by DAN RENZI
With the end of 2008, I felt a life tune-up was in order. So to celebrate the New Year, I made an appointment at one of South Florida’s newest spas, the Spa at the Cabanas Guesthouse. A collection of little cabanas, as the name implies, The Cabanas Guesthouse is hidden behind a high fence along NE 26th St., but inside the property opens to a lovely view of the Intracoastal Waterway.
The Spa is located in one of the cabanas, tucked into a little corner near the water; owners Norman Lachance and Flash Thunder-Fire (such a combustible name for an expert at achieving peace and serenity!) have remodeled the place from top to bottom, turning it into a refreshing oasis with a breezy allwhite interior. I was expecting it to be nice, but not as nice as this. My treatment had three parts: first I began with a full-body scrub, using Babor’s Aromatic Body & Bath Oils and pure Sea Salt ($85). Norman’s hands are big, and strong; the scrub itself felt like a massage, without ever being too harsh from the salt.
Then he wrapped me in a foil sheet to let the oils soak in, which had me worried when I made the appointment, as I though I would be too twitchy to hold still while I was wrapped up like that. But lying there, listening to the music, the experience was very relaxing. After Norman removed the scrub with a warm towel, he popped on his glasses and swung around a light, to take a look at my face. “Hmmm,” he said, as he looked at my pores.
Yes, there was a lot of work to be done. So he treated me to the Anti-Aging Facial ($129), including a collagen mask and exfoliating treatment. It was, without question, the best facial I have ever had—I wouldn’t let anyone come near my face for the rest of the day, in fear they would touch it and spoil the shimmery softness achieved by Lachance’s magic touch.
Lachance then returned to my back, and applied a Hot Stone Massage ($145), a luxurious massage aided by the placement of warmed, smooth rocks along my back. Again, those hands—those amazing hands!—found each knot, yet he never used too much force. He combined this with a Chakra Balancing Massage, to balance my “energy centers and relax the central nervous system.” Shirley Maclaine would approve.
It was definitely a day of indulgence; but any one of these treatments on their own would have been fantastic. I feel so spoiled now! I can’t wait to go back.
in Wilton Manors.
