A soulful Santa Fe retreat blending adobe warmth, mountain air, and crackling fires.
The Kiva Fireplace, with its characteristic soft, sloping contours that mimic the structure of an outdoor fire pyramid, and its ancient Puebloan history dating back to the 8th century, takes pride of place at Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Collection in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
You’ll find kiva fireplaces in the treatment rooms of the Lodge at the Stream Dance Spa, on the patio of the appropriately themed SkyFire Restaurant, where the flames may be stoked with heavenly scented local pinon or juniper pine from the nearby Sangre de Cristo mountains, and in suites, rooms, and casitas throughout the Lodge, where the kivas are gas-powered but no less inviting.
“At Stream Dance Spa, we have four treatment rooms, two of which feature indoor fireplaces. In addition, our spa lounge and waiting area includes a fireplace, which guests especially enjoy during the colder months as a place to relax before and after their treatments,” says Luke Wills, Wellness Manager at Stream Dance Spa, where treatments focus on Indigenous principles of balance, and deeply restorative elements like being near a roaring, fragrant fire.
“Warming near a fireplace can help promote relaxation by calming the nervous system and encouraging the body to shift into a more restful state. Gentle warmth supports muscle relaxation, improves circulation, and creates a grounding, comforting environment that allows guests to fully unwind and be present during their spa experience,” he says.
Check into subtly Southwestern-themed, design-forward digs like the suites in the old Chapel wing of the property (the Lodge was once the home of Jean Baptiste Lamy, a famed local bishop), where the King Suite features a large kiva and sitting area. Then book the “Sacred Connections” couples wellness retreat in the spa, which maximizes fire-side time in a private adults-only Kiva Suite with a plunge pool and both indoor and outdoor fireplaces. Enjoy a detoxifying Lemongrass and Seaweed Body Treatment, a grounding Ginger Root Massage, and a radiant Hibiscus and Marine Botanical Facial for two. The journey concludes with a Couple’s Love Ceremony led by local spiritual guide Marina Pirkle, which blends meditation and intention setting.
Or book an Ayurvedic Gheesutra dosha-tailored facial by the fire, where your skin will warm by the kiva and then soak in ghee, rose water, sandalwood, and botanicals, then rejuvenate with a Kansa wand massage to reduce puffiness and boost circulation.
You can take a guided hike or a forest bath with staff before returning to your own personal hearth in your room or suite for a night of silence and serenity. The Lodge also offers trips to local trail rides and on-site activities designed to immerse you in the creative flow of Santa Fe, such as watercolor workshops and tequila tastings.
The Lodge is set on 317 private acres, a short drive from downtown Santa Fe, where you’ll find souvenirs of your kiva experience, like tiny kiva incense holders and pinon pine incense bricks in local gift shops to remind you of the warming embers of a traditional New Mexican fire—which somehow hits differently in a unique, earth-centered and very Santa Fe style.
The post Fireside Desert Sanctuary appeared first on Organic Spa Magazine.