As we learned from physician, author and world renowned aging and longevity expert Dr. Walter Bortz while planning Victory at Verrado, “getting older is inevitable, but aging is optional.”
Although it might seem like a stretch, that statement has served as a guiding philosophy in the development of this entire community, especially in relation to Victory’s health and wellness offerings.
You’ve heard us discuss the many features of the Victory club geared toward keeping you healthy, like a fresh, local menu at The Vic, the robust Life Performance Training Center, tennis and pickle ball courts, swimming pools, yoga lawn and the Avid Trails system, but there’s more to health than working out and eating right. That’s why we consider Victory’s health and wellness offering as a holistic, integrative approach.
One of the key elements of this is The Spa at The Victory Club, which is geared toward helping residents live a vibrant and holistically healthy life regardless of age or fitness level. Focused on physical, emotional and spiritual wellness, the Victory spa will offer traditional, contemporary and innovative treatments designed to treat the whole self. All of which are a thoughtful and intentional compliment to what’s available throughout The Victory Club. And while spas can often sound intimidating to some, this will be a comfortable, approachable and inviting space perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation.
Bringing this vision to life is no small task, which is why are fortunate to rely on the guidance of highly experienced professionals from DMB’s other spa facilities like the highly respected Silverleaf Club. As we said when introducing Victory Clubhouse manager Troy Thivierge, building the right team is critical to delivering on the vision, so it’s something we take very seriously. And, that is exactly why we are extremely excited to introduce you to spa manager Heather Jessen, the brand new team member responsible for your future spa experience.
So, please take a few minutes to read through our Q & A with Heather for a deeper look at what to expect from the spa.
Q: Welcome to the team Heather! To kick things off, would you tell us a little bit about your experience and what brought you to Victory at Verrado?
Heather: I have been in the wellness and spa industry for 20 years, first as a nail professional and later completing my instructor training to teach students the practice. After that, I began teaching continuing education all over the country for various brands which exposed me to a huge variety of salons and spas. It was clear to me then that I wanted to be in a spa environment moving forward. I pursued that and have since spent fourteen years working in high-end spas, eight years of which were at DMB’s Silverleaf Club. I live in the West Valley so it was a natural transition to join the team here at Victory as they bring this new spa to life. I am so excited to be part of this project and grateful to be able to stay with the DMB family.
Q: Would you quickly run through the services that will be available at the Spa once it opens in January?
Heather: We will offer a variety of treatments from the basics to very customized services. The menu will include traditional and signature massage therapies designed exclusively for this spa. we will have advanced skin care technology layered with products of cosmeceutical grade, as well as organic ingredients for facials and body treatments. A unique offering is the series of spa “legacy” treatments featuring one treatment from each of the DMB spas within its portfolio of private clubs. We love this concept because it allows our guests to experience an exclusive signature body treatment from one of DMB’s other locations without having to travel further than their local spa. Those treatments include the Martis Camp: Mountain Poultice; Silverleaf Spa: Charkra Balancing Massage; Aloha Spirit Kukui’ula: Organic Seaweed Body Wrap; Glenwild Spa: Forest Renewal; and Victory’s Vitamin: Ultimate Hydration Boost.
Q: We know you’ve been working directly with Sharon Narduzzi on bringing Victory Spa vision to life. As Director of Spa and Fitness at DMB’s Silverleaf Club, she has done a tremendous job developing a holistic, integrative wellness program, and we are curious how that’s influencing this new spa?
Heather: Absolutely. Sharon has developed this menu of services to ensure The Spa at The Victory Club celebrates wellness at every age. Multi-generational needs will be celebrated fully as we recognize that each age group has their own challenges. The spa programs were created to address key issues affecting health and wellness at these different stages of life. We think of it as a place for ageless exploration and want to assist residents and visitors achieve their wellness goals with that in mind. There is an opportunity for true integration where the specific modality and treatment is bespoke, selected as a result of consultation between the guest and the spa, fitness, nutrition and beauty advisors. Using the right products at each stage of life in order to reap the full benefits is also a priority. Most importantly, our goal is to offer a complete wellness-centered program beyond what you might find at a traditional spa – an environment that promotes and supports the principles of healthy living and balance; good nutrition, stress-release; and exercise for body, mind, spirit and community. The holistic approach to wellness, Body (Fitness and Beauty Intentions), Mind (Discovery, Exploration) and Spirit (Connect to Self and Others) will serve as the framework for guiding you along the way to a more vibrant and healthy lifestyle at any age. Also, piquing the guest’s interest in a myriad of innovative and educational experiences is our goal, so we’ll provide both on-site classes and off-site excursions of discovery to meet the needs of residents, guests and locals.
Q: Expanding on that a bit, what is your take on the role of a spa as a component of overall wellness?
Heather: The Spa at Victory will reflect “Spa Living” without the formality of a traditional spa. This is a destination approach that focuses on living fully, so spa services are meant to be integrated into residents’ everyday life, shifting from a perceived luxury to a necessity in order to maintain vitality and promote longevity. The essence is health and wellness, positive aging, vibrancy, expansion and quality of life. We think it’s a very important component of overall wellness – there’s more to taking care of oneself that eating well and spending time in the gym, after all.
Q: How does the spa fit in with other health and wellness elements offered at Victory?
Heather: A preventative and restorative approach to wellness is at the heart of the spa program: the integration of physical (fitness and spa), social (dining, gathering, learning) and recreational (yoga, golf, hiking). This will serve as the framework for healthful transformation along life’s continuum.
Q: Can you share any details about what we can expect from the space itself?
Heather: The spa welcomes you with a lifestyle boutique, relaxation room, three treatment rooms and a nail salon. Two rooms are dedicated to massage and body treatments, one to skincare, and a salon with three manicure and pedicure stations. The feel is residential and inviting. Guests will have the option to slip into a robe before a treatment and relax in our “inSPAration” room if they’d like. We will also have treats and drinks available along with spa happy hours with special pricing on select services.
Q: What else should people expect from their experience at the Victory Spa?
Heather: We are working to hire an incredible team that can deliver a high level of service in a comfortable, heartfelt and gracious way. We really want to guide our guests along a journey of new experiences, expanding boundaries on the path to living well.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
Heather: We are just really excited. Our team is having so much fun planing and preparing to present this holistic approach to wellness in Victory and we look forward to sharing it with our residents, guests and the greater community. Thank you!