Discovering your inner zen is easy at The Sofitel's new spa retreat.
Wouldn't it be fun to live in a world of aroma-plasty facials, hot stone massages and pure detox body treatments? It's a world that spa director Maureen Schumacher not only lives in every day, but one she created.
Schumacher worked in both fashion and magazine publishing before making the leap to the spa world, eventually landing at Le Spa where she worked on creating the ultimate relaxation zone to help tired travelers soothe their aching psyches. The end result on the menu looks fun, but it wasn't easy. "This was my first opportunity to develop a brand from the ground up and I wanted to set LeSpa apart from the competition with our attention to detail," Schumacher says, recalling, "I read hundreds of spa menus from all over the world to draw my inspiration... but in the end I knew I wanted our services to be centered around customization, unique, locally-inspired seasonal treatments prepared fresh for each guest and a holistic approach to health and beauty from within. ...The hardest thing became narrowing down the offering."
Start with a refreshing, multi-head shower or rejuvenate in the steam room before retiring to the relaxation area to crash on a chaise lounge and read a magazine or two. Your treatment actually begins here as a spa attendant offers you tea and indulges you with a ritual foot bath -- performed with heated stones, scented salts and rose petals. A 'So You' massage will melt your cares away, and a 'Stiletto' pedicure will eliminate all the things you hate about wearing high heels while making your feet feel pretty.
But the best part about the spa is how quiet it is. With only six treatment rooms and two spa suites for couples' treatments, you're more likely to run into the kinds of people who like to shut down for an afternoon, as opposed to the Chatty Cathys that refuse to turn their cell phones off no matter where they are.
"We believe that the spa experience should begin from the moment you walk in the door," Schumacher explains. "We stagger appointment times so we never welcome more than two guests every 15 minutes into the spa. This helps the spa retain a maximum level of intimacy for every guest. We also conclude each service with a signature citrus drink. We want to take the spa experience to the next level and believe that focusing on the details is the way to do it." 
Which means it'll be equally hard for you to narrow down which treatments you'll want to have. Whatever your choice, your journey begins when you step past the check-in desk and walk through the heavy wood door to the locker room. A cushy robe and flip-flops greet you before you transition into spa mode.
Some of those details include hard-to-find high-end products, like Delecor and Carita products for body treatments, and Essie nail polish for mani/pedis. But the most interesting ingredients come into play with Le Spa's seasonal treatments, which Schumacher ensures are fresh and prepared the day of a guest's visit.
"I knew I wanted the LeSpa products to be as fresh as possible so a seasonal menu seemed like a great thing to try; after all, restaurants do it so why not a spa?" she says. "Our bodies go through seasonal changes, like dry skin in the winter and over-exposure to the sun in summer, and these products and treatments are a great remedy for the body's seasonal changes. These treatments also allow LA visitors the opportunity to experience some of the fresh produce Though it's hard to choose her favorites, Schumacher adores the 'Balanced Beauty' facial and 'So You' massage, in which she combines a stress-relieving aromatherapy blend, some hot stones, deep pressure and reflexology. "The great thing about the So You massage is that no matter how many things you add, the price never changes," she notes. And if her passion for Le Spa is any indication, spa-goers will be treated to plenty of new goodies as the seasons roll on.
Says Schumacher, "I want to continue to develop, grow and solidify our brand image. I hope to expand Le Spa to our other Sofitel hotels in the while continuing to offer the premier spa experience in LA."
For more information on Le Spa and to find out how to book an appointment, please visit www.sofitella.com.
