage or treatment. The Agua de la Vida is complimented with a private pool for spa goers to go and relax after a treatment.

During my tour of La Costa, I was excited to see the construction of a new reflexology path which is well on its way to completion. Reflexology paths can be found in many countries around Asia and are made of stones arranged in a pathway. When the path is taken and the stones of different sizes, shapes and surfaces are stepped on, they have the ability to heal. Our feet are the control panels to the rest of our bodies, and each area of our feet represents a different body part. When something goes wrong somewhere else, it manifests here. By massaging different parts of our feet through reflexology, certain ailments are healed. This is what La Costa is planning with the creation of their reflexology path.

Although I thought the best part of La Costa was the spa, people visit from all over the world for other services. This resort has a golf course fit for the pros (and indeed pros have brandished their clubs on one of two 18-hole courses). These beautifully manicured courses can be seen from many of the resort’s suites and villas. Visitors come to La Costa not only to relax but to stay in modern five star accommodations, to let their children play in the kid resort (Kidtopia) or in the water play land (Splash Landing), and to enjoy several premium dining areas and wine bars. I was delighted to find that La Costa has something for everyone.

For more information visit www.lacosta.com or call them at 800-854-5000