GAIA Day Spa Brings the Prospect of Beauty to La Jolla

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While the bustling Prospect Street in La Jolla is known as the epitomized mix of hip trend and timeless luxury, any knowing North County resident is aware posh Prospect has its perils. Most La Jolla drivers consider dodging pedestrians a part of daily life, and finding parking has everything to do with good 'car-ma' and all-out aggression.

While scouring Prospect for the location of Gaia Spa, I was looking forward to relaxation but found myself stressing about parking, making my meeting on time, and the other arrayed worries associated with venturing into the heart of downtown La Jolla.

With a distracted mind, I made a slight turn on Prospect to find a surprising sight - a quaint day spa sitting quietly amongst classic La Jolla cottages with a plethora of spa-front parking that could have brought me to tears. Absent from this scene were packs of tourists swarming crowded boutiques, and the incessant hopscotch honking of cars and seals seemed to melt into nothingness even before I secure the E-break. Just beyond the buzz of Prospect awaits a true sanctuary: Gaia Spa in La Jolla.

Through modest doors I was welcomed with fresh scents of lemon and rose. I felt immediately transported into a scene reminiscent of Fern Gully; wispy leafless trees strung with twinkling lights mesh perfectly with the dim overhead lighting to give the lobby an air of fantasy. Serenaded by the soothing sound of water cascading from the classic stone fountains, I browsed the selection of organic products nestled in between exotic beaded jewelry and mineral makeup for sale.

Gaia Spa sparked the La Jolla spa craze. As the first spa in the Village, and one of the first all-organic spas in San Diego, Gaia has been raising the bar in beauty treatments since opening its doors over ten years ago. The estheticians at Gaia know every detail about the spa, from their partnership with the Green Spa Network to the ingredients in their organic skin care products.

Walking from the pristine, yet slightly product-packed, lobby into the "Sage" treatment room, I was utterly amazed at the sheer size and ambiance. The treatment rooms are each spacious "private suites" and Sage left me speechless with its private sauna and shower, massage table, and the deepest, most luxurious whirlpool tub I have ever seen. Each treatment room within Gaia has a slightly different theme and purpose, yet the warm tile flooring, soft, peachy-colored walls, and fresh orchids bring the entire spa atmosphere together beautifully.

Gaia day spa adheres to principles of feng-shui "to create a space of sensory comfort and renewal" for its affluent La Jolla clients as well as tired tourists staying at the neighboring La Valencia hotel. Entering Gaia is like entering into the spa of your dreams: the spa with your own private hot tub, the spa with products that nourish your skin while protecting the environment, the spa where your favorite scents such as sour cherry can be used to beautify your skin, the spa where you can discover your own "oasis of tranquility."

Check out the Shindy.TV exclusive on Gaia Day Spa:

Although the treatment list at Gaia Spa is small, the treatments themselves are combinations of exotic ingredients and unique, non-western techniques. Their signature Banya Body Wellness Treatment utilizes a luxurious honey mixture for hydration and a eucalyptus branch massage to help boost both your metabolic and immune systems. The most lavish pampering package, however, is the 3.5 hour La Jolla Synergy Treatment which is a creative cocktail consisting of a Vichy exfoliation, an herbal steam sauna, a Swedish massage, and an ultra-refining facial.

While common belief is that spa treatments are only for special occasions, Gaia believes everyone should "make spa apart of [their] lives - spa treatments promote overall health and well being while helping to put you in a place where you appreciate life more and live in total happiness." The happiness in discovering the perfect, and most original of La Jolla spas is enough to keep me a regular spa-goer for life.

Insider Tip: Check out the Jane Iredale mineral makeup sold in the spa lobby. This award-winning makeup line is said to be the "most technically advanced makeup in the world," and will leave your skin looking flawless while helping restore its original health.

Escape the MAC mall madness and read more on makeup with the Best San Diego Spas for Alternative Makeup Application.