By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman
DEARBORN – It's been one of those days – you've missed more deadlines than you can count, the traffic has been horrific, and you have a conference with your child's non-gay-friendly teacher tomorrow.
But, right now, you've opened the door and taken a step into a suburb of heaven. An exclusive suburb. Because you've walked into the door of Dearborn's Om Spa, and before you leave you know that the stress you feel this moment will be a distant memory. And, even better, you know you will leave not only looking your best, but a bit healthier than when you walked in.
Thanks to the Om Spa, it's never been easier for residents of Southeast Michigan to work on their overall wellness.
Under the direct supervision of owners Dr. Duane Kriel and Dr. Bruce Rochefort, every detail of the Om Spa experience has been crafted to ease a client's stress and improve overall health. Each detail has been thoroughly researched, from the ingredients in the facial peels to the quest for the perfect bathrobes.
"We really tried to learn as much as we could [about] things that we weren't taught in medical school," said Kriel of the months of research and searching for just the right products and services for the spa.
"We didn't want to just jump into [business] – we wanted to have the right menu [and] the right products," he added.
The hard work has paid off in a luxurious experience. Everything in the spa – from the lighting to the cherrywood pedicure thrones to the scents that greet clients when they walk in the door – work together to create an urban oasis from the stresses of everyday life. While being at the spa is a decidedly sensuous experience, the decor and furnishings are carefully gender-neutral so both men and women can feel at home. The relaxation area alone, with its tall bamboo and selection of soothing teas, is worth the trip.
However, the relaxation area is just the beginning. While the Om Spa offers the usual selection of services from manicures to body wraps to facials, clients can also experience services there that aren't offered anywhere else in Michigan.
The Om Spa's unique services include the Peaceful Warrior Massage, a traditional hot Thai massage that was originally developed in the 13th century to help soldiers returning home from battle; the Manao Head and Face Treatment, which was developed specifically for the needs of male skin; and the Java Wrap, an ancient Indonesian ritual first developed to help women recover their original waistlines after childbirth.
"We wanted to make the spa a fusion of both Eastern and Western treatments, realizing that a lot of our medicine and spa treatments and things like that originated from the East with Ayurvedic principles, and we didn't want to lose sight of some of our technologies that help people out with acne breakouts and things like that," said Dr. Kriel. Microdermabrasion, glycolic peels, laser hair removal, and airbrush tanning are among the modern Western-type treatments offered at the spa.
This reporter was treated to a Neem Facial after an interview with Dr. Kriel, and is happy to report that the facial and massage were among the very best she has experienced in years of receiving such services.
But what does all of this self-indulgence have to do with health? Plenty, according to Dr. Kriel.
"Overall wellness is a state of being, [and] it takes work," he said. "People need to work on it and take care of their bodies … and massages, facials, pedicures can help them unwind and relax. When we relax we decrease our cortisone levels, we strengthen our immune system, and overall [spa treatments] just help a person feel better about themselves internally as well as externally."
Besides, "Dr. Rochefort and I have always felt … that when someone feels good on the inside that they generally will feel better on the outside – and vice versa," he added.
The Om Spa is located at 22070 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. After work, evening and Saturday appointments are available. Call 313-565-9686.
