The Crossings - A Destination Wellness Center Where Change Really is Possible

Story by Darline Turner-Lee

The day that I visited The Crossings I had a cold. I was so congested that I considered rescheduling my appointment. I had been to The Crossings before for various events and workshops but never to the spa. In the end, the spa junkie in me couldn’t pass up a massage and I headed out to the facility as planned. The drive up to The Crossings is the first step on your journey to wellness and relaxation.

The winding road cuts through acres of native foliage and with each twist and turn, the traffic, the “to do” list and the everyday grind fall away seemingly unable to maintain their hold as you inch upward toward the campus. My relaxation groove was temporarily interrupted when I reached the Welcome Center and had to turn around and drive back down the road to a distant parking area. After huffing and puffing my way back up the hill, congestion aside, I momentarily lost my breath completely. The panoramic view of the hills, the foliage and the lake was absolutely breathtaking!

Stopping for a few moments to take it all in and filling my lungs as best I could with the cool crisp air, I could feel my body letting go step two on my journey to relaxation. After checking in, I was greeted and escorted around the property by Marty Dillingham, the program manager. “The Crossings is a destination wellness center,” explained Dillingham.

“People come here to make positive changes in their lives and our goal is to offer them a space, as well as the tools, to make those changes.”

The Crossings accommodates corporate business meetings, team building and leadership conferences in addition to offering wellness classes, wellness retreats, lifestyle change support and spa services. With onsite accommodations, patrons can come and enjoy the facility for a day, a weekend or for a weeklong retreat. Patrons can plan their own retreat itinerary or have a program designed for them by The Crossings’ staff. “We’re not a luxury spa with wine or concierge services, but our accommodations offer luxury none the less,” adds Dillingham.

The Crossings is a unique blend of nature and luxury. The facilities are all eco-friendly, incorporating green-conscious materials whenever possible but never sacrificing patron comfort. The rustic construction blends in seamlessly with the surroundings, but at the same time, offers such amenities as an infinity pool, hot tub, cool dip pool, sauna and steam rooms, and of course, the spa. At each stage of the tour passing by the labyrinth or the smoke pit, gazing out the windows of the Solidago Sanctuary or just standing on the deck of the Cypress Creek Dining Hall my mind kept wandering, pondering my infinite possibilities and inching another step closer to complete relaxation. The atmosphere at The Crossings invites your mind to consider the possibility of something new and different. The programs and staff provide the tools and support to assist patrons with the changes they choose to make. Dillingham herself is a lifestyle coach in addition to the program manager.

“We want our patrons to reach and maintain their goals,” says Dillingham. “It’s not enough for them to come here, attend a class or retreat and then go home to the same old grind and behaviors. We want them to be able to take whatever skills they learned here and apply them to their everyday lives. Included in most of the retreat packages is follow-up coaching. Patrons can elect to extend that coaching (for an additional fee) if they need the additional support.” With my tour of the facilities complete, it’s on to the spa.

The Wellness Center Spa continues the theme of comfortable luxury. The women’s locker room has eco-friendly wood lockers that were sufficient for my stay, but would have been far too small if I had any sort of overcoat. The tiles on the walls and floors added to the rustic feel, but the soft terry robes and slip-on sandals contributed to the luxury. My favorite items were the large ceramic bowl sinks sitting atop the counters and fed by faucets that jetted out from the walls. Way cool. The overarching passageway from the locker rooms to the pre-treatment waiting room is a cool blue and the water fountains that line either side of the passageway only enhance the air of calm and serenity. The rustic luxury plays out in the waiting room with an overstuffed sofa, wicker chairs and window seats. Trish, my masseuse, is truly one of The Crossings’ secret weapons. Her petite frame and air of wisdom and maturity completely conceal her strength and skill. She warned me that the Orange Blossom Massage may aggravate my cold symptoms, but it actually had the opposite effect. Supplying me with tissues at regular intervals during the massage, Trish kept me warm and relaxed throughout the massage, heating my body with hot stones and using long fluid strokes that seemed to draw the toxins out of my body. I felt fantastic after the massage, completely relaxed and fully energized. Interestingly, by the end of the day and after several glasses of water, my congestion and runny nose had completely resolved.

My stay ended with a hearty lunch at the Cypress Creek Dining Hall. The abundant selection of healthy organic food could satisfy the vegan as well as the omnivore. I enjoyed the rustic ambiance of the décor while relishing in the luxurious meal and spectacular view through the wall of windows overlooking the hills. I was completely at ease.