But only one blends a centuries-old culture and traditions with modern treatments and amenities - the Native American-owned Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort spa.

Located on the Gila River Indian Community, just 11 miles south of downtown Phoenix, this spa feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Step inside here and you'll feel instantly transported to a calm, peaceful environment.

Aji Spa at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort

Every detail - from the spa menu to the spa's front door placement - reflects the heritage and culture of the two Gila River tribes: the Akimel O’otham (Pima) and the Pee Posh (Maricopa).

At Aji Spa, you can immerse yourself in the desert and Native American healing traditions and get your nails done too.

Set along a recreation of the Gila River, Aji Spa is a full service facility with its own pool, spa café, native plant garden and an Olas Ki - a traditional O’otham roundhouse, now used for meditation.

From the spa’s patios and picture windows are sweeping views of the desert and mountains.

Aji Spa's tranquil setting, friendly and helpful staff and rejuvenating treatments renewed both our bodies and our spirits.

You don’t have to be a guest of Wild Horse Pass Resort to visit the spa.

However, if you’re looking for a unique Arizona resort to stay at during your Arizona vacation, Wild Horse Pass is a good option.

An Olas Ki, a traditional dwelling, is used for mediation sessions at Aji Spa

During times of conflict, O’otham women and children would be sent to a safe retreat in the nearby mountains on the Gila River community.

Called Aji, this sanctuary high up in the hills allowed them to see over vast distances with great clarity.

Aji Spa takes this concept of clarity and sanctuary to symbolize the mission of the spa.

Using the symbols, traditions and lifestyle of the Pima and Maricopa people, Aji Spa provides a healing sanctuary to help spa goers find renewed clarity and perspective and escape the stresses of daily life.

The Aji Spa menu is inspired by community traditions. So each treatment is listed with its Pima or Maricopa name and its English equivalent.

Therapies span the range of massages, body treatments and facials.

Aji Spa has many quiet spaces to relax

The Ho'Dai, or Gila River Rock Massage ($195/80 minutes), uses warmed Gila River stones, which the tribes' used for centuries to alleviate pain and soothe the body.

Shuhthagi, also known as Watsu ($135/50 minutes), reflects the historical importance of water to the desert dwelling people.

The Watsu pool was built in the style of the Vatho, a common outdoor living space.

During Watsu, the warm water allows the therapist to loosen your spine and muscles with gentle rocking movements not possible on a traditional massage table.

The Aji Spa Café has a juice bar

Every aspect of its design reflects the lifestyle and culture of the tribes.

As you walk into the spa, notice that the entrance faces east in keeping with the O’otham tradition of having doorways oriented to greet the rising sun.

The spa's four domes echo the design of historic dwellings, called Olas Ki.

Under each dome is an intricate tile mosaic that tells stories of the traditional lifeways of the O’otham and Pee Posh peoples.

The spa is comfortable and inviting with spacious, airy rooms, thick-cushioned chairs and beehive fireplaces.

Soothing desert colors of tan, brown and terra cotta create a calming atmosphere.

Paintings by local Native American artists illustrate the culture and lifeways of the tribes.

Large windows look out to the private spa pool and desert beyond.

The women's locker room

The locker rooms are large and have every amenity including indoor and outdoor whirlpools, steam room and dry sauna.

The Aji Spa Café serves spa cuisine with a Native American twist.

Dishes such as...

• quinoa salad with shaved fennel and Gila River citrus vinaigrette ($13)
• pasilla chile flat bread pizza with achiote chicken and ancho pepper ailoi ($14)

Post-treatment, take a walk along the 2.5 mile interpretative nature trail behind the spa.

This easy, paved path follows the recreated Gila River and has lovely mountain, desert and golf course views.

The spa lounge has a beehive fireplace and Native American art

This is a customized treatment that blends both Swedish massage and therapeutic massage techniques.

His therapist was kind and very skillful.

She had quite a bit of power in her arms and hands, which she really applied to his areas of muscle tightness and tension.

He thought that this massage would be good for anyone with old injuries or repetitive stress issues.

I tried the Bahn – the Blue Coyote Wrap ($185/80 minutes), one of Aji Spa’s signature treatments.

This therapy is inspired by the Pima legend of the Bluebird and Coyote in which Coyote, envious of bluebird’s beautiful blue color, takes the blue color for his own coat.

This wrap is a deluxe experience and includes a full body massage.

My cheerful and friendly therapist led me to a special treatment room with a private shower.

The room’s centerpiece was a large hydrotone thermal body treatment capsule.

Aji Spa's hydrotone thermal body treatment capsule

Aji Spa is one of the few spas in Arizona to have one.

The capsule is like a mini-steam room and provides the same therapeutic effects.

The treatment started with me lying face up on the towel-lined “bed” of the opened capsule.

My therapist first gave me a full body dry brush exfoliation in preparation for the wrap.

Next she applied an Azulene mud to my skin.

A beautiful blue color, Aji Spa’s proprietary mud contains the natural compound chamazulene, which is derived from the herb, German chamomile.

Chamazulene is a potent anti-inflammatory produced during the distillation of essential oil from the flowers.

The Aji Spa whirlpool and cold plunge in the men’s locker room

This versatile essential oil is a bright blue color and is said to be useful in treating sore and inflamed joints, muscles and tendons as well as headaches, digestive tract upset, allergies and sensitive, inflamed or irritated skin.

Once I was completely coated in the blue mud, she wrapped the towels over my body and closed the lid of the capsule over me.

She told me to let her know if I began to feel claustrophobic in the capsule, however, there was no need.

The capsule was quite large and comfortable.

The tall, arched lid left about a foot and a half of space above my body and only covered me up to my collarbone.

After I was settled in, she turned on the steam. Soon, I felt pleasantly warm and hydrated.

The indoor whirlpool in the women's locker room

While I relaxed in the capsule for 20 minutes, she gave me a soothing scalp and facial massage.

Very quickly, 20 minutes were up and it was time for me to shower off the mud while she left the room.

When she returned, she led me to a smaller treatment room with a massage table.

Here, she gave me a full body massage with a hydrating and fragrant cedar and sage body oil.

I really liked this treatment because it combined the therapeutic effects of a body wrap, massage and steam room.

• It’s recommended that your reserve your spa appointments at least two weeks in advance; allow additional time for appointments on holiday and weekends.
• Spa and salon treatments must be guaranteed with a credit card number.

Location: Gila River Indian Community, just south of Chandler and Phoenix Arizona.

Address: 5594 West Wildhorse Pass Boulevard, Chandler, Arizona 85226

Google Map Directions: Click on "+" and "-" signs on Map Controls in upper left hand corner to zoom in and out on the location.

Phone: (602) 385-5759

Hours:
Spa hours: Daily 6:00 am – 8:00 pm
Spa Treatment Hours: Daily 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Spa Café Hours: Sunday – Thursday 10:00 am -4:00 pm;
Friday – Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Size: 17,500 square feet

Amenities:

The private whirlpool outside the women's locker room

• 17 custom-designed treatment rooms
• Separate women’s and men’s locker rooms with dry sauna, steam room, indoor and outdoor whirlpools
• private swimming pool
• Watsu pool
• hydrotone thermal full body treatment capsule
• Olas Ki, a traditional Pima roundhouse dwelling, for meditation
• 2.5 mile interpretive river trail
• full service salon
• Fitness center and motion studio with yoga and Pilates classes
• Aji Spa Café

Spa Services:

The Aji Spa menu has a full range of massages, facials and body treatments. Average treatment cost is $125 for 50-minutes.

Treatment specialties include:

• Thahtat/Nohnhov - Reflexology ($125/50 minutes): a treatment that uses pressure points on the hands and feet to stimulate specific areas of the body, thereby helping to remove toxins, improve circulation and reduce stress and fatigue.
• Tashogith – Purifying White Clay Facial ($125/50 minutes): traditionally used for centuries, white clay is rich in minerals and natural plant extracts. This facial balances and purifies the skin.
• Akimel Ohn – River Salt Glow ($125/50 minutes): this Vichy treatment uses River Blend bath salts to detoxify and cleanse the skin followed by a soak in soothing River Blend bath gel and ends with an application of Native River Blend oil.

Age Policy: Guests must be 16 years or older to receive a spa treatment. Guests 16 – 18 must have a parent or guardian present during the treatment (companion or salon treatments only).

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations or reschedules must be made 4 hours in advance to avoid being charged for a scheduled treatment.

Service Charge: No. Gratuities are not included in the treatment price. Customary gratuities are 18% - 20%.

Facility Fee: No fee with purchase of one spa treatment. To use the spa without receiving spa treatment, resort and non-resort guest will be charged a separate daily fee. Call for current pricing.

Spa Check-In Policy: Aji Spa recommends checking in at least 30 minutes prior to your treatment time.

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