The Miraval Group is bringing its spa and wellness brand to Southern California with the opening of the Miraval Life in Balance Spa at Monarch Beach Resort, which has just opened this month.

The Miraval Life in Balance Spa at Monarch Beach Resort offers more than 70 of the signature treatments developed at the company’s flagship Miraval Resort & Spa near Tucson, Arizona.

The opening kicks off a Miraval expansion programme that includes the development of full-service Miraval resorts that offer immersive wellness experiences in key destination markets, along with Miraval Life in Balance Spas, which will offer many of the brand’s signature wellness programmes, according to Steven A. Rudnitsky, Miraval Group president & chief executive officer.

“The primary emphasis in terms of expanding the Miraval brand will be with other destination resorts, ala Tucson,” Rudnitsky told Spa Opportunities. “We know that...we can easily adapt this experience to the California wine country, the Colorado mountains, parts of New England, Hawaii as well as parts of Florida.”

In the next five years, Rudnitsky says he’s “very confident” there will be another five to seven “full-blown” Miraval resorts in North America.

The Miraval Life in Balance Spa at Monarch Beach Resort includes 24 treatment rooms as well as spa suites, a boutique, Drybar, Deborah Lippmann Nail Salon plus relaxation and tranquility zones. It is part of a US$40m (€35m, £28m) renovation of the resort’s 400 rooms and public spaces that will also introduce five new dining concepts and an expanded pool and pool bar.

Miraval-inspired healthy menu items are available at Monarch Beach Resort’s restaurants, including the new Miraval Spa Café.

“The Miraval Life in Balance Spa at Monarch Beach Resort offers the most popular of Miraval Tucson’s signature treatments and programmes,” said Rudnitsky. “I expect that a visit to Monarch Beach will inspire many guests to visit Tucson for the complete Miraval experience.”

Moreover, Rudnitsky said Monarch Beach and future Miraval spas draw on local surroundings to create unique experiences for guests.

The new Miraval Life in Balance Spa offers Miraval Tucson’s N GA and Shamana-Karma treatments; ayurvedic, energy and body renewal rituals; and new treatments that incorporate coastal-inspired ingredients, including sea salt, crystal salt stones, algae and marine muds.

Selected Miraval Tucson signature wellness programmes are also offered, including Mindful Stress Mastery, Mindful Eating and Mindfulness at Miraval. Custom yoga and body movement studios in the spa’s new Body Mindfulness Center feature the brand’s Cardio Drumming, Mindful Spinning, Aerial Yoga and Floating Mediation programmes.

New coastal-inspired programmes include Beachside Meditation, Zen Boot Camp on the Beach, Sunset Yoga and Authentic Connections. Each takes advantage of the resort’s oceanfront location.

Specialists from Miraval Tucson, including wellness counsellor Anne Parker, exercise physiologist Andrew Wolf and healers Pam Lancaster and Dr. Tim Frank will make regular visits to the new spa to offer additional signature Miraval programmes. Spa memberships are offered to local residents.

Monarch Beach Resort will be operated by Starwood as a St. Regis through May 31, 2016, at which point it will rebranded as Monarch Beach Resort and operated independently by KSL Resorts.

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