It used to be that active travelers would be thrilled with a deep tissue massage after a day of hiking, climbing or paddling. But today many Fit Globetrotters are a bit bored with the basic massage, and being adventurous souls, always on the lookout for a new way to soothe their tired muscles.
Allegria Spa at the Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek, Colorado has just that unique balm for your aching back with their Ashiatsu Massage. What sets this treatment apart is that the therapist uses her feet. This barefoot technique has its roots in Asia and ancient Ayurvedic practice. It incorporates Swedish, Myofascial and compression techniques. In addition to using her feet, the therapist does some work by hand or with hot stones.
After a six-hour hike to Beaver Creek Lake, I was ready to work out some kinks in my neck and to simply relax. The Ashiatsu massage didn’t disappoint. The treatment was in a specially designed room that has bars that resemble men’s parallel bars mounted on the ceiling. This gives the therapist something to hold onto as she walks on your back and uses her feet as a massage tool. The massage started like a standard massage, with the therapist using long, sweeping strokes with her hands to warm up and relax the back. I was surprised that when she switched to using her feet, it didn’t feel much different than a massage done by hand. The pressure was similar to a deep tissue massage and not overbearing as one might imagine having someone standing on his or her back might be. It was one of the most relaxing deep tissue massages I’ve ever had. For FitGlobetrotters looking for a unique experience and a way to revive after the day’s adventure, an Ashiatsu massage can’t be beat.
The Skinny:
Allegria Spa
970 949 1234
http://beavercreek.hyatt.com/hyatt/pure/spas/
