The Miraval brand is synonymous with wellness, offering topnotch guest experiences at its three locations in the U.S., including Tucson, AZ, Austin, TX, and Lenox, MA. Recently, Miraval partnered with a resort property to help bring its expansive menu of spa and mindfulness offerings the brand is known for to even more guests. Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa (Carlsbad, CA), situated along Southern California’s Pacific coastline, is the first outside of a Miraval resort, and is one part of the resort’s $60-million property-wide renovation. In addition to the creation of Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara, the renovation also includes a redesign to the resort’s lobby entrance and spacious public areas, enhanced pool offerings, the introduction of several restaurant and bar concepts, and upgrades to the resort’s 83,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces. “The capstone of Park Hyatt Aviara’s resort-wide renovation, Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara celebrates its coastal California setting with amenities that support guests in creating balance and cultivating mindfulness,” says Angee Smithee, director of spa and wellbeing at Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara. “Exclusive to Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara, the Batiquitos Sanctuary honors the neighboring Batiquitos Lagoon with indoor and outdoor treatment spaces, and the indoor solarium Quiet Lounge serves as a respite for reflection and rejuvenation. Additional amenities include a Pilates studio; a spacious studio for yoga and meditation; a sauna, steam room and whirlpool; and a state-of-the-art fitness center with Technogym and strength-training equipment.”
According to Smithee, from the moment guests arrive at Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara, they feel the cleansing energy of the purposefully placed crystals, cairns, and mandalas situated in the entrance. “Miraval Life in Balance Spa engages all the senses to promote the feeling of life-enhancing simplicity,” she says. “A perfect blend of design, service, and experience create a space of tranquility and holistic wellbeing.” The spa has several traditional treatment rooms along with Miraval-specific treatment spaces for Nâga, a form of Thai massage; Vasudhara; and the Batiquitos Sanctuary, which consists of four outdoor treatment cabanas. “To access the Batiquitos Sanctuary spa area, guests walk through circular arches wrapped in jasmine plants that serve as a transcendent portal from the indoor space to the outdoor treatment rooms,” says Smithee.
Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara’s extensive menu of signature services and wellness activities are designed to help soothe and nurture the mind and body by focusing the guest’s attention on the present moment. From Ayurveda, sound bathing, chakra balancing, breathwork, and meditation to rejuvenating skincare, traditional massage, body renewal rituals, reflexology, craniosacral, and Reiki practices, Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara offers something for everyone.
In addition to Miraval’s signature spa treatments, new services have been developed exclusively for Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara. Ocean Song ($460, 1 hour 40 minutes) is a body renewal ritual that invokes the vitality and peace of an ocean wave. The service begins with a rosemary sea salt exfoliation followed by a soothing sweet birch and magnesium soak and a full-body massage. The service concludes with the harmonic vibrations of a singing bowl and sounds of the sea to center the soul. The Warrior’s Recovery ($360, 1 hour 20 minutes) is designed to help restore muscles and ease tension. The body is prepared for a deep-tissue massage with warm herbal poultices and advanced stretching techniques to create a synergy that leaves the body and spirit feeling relaxed and recharged. “Being a new Miraval Life in Balance Spa, our guests are looking for unique and authentic journeys to expand and embrace their intentions at our resort, including being open to experiencing the spa’s non-traditional services like Nâga or Warrior’s Recovery,” says Smithee.
Pre- and post-treatment, guests can enjoy a variety of complimentary tasty treats and beverages. In addition, guests looking to experience some of the culinary offerings available can sign up for interactive experiences like ceviche and salsa making, smoothie blending, and sip and snack cocktail classes. “Each culinary, nutrition, and cultivation experience fosters appreciation and sparks inspiration, offering guests the opportunity to customize their personal wellbeing journey within the culinary, beverage and nutrition, and cultivation space,” says Smithee.
Part of the Miraval experience focuses on fitness and outdoor adventures. Luckily, Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara offers plenty of both, including the Gratitude Hike at Batiquitos Lagoon, a guided trail walk that incorporates intention setting, gratitude, and breathwork, as well as a Breathe & Stretch Mindfully class that teaches various breathing and stretching techniques to positively impact physical and emotional wellbeing. Another option, is Bungee Fitness, a low-impact, highintensity workout that synchronizes breath and movement using resistance to tone the body and improve cardiovascular endurance. There’s also a large studio on property for yoga and meditation, and a spacious Pilates studio with state-of-the-art equipment from Balanced Body.
While many of the guests at Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara are visitors to the property from out of town, locals are encouraged to utilize the facilities and experience the offerings, as well. To encourage locals to visit, the spa offers a membership program for community members interested in incorporating the brand’s holistic approach to wellbeing into their daily lives. In addition to access to spa amenities, members also receive discounted spa services and fee-based experiences, invites to monthly Miraval Life in Balance Culinary experiences, quarterly member-exclusive social events, and more.
Locals and visitors alike can browse the spa’s retail boutique for a selection of items to help guests take the journey back home with them. “Several brands have long been part of the experience at the full-service Miraval resorts in Tucson, Austin, and the Berkshires, such as Naturopathica, Dr. Dennis Gross, and Zents,” says Smithee. “In addition to these brands, we offer local products that celebrate the destination and the distinctive colleagues and experiences here. Our retail offerings are as unique as our guests, reflecting our core philosophy of mindful living with a coastal California twist. Our boutique is curated with apparel, jewelry, bodycare, and accessory products that are imaginative, sustainable, consciously sourced, and intended to help our guests continue their journey toward ‘life in balance’ at home.”
From the spa and wellness services and amenities to the fitness offerings, cuisine, and retail boutique, Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara strives to make sure it creates the best environment and ideal itinerary to align with the high expectations guests have come to associate with the Miraval brand during their visit. “Our focus is ensuring that each guest leaves their journey renewed, refreshed, and enlightened,” says Smithee. “Our team works each day to listen, ask the right questions, and create meaningful experiences that will fulfill each guest’s intention while staying at Park Hyatt Aviara.”