Crystal Spa
A traditional sauna cycle requires more moving around and I would have to be more attentive. It’s at 120° and is lined with pink Himalayan salt bricks. The floor is a thick layer of pink salt pebbles with canvas blankets on top, it feels like I’m laying on a warm beach.
The next dry room is their charcoal room at 105°. This room is also empty and the walls are lined with slices of charred branches. It had a respiratory quality and when I walked in, it felt like my lungs were clearing from the charcoal. I did like how calm it made me feel. I sat there, meditated, and admired the details of each slice and how it made the room feel cave-like and quiet.
They also have a cool room at 66°. It’s a tiled room with a tiled bench and a big AC unit. It's nice to transfer from the hot rooms to cooling down slowly in here.
I then wanted to get into the wet rooms. I went back through the locker room and started off with a cleansing shower. I brought in a hand towel with me to sit or lay on any surface.
Their spacious steam room is at 114° and it's a pretty good sweat with the cleaning smell of eucalyptus.
Then in the cold pool, I like to hang out in the cold for about three minutes and then time my dunks underwater. This has to be my favorite part, it's at 50° and I would go for an average of 30 seconds and incrementally increase by 5 seconds.
After the cold, I would lay on my towel and let my body rest. I like to feel the endorphins rushing through, my heart rate, and I can take deep breaths with my muscles that are fully relaxed.
I did that cycle a couple of times and each time I did a different hot space. I did the steam room at 114°, the hot tub at 103°, and the clay kiln sauna at 122°. The clay kiln room looks like a dry cedar sauna but the walls have stones and clay and it feels hotter than a dry cedar sauna at 180°. At first, I was pretty sure that it was at an unsafe level, it almost felt like burning on my skin but after a couple of tries, I got used to it.
After the fifth cycle, I felt blissed out and just stared at the bubbles in the cool pool. My mind was clear and I felt grateful that I was able to visit this facility.
When I'm feeling like I want to go back to the spa, I’m drawn to Crystal Spa because of that cool pool moment. Having that cold plunge provided such relief for me.
August 9, 2022
