The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office has released crime scene photographs from the sweat lodge ceremony conducted by James Ray near Sedona, Ariz. that left three people dead. The sweat lodge photos can be seen in two TV news reports -- one by KPHO TV and another by Associated Press.

Previously unseen sweat lodge photos show the interior of the sweat lodge and James Ray's room, which had two suitcases full of vitamins, supplements, injectable growth hormone products and prescription medications (for a thyroid condition and cold sores or herpes) that he left behind.

Investigators say no one was forced to stay inside the sweat lodge, but they were strongly encouraged. Ray told participants "You may think you're going to die but you're not." Ray has not yet been charged.

Dwight D'Evelyn of the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office told me that they're wrapping up their investigation and will announce the results in a press conference probably in the first half of Jan. 2010.

The medical examiners for the two counties involved have not yet completed their reports on the cause of the three deaths, which will likely be released at the same time. After that, all the results will be turned over to the County Attorney's Office, which will determine how to proceed in terms of any charges against Ray.

Find more links at this blog by Elizabeth Rose.

Las Vegas just got three fabulous new spas at City Center, the $8.5 billion complex of luxury hotels, shops, restaurants and nightclubs on 67 acres on the Strip right next to the Bellagio. The environmentally conscious development is getting great reviews for being luxurious and tasteful (by Vegas standards anyway).

It's enormous, but doesn't feel that way. It's classy! The developers spent $40 million on 15 works by world-famous artists. And two of the three hotels - Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas and Vdara -- don't even offer gaming. It's Vegas for people who find Vegas a bit much.

ARIA Resort & Spa is the most affordable of the three (rates start at $149 ), and The Spa at ARIA is setting new records for size and splendor. The 80,000 square-foot Japanese-themed spa on two levels has 62 treatment rooms, including Vegas' first co-ed spa balcony.

It also has some spectacular new meditation rooms, including an unprecedented salt room called a "shio" (in the photo above by The Spa at ARIA) with "vibration therapy" chairs, and another one with Japanese stone sauna ("ganbanyoku") beds of heated black mineral stone that emit negative ions and far-infrared rays. Sounds interesting! To get more of an idea what to expect, see photos of The Spa at ARIA.

Tucson, Arizona is a great spa town, home to Canyon Ranch and Miraval, two of the country's most highly regarded destination spas. But now there's a new option for people who want a luxury resort spa experience -- sumptuous accommodations, fine dining, great golf, tennis, kids' adventure pool and a beautiful spa. The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, a 250-room resort spread out over 850 acres of Sonoran Desert, has just opened in Marana (northwest of Tucson).

With 27 holes, The Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course will be a big draw for golfers, and the resort has a 235-foot water slide to please the kids. But Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain is also offering lots of adult activities to compete with the local destination spas - hiking, biking, birdwatching, stargazing, aerobics classes, core, strength and circuit training, yoga, Pilates, sunrise power walks, even horseback riding through a local ranch.

The spa has 14 indoor and outdoor treatments rooms (including suites for couples and small groups) , a mountain view fitness center, a private fireplace and courtyard, and an outdoor Serenity pool terrace where guests can see ancient Native American carvings in nearby rocks. To celebrate the the opening, the resort is offering introductory rates starting from $259 -- and now is the perfect time to go!

There's a new wellness blog out there for New Yorkers that I like -- Well+Good NYC. Bloggers Melisse Gelula and Alexia Brue, formerly of Luxury SpaFinder Magazine, just released their "10 NYC Wellness Trends for 2010". The one I find most interesting is their prediction that more people will be going to independent therapists.

"Highly skilled healers and top-notch therapists will trump outsize spa meccas, Bisazza tile-lined wet lounges, and heavily scripted treatment rituals as the reason for spa visits in 2010," they write. "More in demand: Building a personal ongoing relationship with a trusted bodyworker or facialist, and low-key surrounds. (Luxe spas with well-being and prevention services in their menus will fare better than purely pampering ones.)"

They also note more practitioners making their own products, the rise of specialist acupuncturists, and more "quickie" spa services at retail stores. Melisse says Well+GoodNYC.com is a "holistic Daily Candy--meets--WebMD-type resource for and about savvy New Yorkers, who are interested in well-being, may already have holistic habits (shop at city green markets and purchase PVC-free yoga mats), and practice self-care."