The Lap of Luxe-ury

At their new location in the Luxe Hotel, Be Well Inc. has created a peaceful Zen space in keeping with the hotel's muted design scheme. The recently refurbished hotel is located in the tony neighborhood just below the Getty Center. Spa-only guests pay a modest valet parking fee (be sure to mention you're going to the spa) and have access to the adjacent sauna, gym and pool, so you can make a day of your visit even if you're not staying overnight at the Luxe.

We were looking forward to our Thai massage with Amy, and the sweet-natured massage therapist didn't disappoint. Unlike other Thai massages we've had, which all took place on a mat on the floor, we laid down on a padded table for this treatment. Amy lowered it to a position at which she could work comfortably, as this type of bodywork requires the practitioner to use his/her entire body, including the feet.

The treatment began much like a typical Swedish massage and progressed with the assisted yoga-like stretches of a traditional Thai massage. Amy's expert touch brought the tingly warmth of deep relaxation to each part of the body in turn; we would've probably dozed off if the treatment didn't involve so much movement of the limbs. At one point, we were baffled at how she was able to simultaneously hold our ankles aloft and massage the lower back (we were face down at the time, and therefore unable to see what kind of bodily contortion this maneuver required). At the end of the massage, we felt both tranquil and more limber thanks to all of the gently assisted stretching.

Review originally published 8/2/2007.