Best Spas in California

California is a spa lover's paradise, with more hotel and resort spas found here than in any other state.

This list represents my top picks for the best overnight spas in California. It includes both hotel and resort spas, where you can sample as little or as much of the spa experience as you want, and destination spas, which offer a complete immersion experience with an emphasis on transformation and self-improvement. Many resort spas welcome clients on a day spa basis.

Best Spas in California

Golden Door , Escondido. The ultimate in intimate luxury, Golden Door in Escondido is a woman-only spa that serves no more than 40 guests. Wooden walkways link a series of serene garden courtyards inspired by the ancient inns of Japan. Men are welcome during men-only weeks. Type: destination spa

Cal-A-Vie, Vista. This elegant weight-loss spa is set on 200 rolling acres north of San Diego. Its 24 guest cottages are decorated in elegant European style. Type: destination spa

Spa Montage at Montage Resort, Laguna Beach. This oceanfront spa is the only five-star winner. It's known for its "Surrender" experience, where the therapist prescribes the ideal treatment or series of treatments to heal and address individual needs. “Surrender” can be booked for as little as two hours or as long as a full day. Type: resort spa

The Peninsula Spa, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills. The Peninsula Spa has a rooftop garden oasis. A 60-foot lap pool is surrounded by ten private cabanas with views of the city. Type: resort spa

The Beverly Hills Hotel Spa by La Prairie, Beverly Hills. The famed "Pink Lady" is home to The Polo Lounge and has a luxe but pricey spa. Type: resort spa

Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is a luxury resort spa that has it all: a gorgeous Moroccan-inspired spa, challenging golf, and beautiful new rooms in a Shangri-La setting. Great shopping is just a ramble away in the charming, historic village of Ojai. Type: resort spa

Spa Gaucin, St. Regis Monarch Beach, Dana Point. Type: resort spa

The Spa at Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur. Type: resort spa

Spa at Four Seasons Resort Aviara, North San Diego, Carlsbad Type: resort spa

The Spa at Bernardus, Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley. Type: resort spa

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Half Moon Bay. Type: resort spa

Spa at Four Seasons Hotel, Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Type: resort spa

The Carneros Inn Spa, The Carneros Inn, Napa. Type: inn spa

The Spa at Pebble Beach Resorts, Pebble Beach. Type: resort spa

Spa du Soleil, Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford. Type: inn spa

The Spa at CordeValle, The Lodge at CordeValle, San Martin. Type: resort spa

Spa at Four Seasons Resort Santa Barbara Santa Barbara. Type: resort spa

The Spa at Torrey Pines, The Lodge at Torrey Pines, La Jolla. Type: resort spa

The Well Spa at Miramonte Resort & Spa, Indian Wells. Type: resort spa

Spa Mystique at The Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles. This hotel's 35,000 square foot spa draws on Eastern traditions, and has two Japanese furo pools. It has 27 indoor treatment rooms and four outdoor cabanas. Type: resort spa

Best Cheap Destination Spas

Are you looking for a cheap destination spa? There are plenty to choose from, as long as you don't mind modest accommodations.

At these cheap destination spas, prices include meals and classes, which are extra at most resort spas .

Spa treatments are included in some packages at these budget spas, or you can buy them "a la carte". Spa treatment prices are less expensive than at luxury spas because the facilities are more modest. Prices at the cheap destination spas on this list start at $750 per person per week for people who bunk four-to-a-room at Tennessee Fitness Spa in Waynesboro, Tennessee.


Best Cheap Destination Spas


Birdwing Spa in Litchfield, Minnesota. Just 70 miles from Minneapolis, this cheap destination spa is set on 300 acres with a private lake. Lots of hiking, biking and canoeing. Guests stay in a chalet or a converted red barn with guest suites. 320-693-6064

Echo Valley Ranch and Spa, Jesmond, Clinton, British Columbia, Canada. If you like horseback riding, this is the spa for you. This is a working ranch where you can help collect eggs, or go get a Thai treatment. 250- 459-2386

Fitness Ridgeis a weight-loss spa in St. George, Utah, with a serious hiking program on 1,200 calories a day. 20 comfortable motel-style rooms in a brown cinderblock building with an outdoor pool. 888-870-2639.

The Heartland Spa, Gilman, Illinois.. Just ninety miles south of Chicago, this health and fitness retreat is set on a 32-acre in farm country. Features include a spring-fed lake and a High Ropes course. Once a dairy farm, this spa offers quaint accommodations. 815-683-2182

Hills Health Ranch, 108 Mile Ranch, British Columbia.. Situated in the middle of 20,000 acres of ranchland, this spa specializes in weight loss, hiking and horsebeack riding. 800-668-2233.

New Age Health Spa, Neversink, New York. This is a friendly, rustic destination spa in the Catskills, just two hours from New York City. 800-682-4348. Read my review of New Age Health Spa.

The Oaks at Ojai, Ojai, California. This is a converted inn right on Ojai's main drag, with a real weight-loss focus. It's about a 90 minute drive from Los Angeles. 800-753-6257

Tennessee Fitness Spa, Waynesboro, Tennessee. . Located 95 miles from Nashville, in the lush woods of Tennessee, this is a small, cheap spa, especially if you bunk four to a room. Everyone gets a fitness evaluation and goes on a 1200-1400 calorie diet. Chalet-style accommodations are simple. Closed December to early March. 800-753-6257

Copperhood Spa, Shandaken, New York. Set right on The Esopus river in the Northern Catskills, near Woodstock, this well-kept inn offers lots of outdoor activities and classes.

Deerfield Spa in the Pocono Mountains in Stroudsburg. Pennsylvania., This small, homey spa on 12 acres in the Pocono Mountains has a weight loss focus. It accommodates just 33 guests at a time. Closed November through early April.

Spa Eastman in Montreal, Canada.Forty-four rooms are spread over seven pavilions It has many packages, including a three-night "naturopathic package" that includes a naturopathic consultation, hot stone massage and body treatments.

Top 10 Destination Spas

Destination spas are a select group of spas that immerse you in healthy living. All-inclusive prices include rooms, meals, classes, lectures and sometimes treatments. Prices range from $250 per person, per day, (double) at the Red Mountain Spa in Ivins, Utah, to $8,000 per week at The Golden Door in Escondido, Ca. For budget travel, check out best cheap destination spas. Destination spas have minimum stays of two or three nights, and a few require you stay a week.

1. Canyon Ranch Tucson

Canyon Ranch Tucson is the ultimate “wellness spa” where people jumpstart a healthy new lifestyle. The staff and programming is unparalled, with medical doctors, exercise physiologists, movement therapists, etc. It also has fabulous facilities and outdoor programs. The Tucson, Arizona property accommodates 240 guests in adobe cottages on 150 acres in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

2. Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires

Canyon Ranch in Lenox serves the East Coast with the same commitment to wellness and healthy living as the Tucson property. Set on 120 woodland acres in Western Massachusetts, Canyon Ranch Lenox accommodates 200 guests in 126 newly remodeled guest rooms and suites.

3. Golden Door

Golden Door in Escondido, Calif., is a women-only spa that serves no more than 40 guests. Wooden walkways link a series of serene garden courtyards inspired by the ancient inns of Japan. It has 377 acres of Japanese gardens, orchards and waterfalls and a Japanese bathhouse. This spa emphasizes individualized service and guiding guests toward a balance of mind, body and spirit. Men are welcome during men-only weeks.

4. Miraval Life in Balance

Set on 135 acres at the foot of the Santa Catalina Mountains in , Catalina, Arizona, Miraval has 106 adobe-style casitas, most with private patios. buildings and great views. While it offers spa cuisine, it also serves alcohol and wine. Its signature programs is the “Equine Experience,” where working with a horse gives you insight into how you deal with people -- and life.

5. Mii Amo

Bordering a national forest two hours from Phoenix, Mii Amo in Sedona is a village of six adobe casitas near the Spa, within walking distance of the larger Enchantment Resort. The hottest service here is an “Aura-Soma” reading of your life based on the colored bottles you choose from more than 100. Read a review of Mii Amo .

6. Lake Austin Spa Resort

The food is so good at this spa on a lake outside Austin you'll have a hard time believing the calorie counts. With just 40 rooms it's easy to meet people, but the spa is lavish. Outdoor treatment spaces with screened porches, garden tents, poolside cabanas and a private couple's suite. Separate men's and women's wet areas, two swimming pools, native gardens, cascading streams and fountains, and more than 100 spa treatments. Read a review of Lake Austin Spa Resort

7. Red Mountain Spa

If you love adventure and are inspired by Southwestern scenery, Red Mountain Spa in Ivins, Utah, is for you. Try rock climbing, go kayaking or mountain bike through rugged terrain. The heart of the spa is its hiking program and outstanding outdoors guides. It’s also a beautifully designed resort, with unusually good spa cuisine and a wine list. And it's one of the most affordable spas in the Top Ten. Read a review of Red Mountain Spa

8. Green Valley Spa, St. George, Utah.

This spa is just a few miles from Red Mountain Spa and has a reputation of being a little more luxurious and pampering. Right on the edge of both town and public lands, it has an extensive hiking program. It also offers Tennis College on its 15 outdoor and four indoor courts, and has a Golf Learning Center. You can play on any of six nearby courses.

9. Cal-a-Vie, Vista, California.

This elegant weight-loss spa is set on 200 rolling acres north of San Diego. Its 24 guest cottages are decorated in elegant European style. Most people come to stay for an entire week and eat spa cuisine and follow a highly programmed exercise agenda, but shorter stays are possible It has both co-ed and women-only weeks throughout the year.

10. Mayflower Inn & Spa

One of New England’s most opulent inns, The Mayflower in Washington, Connecticut, has reinvented itself as an destination spa -- from Monday through Friday. It accommodates just 28 women at any one time in a super-luxurious atmosphere. There are co-ed and men’s weeks during the year.

Yoga Posture

The practice of Yoga postures will improve your physical health, mental ability and increasing the level of confidence in all aspects of life. There are many yoga poses that you study first and execute them slowly as you control your mind and body. However, taking a short break to complete simple yoga posters, at your desk can help you out from tiredness and stress and refresh for any other work period.

Nadishodhana (alternate breathing) First you sits comfortably in the chair with your back straight. Hold your hand that is right or left at your ease; hold it before your face and middle of the two fingers place between your eyebrows. Your thumb should be on top of your right nostril and your ring finger over the left. Now, just close your right nostril with your thumb and take breathing slowly and change left nostril do same until your lungs full without any stress on them. Take out your finger over the right nostril and close the left nostril with middle finger.

Exhale that is breathe out slowly through the right nostril and do the same as breathe in (inhale), duration should be same while Exhale and Inhale process. Do the same sequence at 10 times that will make your breathe will be silent. Sit in same chair straight with your legs extended slightly and firmly keep heels on the floor. Take breathe in as you bend by ankle pulling the feet back towards your leg and breathe out as you push your food ahead then trying to contact the floor. Do these two positions as you feel the stretch, repeat 10 times? The final result of practicing and get proficiency in yoga postures will be the acquirement of lasting tool for keeping physical health, strength and flexibility.

There are several kinds of yoga posters for particular part of the body that are developed over centuries such as the muscles surrounding the spinal column, strengthening abdominal muscles and many more. These yoga poses, all together mainly focused and measure techniques in breathing, which helps to the person in practicing yoga that will improve the mental concentration, physical strength and flexibility.

People, who practice these poses with dedication, will have high resistance power to the lot of health afflictions. Yoga posture will provide long-term health like strengthen you knees, teach you how to improve alignment of the body and improve your movement patterns in daily activities.

Yoga Retreat

Many people nowadays are facing lot of stress, troubles from all sides. At this time they may want vacation for peace and body relaxation. Therefore yoga retreat is the perfect environment to change you not for one month, which is for the whole year. Also this retreat allows you to improve your health and adventure, fun that you are looking for. This retreat creates those who are interested in yoga, greatest atmosphere where they can practice yoga with much concentration.

It provides treatment for spiritual, mental rejuvenation and physical problem through yoga, healing arts and meditation. When you practicing yoga all the time on a yoga retreat, you will have chance to interact with many peoples, who experienced in their life’s and have opportunity to share your feelings with them. This can form a lifetime friendship through the different types of exercise. For making peaceful mind, it often takes into beautiful places and peaceful environments, which will make the participants in greater level of peace and relaxation.

There are gurus and experienced persons in yoga, who will lead the retreat and do special attention to the fresher if they need any help or support. You don't worry about food and accommodation that provide every thing on retreat. They pay comprehensive attention to the whole person until you leave the place. Different cultural programs organized in retreat will entertain you. And their staffs are committed work and provide best service at any time you need any thing.

The main goal of Yoga treats is, to foster peace and relaxation and people can balance their mind and body at any situation. if you don't like to have phone or television in your room that would be a best way to avoid this craziness of life so you always prefer peacefulness. You can find different yoga treats, that information is available on Internet and can choose and book the treats through online. Most retreats offer different packages at different prices. You can select interested location that can be available on the website. Some websites provides reviews written by guests that sure to read, based on that you can decide which retreat is best and what they consists of.

Whatever you choose the yoga retreat that would give you a peaceful exercise and they are able to focus on yourself for a few days. The final result will be increasing your health and rejuvenated spirit. Guest at Shreyas will be trained in different elements of yoga for body/mind balance, flexibility, physical strength, and therapeutic, physiological benefits. Their instructors will teach spiritual path through different types of meditation. Yoga is an art of life that can be learned by any person.

By practicing Yoga will make amazing effect on mind and body and one can balance with lives of problems and worries. You can learn yoga by using CD's or books, which are provided by famous gurus and experienced persons in yoga. They include photos, which are demonstrating you about each posture. Yoga will give you confidence at the physical with proper asanas and diet, mental and level of intelligence with meditation, and physiological with pranayama that is breathing practices.

Yoga Studio

Inside the yoga studio people will find a pleasant atmosphere and provides great place to practice yoga for those interested to learn. And they will supply yoga mats, meditation pillows or benches and blankets for learners in the studio. Every studio put a restriction for students to come 15 minutes before class starts because this allows the students to leave all tensions, troubles outside the studio and get relax before entering into the studio. When you are entering into studio set your body into peace and relaxation. Stretch out yourself completely on your mat or blanket and get into relax that allows you experience body relaxation and peaceful mind. If you can, start stretching and warming up or sit in a moment of silent meditation. When you are practicing yoga, it is better to have empty stomach. You can practice yoga after 1 to 2 hours of full meals; meantime you can take fruits or juice, which before one hour to practice.

You should wear comfort, light and loose clothes that you can stretch your body easily and remove wristwatch, jewelry and belt, which may disturb with you movements. You can develop yourself and receive more benefits from the studio that is possible when you practice sincerely what they teach in the class. You can ask any questions regarding on yoga, they are free to clarify your doubts and questions. You have to attend the classes regularly that are benefits for you. By practicing yoga, you can have more benefits from that, in spite of age, flexibility and degree of accomplishment of the exercise. You should practice daily that what you learned in the class then you will receive greatest benefit from this yoga course. When you are perfect in that you can teach others by your experience in the studio. If you have any doubts regarding yoga lessons, they provide extra session where you can clarify all you doubts. They will give you some guidelines and suggestions, which will be more helpful for practicing good yoga.

In yoga studios, they can also provide yoga-teaching services over the telephone. The previous yoga students or any person having any questions or doubts will be answered with one phone call. They are very comfortable to solve your problems. Don't stop practicing yoga regularly because you will have more effect on your mind as well as body to be strong. You will be beneficial for you in terms of developing stamina, improve body awareness, increase energy, reduce tension, enhance flexibility, promote relaxation and calmness, increasing concentration, build more strength. Any one can do yoga, which is non competitive. It means you will learn how the body works and exploit its potential. Yoga works only on your physical body, yoga doesn't force a system of goals that you have to drive yourself, but it allows you to determine your capability and strength. The main aim of yoga studio is to release tensions, worries and all mental and physical problems of every individual who suffer with them. They can able to change you everything wrong in you.

Teacher Training

Yoga is simple to learn and practice and it can be far more than a highly useful series of esoteric physical exercises. Yoga is an art, traditional and developing the science. There are several branches in yoga for people can choose interested course in them. Here are some yoga teacher training programs. There is also available Yoga teacher training at online if you prefer to take that don’t allow you to accept their weekend certifications. Because this program teaches you only about techniques in breathing and fundamentals of yoga poses but you can have more knowledge than the normal yoga student. You should have complete command over the syllabus that is very much important. When you are choosing a complete training program that should be information regarding Asanas, Pranayama along with Yoga teacher ethics, how to align postures, appropriate method of using prop, chakras, niyamas, yoga method, bandhas, philosophy, marketing, mudras doshas, Yamas, teaching tips of yoga, relaxation, even Meditation, Kinesilogy and many more things.

It is better to take yoga teacher training at Yoga retreat or Yoga ashram, which allows you to concentrate on subject without any disturbance of outside the world. There are few yoga ashrams, which provide temporary residence for yoga teacher interns and the staff during the training period. And there you can feel wonderful atmosphere and enjoy in yoga teacher training program. if you are alone and don't have any obligation with your employer then this is the best way to join the yoga teacher training and to become good yoga teacher. If any person is interested in yoga can join yoga teacher training with or without need of yoga certification. There are some requirements that should complete successfully, based on that certification will be awarded. Requirements are successful in practicing yoga and more knowledge on principles of yoga and more over able to explain them to others. If any person not able to complete their course during the time period even though they give chance to complete their course.

Uses of Yoga Teacher Training Course

Yoga is an art of life, which is more than highly successful sequence of esoteric physical exercise. Actually it has different type’s practices and techniques. It is an ancient because this has to be applied sensitively and creatively to the weak moment. This yoga includes all life's and emphasize the importance of their life’s to make shine in the earth. Yoga is aiming at transferring them from dull ness to joy and mechanical life into more enjoyable living. Yoga can help you to expand your potential in every part of your life and make you to face challenges from all sides and find out the sacredness in your life. People are looking for a genuine transformation that is; love, compassion, knowledge, having alert mind and ability to handle situation at any circumstances. Yoga is completely dedicated to this beginning. Whether you opt for transformation in your life or become a yoga teacher, whatever it is, and yoga is always needed in our lives.

Yoga therapy is termed as science, which is applying the several elements of yoga in different kinds of illness and situations, to provide fine healing, awakening and good health. Classes are designed for the individual or group with a therapeutic focus for a specific health condition e.g. cancer, heart, prenatal, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Use of meditation, asanas and pranayama for curing the health problems is generally known as Yoga Therapy or Yoga Chikitsa and it has been in use from thousands of years by Yogic as well as Ayurvedic people in India. In this Yoga therapy group of exercises are selected and these exercises are beneficial for the people if they practice them regularly. This can be actually done over a complete period of time with the combination of various herbal and dietary therapies and Ayurvedic system. This Yoga Therapy plays an important role in reconstruction process and Ayurvedic cleansing every one knows this process as panchakarma.

Various studies on Yoga has proven that Yoga meditation and Yoga therapy have more health benefits on several conditions such as high blood pressure, strain, pain, asthma and some other health problems. Yoga and Yoga Therapy techniques are best suited for reducing back problems, obesity, heart problems, diabetes, hypertension and stress and digestive disorders need to be taught.

Yoga Therapy Application: Yoga consists of different varieties of mind and body practice, which are ranging from postural and breathing exercises for deep relaxation and meditation. This yoga therapy is needed in every individual health. It improves health condition as well as helping particular medical disorders. Yoga is intended for maintaining one's health and it provides excellent training program those who are interested in yoga. When you practice yoga daily for 30 min to 1 hour that helps you in improving the physical fitness and also preventing the occurrence of several ailments that invariably result from hectic peace of present life style.

Yoga therapy make use of mudras means hand gestures, common yoga postures, breathe awareness and guided imagery using techniques in relaxation to raise up the natural intelligence of human body. It calls restorative balancing of the body and mind system so that spirit can rise up.

Yoga was believed to be only preventive for diseases. Yoga Therapy research has revealed that it is very useful in healing chronic ailments and also during acute episodes. These techniques are very good to other effective treatments for which the modern medical science is known. Yoga Therapy helps in tapering off the medication.

Maximum number of people like psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and other counselors, who completed Yoga teacher certification courses are dealing with some mental curing characteristics of Yoga. Yoga therapy always provides mental relief and is a consistent alternative therapy. Daily Yoga practice has no dangerous side effects when it is practiced safely.

Yoga therapy is a process of raise up self-confidence that allows you to face and solve problems from this world. From that space each person proceeds on his or her own unique journey towards the greater health. In order to know about Yoga Therapy so many yoga schools are there. One can also get more information from the online sites.