By Babs S. Harrison
Deep in the Sonoran Desert, a pathway of citrus trees leads to a luxurious oasis of wellness centered around natural hot springs revered by indigenous people for their healing properties. Carved from the canyon rock, three pools of pure, scentless, crystal-clear and mineral-rich water established Crystal Hot Springs as Arizona’s first wellness resort in the nineteenth century. Today, blissfully sheltered from the noise of the outside world by the Bradshaw Mountains, Castle Hot Springs attracts guests in search of increasingly rare luxuries: time to reconnect, space in nature and rich experiences that contribute to one’s overall sense of wellbeing in the world.
“This place is meant to be a wellness retreat,” says Robert Stackus, Castle Hot Springs’ spa director. “I love being here with the sounds of the stream, the wind and the birds. At Castle Hot Springs, we have a unique opportunity to embrace the calming effects of nature, and to help guests reconnect with themselves and their bodies.”
Naturally gifted with an innate emotional intelligence to heal through bodywork and massage, Stackus and his team of therapists and experienced wellness practitioners work with guests in three creek-side tented cabanas (for singles or couples) that feature sliding glass doors opening to private meditative views of flora and fauna, interrupted only by an occasional dragonfly darting across the stream. (Come in October if you want to see the butterflies.) The peaceful scene is evocative of a dreamlike botanical painting by Henri Rousseau.
The surrounding natural world and lush landscape provide a healing environment of joy, serenity and renewal, beginning with a pre-treatment soak outdoors in the geothermal waters beneath the palm trees. The naturally-occurring minerals of lithium, magnesium and bicarbonates calm the body, reduce inflammation and improve circulation.
An array of wellness treatments, designed exclusively for Castle Hot Springs, takes inspiration from the spring water and the land’s abundant harvest. The farm-to-table body scrubs, mineral scrubs and clay masks use seasonal herbs and plants plus other local botanicals that are blended on-site with the mineral-rich spring water. Think Lavender Lemongrass Journey for a hydrating wrap and scalp massage, or go for even deeper hydration with a Prickly Pear and Shea Butter Wrap.
There are energy therapies too: reiki and cranial sacral, and a chakra tune-up with tuning forks and singing bowls that work with the healing power of sound.
No matter the treatment, the primary goal is to offer the most luxurious and relaxing experience possible. To ensure the treatment is aligned with the guest’s intention, a one-on-one conversation between the guest and therapist begins each session.
“I ask them what they are here for, and I steer them towards what I think would best serve that purpose, sharing the benefits of the treatment with them,” says Stackus. “Our therapists have the freedom to give guests what they need.”
The most popular treatment is the Castle Hot Springs Custom Massage. “It’s the most flexible massage we offer,” says Stackus. The 60-, 90-, or 120-minute session can incorporate neuromuscular therapy, trigger point massage, myofascial release, stretching and percussion therapy to address specific needs. Because each guest is different, this treatment is endlessly customizable with an array of luxurious additions. How about a Shirodara scalp treatment, a marine collagen face mask, heated Himalayan salt stones, dry brushing, gua sha, cold stone face massage, a foot scrub, or aromatherapy?
Guests seeking something more targeted, like pain relief, are in luck. “We’re all trained in pain management techniques,” says Stackus of the spa team, who recommend the CBD Massage for rapid reduction in felt pain. The treatment uses both CBD oil and balm from a high-quality, concentrated product sourced from a vertically integrated company (meaning the entire production from seed to sale is overseen by the same company). The guest is given the leftover balm to continue the therapy at home.
Post-treatment, guests feel like floating on air back to their bungalow. How to keep the ethereal feeling alive? Robert advises to get a massage once a month. No longer an indulgence, massage is now recognized as a legitimate way to relieve stress and anxiety.
“If everyone got a massage, it would be a better world,” says Robert.
We couldn’t agree more.