Regal Relaxation at San Diego Spa Velia

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Relax and breathe. A whiff of sweet, clear mango hurtled through my senses and mushroomed calm behind my eyes. Strong, purposeful fingertips slowly thumbed the length of my calf, dissolving the lumps of taut muscle into a sea of warm tissue.

The stress of the week fell away as easily as the oversized terry cloth robe I had hastily shrugged off at Spa Velia in Downtown San Diego. After all, I was experiencing one of the specialty spa treatments, the luxurious milk and honey body wrap inspired by the legendary bathing rituals of Egyptian Queen Cleopatra.

The 80 minute session began with a rubdown of the mango honey sugar scrub slathered over every inch of my bare skin, save the chest and hips which were securely hidden beneath two strips of towels. The application of the mixture consisted of a 45 minute massage covering the soles of my feet to the ends of my fingers, even around my nails, elbows, thighs, knees, and calves, until the thick coat of fruit tinged honey sheathed my limbs, back, and stomach like silicone armor.

Microbeads of crystalline sugar rolled across the surface of my skin to exfoliate and rejuvenate the tired cells. A bowl of warm milk was drizzled over the honey to complete the dressing. "This treatment is so fun to give," grinned my masseuse Theresa, "even though I have to clean up the mess later."

The corners of the towel and plastic wrap I was laying on were pulled out and snugly wrapped around my body. Honey contains a chemical known as Humectin that has moisturizing properties to seal moisture in the skin. I was to "marinate," as Theresa put it, for the remainder of the treatment.

While I lay unmoving in my delicious cocoon, Theresa massaged my shoulders, neck, scalp, and temples. Gentle but firm hands kneaded pressure points on my stiff neck, while round, circular motions on the scalp chased away any remaining tension.

Finally it was time to rinse off the now tepid honey scrub. A shower head was taken from the side of a wall. I lay immobile as Theresa washed off the stickiness, the towels covering my chest still in place. Thoroughly cleansed, I was flipped over onto my stomach to enjoy a backrub administered with pomegranate massage oils for the last 20 minutes.

Treatment over, I emerged from the quiet, dark room perfumed and pampered with the most decadent treatment to date, stumbling slightly in my perfectly relaxed state towards the spa sitting room.

Lounging on a lush, red velvet couch, I sipped my slender glass of pomegranate mimosa and took a rest. The gorgeous sitting room was designed to exude calm luxe. Small, ornate lamps dimly lit the cozy space. At the entrance stands a flat rectangular stone cascading sheets of murmuring water. A wood framed mirror occupies the side of one wall, and an elaborate metal filigree of a cross fits inside a circle gracing the adjacent wall. Refreshments such as butter cookies and a trail mix of almonds and cashew nuts fill delicate glass bowls at the counter. Tea provided by Extraordinary Desserts is available, and requests can be made for white wine, champagne, and even fruit infused mimosas. I leaned back to peruse a pamphlet.

Spa Velia was created by best friends Jody Rogers and Dana Stallings. The pair had been in the spa industry since 1989, and drew from vast experience in management, operations, and customer service positions at various gym spas and resort spas. The beginnings of Spa Velia stemmed from what Jody describes as "Our idea of what a spa should be. Working in the spa industry all these years, we always thought if we had a spa we would want it to be like this or like that, and we finally realized those concepts when we opened Spa Velia." They were joined by Chris Guimond in 2004, who contributed "male insight" to appeal to a male customer base.

One of the most unique aspects of Spa Velia is the gender friendly quality. Pinks and pastels are nowhere to be found, instead the color scheme runs a spectrum of deep, rich hues from maroon to moss green, and various neutrals such as brown and beige. By not precluding men as customers, Spa Velia gained some major marketing advantages. Almost half the regulars are men, and couples packages such as the Geranium Thermal Wrap in which couples receive treatments side by side, are highly popular. Indeed, the girl sitting next to me in the steam room was on a special Valentine's Day trip at the spa with her boyfriend.

Other notable features of this San Diego spa include the beautiful changing rooms. Each shower is replete with a total of seven shower heads with adjustable pressure controls, poised to spray water below the shoulders to avoid getting hair wet. Hair products and lotions are also discreetly tucked in little drawers to avoid any cause for inconvenience or discomfort. Although there is no sauna, the steam room more than compensated.

Water condensed at the ceiling, dripping onto yellow checkers that tiled the room from wall to floor. Wet heat seeps below the skin to loosen sore muscles. A chain in the corner can be pulled to release an ice cold shower to balance the steam. A tug, and the splash of cold water rushing down jolted me out of my relaxed stupor. I headed towards the changing room ready to face the rest of the night.

The buildup of everyday stress, tension, and noise was instantly dissolved by recuperating at Spa Velia - a spa that makes luxury its business. Spa Velia is invested in capturing otherworldly opulence and tranquility, but is simultaneously able to provide an environment of comfort and ease reminiscent of home.

Insider tip: The steam room is co-ed, so be sure to wear a towel or bathrobe.