the three springs spa experience at
BARTON CREEK RESORT & SPA
article by Gena Kirby // photography by Sabrina Bean
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ranquility, peacefulness, and calm: these are three states that are rarely experienced in day-to-day life by a mother of three young children. Most days are hectic – full of laughter, tears, and a lot of yelling (mostly) by the children. Motherhood is not just a job, it’s an adventure. Sure, that’s the Army’s tag line, but I will gladly swipe it in the name of moms everywhere. We love our jobs, but just like with any other job, we deserve to take a break. Long ago in another life I had a union job, and our breaks were mandatory! Wow, imagine motherhood if run by a union! “Excuse me ma’am, you’ve changed your fifth diaper of the day, it’s time to take your twenty minute break.” It would probably take a union to get most moms to take one. We spend most of our days taking care of everyone but ourselves. Healthwise, this type of selfless behavior is 26 | WholeLifestyleMagazine.com | Summer 2011
unwise. In order for moms (and dads) to keep filling everyone else’s cup, we must continually fill our own. What can we give if we have nothing to give? So, to my fellow parents out there, I implore you to please take one day a week and do something just for you. Take an hour for yourself to read a book alone, relax outside – whatever it takes to put you in a good place. Then once a month do something really decadent for yourself. Truly though, this special something is not JUST for you, it’s for your spouse and your children. This is easier said than done – as much as I know I do need a break, there’s that little something called Guilt that keeps me from picking up the phone and making time for myself. Guilt is not your friend and Guilt doesn’t care that you need “me” time. Guilt, however, doesn’t clean the house or make your kids breakfast, so once a
month or so, pick up the phone and make an appointment at your favorite spa. Because it’s hard for me to tell Guilt where to go, it was exciting to find myself driving out to Barton Creek Resort for an afternoon of rest and relaxation. Just driving into the resort was relaxing. The hill country surroundings are absolutely gorgeous (even more so since I wasn’t driving). If you can, I highly recommend you find a friend to drive you, because nothing erases a day of pampering like traffic! After parking, I walked into the spa shop and was greeted with a warm smile by Shauna Ominsky, who is the director of spa and wellness. She immediately welcomed me with an outstretched hand, at the end of which was a cool glass of white wine. As I mentioned before, I wasn’t driving, so how could I say no? Before the start of my treatment, I was led to the tranquility room, where guests are invited to
unwind before beginning any of the wide array of treatments available. Now, I used to work in resorts, back in that other life I mentioned, so I’m used to resorts naming rooms. Generally it’s a nicely appointed room with a name attached like Peace or Serenity. So I was expecting to sit for a minute in some cutesy resort room, but instead I was transported to another world (or so it seemed). When Shauna opened the door, the first thing I saw in this room was a window that looked out on something I had never seen up close before in real life. Shauna explained that they recently discovered a limestone wall that ran along a piece of the property. The resort made the most of this amazing and breathtaking discovery by showcasing it and allowing this room to deservingly be called the TRANQUILITY room. I sat with my wine glass in hand in the dimly lit room on a comfortable chaise lounge, and watched pure spring water trickle down the timeworn surface of the limestone as water sounds and music were pumped into the room. The room and view take on that “out of this world” feeling, due to the designer’s use of ambient colored lighting shone onto the limestone, which changes the feeling in the room every few minutes. The space can be rented out, or you can get a 25-minute service in there. I could have lost myself in the calmness of that room for days if they would have let me. As it was, I only spent ten beautiful peaceful
minutes of quiet relaxation. Just seeing this room would be reason enough to jump in the car and head out toward Barton Creek Resort and the Three Springs Spa Experience. My experience had only begun. After the tranquility room, I was led to another level of the spa where I was introduced to Kimberly Jensen Parker, a massage therapist and esthetician for 20 years. She instantly put me at ease and led me toward the locker rooms to change into a spa robe and slippers. Afterwards she led me to a dimly lit room where she instructed me to lay down on my back. I was about to experience one of the spa’s amazing body treatments: THE MEXICAN CHOCOLATE CAYENNE SCRUB. I, of course, was covered by two small strategically placed towels (I was given the option of a shower cap – I passed). Once I was settled, Kimberly began mixing together some lovely smelling ingredients. She explained that she was mixing crushed chocolate, cayenne pepper and vanilla coffee beans. It smelled divine, and straight away Kimberly got to exfoliating me all over. It felt great to feel all my stress being scrubbed away. Kimberly explained that the fat in the chocolate would work to make my skin feel incredibly soft afterward. The coffee and cayenne served as stimulants and antioxidants. After I was sufficiently scrubbed, I was wrapped up in a sheet and covered with a Mylar sheet. It was lovely being tucked
in and so warm, from the Mylar and the cayenne working it’s magic. While I lay there warm and cozy, Kimberly massaged my aching head. I had no idea I needed that massage so badly, but just as I thought my experience was over, I was unwrapped and directed to wash off in the adjacent shower. Again, I thought I knew what I would be stepping into, yet I found I had stepped into a dream of a shower. Five shower heads at different heights washed warm water all over me, which was such a pleasant experience that I really didn’t want to get out. However, it turns out I needed those five shower heads because chocolate and coffee aren’t as easy as you might think to wash off. I went through two wash cloths! Kimberly had mentioned earlier that this treatment is easy to do at home, and it probably would be, except for the messy side of the whole affair. As lovely as you feel afterward, you would still have all the cleanup to deal with, so I decided if I were to repeat this experience it would be here and with Kimberly. After my shower, I toweled off and could not believe how I felt. My skin was as soft as my two-year-old’s! Next, I was told to lay down again where I was lathered in vanilla body butter. Posttreatment, I got dressed and floated (at least it felt that way) down to the pool where I met my sister, who was waiting to chauffeur me home. She said I was “positively glowing.” I told her to touch my arm – she did, then she did again, her wide eyes saying everything about how soft I felt. Perhaps the most pleasant benefit was the wonderful smell of cayenne and cocoa that became my parfum du jour! The spa brochure said the Mexican Chocolate Cayenne Scrub was refreshing and rejuvenating. This was absolutely no exaggeration; I felt years younger. To celebrate my stolen moments and renewed spirit, we stayed and had lunch by the pool on this gorgeous day in Austin. Arriving home to my children, I found myself in such a great place mentally. With a constant grin and more patience than usual, my cup was full and I was able to give more of myself to them. I know life is hectic and busy, but you have to take time for you, if only to truly enjoy your hectic busy life. Try it, you deserve it, I hope to see you by the pool glowing…. Barton Creek Resort and Spa is located at 8212 Barton Club Drive Austin, Texas 78735 www.bartoncreek.com/spa Spa Reservations 512-329-4550
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