Come on, Stay Awhile...

Tucked into an upstairs space in the Mayberry-like town of Sierra Madre, the Center for Wellbeing is small on space but big on service, as proprietor Tanya likes to say. We visited during a late spring heat wave, perhaps not the best time for a trip to the arid foothill community. But we felt cool and comfortable as soon as we stepped into the air-conditioned spa studio, and even more so once we'd settled onto the crisp cool sheets of the massage table for our one-hour treatment with Tanya.

Tanya specializes in deep tissue work and structural integration, but she was happy to comply with our request for a gentle Swedish massage. Her pressure was absolutely perfect, and we could feel the tension start to ease away as soon as she laid her hands on us. Not a single part of the body was given short shrift during the 60-minute session; Tanya's work on the scalp, hands and feet, in particular, imparted a subtle sense of euphoria. She finished up with a bit of foot reflexology (using peppermint oil - a lovely touch on the hot day), and by the time she was done, we realized we had drifted into a meditative state, so effective was her healing touch.

We suggest you make a day of your visit to Sierra Madre, a truly lovely little community just east of Pasadena. The Center for Wellbeing is located in the town's charming downtown area on Baldwin Ave., where casual restaurants and boutiques beckon and invite you to stay awhile.

Review originally published 8/7/2008.