SOL Y MAR BRINGS AN ISLAND FLAVOR TO OAKLAND
by Jeanette Valentine of SoulOfAmerica.com On any given afternoon, busy Piedmont Ave. in Oakland, Calif. bustles with noisy traffic and harried pedestrians. But walk through the glass doors of the day spa, Sol y Mar, and the frenetic pace of the city fades away. Crossing the threshold places you in a quiet lobby with walls of pale turquoise, reminiscent of the calm waters of the Caribbean. Soft music wafts throughout the facility.
It’s no coincidence that sandy beaches and island breezes come to mind while walking through the hallways of this day spa, whose name translates as “sun and sea.” Founder and Owner Gwen Harrison designed Sol y Mar to evoke the island paradise of Barbados, the native home of her husband.
The spa provides an array of offerings common in the industry, including facials, massages, mani/pedi’s and a room specifically for couples. One signature treatment, which you’re unlikely to find anywhere else, brings the island experience directly to you. The Brine Light Waterfall Relaxation & Therapy takes place in an “inhalation room.” The name seems too clinical for what I experienced - an oasis of calm complemented by the soothing sound of flowing water.
Clad in a thick robe and rubber sandals given to me earlier, I entered the room and adjusted my eyes to soft pastel lights bathing the interior in alternating blues, greens and oranges. An attendant motioned for me to take one of several comfy seats and left me alone to face a wall fountain of several large stones, over which water trickled like miniature waterfalls.
The tranquil atmosphere almost lulled me to sleep. It was only later I learned that I was breathing air approximating an ocean climate. The “brine” refers to small salt drops (aerosols) in the air, a boon to the respiratory system.
I was already relaxed, but the next treatment, a body cocoon, took me to a higher level of serenity. In a separate room, I was given a massage and slathered with a thick crème and milk mixture that, after a quick shower, left my skin soft and smooth.
I was wrapped in a cloth cocoon and placed on a heated platform, known as a soft pack bed. Once I signaled to the attendant that I was ready, the platform slid away, and I was suddenly floating on water. It was a surreal, almost disconcerting feeling to be wrapped tight and suspended in water. But then I untensed my muscles and imagined I was floating in the ocean. A face and scalp massage relaxed me even further. It was the ultimate island experience.
In addition to these one-of-a-kind treatments, Sol y Mar offers another amenity not found in most day spas – a tea room. Small and brightly lit with colors echoing the Caribbean blues and greens of the lobby and hallway, the room provides a quiet respite for high-quality teas, snacks and conversation with other clients.
Men are welcomed at Sol y Mar, too. The day spa’s “men’s lounge” is a cozy masculine retreat with dark golden walls, black leather furniture and a flat-screen television.
Our listing for Sol y Mar Day Spa is on
http://www.soulofamerica.com/san-francisco-oakland-spas-innkeepers.phtml
It’s no coincidence that sandy beaches and island breezes come to mind while walking through the hallways of this day spa, whose name translates as “sun and sea.” Founder and Owner Gwen Harrison designed Sol y Mar to evoke the island paradise of Barbados, the native home of her husband.
The spa provides an array of offerings common in the industry, including facials, massages, mani/pedi’s and a room specifically for couples. One signature treatment, which you’re unlikely to find anywhere else, brings the island experience directly to you. The Brine Light Waterfall Relaxation & Therapy takes place in an “inhalation room.” The name seems too clinical for what I experienced - an oasis of calm complemented by the soothing sound of flowing water.
Clad in a thick robe and rubber sandals given to me earlier, I entered the room and adjusted my eyes to soft pastel lights bathing the interior in alternating blues, greens and oranges. An attendant motioned for me to take one of several comfy seats and left me alone to face a wall fountain of several large stones, over which water trickled like miniature waterfalls.
The tranquil atmosphere almost lulled me to sleep. It was only later I learned that I was breathing air approximating an ocean climate. The “brine” refers to small salt drops (aerosols) in the air, a boon to the respiratory system.
I was already relaxed, but the next treatment, a body cocoon, took me to a higher level of serenity. In a separate room, I was given a massage and slathered with a thick crème and milk mixture that, after a quick shower, left my skin soft and smooth.
I was wrapped in a cloth cocoon and placed on a heated platform, known as a soft pack bed. Once I signaled to the attendant that I was ready, the platform slid away, and I was suddenly floating on water. It was a surreal, almost disconcerting feeling to be wrapped tight and suspended in water. But then I untensed my muscles and imagined I was floating in the ocean. A face and scalp massage relaxed me even further. It was the ultimate island experience.
In addition to these one-of-a-kind treatments, Sol y Mar offers another amenity not found in most day spas – a tea room. Small and brightly lit with colors echoing the Caribbean blues and greens of the lobby and hallway, the room provides a quiet respite for high-quality teas, snacks and conversation with other clients.
Men are welcomed at Sol y Mar, too. The day spa’s “men’s lounge” is a cozy masculine retreat with dark golden walls, black leather furniture and a flat-screen television.
Our listing for Sol y Mar Day Spa is on
http://www.soulofamerica.com/san-francisco-oakland-spas-innkeepers.phtml
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