Natural Body Day Spa and The Blending Bar
Julie Register visited this day spa in Atlanta, Georgia in November 1999

Natural Body opened its first aromatherapy spa and shop in the European tradition in 1989. Since then, it has opened 4 day spas in Atlanta, GA and 2 in Chattanooga, TN. Natural Body’s goal has always been to provide exceptional natural products and spa services that emphasize wellness, beauty, and environmental awareness in relaxing, aromatic surroundings. Natural Body Spa Basics Face & Body Care products are formulated using seaweeds harvested from the Brittany coast of France to which essential oils and botanicals extracts from the Alps to the rainforests of Brazil are added. Natural Body Day Spa offers a broad spectrum of services and products – skin care and facials, massage therapy, hand and foot treatments, hair removal, lash and brow tinting, cosmetics, paraffin wax treatments, scrubs, compresses, body therapies (aromatherapy, hydrotherpy, thalassotherapy), body exfoliation treatments, cellulite treatments, Shirodhara therapy, spa retreats, gift certificates, spa baskets, wedding packages, corporate or group wellness retreats, limousine service, and much more.I visited Natural Body Day Spa in Morningside on a recent visit to Atlanta. I used to visit the area many years ago while attending Georgia Tech. I occasionally ate at Everybody’s Pizza and did research at the Emory University medical library. The area has transformed since then – now dotted with clusters of expensive boutiques, inviting cafes, etc. It still brought back fond memories. Natural Body is located in a strip shopping center a number of blocks from the boutiques with plenty of parking (a commodity hard to find close to the boutiques). From the outside, it’s not noteworthy. But, as they say, don’t judge a book by its cover. Inside, Natural Body is warm and bright. Spa products line the entry rooms. A cozy waiting room with subdued lighting is available for you to relax in while waiting for your appointment. Water or delicious hot tea is offered. Treatment rooms seem far from the cheerful bustle of the shop. Noises are hushed and lighting is soft.

My 18-year-old daughter and I both tried a Seaweed Body Wrap (75 minutes for $75). My therapist, Evita, started with a whole body dry brushing to exfoliate the skin and stimulate the lymphatic and circulatory systems. She then "anointed" my reflex zones with essential oils chosen for their relaxing properties. After that, warm seaweed (from Spa Technologies distributed by Source Vital) was smoothed on my skin from toe to neck. Finally, I was wrapped in sheets and blankets to create a cocoon to keep in the heat and activate the absorption of minerals and enzymes from the seaweed into my skin. The green seaweed, Laminara detoxifies the body by binding with heavy metals. It strengthens the immune system by providing the body with natural iodine along with vitamins, minerals and trace elements. The white seaweed provides plant hormones to boost the immune system, provides magnesium and calcium, eliminates water retention, and calms the nervous system. After about 20 minutes, I was unwrapped, rinsed off, and ready to go. Evita was very knowledgeable and professional. She took the time to explain all aspects of the treatment I received which I appreciated. I found the wrap to be relaxing and refreshing. My skin felt soft and hydrated. My daughter found the wrap itself somewhat claustrophobic (although the therapist frequently checked on her as did mine). She did not enjoy it as much as other spa treatments she has had in the past (various massages and a facial). She also did not like the frequent need to void in the day that followed. It is important to drink lots of water after this kind of wrap to keep hydrated as your system flushes out toxins.

Across the street from Natural Body Day Spa is a new venture for Natural Body - The Blending Bar. The Blending Bar offers a full range of cosmetics, essential oils (50+), medicinal and cosmetic oils, lotions, and natural raw base products. They also carry bulk herbs, books, bottles, soaps, and gifts. You can express your own creativity by making your own shower gels, shampoos, face and body lotions, scented candles, and potpourri blends. A friendly and knowledgeable staff is there to help. We had Chuck create our own custom lipsticks for us. He blended the colors, added sunblock and scent, mixed it, melted it, poured it into molds, put them into tubes, and VOILA!, our very own one-of-a-kind lipstick. Great fun!