Healing Retreats & Spas November/December 2002

Body Slammed in Jackson Hole
I’m lying in a darkened room of the Body Sage Spa in Jackson Hole Wyoming, wrapped in warm linens infused with herbs and spices. An image of a golden eagle soaring over the Grand Tetons drifts past my mind’s eye. I am one with nature…I am one with the earth…I am shakin’ in my ski boots at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Actually, it was the day before when I had found myself perched on a
mountain that sports some of the most extreme terrain of any ski resort in the U.S. “ You want me to go from here to down there?” I ask my daughter, pointing to the bottom of the mountain, wondering how hard it would be to lie down in a fetal position with skis on.
“Mom, this is Teewinot, the beginner’s slope,” she says. Easy for her to say. An Ohio transplant, she revels in the thrill of conquering the mountains steep couloirs, bowls, and chutes.
As for me, at the end of the day, I'm in the same condition as many others who have gone beyond their limits during their stay at Jackson Hole: my quads are quaking, my calves are crying, and my hip is turning the color of Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
“You need to see Heidi at The Body Sage,” says my daughter. Heidi Harrison is owner and founder of The Body Sage Spa, located inside the Rusty Parrot Lodge. Although it offers a wide range of traditional therapies, it specializes in sports recovery and healing. In fact, it has been rated “ Best Day Spa for the Work Out Weary” by Self magazine.
With just thirty-two rooms, the Rusty Parrot fills a unique niche in the area, catering to those who want the warmth and personal attention of a small family owned lodge yet expect the quality accommodations and amenities of a larger venue. I'm also happy to learn that for every night I stay at the Rusty Parrot, owners Ron and Brandon Harrison will make a donation to the Jackson Hole Land Trust to help preserve the open space and wildlife habitat for generations to come.
Checking into the lodge, I am greeted by the crackle of a fire in the large river rock fireplace and the smell of fresh coffee and baked goods coming from the cathedral-ceiling lounge. In the hallway, scented candles cast a soft glow on original paintings on loan from one of Jackson’s many renowned wildlife an nature art galleries. Home of the National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson is a mecca for internationally known wildlife artists and photographers.
Personal touches such as these have earned the Rusty Parrot AAA’s four diamond and Mobile’s four star ratings. In 2002, Conde Nast Traveler magazine named the Rusty Parrot among the top 20 U.S. small hotels, earning it a spot on their 2002 Gold List.
Entering my room, I find a teddy bear nestled on a billowing white down comforter draping a king-sized bed. A look at the fire place in the corner, the thick terry cloth robe in the closet, and the oversized tub, and I know what’s in order. One luxurious bubble bath and glass of Sonoma Chardonnay later, and I'm drifting off to the flickering glow of the fireplace. As I lay sleeping, I am blissfully unaware that the temperature would drop to minus 30 degrees, earning Jackson the title of coldest spot in the United States for that night. After breakfast, Heidi leads me to the spa to meet my therapist, Beth. While drinking a relaxing cup of herb tea, I give her a run down of my bumps, bruises, and aches. Beth recommends one of the Body Sage’s specialties: the sports recovery package.
The two-and-a-half-hour treatment was developed by The Body Sage’s own therapists, who experimented with various uses of arnica until they found a technique that proved effective for flushing lactic acid and lengthening muscles that have contracted due to overexertion.
Beth begins by exfoliating my very dry and flaking skin ( a common ailment in this dry mountain air) with an exhilarating dry brush scrub to increase circulation and prepare my skin to absorb the healing properties of arnica.
Using a gentle circulatory motion, she starts to work the arnica deep into my sore and tight muscles. While she's working on my feet, she notices a red spot on the bottom of my right heel, which in reflexology connects to the sciatic nerve. She takes extra time gently kneading that part of my lower back and finishes with a hot stone massage.
For the full body herbal wrap, I'm swathed in warm linens soaked in ginger, rosemary, allspice, clove, and eucalyptus- spices that facilitate circulation, detoxify, and assist the arnica by infusing it deeper into the muscles. Like a cocoon, I'm wrapped tightly in the linens and sealed with an outer foil blanket. When Beth starts to unwrap me, I'm amazed I have been in this womb-like state for over half an hour.
Next is the coup de’grace of the session: the salt glow scrub that uses salt from the Dead Sea and the Great Salt Lake, located just a half days drive from Jackson.
As I step I step into the adjoining shower to wash away the salt, I am
surprised how Rejuvenated and energized I feel. Other massages have made me feel relaxed, yet wrung out and in need of a nap. When I return to my room, the phone rings. It's my daughter. “Mom do you want to give it another try today?” What the heck. The way I feel, what are a few mountains to someone who's, “One with nature!” FOR THE WORKOUT WEARY- Try the four-hour “Day of Rejuvenation,” which includes a facial, steam, seaweed wrap, massage, salt glow, and seaweed bath. If you can't tear yourself away from the slopes that long, opt for an après ski alternative: the “Winter Warmer,” a ninety-minute hot stone massage and salt glow. TO REFUEL A hearty Jackson style breakfast comes with the stay at the Rusty Parrot. The breakfast menu changes daily and includes such specialties as Russian Eggs Benedict with smoked trout, spinach, and caviar. In addition to the specials of the day, homemade granola and pastries, fresh fruit, and fresh squeezed juices round out the menu. In the evening, the dinning area is transformed into a more formal affair, with Executive Chef Jason Sharp offering an impressive wine list and such delectables as fresh sesame seared Aha tuna and free-range chicken saltimboca. His signature winter dish: Wild Game cassoulet.

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