When I go to a destination spa, I want to do everything -- classes, lectures, and every weird spa treatment I've never heard of. But I had a completely new experience at Mii amo in Sedona, Arizona -- lying by the pool for five hours, eating, sleeping, and staring at the great red and golden cliffs looming above. I kept trying to leave, but couldn't.
Clearly, I had fallen under the spell of Mii amo, which means "to continue one's path" in the Yuman Indian language.
Mii amo's Own Vortex
Mii amo has a spectacular natural setting, nestled in a gorgeous box canyon that the Yuman tribe says is its birthplace. Sedona is known for its vortexes and some people believe one is here. Certainly, the whole canyon gives off a very special, protected feeling.
Mii amo was designed to blend in with the landscape and has unusual features like the Crystal Grotto, a meditation space that feels like the inside of a teepee -- if it had a bench. It is one of the more spiritual of spas, and the perfect destination for people who are at a crossroads in life and want to look within. But it also works for people who just want to relax.
Destination Spa and Resort Spa
Mii amo is a destination spa located on the same property as Enchantment Resort. That means you can have either a destination spa or a resort spa experience.
Destination spa guests who book three, four, or seven-day packages are right next to the spa in one of 16 modern, serene rooms. It's easy to drift back to your room in your robe. All your treatments are included and you can enjoy excellent spa cuisine in the upscale Mii amo Cafe without thinking about the tab.
Guests of Enchantment Resort can still enjoy all the facilities and classes at Mii amo as part of their daily resort fee, but treatments and meals are a la carte. Rooms are further away -- five to 15 minutes depending on where your room is. But you can always catch a golf cart ride. It's also good for families, with a kids program called Camp Coyote.
As a destination spa, Mii amo has activities like yoga, mountain biking and hiking going on all day, but you won't find the incredible depth of a Canyon Ranch. Sign up early for the morning "Hike The Red Rocks" off-property trips to breathtaking trails in Coconino National Forest. Only six people can go with one guide. The difficulty of the hike will be determined by the least able member of the group. To set your own pace and hiking time, you can always drive to the trailheads yourself.
Metaphysical Spa Treatments at Mii amo
Sedona is known for its spiritual seekers and gifted healers, so Mii amo is strong on metaphysical spa treatments (also known as "woo-woo") and if you're at all interested in that sort of thing I highly recommend you try them. I had a psychic massage and an aura-soma consultation and both were of the very highest quality. But do them on different days. I had both in one morning, and so much came up that I took a two-hour nap in the afternoon. But the services sent me on a journey of self-reflection that was very healing.
Mii amo also has other metaphysical services like "Inner Quest" ($205 for 60 minutes), which calls on Native American traditions, "Soul Seeker" ($260 for 90 minutes) where master therapists help you connect with your true self, and "Resonance" ($205 for 60 minutes) a sound therapy session.
I was disappointed in my custom massage ($145 for 60 minutes), in part because the walls were thin and I could hear a conversation going on next door. This seems like a strange oversight in such a high-level spa.
Afterwards I spend my afternoon by the pool -- eating, sleeping, and gazing at the cliffs. I was simply in the moment and it was delicious. When I did think, it was simple things like, "I trust myself." At the end of the afternoon I walked up to the rock formation called "Kachina Woman" and watched the sun set.
The Bottom Line: Mii amo, A Destination Spa at Enchantment, has a truly spectacular setting and the spa cuisine is first-rate. Its unusual treatments and gifted therapists makes it perfect for people who are on a spiritual quest. Guests at the resort (including parents with kids) can enjoy Mii amo, but no day guests are allowed. My only complaint is the spa needs thicker walls between treatment rooms.
Mii amo At A Glance:
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations and treatments for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
