Spa-cation at Eaglewood Resort and Spa

I need to get more massages.

Not want. NEED.

That was pretty much the only thought in my head when I left Eaglewood Resort & Spa. I’d been invited to take advantage of one of their spa treatments, and while a facial would have been nice, I NEEDED a massage.

It was a sunny day when I packed up my stress and my bunched-up muscles and headed to Itasca. Despite its proximity to I-355 and US-20/Lake Street, Eaglewood Resort & Spa feels isolated. Once I turned down Swift Road, the traffic disappeared and I drove between a golf course on one side and a wooded neighborhood on the other. I parked in front of the spa, which is off to the side in its own building, and entered a place of pampering.

After putting on the softest, heaviest, most substantial robe I’ve ever worn, the attendant led me to the Tranquility Room. Soothing music played while a water feature gurgled. I joined two women reclining in the softly lit room and I sipped on fruit-infused water before Stanley collected me for my treatment.

I could have sworn when we met that he only had two arms, two hands, and ten fingers, but then the massage began. Suddenly I knew he’d grown at least another pair of limbs and doubled his digits.

While I love massages, I can count on five of my own fingers the number I’ve received over the years. I should have more, because the method behind it is not only relaxing, it’s fascinating. The scents, the sounds, the timing, the temperature – everything is planned to perfection. A massage is intimate, but not romantic. It’s precise, but not rigid. It’s sensual, but not sexual.

It’s self-care, but not self-indulgent.

That was my biggest realization as Stanley carefully manipulated the knot in my neck and gently pulled out the kinks in my toes. I’m an entrepreneur, and when I’m not traveling, I’m at my computer, which means hunched-up shoulders and an immobile lower half. It’s only recently that I’ve made a commitment to getting up at least once an hour, and that’s due in part to my experience at Eaglewood. I knew I hadn’t been taking care of myself. I also know now that a regular massage – or at least more than one every five years – should be part of my self-care routine. 

There’s a peace that comes with those sixty minutes (or more) under the care of a skilled masseur or masseuse. That time is yours – was mine – and while he soothed my physical aches, I let my mind wander. There were no screens and no distractions. It was a full mind-body experience that meant I left as more myself than when I arrived.

Eaglewood Spa & Resort offers weekday specials on Swedish massage as well as facials, a lavender wrap, and a HydroPeptide Miracle Mask. You can also get your nails done, get your hair done, or realign with a reflexology or Reiki session. Any spa treatment includes access to their steam and sauna rooms and their glorious pool.

If you’d like to make your spa-cation a staycation, their Girl Time Spa Getaway includes wine and breakfast, and their Spa Escape packages include breakfast buffet for two and $150 spa credit. You can also add-on a spa treatment to their Spring Fling Family Package. Available through April 30, rates start at $179 and the package includes:

• Spacious overnight accommodations with walk-out balconies
• Daily hot breakfast buffet for two adults and two children in Burnham’s Restaurant
• One hour of cosmic bowling, complete with a pitcher of pop and one large, thin-crust pizza
• Complimentary arts & crafts projects to build together as a family in The Market
• Unlimited access to heated indoor pool, hot tub, expansive fitness center, sauna and steam room

Visit Eaglewood’s website for more information. You can also read reviews at TripAdvisor and Booking.com.  

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