WHILE I AM NEVER one to turn down an opportunity to visit a spa, there are certain times in our lives when our bodies crave a moment of relaxation and Zen. Despite having visited a spa just a couple of weeks prior, I found myself in just that predicament during a late October visit to Los Angeles.

Here’s where I was: Fresh off a seven-day trip to Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Casablanca, I’d arrived home from a late-night drive from Washington Dulles International Airport. I worked the following day, then departed for Los Angeles one day later for two days of back-to-back events. Oh, and on top of all of that, I’d fallen ill on my previous trip and my body was still reeling from whatever virus was working its way through my system and the associated lethargy. So when I arrived for a two-night stay at the urban sanctuary that is Montage Beverly Hills, I was more than ready for a bit of a reprieve.

Everything about my stay felt like an indulgent retreat, even though I was in the city on business with a schedule of meetings set for both days. My executive suite was massive, beckoning me to sink into the couch or fall into the king-sized bed as soon as I entered. With so much space to stretch out, it was the lap of luxury. The suite boasted 1.5 bathrooms, a living room, a bedroom and a walk-in closet as big as some hotel rooms.

I enjoyed two alfresco meals at Montage Beverly Hills’ new Georgie restaurant, a Geoffrey Zakarian outlet named for his child. Both the on-site restaurant and Garden Bar underwent recent renovations to the décor and concept. Georgie now serves breakfast, lunch and dinner from a modern American menu and with indoor and outdoor seating. Other culinary options include The Rooftop Grill, £10 and in-room dining.

Treatment room © MONTAGE BEVERLY HILLS

Needless to say, my stay was going pretty perfectly before I even ventured to Spa Montage Beverly Hills for my 90-minute Elements of Wellness Signature Therapy. The facility houses the exclusive West Coast location for L.Raphael Genéve — technologically advanced skincare, beauty and anti-aging treatments. With a décor reminiscent of Spanish Colonial Revival, the 20,000-square-foot space offers a range of experiences from facial therapies and technologies to body therapies, massages, couples treatments, nail services and organic treatments; a fitness center with scheduled classes; a boutique; and the Kim Vo Salon.

The Elements of Wellness are signature experiences performed by Spa Master Therapists who undergo hundreds of hours of specialized education to customize therapies best suited to the spa-goer’s unique needs. Through consultation and consideration of each individual’s constitution, Master Therapists design bespoke treatments that meet the patron’s needs and offer transformation, rejuvenation and a stillness of mind.

During my 90-minute journey, my therapist used a combination of bodywork offerings to create a therapy that would bring me balance and renewal — both elements I desperately craved following my whirlwind few weeks. The result was a blend of traditional massage styles, aromatherapy, gentle connective tissue massage and balancing reflexology. The holistic therapy marries with aromatic oils to round out the relaxing treatment, interrupting stress, remedying aches, strengthening the immune system and renewing vitality.

Before arriving at Montage Beverly Hills, I completed a Personal Lifestyle Profile, indicating my problem areas, which alerted my therapist to the techniques best suited for my Elements of Wellness. I’d been experiencing chronic sinus issues, with congestion and pain, as well as the general upper-body tension resulting from pulling, pushing and carrying bulky bags around the world. I’d also been dealing with a Morton’s neuroma in my right foot for several years, which decided to act up and cause numbness and pain in the weeks leading up to my treatment.

As a result of my symptoms, the obvious focus was on my upper back, feet and head/neck/scalp area. My therapist noted she could feel the pain in my foot as she performed reflexology on the area, and that, interestingly enough, reflexology in the foot is intricately tied to the sinuses. The technique would prove to benefit both ailments.

To be honest, the 90 minutes were — in a word — bliss. That extra half hour felt indulgent, and I found myself drifting off for a majority of the treatment. Over the next few days I felt clarity regarding my head congestion and pressure I hadn’t experienced in months. And I slept better and deeper that evening than I had in the weeks prior to my visit. I’m betting that might have had something to do with the Montage bedding, as well.

Floating seems an apt description of my departure from the spa and back to my guestroom, and I continued to reap the rewards for weeks to follow.

SPA MONTAGE BEVERLY HILLS

Montage Beverly Hills
225 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
tel 310 860 7840
montagehotels.com