Remember when a wellness tip meant someone telling you to go outside, run around, and play in the snow and fresh air? That might still be good advice. But now, some experts might add that spa treatments and facials are necessary to support those choices and fight the effects of intense activity and sun exposure — even in winter.
No matter where you go this winter — Colorado’s Front Range or the high country for a ski trip — you can find a spa treatment to help with what ails you during these colder months.
“Winter brings unique challenges to how we get outside to exercise, socialize, and recuperate,” said Joren Joyce, lead massage therapist at Durango Hot Springs Resort and Spa. “Physically, cold weather causes nerves and blood vessels to constrict, decreasing blood flow and circulation. This can cause joints to become more stiff and painful. The ski day often ends with cold temperatures that can cause muscles to lose heat and tighten, resulting in soreness.”
Or, put another way: “Chasing powder during a long storm cycle or spending a week skiing on vacation can leave a soul fulfilled and a body feeling wrecked,” he said, based on personal experience from years of skiing at the nearby Purgatory Ski Resort.
The solution? Soaking in hot mineral water and targeted massage techniques, for starters.
Durango Hot Springs Resort and Spa offers treatments for these ailments: the Athlete’s Rescue, a Leg Vitality add-on to any massage, and Stone-Cold Fire.
The Durango Hot Springs Stone Cold Fire massage uses hot and cold stones to relax sore, tight muscles, alleviate pain, reduce swelling and inflammation, and strengthen muscles and joints for faster recovery. (Courtesy of Durango Hot Springs)
Coping with dry skin
Caring for yourself in winter also includes your skin, as that fresh air we seek is very dry.
“With our frigid air comes dehydrated skin,” said Cristin Botsford, lead skin therapist at Heyday Tennyson, a skincare salon in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood. “Instinctively we reach for a second layer of moisturizer, but we what we need to do is exfoliate.”
She said that more moisture can be applied once the skin is exfoliated, and it will absorb better into the skin.
Also, Botsford said, don’t forget the SPF. “It’ not just about preventing sunburn, but safeguarding your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays,” she said.
In the mountains, the Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon offers treatments for dry skin and sore muscles at Spa Anjali.
The Ponderosa Pine Therapy was inspired by traditional Native American approaches to treating inflammation and sore muscles. Sage, pine, and lavender are applied during the message; the Red Clover Body Mask starts with that important exfoliation before rubbing the body with honey and shea butter.
Soothing aching muscles
The Four Seasons Resort and Residences in nearby Vail recently announced a newly redesigned spa and holistic wellness program.
The Muscle Recovery Ritual soothes tired muscles from a fun day on the slopes or trails. The Sleep Ritual can also lull guests into a nap. For ultimate relaxation, try the Grounding Ritual or Comforting Ritual.
C Lazy U Ranch in Granby has added an adults-only spa lounge with a hot sauna (with mountain views), a hot tub, a cold plunge (for saddle soreness after a winter horseback ride), and comfortable seating around a fire pit.
The Lazy You Hideaway is in addition to the traditional massages offered at the Lazy You Spa, which moves from outdoor tents in summer to a cozy indoor space in winter.
PORTALº Thermaculture in Boulder offers hot saunas, cold plunges, and fitness classes, including yoga.
It is “a recreation experience featuring hot/cold therapy that promotes resilience through thermal vitality.” Soaking and plunging involve social interaction, which might help with those winter blues.
“The lack of sunlight and colder temperatures during the winter months cause many people to experience seasonal mood disorder, which manifests as low energy, irritability, and sadness,” Joyce said, adding that the hot springs can provide a community of fellow soakers.
And yes, this might even include embracing the cold. “Cold plunges involve briefly immersing your body in cold water,” Joyce said. “This centuries-old practice has many benefits, such as improved circulation, reduced muscle inflammation, enhanced recovery, improved mood and alertness, and increased metabolism.”
Or, you might try contrast therapy, alternating between hot and cold temperatures.
You could spend 30 seconds to a few minutes in one of the two cold plunge pools at Durango Hot Springs Resort and Spa to improve circulation and reduce muscle inflammation.
Then, you could alternate with hot mineral soaking to loosen the muscles again. A cold plunge is now common at hot springs and spas across the state.
Whether you’re a skier, snowshoer, snowboarder, or simply enjoying the winter views and change of season, you might need to recover with a massage or facial.