As Seen in Lake Minnetonka Magazine

Excerpt from January 2010 Issue of Lake Minnetonka Magazine

The Marsh: A Center for Balance and Fitness

The Marsh is, without a doubt, the area’s spa trailblazer. While its multi-pronged approach to wellbeing gives a whole new meaning to health and wellness, the vast menu of classes, spa services, meditation spaces and gourmet food do a pretty excellent job of leaving visitors feeling rejuvenated and pampered. And who doesn’t need a little bit of that every now and then?

The biggest misconception of The Marsh is that it’s a private club—I admit I used to think it was, too—when its classes, spa services, restaurants and fitness center are all open to the public, says director of marketing and community relations Deb Garvey.

To blow the lid off the exclusivity of the place, they invited me to spend an afternoon experiencing all facets of The Marsh, including taking a peek at the gorgeous deck often reserved for wedding receptions. My personal favorite: the stunningly rustic and peaceful meditation tower, which, like the rest of the north-facing facilities, includes an expansive view of the tranquil protected wetland hugging the property.

My day started with a Shui Gong class in the warm-water therapy pool (heaven at a constant 94 degrees!), led by Heather Reade, who came up with the concept, which combines the movement and breathing principles of Tai Chi and Qigong. It’s the perfect class for relaxing and zoning out, since you’re surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the namesake marsh.

Next up was LaStone Therapy in the spa. My masseuse, Nancy Laubignat, met me in the lobby, where you can prop your feet up and have a bite to eat (and/or a glass of wine) after your treatment—something I gladly took advantage of later in the day. Nancy’s technique was so fluid that I couldn’t tell where the rocks ended and her hands began.

The stones—the hot ones are polished basalt (volcanic rock), warmed up to 120-130 degrees; the cold ones are frozen marble—are used to connect a client’s breaths and energy, implementing both American Indian and Eastern philosophies and techniques. Bottom line: I have never been that close to falling asleep during a massage before, and I was so sad when the 75 minutes were over. Poor me, right? 15000 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka; 952.935.2202; themarsh.com

http://www.metromag.com/0p174a3943/destination-relaxation/ 		image