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Nine Spa Treatments to Keep Your Mind and Body In Check

Because sometimes a Swedish massage just won't cut it.

By Carla Torres
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By Carla Torres

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Miami can take its toll on you. All that day drinking, pool partying, and clubbing until sunrise can leave you feeling like less than a million bucks, but it's nothing a spa day can't fix, right?

Right, except we're not talking about the usual rubdown here at a top luxury spa. In trying to tiptoe between relaxation and real world life, we've scoured the city's best spas for treatments beyond the realm of plain old bodywork. What we found are services that increase memory, redirect blood flow to the brain, and improve your consciousness. Because a mind is a terrible thing to waste, so it's good to show it some love every once in a while.

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Mindful Relaxation Therapy at Carillon Hotel and Spa

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It's no secret that music has an effect on the brain and our overall mood. Hence why the Carillon has come up with a mindful relaxation therapy, which fuses sound therapy with bodywork to get you into a deeply calmed and meditative state. You'll wear headphones that will take your brain into a range of optimal states of cognitive awareness. If you feel your table vibrating, don't fret– that's what sound tables are supposed to do. Want to get on the same frequency as your partner?Opt for the couple's therapy and feel the love like never before. [Photo: Shutterstock]
6801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141
(866) 276-2226
(866) 276-2226

Raindrop Harmony at The Spa at Viceroy Miami

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There's something about rain that instills tranquility and gets your creative juices flowing, especially when said rain comes in drops of lavender, peppermint, mandarin, and basil, and carefully falls along your spine in a slow and controlled motion. This isn't some type of supernatural catastrophe; it's the Viceroy's raindrop harmony, which literally makes it rain oil on your back. A combination of reflexology and stretching with oil therapy, the 80-minute service is meant to break habitual holding patterns and allow you to think more clearly. After the rain there's always a rainbow. [Photo: Viceroy Miami]
485 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
(305) 503-0369
(305) 503-0369

Astro Balance at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, South Beach

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Calling all Zodiac enthusiasts! Enter the Ritz-Carlton Spa, where a specialist can align the stars in your favor with her Astro Balance treatment. The massage was created by an astrologer and utilizes your date of birth, astral sign, natural element (air, fire, earth, or water), and ascendant (if you have that information) to come up with a completely customized treatment meant to unite spiritual, physical, and energy points in your bod, and bring balance to your life. If you so happen to have your astral chart (Zodiac buffs will know what I'm talking about), bring it with you so your therapist can perform some real hands-on energy work. [Photo: Shutterstock]
1 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(786) 276-4090
(786) 276-4090

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It's All In Your Mind at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach

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If you want the benefits of inversions without having to turn your body upside down, The Standard's aptly named "It's All in Your Mind" cervical massage is just what the doctored ordered. This 45-minute treatment redirects blood flow and energy to the brain, which are the single most important things you need to be human. You won't just release tension in your neck, scalp, and jaw, but you'll free up space in your mind all while listening to a holistic audio track that induces brain wave patterns of deep meditation. So, it's like a brain massage for your brain massage. [Photo]
40 Island Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 673-1717
(305) 673-1717

Vibrational Therapy at Exhale South Beach

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Just like instruments, our bodies can be tuned. Get on the right note with Exhale's vibrational therapy, which uses a non-invasive machine with tuning forks to instantly alter your body's biochemistry and integrate your right and left brain patterns into one. Before you can count to three, your body will go into a deep state of relaxation, bringing your mind along with it. The correct phrase here is peace of mind. [Photo: Exhale Spa]
1601 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 200-1301
(305) 200-1301

Mindful Waves at Renew The Spa at the Royal Palm

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If you have problems meditating or paying attention for longer than 10 minutes (don't we all?), the Mindful Waves treatment at Renew Spa is for you. Developed for NASA astronauts and featured in Time Magazine, a body wave monitoring system connects to your head and uses your brainwaves to control a computer generated image, ultimately taking you into a guided meditation. The result? Enhanced cognitive skills, focus, and attention. Say goodbye to adult ADD. [Photo]
1545 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-604-5700
305-604-5700

Chakra Balancing Massage at The Palms Hotel

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Unlike other chakra massages, the spa at the Palms leaves things in the hands of fate (kind of). You'll be presented with seven cards (each representing the body's energy centers) and prompted to pick three. You'll then close your eyes and smell the aromas associated with each card. The fragrance that calls to you subsequently symbolizes the chakra you need to work on most (think love, communication, intuition) and thus your tailored massage experience begins with your therapist letting you know what she's doing as she's doing it and the effect it's having your energy vortexes. [Photo: The Palms Hotel]
1568 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 908-5460
(305) 908-5460

Inner Well Being at The Betsey Hotel

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Find your inner self by indulging in some much needed alone time -- 70 minutes to be exact. Ok, so you won't be totally alone; a trained therapist and seven crystals will join you on the Betsy's rooftop spa. But this professional and these crystals will help you unleash any built up stress you're carrying around by targeting specific pressure points in the body. You'll learn about every crystal's purpose and the effects it reaps on all areas of your life. Might be worth splurging on some rocks and duplicating at home, although it won't be as good as this. [Photo: The Betsey Hotel]
1440 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 531-6100
(305) 531-6100

Abhyanga Massage at The Biltmore Hotel

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Feeling blocked? Open your chakras with the Biltmore's Abhyanga massage adapted from Eastern therapies to get you on the same page as the universe. Different than the typical Swedish or deep tissue massage, Abhyanga focuses on long continuous strokes and puts emphasis on the seven layers of the psyche. The idea is that the flow and synchronicity will carry over to your consciousness, so that serendipity can be more likely to happen in your life. Disclaimer: this treatment involves copious amounts of oil. [Photo: The Biltmore Hotel]
1210 Anastasia Avenue, Miami, FL 33134
(305) 913-3187
(305) 913-3187
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Mindful Relaxation Therapy at Carillon Hotel and Spa

6801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141
It's no secret that music has an effect on the brain and our overall mood. Hence why the Carillon has come up with a mindful relaxation therapy, which fuses sound therapy with bodywork to get you into a deeply calmed and meditative state. You'll wear headphones that will take your brain into a range of optimal states of cognitive awareness. If you feel your table vibrating, don't fret– that's what sound tables are supposed to do. Want to get on the same frequency as your partner?Opt for the couple's therapy and feel the love like never before. [Photo: Shutterstock]
6801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141
(866) 276-2226
(866) 276-2226

Raindrop Harmony at The Spa at Viceroy Miami

485 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
There's something about rain that instills tranquility and gets your creative juices flowing, especially when said rain comes in drops of lavender, peppermint, mandarin, and basil, and carefully falls along your spine in a slow and controlled motion. This isn't some type of supernatural catastrophe; it's the Viceroy's raindrop harmony, which literally makes it rain oil on your back. A combination of reflexology and stretching with oil therapy, the 80-minute service is meant to break habitual holding patterns and allow you to think more clearly. After the rain there's always a rainbow. [Photo: Viceroy Miami]
485 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
(305) 503-0369
(305) 503-0369

Astro Balance at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, South Beach

1 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Calling all Zodiac enthusiasts! Enter the Ritz-Carlton Spa, where a specialist can align the stars in your favor with her Astro Balance treatment. The massage was created by an astrologer and utilizes your date of birth, astral sign, natural element (air, fire, earth, or water), and ascendant (if you have that information) to come up with a completely customized treatment meant to unite spiritual, physical, and energy points in your bod, and bring balance to your life. If you so happen to have your astral chart (Zodiac buffs will know what I'm talking about), bring it with you so your therapist can perform some real hands-on energy work. [Photo: Shutterstock]
1 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(786) 276-4090
(786) 276-4090

It's All In Your Mind at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach

40 Island Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
If you want the benefits of inversions without having to turn your body upside down, The Standard's aptly named "It's All in Your Mind" cervical massage is just what the doctored ordered. This 45-minute treatment redirects blood flow and energy to the brain, which are the single most important things you need to be human. You won't just release tension in your neck, scalp, and jaw, but you'll free up space in your mind all while listening to a holistic audio track that induces brain wave patterns of deep meditation. So, it's like a brain massage for your brain massage. [Photo]
40 Island Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 673-1717
(305) 673-1717

Vibrational Therapy at Exhale South Beach

1601 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Just like instruments, our bodies can be tuned. Get on the right note with Exhale's vibrational therapy, which uses a non-invasive machine with tuning forks to instantly alter your body's biochemistry and integrate your right and left brain patterns into one. Before you can count to three, your body will go into a deep state of relaxation, bringing your mind along with it. The correct phrase here is peace of mind. [Photo: Exhale Spa]
1601 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 200-1301
(305) 200-1301

Mindful Waves at Renew The Spa at the Royal Palm

1545 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139
If you have problems meditating or paying attention for longer than 10 minutes (don't we all?), the Mindful Waves treatment at Renew Spa is for you. Developed for NASA astronauts and featured in Time Magazine, a body wave monitoring system connects to your head and uses your brainwaves to control a computer generated image, ultimately taking you into a guided meditation. The result? Enhanced cognitive skills, focus, and attention. Say goodbye to adult ADD. [Photo]
1545 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-604-5700
305-604-5700

Chakra Balancing Massage at The Palms Hotel

1568 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Unlike other chakra massages, the spa at the Palms leaves things in the hands of fate (kind of). You'll be presented with seven cards (each representing the body's energy centers) and prompted to pick three. You'll then close your eyes and smell the aromas associated with each card. The fragrance that calls to you subsequently symbolizes the chakra you need to work on most (think love, communication, intuition) and thus your tailored massage experience begins with your therapist letting you know what she's doing as she's doing it and the effect it's having your energy vortexes. [Photo: The Palms Hotel]
1568 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 908-5460
(305) 908-5460

Inner Well Being at The Betsey Hotel

1440 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Find your inner self by indulging in some much needed alone time -- 70 minutes to be exact. Ok, so you won't be totally alone; a trained therapist and seven crystals will join you on the Betsy's rooftop spa. But this professional and these crystals will help you unleash any built up stress you're carrying around by targeting specific pressure points in the body. You'll learn about every crystal's purpose and the effects it reaps on all areas of your life. Might be worth splurging on some rocks and duplicating at home, although it won't be as good as this. [Photo: The Betsey Hotel]
1440 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 531-6100
(305) 531-6100

Abhyanga Massage at The Biltmore Hotel

1210 Anastasia Avenue, Miami, FL 33134
Feeling blocked? Open your chakras with the Biltmore's Abhyanga massage adapted from Eastern therapies to get you on the same page as the universe. Different than the typical Swedish or deep tissue massage, Abhyanga focuses on long continuous strokes and puts emphasis on the seven layers of the psyche. The idea is that the flow and synchronicity will carry over to your consciousness, so that serendipity can be more likely to happen in your life. Disclaimer: this treatment involves copious amounts of oil. [Photo: The Biltmore Hotel]
1210 Anastasia Avenue, Miami, FL 33134
(305) 913-3187
(305) 913-3187