Last week I was invited to attend a really fun event! Set in the best part of Malibu at the  Malibu Colony Plaza — it was far enough up the coast, past the Malibu pier to experience spa treatments and products in both a spa and in a private home fronting the beach at almost the Ventura county line.  While the trip up can sometimes be full of traffic, my partner-in-crime Annie and I made the trip in just about 60 minutes which was record time particularly on  a Sunday.

We flew past all the typical tourist parts of Malibu and started our "spa journey" at the TOLA  Life Spa  Sanctuary in Malibu Colony Plaza. This upscale center features fabulous clothing and book stores as well as a chic restaurant or two (Granita anyone?). Given that this center is almost at the gateway (and we mean that pretty literally) to the Malibu Colony group of beachfront homes that celebs live in, it’s a very upscale  location. We passed by faces that were clearly recognizable who preferred to enjoy a leisurely Sunday brunch and were left in peace by those around them.

TOLA Life Spa Sanctuary is a most unique spa. It presents Aveda products only in the front section of the store. Complete with every sort of Aveda product, the staff was exceptionally knowledgeable about the Aveda line and Ayurvedic treatment of skin, hair and body. We were given questionnaires to fill out and I wound up being mostly Infinity with a dose of Air and Water tossed into the mix. (I am a true eclectic!) I loved the light, bright airiness of the store and wasn’t sure what to expect in the spa but knew that to survive in the attention- intense area of Malibu and its celebrity clientele that it would be something wonderful. Offered a choice of facials and massages, I chose to experience the HydroTherm Massage  ( which was a full spa service at the spa while mini-treatments were offered at the private home) and was dying to find out just how different this was from a sports massage. The description sounded quite enticing.  ( below the photo is of the retail space of the TOLA Life Spa Sanctuary and in the very back in that red area is the door to the Sanctuary)

Wonderful doesn’t quite describe the experience!

While both Annie and I have had our share of spa treatments respectively from all kinds of venues (from Hawaii to Europe and all over the US), what lay in store for us was something we didn’t expect. Behind a heavy wood door, we were transported to another world– a world of exotic sights, sounds, smells and treatments.

It’s dimly lit to give you an "otherworldly" feeling of being almost in a Middle Eastern souk. Draped with richly colored fabrics with a sensual feel, we were escorted to the low-lit women’s locker room to change into luxe robes that were cozy and thick. This locker room offers a shower as well as all the accoutrements that one would need including body wash, a full range of hair products, and grooming tools. These plus thick pile towels and a large earthen and glass jug of water flavored with cucumber and lemon and lots of beautifully scented candles completed the transformation.

Emerging from the locker room, I was led to a chair and was given a sensory evaluation to select the ayurvedic oil that would be used on me during my massage.  Closing my eyes and having bottles of herbal scents wafted under my nose, I wound up choosing the Frankincense oil and it suited my very stressed mood that had been surrounding me for weeks.  My forehead was anointed with the oil and gently rubbed in. After I was given a heated neck pillow to relax my neck, I could feel the coils of tension unwind within my body. In front of my chair was placed a large bowl and pleasantly warm water was poured into it and then my feet popped in. Yum! It felt good. The spa attendant proceeded to give my feet a salt scrub, a rinse and then a short massage. Bliss was starting to overcome me as I relaxed back into the comfy chair and enjoyed the warm neck wrap to encourage my neck to let go.( Below is the photo of the footbath area. When in treatment, it’s dimly lit with lanterns and candles and the  room is cast into different colored lights thanks to the drapes of violet and azure and amber.)

After about 15 minutes, my massage therapist, Alicia, came to lead me to the Water room which is painted blue for water. Each of the suites is painted in accordance with an ayurvedic aspect: Earth, Water, Fire, Air. It seemed natural to me to put a water based massage in the "water" room. It’s smelled lovely as the chosen frankincense oil was spread all over the water mattress that topped the massage table. I got onto the mattress and covered up with the light blanket and about passed out from the heavenly feel of warm blankets and intense feeling of laying on a water -bed type cushions filled with hot water! It’s was like  nestled in a warm watery cocoon where you aren’t wet but you defintely have the water rocking you back and forth.  (Below is the water room, again each room is lit with dim lights, luxuriously scented candles and great amenities like water available for sipping)

The HydroTherm Massage is done face up because your back is partially massaged by the water while your massage therapist reaches under your body to massage and knead it while the water also does its thing of massaging it too.  It means no face cradles, no turning over, just endorphin rush and total relaxation as the therapist is able to more easily release the knots and stressed muscles thanks to the cushions of very warm water. It was so relaxing, I think I fell asleep! Alicia was able to release spasms, knots and kinks so that I was basically a puddle of goo that had to be peeled off the table when I was done. The other treatments available  should not be missed! One that appeals to me is the Caribbean Paradise Journey which is multi-part treatment. ( below is a photo of the Caribbean Paradise Journey)

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The entire spa area was so quiet and while I am typically used to hearing phones and noise in the background this wasn’t the case at this spa. I love quiet and this one definitely relaxed me. I emerged from the room feeling a bit otherworldly and dreamily relaxed. I toweled off the excess oil– talk about soft skin– and got dressed. Both Annie and I emerged from the spa about the same time and were floating out of the TOLA spa to go pick up our shuttle to the house farther up the coast for *more* treatments. Our Toyota Prius was blessedly quiet too and the driver didn’t engage in any chit-chat other than what we initiated.

We got to the ocean-front house and went into a courtyard that was filled with Segway HT devices. The Segway is that 2 wheeled device that you stand on and it is motorized and you steer by shifting your balance. It looked like so much fun but I was too blissed out to even think about doing it.

We went into the house and were able to try lots of things. We passed on the mini-facials and chiropractic services available. Any more relaxed and I would be staying the night. Ditto on the foot baths that were the same as what we had experienced at the full-service spa.

Seeing food, we made a bee-line to the Raw Food table and Raw Food Chef Alissa Cohen explained what each dish was and made suggestions on what to try. I tried just about everything which featured an array of vegetables that were served in very appealing ways like date nut torte, stuffed mushrooms, raviolis, fettucine alfredo made with zucchini, ripe apricots stuffed with chopped macadamia nuts and lots more. I basically had a taste of everything and was stuffed. I needed to rehydrate so after testing the Malibu Family Wines (loved the Pinot!) I moved quickly onto Fiji Water (and lots of it). ( Below is a photo of guests partaking of some of the raw food buffet and in the backround is the Aveda custom blend station)

Yoga class was being held out on the beach by Ted McDonald of the Adventure Yoga Retreats but I passed thanks to the residual effect of that massage.

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Aveda was offering make-up applications with all the latest shades but I passed on that. I did go for the Aveda custom blending of scents and wound up with a water scent that was made into a pure spirit/oil roll-on and also a body lotion–heaven in a bottle! (seen in the background of the raw foods photo) It was interesting to see how my spirit and body had balanced after that massage. (before it was infinity scents; now it was water scents. It was logical to me since I live by the water). We picked up other samples of Sap Moss Shampoo, Rosemary Mint body wash and a Caribbean Paradise Body Lotion (super yummy).

While there, I met Laura Doughty, the owner/creator of TOLA Life Spa Sanctuary. She and I chatted for several minutes about the genesis of the spa and how it’s the only completely ayurvedic spa on the West Coast and how she was able to snag amazing staff like Alicia  (who came from the Las Vegas Venetian) from all over California and the country.  Her  goal is to induce life transformations through the treatments. You feel so differently after having these treatments and the great products used on your face, body and hair seem to be a natural way of extending the spa experience by taking them home with you. Given that it’s Aveda products, you know the products deliver that "balancing" of the mind/body/spirit.

One of the simplest –but most fun– options was the creation of your own potpourri bag. On a series of tables were different dried herbs and flowers including lavender, roses, basil, chamomile, lemon verbena and lots more. Mine was so aromatic that my trunk was smelling wonderful on the return trip home! ( below is a photo of the top of the potpourri making station. There were about 15 herbs and flowers on different levels of tables.)

The entire day felt like an amazing vacation. It was definitely worth the trip to Malibu and the massage gets an A+ rating. I would highly recommend TOLA Life Spa  Sanctuary because it’s the only totally ayurvedic spa on the West Coast as well as  Aveda Concept Salon and the experience of the immersion into this spa makes you feel like you have been on a rapture-inducing vacation. It’s definitely a destination in itself plus the ability to purchase all these fab Aveda products completes the experience (not to mention the great shopping just down the center.)

Another bonus from the TOLA Life Spa Sanctuary is that in case you can’t get out to Malibu, there is Tola Spa-AH (Spa AT HOME)  for those who want/need/require the  rapture-inducing treatments in the comfort of their own home. Almost any treatment can be done for the Spa-AH and you call to make arrangements for them to come and transform your room into a TOLA experience!

TOLA Life Spa Sanctuary  is located at 23755 Malibu Road Suite 700  Malibu Calif 90265. Phone is 310. 456.9504. Check out the website for the fab selection of products and treatments.

See you at the beauty counter ( or the spa!)

Stevie

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