Glen Ivy Spa and Hot Springs in Corona, California – October 29th, 2002
 Written by Todd Elliot (10/02)
If you are in the mood to let go and relax, a visit to Glen Ivy is a great cure. Only a little more than one hour driving east from L.A., this Spa and Hot Springs will sooth away your stress and make you feel like butter after your full day of relaxing, spas and mud nourishings. There is an order to things at Glen Ivy to achieve your body’s ultimate purification. Our first stop was the natural mineral water bath. Warning: not for those who are sensitive to smell as it seems to emanate an odor akin to sulfer. However, the benefits far outweigh the slightly unpleasant aroma. Soaking in this natural hot tub for 5-20 minutes draws out all of the impurities in your body’s skin. Next, we relaxed in the salt water spa which was like bathing in a warm ocean. Jet streams massage your muscles as you meditate under an outdoor canopy. Except for the occasional harassment of a flying insect, it is utter bliss… We all know the benefits salt water has on our skin and nails- and it also acts as a mild astringent to clean cuts and promote healing. After the salt bath, we headed for the sauna which is another wonderful way to clean your pores as the hot, dry steam opens them and draws out impurities through perspiration. Or, if you prefer wet steam, there are steam baths in both the men and women’s locker rooms. Our next destination was Club Mud which is an outdoor mud arena where you slather red clay all over your body. The clay is mined from Temescal Canyon in Southern California. It is mixed with fresh mineral water so it goes on smooth like a facial mask for the body. Once covered in mud, we spread out on lounge chairs to bake in the sun. After about 20 minutes of relaxation, when the clay is dry, it is time to rinse off in the outdoor showers. This process exfoliates the skin and leaves it feeling soft and smooth. For extra soft skin, there is another mud treatment called The Mud Grotto(Pictured Here). First, we descended below ground level to a cave-like atmosphere where we were brushed with light-green clay made out of sea kelp and aloe vera. This clay is rich in nutrients which moisturize the skin. Then we sat in the stone-walled cave as a cool mist kept the clay wet and supple on our bodies. After approximately 15-20 minutes, we went into another room where we washed off the clay in a luxurious granite shower. Finally, we dried ourselves off and sat for a few minutes in the relaxation room where we meditated to the soft, tranquil music before ascending back into the real world. Make sure to visit the Grotto when you arrive to reserve a time as it often gets crowded and you will need to come back later that day after you have done some of the other spas and stuff. Overall, I would say that the Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa is a rejuvenating experience that is fun as well as beneficial to the body, mind and spirit. The locker rooms are clean and comfortable with changing areas, private showers, a steam bath and jacuzzi. Fresh towels are provided as well as an endless supply of spring water. The Spa also has a great selection of great skin products for sale, a nice Cafe to eat lunch at, and an assortment of diverse face/body treatments and massages that one should make an appointment to reserve your space and time. Note: Expect it to be more populated on the weekends and holidays… For more information, please call |