by Susan Van Allen

The mountain sky of Santa Fe. Photo by Jack Parsons

Two magpies cackled overhead, stopping us in our tracks as we hiked our way up into the Sangre de Cristo mountains.

It seemed to me they squawked, "Shut up, gals!"… and it worked. For the first time since I'd hooked up with Meredith at the airport for our annual "Talk-It-All-Out Weekend Reunion," we stopped yakking.

Mission accomplished, the birds flew off. We watched them fade into infinite blue sky, took deep breaths of juniper scented air, stared out over the red hills, and exhaled in gratitude for our springtime rejuvenation retreat in Santa Fe.

Last year we'd rendezvoused on Italy's Amalfi coast. But this year, money and time constraints kept us closer to home. Santa Fe provided all we needed to shake off the accumulated stress of the past twelve months: peaceful surroundings, invigorating hiking trails, elegant restaurants, and (most importantly), a spa, where troubles that couldn't be solved by gabbing or eating could be pounded or soaked away.

In fact, our first stop was the ShaNah Wellness Center Spa, a recent addition to The Bishops' Lodge Resort, where we'd chosen to stay for the weekend. The "Healing Remedy" offerings on ShaNah's menu are inspired by the traditions of the Native Americans and Spanish settlers who once roamed this land. Treatments range from Shankara Gegensis Facials to Tesuque Clay Wraps along with the more familiar Swedish massages, acupuncture, and manicures.

"ShaNah means vitality and energy," my "healing artist" whispered as she lit candles in preparation for my Native Stones Massage. After warm basalt stones had smoothed out every knot in my back, I plucked a crisp apple from a basket in the lounge and floated to the garden where Meredith was soaking in an outdoor whirlpool. To us, ShaNah meant "Tra-la-la, we've clicked into rejuvenation gear!"

The weekend became a mix of pampered country living on the 450 acres of the lodge, and sophisticated dining around Santa Fe plaza, a five minute drive away. (CONTINUE...)