Story by Barbara Penny Angelakis
Photography by Manos Angelakis

Mii amo Spa at Enchantment Resort
Boynton Canyon Road
Sedona, Arizona 86336
www.enchantmentgroup.com
www.miiamo.com

A WHOLE NEW MEANING TO RED, WHITE, AND BLUE.

If I didn’t see it with my own eyes I would have sworn the brochure pictures were artificially enhanced. So outstanding is the setting of the Enchantment Resort in mystical Sedona, Arizona, that it’s easy to believe you have walked into an otherworldly landscape. The radiant red sandstone formations, shaped by wind and weather, sharply outlined against the impossibly blue sky, is the view that greeted us from our room’s double patio doors. Had it not been for the lounges and tables that were still piled high with snow from the previous day’s storm, we would have been sitting outside and gazing endlessly in awe at the picture perfect scene. The bright sun was rapidly melting the snow but standing by the fireplace in our warm living room we enjoyed the contrast of white, red and blue that was shocking in its high-altitude clarity and brilliance.

Our room was actually a cabin/suite with a huge bedroom and well equipped bathroom, living area with the aforementioned fireplace that, with the flip of a switch turned on a mesmerizing flame, a full kitchen and another full bath. The suite was handsomely decorated in a Native American motif with beautiful leather couch and chairs and wonderful creative accessories scattered throughout, giving it a real lived-in homey feeling. But as wonderful as the Enchantment accommodations were, I was here to experience Mii amo, their true destination Spa.

As Chris Bird, the General Manager of Mii amo told me, the spa and its gourmet Café are only available to guests staying at Enchantment, or by guests that are staying in the 16-rooms currently available in the spa building – there are 14 casitas and 2 suites. The suites include a private outdoor living space with a fireplace, Jacuzzi and outdoor shower. The interior features a living room, dining area, and for the ultimate luxury, a private in-suite treatment room, plus of course a spacious bedroom and well-equipped bathroom.

Mii amo - in the Native American Yuman language of Northern Arizona - means “one’s path, or journey”. And you sense the energy of those words when you walk into Mii amo… or perhaps it is the location of the property. The Enchantment Resort and Mii amo Spa are located in Boynton Canyon, known to be the home of one of the ancient sacred hot spots or vortexes. A vortex is a natural phenomenon caused by the release of earth energy. A vortex can release positive, negative or neutral energy, and is purported to cause a heightened sense of spiritual awareness and rebalancing of the body’s chi or internal energy. People flock from all over the world to experience these vortexes and have made Sedona an international tourist attraction.

Mii amo Spa draws on the natural energy of the canyon and encompasses healing traditions not only of different Native American tribes, but also of Ayurvedic practices from India, Thai Massage from Thailand, Reiki from Japan. All these techniques, from whatever tradition, are proven to improve the quality of life and classes and treatments are offered in Meditation, Integrative Breathing, Past Life Regression, Vision Journeying and much more. At the heart of Mii amo is the “kiva-like” Crystal Grotto, a conical design inspired by a traditional place of ritual. At the center of the natural red dirt floor is a beautifully toned petrified tree trunk holding a natural crystal over which water flows and pools at the bottom, coming to rest on river rocks. At an angle in the ceiling is an opening allowing natural light to enter and along the walls are niches for 4 crystals indicating the 4 directions, or possibly the 4 elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air. Every morning the staff is invited to begin their day in the Crystal Grotto to set their daily intention and attitude and every afternoon an open guided meditation is offered for guests. I took advantage of the space in the late morning when it was empty to do a personal meditation and the healing energy of the room sent me into a deep journey of discovery that remains with me to this day.

The long hallway leading to the café is constructed with the 5 pillars sacred in the Hopi Indian tradition; and using the Chinese Feng Shui formula to break up the space are three huge Indonesian medicine balls that radiate energy all their own. All sacred traditions from every part of the earth are given equal value and you can sense the positive energy not only in the building but extended by its staff as well. Chris invited me to experience a spa treatment and I choose a Signature Facial to combat the drying effects of Arizona’s weather.  After examining my face, my therapist Jan,  suggested combining different products that would be more beneficial to me than the signature facial called for, and I was delighted with her flexibility and professionalism, not to mention the fabulous treatment and the way my face looked even days afterwards. Her desire to treat my skin in the best possible way made me wish I had days to remain in her capable care. For a full list of treatments visit www.miiamo.com

While I was enjoying my facial, Manos was relaxing in the men’s sauna and then took advantage of the indoor pool where he chilled with the rest of the terry robed guests. The exterior wall of glass looks out over the terrace, outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, which was still too icy to consider. Afterwards we met at the café for an exceptional meal.

The Mii amo Café is not your typical health food restaurant. Yes the food is prepared from fresh locally grown organic sources, and yes it is nutritionally balanced, but it could compete with any of the gourmet restaurants Manos and I frequent. I had the very best grilled asparagus appetizer I ever tasted. My entrée was roasted pork tenderloin sitting on a bed of smashed sweet potatoes and dressed with a tart green apple reduction. Dessert was a drop-dead chocolate delight. With this type of elegant fare it seemed strange to have our neighbors dressed in terry-cloth bathrobes and flip-flops, but Mii amo is a destination spa and includes lodging, meals, and treatments in their 3, 4, or 7 day plan. They also offer free lectures and programs and the aforementioned daily guided meditation.

I can’t think of a place that offers more dazzling scenery, a greater array of traditional and exotic treatments, better food, or more pleasant personnel; plus a surrounding landscape that offers personal discovery at whatever level you choose to explore it. Mii amo Spa at Enchantment Resort in Sedona is a gem waiting to welcome you.

© February 2012 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.