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View Winners → Beauty Poet – San Luis Obispo, CA
Arcadia Weekly Jul 12, 2018
A photo from the Gabrielino Trail located in the mountains above the San Gabriel Valley. This type of natural habitat is what the Tongva tribe originally called home. – Courtesy photo
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The Beauty Poet, in San Luis Obispo. – Courtesy photo / Donna Polizzi Keys 2 The Coast
By Donna Polizzi
People often ask me, where is the best place for a massage in the San Luis Obispo County? Narrowing it down to just one is a difficult thing to do since there are so many great places. Each has comparable advantages on the California coast. Treating yourself to a massage, or other spa services, in my opinion, is one of the most decadent ways to calm the mind, soothe the body, and bring balance and perspective, cost-effectively. Take the time to take care of yourself.
Do you remember the song that came out in 1982, by the Little River Band, called “Cool Change?” I can relate to the words “ If there’s one thing in my life that’s missing, it’s the time that I spend alone.” Even social butterflies need to step away from family, work, and friends on occasion, to let a quiet, relaxing day unfold.
This week, I headed up to San Luis Obispo for a day on my own. Lunch at Luna Red was excellent, as always. I sat out on the patio, overlooking the creek, in front of the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Luna Red has a Tapas menu, with a Brazilian flair. After a delicious lunch, it is ideal to take a long walk past the mission, beautiful fountain and stroll along the creek bed people watching.
A couple blocks away, is a little place called Scout Coffee, if you’re looking for espresso or a something sweet.
Beauty Poet owners Michelle Johnson and Monet Bender. – Courtesy photo / Donna Polizzi Keys 2 The Coast
I love the area because most everything is in within walking distance and there is something for everyone to do. Like pampering yourself, for example. I treated myself to a fantastic, rejuvenating treatment at the Beauty Poet, in San Luis Obispo. Owners Michelle Johnson and Monet Bender, a mother and daughter team, provide a memorable experience and wonderful treatments, unlike anything I’ve previously experienced.
At 1920 Broad St., in San Luis Obispo, is an adorable white house that will transform your mood, the moment the door swings open. The aromas of essential oils immediately bring a sense of calm.
I highly recommend the two-hour, Seasonal Ritual Spa Package. One treatment is all it takes to become a true fan of the Beauty Poet.
It all begins with Raindrop Therapy. It’s a treatment where you lay face down on a comfortable massage table, while music softly plays and a curated blend of eight therapeutic grade, warm essential oils, rain down on your body, bringing down your stress and anxiety levels to a halt in seconds. The sensation was simply amazing. As the music played and the essential oils rained down, Monet’s fingers danced gently on my back.
Hot towels are then placed on the spine for relaxation and to help the oils to deeply penetrate, boost the immune system and balance cortisol levels. This treatment also decreases inflammation and stress. Christina Aguilera expressed my sentiments well when she sang, “It’s what a girl wants, it’s what a girl needs.”
Monet is a holistic facialist. Her process included a scalp massage and multi-step, anti-aging facial, on my face and neck. It included a warm, creamy mask, to boosts collagen and stimulate the lymph system. The seasonal ritual facial is a deeply nourishing treatment to quench parched dry skin. It was such a relaxing series of cleansing, exfoliants and nurturing products, that pamper and excite the senses. Some of the products smell like strawberries, apricot, and honey. The room is filled with fabulous scents. It had me so relaxed, that it took some effort to stay awake. Like the Aerosmith song lyrics say, “I don’t want to close my eyes, I don’t want to fall asleep…. I don’t wanna miss a thing.”
During a fabulous body massage, my feet soaked in a detox bath that pulls toxins from the body. The mineral salts cleanse the feet and also calm and balance the nervous system. The foot bath is followed by a lower leg and foot massage. Don’t ask for a wax because this spot is all about holistic treatment, relaxation, and restoration.
In the end, a hot superfood, ginger latte was waiting for me. It was made with oat milk. A creamy, frothy and a sweet ending to my day of bliss.
Overall, the entire Season Ritual experience is one of a kind. I highly recommend taking a solitary day away for self-pampering and physical restoration. San Luis Obispo is a beautiful city for a sweet escape.
I highly recommend the Beauty Poet for fantastic treatment from head to toe, that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
