Dad's Day Out
Hey Guys, Indulge! Santa Fe spas offer up men's treatments, too.
Carl Johansen, Courtesy Sunrise Springs
Perfect touch: The Head-to-Toe Muscle Relaxer massage at Spa Samadhi makes a great Father's Day gift.
As a kid, choosing a Father’s Day gift usually meant making something yourself, often involving popsicle sticks or plaster molds. This year, how about treating Pop—or yourself—to something spa-ful, especially given that many of our centers of indulgence offer goodies designed with a guy in mind. In fact, the International Spa Association reports that at least a third of today’s spa-goers are male. Mom’s been partaking for years—in a luxury too good to limit to the maternal side of the family.
Used to be, a man’s facial happened at the barbershop:a splash of Barbasol tonic followed by a warm towel. At Mist Skin Care (1012 Marquez #4, 505-986-1356), the Father’s Day Facial ($85) is altogether more soothing. Begin with a warm rosemary-sage compress. Next comes a face scrub, followed by a deep pore cleansing. Your new skin is then wrapped in hot towels while your neck, arms, shoulders, and feet are massaged—a perfect first-timer’s pick.
SháNah means health and vitality in Navajo, and the Native Stone Massage ($125) at the stylish SháNah Spa at Bishop’s Lodge (1297 Bishop’s Lodge, 505-819-4000, shanahspa.com) will leave Dad feeling like royalty. Heated basalt river stones are used to coax knots from tight muscles in a Swedish massage that targets pressure points. Pebbles are even tucked between your toes, bordering on the erotic. On June 12, SháNah debuts a monthly Men’s Spa Night, to encourage more males to get in on the spa action.
Don’t let the country setting of the Inn at Sunrise Springs fool you (242 Los Pinos, 505-428-3614, sunrisesprings.com). Spa Samadhi is world-class.The Head-to-Toe Muscle Relaxer massage ($120) includes an avocado-and-lime rub for the scalp, neck, and shoulders that had me craving guacamole, and a peppermint-and-tea-tree-oil foot rub that took miles off my tired paws.
The Golfer’s Massage ($110) at the Inn and Spa at Loretto’s Spa Terre (211 Old Santa Fe Trail, 505-988-5531, innatloretto.com) targets muscles Dad abuses while swinging his club: upper back, shoulders, and hips. While I’ve never stepped foot on a course, this bodywork designed for the Tiger Woodses of the world still helped my aches and stiffness.I went back to the kitchen and swung my spatulas and whisks, pain-free.—John Vollertsen
