Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa is a jewel box of an experience right in Avondale. The rich culture of India beautifully complements every service they offer, but without overwhelming the guest. The spa is in an old home that has been beautifully decorated with the greatest attention to detail that enriched every minute I was there. Every treatment I had was, quite simply, a gem. If you’re married to a new mama, or just want to say (to your mother or your wife), “Thanks for putting up with me” — every woman deserves a visit to Seventh Wonder.
I arrived on an afternoon after a really hard morning. One of my four kids had been sick for six weeks straight. We were on ear infection number four for each of our 10-month-old twins. When I checked out at Target that morning with a cart full of formula, diapers and baby food, the checkout lady had looked at me with deep sympathy and said, after sharing that she herself has two sets of twins, “Honey, you WILL survive.” I burst into tears in the checkout line at her kindness.
Needless to say, a visit to Seventh Wonder was just what I needed. When I arrived, I was told to take off my shoes and given the sage advice to “leave it all at the door.” I forced myself to listen and heed. I was offered several different infusions of water, and my afternoon series of treatments was explained to me. The inside of Seventh Wonder is relaxing in and of itself, which enhances every treatment. The paint and decor are soothing and calming. While I did not get a treatment in the Salt Room — a beautiful room walled with salt bricks, which gives off a warm glow — just seeing it relaxed me.
My first treatment was an Ayurvedic Marmapoint Facial Treatment, which lasted an hour. At one point I was neither asleep nor awake, but in a euphoric trance. Through various oils and tools, my face was given time and love that it hadn’t been given since my oldest was born eight years ago. The room was lit with a cool blue color — my choice. Carefully, but without breaking the trance I was in, my esthetician explained what each step was and what it did. When she was finished I looked in the mirror. Staring back at me was a face I hadn’t see since winter break 1997 — when I spent 10 days on the beach in the Virgin Islands.
Following the facial, I had a heavenly massage. After carrying around 20-pound babies, my sore muscles were crying for some attention. This, too, was a body-healing treatment, and I started to really realize how much I had neglected myself lately. I resolved to not let this happen again! Following the massage, I was given a paraffin wax treatment on my hands, which made them look like I had just gotten a manicure instead of spending the past several months washing hundreds of baby bottles. This was followed by 30 minutes in Seventh Wonder’s near-infrared sauna, which allows for detox through sweat without the steam. Feeling each grain of Himalayan salt on the bottom of my feet in the sauna was an exercise in mindfulness that I had not had for myself in months.
My last treatment was a Pedi’chi — a Himalayan salt foot scrub followed by an aqua-chi footbath — which uses warm water and ionic fields to pull toxins from your body through your feet. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical about this when it was explained to me, but sitting with my feet in warm water in the quiet, I watched the water turn brown. It was the last and most interesting of my treatments to conclude a very special afternoon.
A family-owned, local business founded by Falli Shah, Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa truly melds authentic Indian culture with a spa experience like no other. But at no point was I intimidated by the Eastern roots. The culture simply enhanced my treatments. Even though I was smack in the middle of Avondale, I felt instead that I was on a retreat in a safe sanctuary. Everything was explained to me in the kindest way. Every treatment reached a part of my soul that had been neglected for too long. Seventh Wonder soothed my rough edges and inner stress and gently encouraged me to relax — really relax. I left in the late afternoon light, my body happy with me again, my inner spirit calmed. I can’t wait to go back.
Treat Yourself: Special JMB Reader Offer
Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa is located at 4236 St. Johns Avenue, Jacksonville, FL and is offering JMB Readers a FREE 30 minutes in their sauna with the purchase of any facial or massage. Mention code JMB when you make the appointment to redeem! For more information on services and treatments and to find out why Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa has been voted the no. 1 spa in 2008 and 2016 visit seventh-wonder.com or call 904.381.8686.
Great information. It is so helpful.. Thank you for publishing this blog.