If someone had mentioned that a sound bath would be a form of wellness in a spa 30 years ago, they might’ve gotten a look of confusion. Yet here we are.
“The world of spa has changed in many ways in the 30 years I have been in the industry, but also still [remain] very much the same in others,” said Leesa Jones, who operates the recently opened Spa at Tryall at the Tryall Club in Jamaica. “As a therapist with a strong belief in the benefits of traditional and holistic therapies, I am thrilled they are still very much in demand.”
Jones noted that spa clients are no longer solely seeking relaxation but
are also looking for spa treatments that address mental, emotional and
spiritual well-being. This has led to the incorporation of mindfulness
practices, meditation, sound and energy healing in spa menus.
The Spa at Tryall, which debuted last month, was converted from a private home that sat empty for years in neglect and incorporates locally sourced material including cedar and bamboo, the various treatment rooms decorated with local art inspired by the colors of the seven chakra energy points of the body as recognized in yoga and healing traditions. Local architect Nancy Maffessanti, who worked with her father to design and build the original resort back in the late 1950s, oversaw the spa’s construction.
It’s not just construction material that’s locally sourced. The spa utilizes skincare products and locally grown ingredients used in treatments. Clients, Jones said, are increasingly conscious of the ingredients used in skincare and body treatments.
Farm to spa
While farm-to-table experiences are in growing demand across resort restaurants, so is its lesser-known wellness cousin, farm-to-spa. The Spa at Tryall is among the Caribbean resorts incorporating fresh ingredients to its wellness offerings. Ingredients at the Tryall include Jacana CBD products made from cannabis grown in the nearby mountains of St. Anne, juice shots mixed with seasonal fruits, local teas, and a cacao drink that originated from the Blue Mountains. The spa is also sourcing herbs from its own on-site organic garden for treatments and beverages.
“Jamaica just has such a lushness about it,” said Jones, whose resume includes training in-flight beauty therapists for
Virgin Atlantic and working at Spa Necker Island, Spa
Ulusaba and Spa Kasbah Tamado. “It has everything you need; you don’t have to ship everything in like you do when you’re in a more remote island.”
Fresh ingredient availability aside, Jamaica’s geography itself lends to relaxation, according to Jones, who also runs her own venture, The Retreat at Nail Bay, in the British Virgin Islands. “From the lush forests and serene beachside to the laid-back culture, Jamaica naturally evokes a sense of serenity and relaxation,” she said.