You've Never Been Pampered Like This

Tucked back from the street on a busy stretch of Santa Monica Blvd., Willow Spa looks unassuming from the outside. But once we stepped onto their serene and beautifully decorated grounds, the sense of peace was immediate and profound.

After changing into the loose-fitting spa-issue white cotton pants and tie-front top, we made ourselves at home in the pleasant heated outdoor courtyard. We sipped hot tea and a potent Japanese enzyme drink as our delightful Thai massage expert treated us to a flower petal footbath and massage. We were already feeling incredibly pampered by the time we were led into the sumptuously appointed indoor massage facility for the main event: a 90-minute Herbal Thai Escape.

Unlike your typical massage, this treatment takes place on a cushioned mat on the floor. In addition to applying soothing massage strokes, our massage therapist engaged our entire body in passive stretches and even applied her own body weight to further stretch the muscles and apply therapeutic pressure. The effect is simultaneously soothing and invigorating – much like a combination of yoga and massage. Our treatment concluded with a shoulder, neck and back massage using a warm poultice filled with a wonderfully fragrant blend of traditional Thai herbs used to alleviate muscle pain and inflammation.

Our Thai massage at Willow was such a lovely experience that we returned a few weeks later to try out the spa's innovative Japanese Enzyme Bath treatment. After sipping some herbal iced tea and a potent enzyme drink, we were led into the enzyme bath area and directed to our private cabana. The warm air was saturated with the earthy-woodsy scent of the enzyme bath mixture. We disrobed (wearing an old bathing suit is optional - we recommend at least wearing the bottom part of a two-piece), settled into the tub, and covered ourselves lightly with the moist sawdust mixture. Our technician returned to more thoroughly bury us up to the neck and let the detoxification begin.

The dry bath mixture consists of finely cut Juniper shavings, rice bran, and fruit and vegetable enzymes, a combination that is said to assist your body up to five times its natural ability in detoxifying. The maximum treatment duration is 20 minutes, during which time the natural enzyme activity of the mixture creates a deep heat, relaxing the muscles and increasing circulation. During the treatment, our technician returned several times to gently wipe down our face with a cool lavender-scented washcloth and offer us water to sip through a straw.

After the bath, we brushed the excess shavings from our skin, and then hopped into a private shower to rinse off. The second half of our treatment consisted of a half-hour Thai massage. The enzyme bath left our skin smooth, glowing and gently scented with a pleasant woodsy aroma, and we felt absolutely fantastic for the rest of the day.

Review originally published 8/11/2005.