Shvaas Spa

Self-care is health care. That is more than a tagline, it’s a way of life for Khristina Lawler, owner and operator of Shvaas Spa. Located in the heart of downtown Columbia, this spa has always been a labor of love for Lawler. 

From the moment you walk down the dimly lit, ivy-draped hallway, you’ll be transported into the tranquil world of natural wellness. 

Your first stop is experiencing the Meditation Zen Garden where you can relax in the spa’s ancient Japanese-themed, private sanctuary. Get comfortable in the zero gravity, reclining leather chairs with built-in massage. You may also choose to add the stress therapy eye massage. If you would like the full experience, opt for the 15- to 30-minute guided meditations. 

Since health and wellness start within, your next stop should be a 30- to 40-minute session in the spa’s Sunlighten Infrared Sauna. Infrared heat is known to help relieve sore muscles and improve one’s overall health. Full-spectrum saunas can hold up to two people and use light to create heat. This type of sauna is sometimes called a far-infrared sauna—“far” describes where the infrared waves fall on the light spectrum. With six options to choose from, from weight loss to pain relief, the spa’s infrared saunas are sure to have a therapy for what ails you.  

For the full-spa experience, relax on Shvaas Spa’s hydro massage bed. Hydro massages are quick and require little time, so even the busiest person can fit a massage into their schedule. You remain clothed and dry for privacy and comfort, with no post-session cleanup of oils or contaminated water. With the water temperature varying from 90 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, the spray bar travels forward and back, massaging the full length of the body, or you may select to concentrate on a specific area. The water jets simulate a fingertip massage from the center to the sides of the body. The force can be adjusted to suit the sensitivity of your body with consistency that cannot be duplicated by manual massage or other massage devices.

The Cocoon Experience combines and synchronizes all of inHarmony’s vibroacoustic products, with the BrainTap headset using specialized content and platform integration. Tap into your peak potential to conquer life’s demands, goals and pressures with new levels of life-force energy. Minimize your anxiety and raise your vibration. Envelop yourself in a cocoon of synchronized light, music and frequency, creating a deep, effortless meditative state that induces regeneration, wellness and happiness. 

Finally, immerse yourself into the spa’s state-of-the-art Himalayan salt cave for some restorative halotherapy. Halotherapy is a method used to help cleanse and detox the lungs, as well as invigorate the entire body with increased lung capacity and oxygen intake. Healthy lungs and a clean respiratory system are essential for vitality, energy and longevity. It may seem like a new trend in North America, but halotherapy has origins dating back to the salt mines and caves of Europe and Russia when it was discovered that salt miners rarely suffered from colds or respiratory conditions. Since then, sufferers of respiratory illnesses, such as allergies, emphysema and asthma, began visiting the salt mines to receive the benefits. Described as relaxing and tranquil,  the spa’s salt cave was created with tons of pure, pink Himalayan salt to create the micro-climate of a natural salt mine. The spa also has a small retail space offering up a selection of items from aromatherapy products to jewelry. Relax, refresh and reconnect at Shvaas Spa, located at 1716 Main Street, in Columbia.

Hours of operation: Tuesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 803-708-4196, email [email protected] or visit ShvaasSpa.com.