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A Different Kind of Day Spa: Tre Donne Spa on the River by Jessica Skropanic -- Redding, California
"When discussing deep tissue technique, Weldon expresses a concern voiced by many massage therapists that some clients come to her wanting pressure harder than necessary or advisable. "It's intention, not necessarily muscular strength, that gets you where you want to go," she explains."
ocated 160 miles north of Sacramento and straddling a bend in the Sacramento River, the town of Redding, California is at the center of the Golden Circle - a region known for outdoor play and natural beauty. Mount Shasta and Mount Lassen are both clearly visible, and several lakes and streams ideal for fishing, kayaking, canoeing and swimming are a 10-30 minute drive away. The beautiful Sacramento River Trail cuts right through town. Not far from the trail and located in a building that literally extends out over the river is one of the best kept secrets in town: a day spa with a difference.
Tre Donne (Three Women) Spa has no spa director. It is a co-op of business women who shared a vision of a beautiful spa that celebrates both good health and the natural beauty of the client and the area. Now comprised of five women, the spa's motto is, ÎWhere science and touch come together - where nature meets nurture.' The staff creates an atmosphere both relaxed and professional. Because they work for themselves, they seldom create such a tight schedule that they don't have time to talk with a client and with every treatment I experienced the staff person was more concerned about properly administering the treatment than with watching the clock. For example, when I asked how long the pedicure would last I was told by the therapist to budget 90-120 minutes because if she can relax so does the client.
Far from being the dimly lit, windowless rooms of many spas, the massage and facial rooms look out at the river (from a very safe distance for modesty). Rooms are filled with each therapist's personal taste in d cor. The result is a beautiful elegant ambiance that is neither stuffy nor medicinal. Choices of music offered varies from the familiar relaxing spa fare, to world music (Andean pipes, Native American, etc.), classical, and soft jazz. Water, teas and other beverages are available in the waiting room which is cheerily decorated with a fat chair and couch, and a mesmerizing glass humidifier that changes colors.
My first treatment was a one-hour full-body River Massage, a combination of Swedish and deep tissue with essential oils and some stretching - in other words, a massage created especially for me. (30 minutes for $30, 60 minutes for $55, and 90 minutes for $75.) Holly Weldon became a massage therapist 16 years ago because she likes the interpersonal connection with people. "I also like the calming effect it has on me," she said. When describing her relationship with her coworkers, she smiles and says, "We are very well matched." From the laughter and easy manners exhibited by all at the front desk, it's easy to see that these people are friends as well as colleagues.
Weldon's specialties are deep tissue, Swedish, and energy work. In the past she worked out of her own private office and with a local chiropractor. Many of her clients began coming to her because of back injuries and continue to come to her for years after recovery. "I've had three physical therapists since my injury ten years ago," said one spa client. "Holly is the best deep tissue therapist in the business."
When discussing deep tissue technique, Weldon expresses a concern voiced by many massage therapists that some clients come to her wanting pressure harder than necessary or advisable. "It's intention, not necessarily muscular strength, that gets you where you want to go," she explains.
Weldon's massage room is beautifully decorated with plants and drapery, and is twice the size of most spa's massage rooms. It contains chairs and end table, and a private bathroom with a spa robe hanging in it. But its most wonderful feature is the giant sliding glass door that opens out onto a roofed wooden deck over the Sacramento River. The view is so rich with water fowl (and the occasional jumping fish!) that Weldon keeps a Pacific wildlife identification book and a pair of field glasses at hand for herself and her clients. Ducks, geese, swans, and more rare birds like the pair of bald eagles that live on the other side of the river court, fish, sun themselves, and swim their young right by the spa! I was lucky enough to be there when the ducklings were several weeks old and the parents were leading as many as ten of them like a giant pull-toy.
Once I was able to tear myself away from the view, I was able to relax on the plush massage table with its soft flannel sheets. I was asked to disrobe only to my comfort level, and offered a choice of fragrant oils. Weldon began by feeling the muscles in my back through the sheet, and searching out problem areas like knots and spasms. Every so often she would switch motions or locations and then return because the brain accustoms itself to a motion after a while, and then the massage is less effective. She worked my back and neck first, and then worked my legs and arms. Because I have tight muscles and a small pinched nerve problem that is best reached by putting me on my sides, Weldon did just that and managed to reach muscles no one else knew how to reach. She also did some slow gentle stretching to help the muscles release. Finally she asked me to roll onto my back and proceeded to work my shoulders, neck, arms and legs, hands and feet, and lastly my head. Because I mentioned my allergies, she massaged my face to help my sinuses.
The result was that I felt my muscles released and my body very relaxed, stretched out and flexible. Because my lower back was released from the deep spasms and pinched nerve, I felt like I'd regained my girlish wiggle!
My next treatment was the Bella Mani Pedicure (90 minutes for $45.) Manicurist Samantha LaBrue has been a nail technician for two years, going into the field at the recommendation of friend and now coworker Marilyn Graham, the spas esthetician. She explained that she loves to do pedicures even more than manicures because she can often see more improvement due to the fact that most people take far better care of their fingernails than their toenails. Yup. That's me!
This fabulous pedicure begins with the client sitting in an overstuffed chair and the application of a chamomile neck wrap. You put your feet into a warm massaging footbath with OPI Footsoak. While one foot lounges in the water, LaBrue works the other, removing polish, and filing the nails. Then back into the foot bath. After a little more soaking, LaBrue removes softens the cuticles, pushes them back and trims them, and gently files down the calluses. So far, the treatment is that of a standard pedicure, but more gentle and detailed. Then comes a wonderful sugar scrub to exfoliate, and back into the footbath. The next step is a masque, and then a relaxing foot and calf massage with CCS Foot Care Cream. Lastly LaBrue removes the cream from the nails and polishes them. My feet looked so good and felt so relaxed it seemed a crying shame to walk on them! (I think I'll wear sandals for the rest of the month.)
LaBrue made sure I had water and asked me twice if I was comfortable. She even had a tray of Ghirardelli chocolates within easy reach of the pedicure chair - dangerous! (Being a true chocolate piggy, I'm so proud of myself for only taking one.)
My last treatment was the Ultimate European Facial, a 90-120-minute treatment. Esthetician Marilyn Graham became an esthetician after working for years in the medical industry as an X-ray Technologist and a professor teaching radiology and medical assisting. With her medical background it's no wonder she finds and helps heal the health problems in the skin most other estheticians never find!
I have been told by most estheticians that, while my face is sensitive and I have a few clogged pores around my nose, that my skin is very healthy. Graham said that indeed my skin was good skin, but she found many clogs, and said that my cleanser and moisturizer were not doing the job. She told me that if I wanted to work on it a bit, my skin could be like marble! Wow! That's just what a gal wants to hear when she's pushing 40·hard.
Graham also explained that over-exfoliation is a possible danger to the face, and that skin cells may only be able to divide a finite number of times in our lives. Exfoliating is important, but we need to be careful to educate ourselves as to the frequency of treatments and the strength of the exfoliant.
Graham's room shares the marvelous view of the river, and the reclined chair for facials is the most comfy I've ever experienced. I was shown a selection gowns to choose from, each made of assorted soft materials. The one I chose was the softest, but I couldn't identify the fabric. That's probably for the best: If I had, my whole living room would now be reupholstered in it.
The European facial is a wonderful, luxurious treatment! Graham begins by deep cleansing the skin, steaming the face, exfoliating, and extracting and deep follicle cleansing. The treatment also includes foot and hand moisturizing with wonderfully scented creams and warm foot and hand mitts. While the feet and hands snuggle in their mitts, she applies an aromatherapy acupressure massage to the face, d collet , upper back, neck and arms. Although I tried mightily to stay awake, I was out for the count during the massage! Graham then applies a serum, then a masque, a Ph balancer, and a wonderful moisturizing treatment. When I walked out of the spa my face glowed all over, but rather than looking like a face with a moisturizing product on it, it looked like really healthy skin. $75.00
Wonderful things in-Store!
The spa's store (in house and online with free shipping) carries a nice variety of skincare products from Dermalogica, Skinceuticals, SunSmart, CCS, and NuSkin. At the spa they also carry Xango juice (see the review in our May/June 2006 issue), SeneGence products, and Tara Spa aromatherapy hand mitts, and eye and neck pillows.
Spa Packages
Tre Donne's extensive spa menu includes facials, massages, peels, waxing, manicures and pedicures, electrolysis, and permanent make-up. To see the full spa menu go to www.tre-donne.com . Spa packages include:
The Bellezza Sul Fiume (Beauty on the River) - the ultimate spa package - which is a complete day of pampering including a 90-minute River Massage, an Ultimate European Facial, Bella Mani Manicure and Pedicure, and a gourmet lunch. (Approximately 6 hours for $245.)
The Vista Bella (Beautiful View) includes is a 90-minute River Massage, an Ultimate European Facial, and a spa snack. (3-4 hours for $160.)
The Posto del Fiume (River Place) includes a 90-minute River Massage, Bella Mani Manicure and Bella Mani Pedicure, and a spa snack. (Approximately 4 hours for $160.)
The Testa alla Punta (Head to Toe) begins with the Bella Mani Manicure and Bella Mani Pedicure, and (while your polish is drying) the Ultimate European Facial. (Approximately 4 hours for $145.)
Tre Donne is happy to create custom packages, and offers group rates, corporate packages, and specials for bridal parties. Gift certificates are available.
Tre Donne offers a variety of products for sale, most online as well as in the spa, including yummy lavender neck wraps, and skin care products from Dermalogica, Skinceuticals, CCS, SunSmart, and Nuskin. Shipping within the Continental United States is free. Check out: www.tre-donne.com or contact sales@tre-donne.com.
To make appointments call 530-229-0809 or write to: Tre Donne Spa 2301 Park Marina Dr. Suite 15 Redding, CA 96001
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Weldon's massage room is beautifully decorated with plants and drapery, and is twice the size of most spa's massage rooms. It contains chairs and end table, and a private bathroom with a spa robe hanging in it. But its most wonderful feature is the giant sliding glass door that opens out onto a roofed wooden deck over the Sacramento River. The view is so rich with water fowl (and the occasional jumping fish!) that Weldon keeps a Pacific wildlife identification book and a pair of field glasses at hand for herself and her clients. Ducks, geese, swans, and more rare birds like the pair of bald eagles that live on the other side of the river court, fish, sun themselves, and swim their young right by the spa! I was lucky enough to be there when the ducklings were several weeks old and the parents were leading as many as ten of them like a giant pull-toy.
Once I was able to tear myself away from the view, I was able to relax on the plush massage table with its soft flannel sheets. I was asked to disrobe only to my comfort level, and offered a choice of fragrant oils. Weldon began by feeling the muscles in my back through the sheet, and searching out problem areas like knots and spasms. Every so often she would switch motions or locations and then return because the brain accustoms itself to a motion after a while, and then the massage is less effective. She worked my back and neck first, and then worked my legs and arms. Because I have tight muscles and a small pinched nerve problem that is best reached by putting me on my sides, Weldon did just that and managed to reach muscles no one else knew how to reach. She also did some slow gentle stretching to help the muscles release. Finally she asked me to roll onto my back and proceeded to work my shoulders, neck, arms and legs, hands and feet, and lastly my head. Because I mentioned my allergies, she massaged my face to help my sinuses. 
My next treatment was the Bella Mani Pedicure (90 minutes for $45.) Manicurist Samantha LaBrue has been a nail technician for two years, going into the field at the recommendation of friend and now coworker Marilyn Graham, the spas esthetician. She explained that she loves to do pedicures even more than manicures because she can often see more improvement due to the fact that most people take far better care of their fingernails than their toenails. Yup. That's me!
My last treatment was the Ultimate European Facial, a 90-120-minute treatment. Esthetician Marilyn Graham became an esthetician after working for years in the medical industry as an X-ray Technologist and a professor teaching radiology and medical assisting. With her medical background it's no wonder she finds and helps heal the health problems in the skin most other estheticians never find!
The spa's store (in house and 
