Spa Avania

With work deadlines and family commitments, it can be a real challenge to find our own natural pace.

The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch's new 2.7 acre, $9 million Spa Avania recognizes this and wants to reconnect spa goers with their body's own natural schedule.

So, they've designed their treatments and services according to the "science of time."

When you visit Spa Avania Hyatt, the type of massage you choose, the tea you drink and the spa cuisine you eat are synchronized to the time of day to harmonize with your body's natural cycles, also known as biorhythms.

The Hyatt Spa mineral pool is contains French Celtic minerals

The Hyatt Scottsdale Spa, which opened in July 2005, is the only spa in the United States to incorporate this philosophy.

With its Asian-style decor, full suite of amenities and comprehensive menu of therapies, Spa Avania is a unique addition to spas in Scottsdale AZ.

Spa Avania is located on the grounds of the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch.

This spacious property has with a contemporary Southwestern design, verdant gardens, a 7-acre lake and a 2.5 acre water playground of pools, waterfalls and a white sand beach.

Although it is in the middle of Scottsdale, the Hyatt spa and resort are hidden away off of busy Scottsdale Road, giving the property a secluded air.

The Gainey Ranch area is known for its country club homes, golf courses and upscale shopping.

The fountain in the Hyatt Gainey Spa lobby

Specifically, the body’s own internal daily time clock.

Spa Avania uses this "science of time" to create a unique, holistic spa experience that can help you re-discover and enhance your own natural daily rhythms.

This Hyatt Spa has seven essential elements integral to its spa experience:

• 1. spa treatments
• 2. mineral water therapy
• 3. diet
• 4. music
• 5. YogaAway™
• 6. fine teas
• 7. natural light.

The spa incorporates these seven elements into treatment offerings that harmonize with the body’s natural cycles during three specific periods of the day:

• morning – awakening and revitalization
• midday – restoration and balance
• evening – relaxation and repair.

By catering to the body’s daily internal needs, Hyatt has created a total immersion spa experience in hopes that you achieve an ideal state the spa calls "avania" - the Greek word meaning "tranquil."

In order to fully experience this time-of-day philosophy, guests are encouraged to try one the multi-hour Spa Avania packages.

These packages include 2 to 4 treatments, teas, a YogaAway™ class, and Spa Flights – a specifically selected grouping of gourmet spa dishes.

Spa Avania is part of the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch

On the inside, however, the spa is large and lavish.

The design is modern, sleek and stylish with Asian accents.

Colors are in earth tones of brown, tan and ivory.

Natural elements like willow branches, smooth river stones and plants bring nature into the space and create a Zen-like tranquility.

The staff is clad in black pants and long sleeved shirts with Mandarin collars, echoing the Asian theme.

Hyatt Gainey Spa’s literature states that the spa is filled with natural light but I found many of the spaces to be a little dark.

Curiously, the women’s locker room was not as spacious as I would have expected.

It, too, continued the hip, modern theme with ivory fabric walls, dark granite counters and dark wood bowls that held pyramids of apples and oranges.

Dark brown baskets kept sundries like washcloths, combs and cotton balls tidy in keeping with the Feng Shui harmony of the rooms.

Even the bathroom sinks have a stylish design

Beyond the locker area was the women’s Relaxation Room where guests wait for their therapist.

This room was light and airy with cream-colored walls, rattan lounge chairs and stylish black and white close-up photos of flowers, leaves and stones.

Locker room amenities included:

• a serene tiled patio with an outdoor whirlpool and a cold plunge pool
• a small sitting area with lounge chairs and plenty of magazines
• bright blue bottles of Pelagonia water – a specialty mineral water from ancient Macedonia, which is now part of Bulgaria.

There is also an outdoor co-ed spa pool. The pool deck is two-tiered with areas for sitting out in the sun or in the shade.

For a spa of its size, there were only three showers in the women’s locker room.

Each was quite large and had an organic feel with floors and walls of large flagstones and multiple showerheads.

It was a bit like walking into a rocky grotto.

Unfortunately there were no benches, just one small ledge and a few hooks to hang a robe and towels.

These were in the shower, so when I turned on the water, my towels and robe got wet.

The outdoor whirlpool in the women’s lounge area at the spa

Curiously, two of the showers had no doors.

The third shower was fully handicap accessible and did have a frosted glass door.

Spa Avania’s literature mentions that guests will pass through different music zones as they move through the spa.

The music didn’t seem to be on in most areas I was in with the exception of the women’s locker room.

Here the music was a mix of up-tempo technopop tunes more suited to a hip nightclub than a relaxing spa experience.

If you don’t like what’s playing, ask for one of the personal Apple iPods for use during your stay.

The lounge in the women’s locker room

The Rituals are essentially soothing massages primarily using effleurage - one of the four basic strokes of Swedish massage – which is a soothing, stroking movement that does not drag against the skin.

This type of stroke warms and wakens the muscles.

Massage fans should note that this treatment does include deep tissue massage.

After the introductions, my therapist led me from the women’s Relaxation Room outside to the treatment rooms which are alongside the pool.

The first order of business was the music.

All treatment rooms at Spa Avania have an iPod and speaker system that features ten customizable playlists attuned to the body’s reaction to the time of day.

My therapist handed me a small music menu with the selections based on a concept such as:

• Sunrise: Rise · Shine · Uplifting
• Midday: Modern · Vibration · Balancing.

Not wanting to end up with music similar to what I heard in the locker room, I chose Desert: Flute · Global · Native.

As I expected, I was treated to the graceful notes of Native American flute music.

Simple décor accents give the spa a tranquil air

The massage began face down.

The oil blend for this ritual included the senses - awakening basil and clove essential oils, which instantly brought to mind the sunny Mediterranean landscape.

The Aroma Sunrise Ritual was a soothing and gentle massage, perfect for those who can’t handle the intensity of a deep tissue massage.

I really enjoyed this treatment. Afterwards, I felt relaxed yet invigorated and ready to face the day.

If only I could start every day this way!

Spa Avania is a sleek and stylish addition to the spa resorts in Scottsdale AZ.

The spa's innovative concept of tailoring the spa visit to complement and enhance the body’s daily biorhythms made for a unique experience.

Overall, I liked the spa’s clean lines and Zen-like sense of serenity.

I enjoyed the many amenities like the rare teas and the outdoor plunge pools.

My therapist was wonderful. He had a very warm welcoming manner, a kind nature and a gentle smile.

Just one of the ten pools at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch

The women’s locker room spa attendant was also very helpful and gave me a very thorough tour of the facilities.

My only complaint is about the front desk staff. When I called to book my appointment, I received great service. The woman who answered the phone was very upbeat and enthusiastic.

She took great care in describing the services, given that Spa Avania’s chic little white and robin’s egg blue-colored spa menu is big on style and slim on detail.

My appointment was the first one available at 8:00 a.m.

Arriving at the spa desk at the recommended 30 minutes prior, the young girl behind the counter gave me one of those looks that you often get from a mall store clerk when you’ve shown up 2 minutes before closing time.

I found this surprising given that the spa had just opened. But she checked me in quickly and the spa attendant whisked me off to the locker room.

When I went to sign out upon departure, there were two different receptionists, a young guy and girl both of whom had the attitude of bored teenagers in a museum.

Spa Avania’s literature says that as guests move back out through the zones of the spa, the experience should prepare them to face the day.

• Guests have full spa access for the entire day of their spa treatment.
• Spa and salon treatments must be guaranteed with a credit card number.
• Spa Avania recommends that your reserve your spa appointments at least two weeks in advance; allow additional time for appointments on holiday and weekends.

Location: Central Scottsdale on the grounds of the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch

Address: 7500 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

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

Phone: (480) 483-5558

Hours: Daily 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Size: 21,000 square feet

Amenities:

• 18 indoor treatment rooms and 5 garden treatment rooms with their own private entrance, gardens and meditative spaces.
• Separate men's and women's locker rooms with dry sauna, steam room, eucalyptus inhalation room. Men's locker room features a flat-screen digital television and stocked minibar.
• Relaxation Room opens to outdoor garden with hot whirlpool and cold plunge pool.
• Outdoor heated pool filled with French Celtic minerals. Split level pool deck and fountains in peaceful garden setting.
• Spa Avania Flights are special spa meals served according to the time of day philosophy. Sunrise, Midday and Sunset Flights are $15. À la carte items $6. Small plates $12.

Teas: Spa Avania serves a range of rare tea blends from China, the Himalaya, Japan, Egypt and Italy. They claim to be the first spa to serve distinctive teas that are biodynamic, organic and planted and harvested in harmony with the lunar cycle. Prices start at $5.

• YogaAway™: There are three types of yoga classes offered: fitness, stress reduction and mental focus. Three sessions per day (except Mondays) at 8:00 am, 11:45 am and 4:45 pm. Group classes $18, private classes $100.
• Fitness Room with LifeFitness cardio equipment and weight machines with digital television monitors as well as free weights. On-site StayFit concierge. Open daily 6:00 a.m. -10:00 p.m. Resort guest have 24-hour access.
• You can also sign up for personal training sessions and group and private yoga classes. There is a $6.00 daily fee for use (waived with the Resort Service Program).
• Guests can ask for Apple iPods to use during their visits which are programmed with music to match the guest’s treatment.

Spa Services:

Spa Avania treatments are synchronized with the time of day. Therapies include massages, facials, body wraps and aromatic Vichy. The average spa treatment price is $135 for a 60-minute therapy.

Spa packages - known as "Experiences," "Journeys" and "Passages" - combine treatments, teas and cuisines. They range from two to four hours ($279 - $495).

For example, among the morning offerings, the 2-hour "Experience One" begins with an Energizing Vichy followed by the aroma Sunrise Ritual Massage.

Included in the package is a YogaAway™ class. For your morning spa meal, you might choose the Sunrise Flight Three of smoked salmon · sprouts · hazelnut oil.

À la carte treatments include:

• alpha-collagen facial ($135/60 minutes)
• Blackberry balm hand massage ($80/30 minutes)
• Desert Essence Body Wrap ($130/60 minutes)
• Avania suite for two – a couple’s ritual in a private suite ($300/60 minutes).

Spa Avania's Salon offers hair treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing and eye treatments. There’s also a separate Men’s Grooming menu.

Age Policy: Guests must be 16 years or older.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations or reschedules must be made 8 hours in advance to avoid being charged for a scheduled treatment.

Service Charge/Gratuities: A 19% service charge is added to spa and salon treatments and package prices.

Facility Fee: Entrance to Spa Avania is included in the Resort Service Program of $12 per day. No facility fee for non-resort guests receiving a treatment.

Spa Check-In Policy: It is recommended that you arrive 30 minutes before your appointment to familiarize yourself with the spa and prepare for your treatment.

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