So why not hedonistically treat yourself (and those you love) to some soothing scents of this season? (Your Hedonista recently partook as a media guest.)

This winter holiday, Seattle’s Vida Spa – located over in the Denny Triangle neighborhood – is offering a two fabulous treats:

1) Their Winter Essential Kit – this kit offers a $100 gift card plus a gender-neutral Lug™ travel case packed with four moisture-rich, de-winterizing products (whipped body butter; hand, foot and heel cream; hydrating facial serum; and nail fuel).  And the price is right – $190 value for only $129.

2) Their fabulously decadent Pine and Juniper Berry massage under it’s Holiday Fever – No Longer Just for Kids… package.  From now until Christmas (now remember, that’s only a few more days, dear hedonists), you get a 90-minute Pine & Juniper Berry-infused aromatherapy massage for only $180 – and you walk away with a $50 gift certificate (that’s a $230 value – Ho! Ho! Ho!). These oils – specially mixed by the folks at Vida for this holiday-specific treatment – not only put both mind and body in the mood for the holidays; they also tend to help alleviate muscle inflammation and muscle tension as well as offer a winter-fighting eucalyptus-esque sinus cleansing plus a general antibacterial effect.

So go lose yourself in the Denny Triangle and let the scent of  cleansing and energizing pine and juniper berries – not to mention a lovely, luxurious massage – bring you back to the true meaning of the holidays:  Inner Peace.

(We’ll work on the rest of the Earth from there.)

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.

Vida Spa – one of my all-time favorite spas – wants to know.

Vida Spa is a currently 5-spa-strong Canadian company (B.C.-based, no less) with spas located in Vancouver (3), Whistler (1), and Seattle (1). Its flagship spa is located at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel – nice enough, but I prefer the boutique-y feel of the Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver location. The third Vancouver location, to be at the Westin Bayshore Vancouver, should launch this autumn/winter.

The swedana treatment involves a wonderfully sauna-like cleansing time in the steam box, complete with local herbs.

Their Seattle spa – its most recent addition to their spa family and their first international one – opened in April of 2008, and is located at the Pan Pacific Hotel (2200 Westlake Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121). This spa boasts no less than 7,000 square feet and 18 treatment rooms (including 2 couples rooms and a triple room that can accommodate a massage threesome). From the moment you walk into this spa, you immediately feel serene; the environment is literally detoxifying.

Thinking of going? I strongly recommend their series of Ayurvedic treatments: the ancient (5,000 year-old) holistic and purifying Indian science of Ayurveda (आयुर्वेद, the ’science of life’) works to bring your dosha into harmony so you can enjoy perfect health.

The Shirodhara copper vessel and valve control the oil flow to the third eye - intensely unique and relaxing.

October 1st marked the launch of Seattle Vida Spa’s fabulous Local Artisans Treatments, well worth checking out (your Hedonista received a media invite to try them out). They use all local ingredients in their spa treatments. I enjoy both their cleansing Local Artisan Ayurvedic Swedana ($175-$215) and their glowing Local Artisan Ayurvedic Facial ($115-$155); I’m also fond of their meditative, zen-like Ayurvedic Shirodhara body massage, followed by a continuous flow of warm sesame oil over the third eye, located in the forehead ($175-$215) along with their very focusing Shirodhara Head & Scalp Massage ($125).

Vida’s treatments certainly aren’t cheap – but they’re so luxuriously unique and absolutely restorative to mind, body, spirit, and soul – that they’re worth every penny.

In addition to the holistic health benefits, don’t forget the support local aspect, too.

For staying local means Pacific Northwest local. And that means B.C., too. Visit one, visit all … but do visit.

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.