Not many people know that an Indian Day Spa and Salon is situated in the heart of San Francisco’s Union Square. When I first entered Kamalaspa, I was welcomed by the attentive staff who offered me champagne and tea. Looking around, I was overwhelmed by the detailed décor, heavy curtains and dark hand-carved furniture. But after slipping into a robe and lying down on a warm bed, my mind was lost in the darkness and rich smell of the three Ayurvedic doshas. The deep tissue massage utilized lymph drainage techniques aimed to detoxify and soothe, and I became so relaxed I thought I might fall asleep and start drooling. When I finally stood up, the room was so dark that I couldn’t see if I had wiped off all of my mascara or if I just had really dark circles under my eyes. 

I showered and then was escorted to the ornate Salon, which had a stunning panoramic view of Union Square Park. A woman with the most beautiful Hispanic skin color washed and deep conditioned my hair, then gave me a full blow out that I could never have done myself. Before leaving, I tested a few skincare products (of the one hundred offered) and liked best the unscented lotion – boring, yes, but functional and didn’t leave me smelling like I’d just soaked in an oil bath.