New at Alvadora Spa: Gong Baths & Salt Stones

Steeped in a breezy Mediterranean atmosphere and decor, Alvadora Spa at Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Phoenix has introduced two new therapies that call on ancient traditions to soothe mind and body. Now part of their already enchanting spa menu is the new 50-minute Himalayan Salt Stone Massage by Saltability ($170), which balances the central nervous system and nourishes depleted cells in the body. Also now available is a series of monthly one-hour Gong Bath Experiences ($20 per session) to stimulate brainwaves.

Himalayan Salt Stone Massages

Salt therapy, also known as halotherapy, dates back to when ancient healers would prescribe salt inhalation for respiratory system and health problems. Since then, salt therapy has been used as a healing therapy in Europe and Asia, and recently made its way to U.S. spas in the form of salt caves, salt saunas, salt beds and salt stones.

Using organic salt stones from Saltability, Alvadora’s Himalayan Salt Stone Massage balances the central nervous system and restores depleted cells. The treatment features a warmed salt stone massaged over the body to balance the body’s energy channels. Drawing on traditional Chinese medicine, the massage grounds and balances the body’s electromagnetic field, and the pressure, motion and thermal effects used during the treatment work to replenish nutrients in the connective tissue. A side benefit: utterly deep relaxation.

Alvadora Spa’s new salt therapy treatment is designed to be eco-friendly and uses no chemicals. With 84 naturally occurring minerals and elements, Saltability’s pure Himalayan salts benefits the body by stimulating circulation, detoxifying, improving sleep, reducing inflammation, calming the nervous system and reducing signs of aging.

Gong Baths

Also new to Alvadora Spa are monthly Gong Baths, in partnership with Metta Yoga, which are offered as one-hour sessions in a group setting. The term “gong bath” refers to participants being bathed in sound waves, not actual water. Participants lie on yoga mats while the sound instructor begins with small movements to open the body. Designed to bring about healing through brainwave stimulation, the gong bath is a form of sound therapy. The gong plays softly, increasing in volume as the session progresses.

The techniques used in gong baths allow participants to quickly achieve both the brainwave frequencies that occur when you daydream and during deep sleep and meditation. The gong sound changes frequently so there is no fixed rhythm, resulting in entrainment, or the changing of brainwave frequencies. Alpha brainwave state is achieved very quickly followed by Theta. Alpha waves are defined as brainwave frequencies between eight and 12 hertz and are often associated with daydreaming, imaginations, associative thinking and a state of relaxation. Theta waves occur during dreaming sleep – or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep – although they also occur during deep meditation.

Gong bath participants most often enter Theta brainwaves as a result of a dreamlike, deep meditative state. Theta is an ideal state of consciousness for healing to occur. After 50 minutes of gong play, the sound instructor winds down and plays very gently for ten minutes fading away to silence.

Alvadora Spa

Intimate and tranquil, Alvadora Spa has eight Mediterranean-inspired treatment rooms, each completely different from the next, and many with a serene, private indoor-outdoor courtyard or patio. The two-story spa’s lavish signature Acqua Dolce Suite has stone walls, side-by-side custom stone heated treatment tables with Vichy showers, an oversized soaking tub fit for two, an outdoor watsu pool, an 8-foot waterfall shower, an outdoor raindrop shower a private garden patio and a fireplace reminiscent of an Italian villa.

Alvadora Spa at Royal Palms is located at 5200 East Camelback Road in Phoenix, Arizona. For more info, call 602.883.1234 or visit royalpalmshotel.com.