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State’s southeastern corner holds a massage gem
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ELAINE WARNER | SPECIAL TO THE SUN Body Harmony Spa is across from Beavers Bend State Park north of Broken Bow. Elaine Warner
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ELAINE WARNER | SPECIAL TO THE SUN Funny slippers bring a smile and warm feet at Body Harmony Spa. Elaine Warner
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ELAINE WARNER | SPECIAL TO THE SUN Shea butter is an essential ingredient in a Body Harmony massage. Elaine Warner
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ELAINE WARNER | SPECIAL TO THE SUN Valerie Greener applies a mud mask to Zoe McAden's face at Body Harmon Spa. Elaine Warner
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EDMOND — Drive 200 miles for a massage? That just sounds nutty. But wait — this isn’t any ordinary massage. And it’s not in any ordinary place. First of all — it’s in Broken Bow near Beavers Bend State Park — one of my favorite parts of the state. Secondly, it’s probably the most relaxing, most pampering massage you’ll ever get.
Body Harmony Spa isn’t a conventional spa — this isn’t the place for manicures, pedicures or waxing. It is, however, a complete sensory experience. And it’s all about stimulating the release of endorphins — the body’s own feel-good hormones.
Founder Valerie Skiles Greener is convinced that in our stressful society, our body is in a constant fight-flight mode. In this state, we tend to over-produced survival hormones which, while necessary in some instances, can also raise blood pressure and suppress the immune system. Massage, music and laughter can reduce the stress-related chemicals and increase the positive ones.
This may be more than you wanted (or needed) to know. The big thing for me was that the massage made me feel great and my skin, which tends to be dry, drank it up.
A big component of the experience is the Body Harmony table, actually more of a musical instrument than a massage bed, developed by Valerie’s husband, chiropractor Dr. Gordon Greener. Several senses are engaged by this table. The music, which actually comes through the table, is soothing and the movements of the massage are choreographed with the melodic accompaniment. Was the sound resonating with my own cellular frequencies? Don’t know — but it certainly didn’t clash with them.
Everything about Body Harmony is designed to make you feel comfortable and at home. Slippers with funny animal features prepare you to regress to a child-like state and be taken care of. I was given a snuggy robe and a square of Ghiardelli dark chocolate (an endorphin-encourager and a taste treat.)
Out of my robe and under a cover on the cushion-y massage table, I was ready for Valerie’s healing hands. I loved the instruction — “Just relax. You don’t need to move a muscle.”
One of the most important ingredients in this experience is shea butter. Shea butter comes from the nut of the shea tree, which grows in Africa. When the nuts are crushed and boiled, the extracted fat looks like butter and is actually edible. It contains many nutrients and is easily absorbed into the skin. Valerie uses the finest fair trade shea butter — so you’re doing good while you’re feeling good.
She started on my scalp, rubbing melted shea butter through my hair and down to the roots. Word to the wise — don’t plan on getting off the table and heading out to dinner. You’ll want to do a thorough shampooing — otherwise you’ll look a lot like Pee-wee Herman on a bad day! But, oh my goodness, it feels so good!
Next, my face was painted with Dead Sea mud — yes, mud — again a substance full of minerals and things good for your skin. So now I looked like Pee-wee Herman with a mud mask — but since my eyes were closed I didn’t worry too much.
The rest of the 90- minute session consisted of having warm shea butter drizzled on, in turn, my arms, legs and back. After each limb was thoroughly massaged with the rich liquid, Valerie sprinkled Dead Sea salt on it for a thorough exfoliation. That’s two swift sentences describing one of the best 50 minutes I’ve spent in a long time. When she finished, I was satiny smooth all over — an accomplishment since my natural texture is crepe!
Valerie says the ultimate goal of the treatment is to stimulate endorphins to the point of euphoria! My dictionary defines euphoria as “as feeling of happiness, well-being or bliss.” In that case, I made it. I always feel great after a massage, but this was exceptional.
Wrapped in fluffy terry robes with cuddly animal slippers (I had puppy dogs, my daughter Zoe had fat bumble bees), we were treated to fresh fruit and wine on the patio.
So would I make the drive again? You bet. Especially since we stayed at the marvelous Lago Vista Bed and Breakfast. But that’s a whole ’nother article.
For more information, check the Web site at www.bodyharmonysession.com.
ELAINE WARNER is an Edmond resident.
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