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Set in a parking lot across from the main highway that runs through North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the location of The Cinzia Spa at North Beach Plantation (www.thecinzia.com) comes as somewhat of a surprise.
Across the highway from fast food restaurants and big box shops, the membership-driven spa is part of North Plantation a new ocean-front residential community that offers both condos and resort facilities. The upscale lifestyle community opened its first phase in early April 2009.
But get past the surrounding tourist draws and Cinzia Spa is poised to set a new level of sophistication for urban wellness spas. It raises the bar for wellness-spas in South Carolina. The focus here goes way beyond massages, pedicures and signature rituals to both holistic and cosmetic anti-aging and functional medicine.
The first impression I had is how spacious the beautifully appointed, self-contained building is – high ceilings, marble floors, crown moldings, and generously-sized treatment rooms. There are 12 in total plus another for the Satori Therapy described on the menu as a “vibrational meditation experience” guiding the user with spoken and subliminal affirmations said to help with things such as weight loss, enhanced sleep and smoking cessation. I tried it at Cinzia and enjoyed a similar experience (under a different name) as a demo in my home (read CVR Coming to a Spa Near You for more). I found the experience to be ultimately relaxing on both occasions.
The spa also houses saunas and steam rooms, a large meditation/relaxation lounge with a built-in gas fireplace and refreshment area plus a private Spa Garden Sanctuary.
A few of the special touches include guests being offered a glass of wine before or after services and treatment beds beautifully dressed in fine monogrammed linens topped with show pillows. Original art adorns wall in all rooms.
Cinzia also offers an extensive list of treatments and therapies – the menu is a 24-page booklet with its own Table of Contents. It includes massages, scrubs, wraps, facials and nail care along with all the alternative and medical treatments.
Anti-aging treatments and therapies
Beyond the standard spa offerings, Cinzia has gathered an impressive team of wellness practitioners. Among them is Dr. Dalai Akoury, MD, wellness program director and affectionately called “Dr. Dolly.”
A pediatrician by training, Dr. Akoury began working in anti-aging medicine in 2005 at The Institute of Functional Medicine and is trained to offer clients an extensive medical history analyses. She says she mostly sees people who have medical conditions or health problems they want to manage/cure, but her dream is “to see the well who want to perpetuate that.”
Her holistic approach is built on four pillars:
- Nutrition and the awareness of toxins and the digestion system. “Anti-aging,” she says, “begins in gestation with the nutrition and toxicity of the mother.”
- Stress awareness and release. “Stress is one of today’s major toxins.”
- Exercise
- Spirituality “Not just religion”
One of our main objectives, she says, is to educate. During our interview she dispenses gems of wellness wisdom.
Dr. Randy Doom – Holistic Chiropractor
Yes. Dr. Doom is his real name but he could just as easily be Dr. Amazing. I love the way he was quickly and painlessly able to realign this runner’s body. A chiropractic physician with close to 20 years of practice, Dr. Doom’s area of expertise is biomechanics and he works with professional athletes and the region’s pro golfers. He says his job at Cinzia is to work with clients to enhance performance (such as in golf, running, all sports) and alleviate pain. Treating tendonitis (an inflamation of the tendon) is another specialty.
Other wellness professionals include iridologist Donna Walker who describes the age-old Iridology a practice of reading the iris to determine the body’s medical condition as “a non-invasive check-up.”
Clients also have access to a dermatologist, an acupuncturist, physiologist, nutritionist, even a certified clinical hypnotherapist. Complete lifestyle packages are available.
Looking to book a spa getaway? Check out the tripatlas.com/new Trip Builder where you can request a quote local travel agents who are waiting to offer you custom prices on your trip.
Find more great spa articles and reviews at Travel to Wellness.