Bringing Out Your Best in Bellevue
                        Taking Care to Take Care

by Chris Asher

Elite Fitness Photo by: Mike Nakamura Photography

It’s a fascinating time. Seems someone went and turned off the economy this year. In a few short months, it became very unpopular to spend money on anything but food and toilet paper. But no matter how you’re spending your time and money, it seems everyone agrees that given these extraordinarily stressful times, we can’t forget to take care of ourselves.

Lucky for you, Downtown Bellevue is filled with the perfect pit stops to get your body, soul, and mind in tune.

Practical Pampering
A few years back, Cornell University studied hundreds of vacationers: half went to spas for their vacation, the rest took traditional ones. Turns out the spa-goers came home feeling more connected to the people around them; even feeling a deeper understanding of themselves. Purely in the name of science, I felt it necessary to verify this phenomenon for myself. You can thank me later.

My “spadyssey” began at the Gene Juarez Salon & Spa. Even being my first time in a spa, I don’t think I could have been prepared for the Ayurvedic Balance massage they had planned. After a short survey to determine the state of my body and mind, my masseuse picked out the correct massage oils to help put me in balance. The following minutes mixed full body, pressure point, and scalp massages — a pleasure that’s nearly impossible to put into words. It was like sitting on a Hawaiian beach, on your birthday, during a laser show. Well, that’s my heaven at least; your mileage may vary.

A few blocks to the Northwest, you’ll find Salon Bellezza, winner of the Bellevue Downtown Association’s “Haute Picks” for Best Haircut, three years in a row. Not satisfied to just provide some of the best hair care, Salon Bellezza actively gives back to the community through charities including Locks of Love and Northwest Harvest.

If you make your way toward Main St. in Old Bellevue, you’ll find a collection of spas as unique and diverse as the neighborhood they reside in. Stepping into FLINT Men’s Grooming, I knew I had come home. After being greeted with a cold beer, I planted myself in a comfy chair and enjoyed the latest James Bond flick playing on the plasma TV. Beers and Bond would have been worth the admission price, but my fi rst straightrazor shave awaited. It’s really a rite of passage for any man, but that fact wasn’t enough to wash away the thoughts of Sweeney Todd. Thankfully Terri, FLINT’s Master Barber, wielded her steel with a precision rivaling the most skilled samurai (hey, it’s a manly spa; I get to make a manly analogy).

A few paces into FLINT’s backyard, I was introduced to my first facial at Aviva Holistic Skin Spa. Five years back, Aviva’s owner Shira, left a corporate career working with some of the world’s biggest companies to build something more than just a job. The entire experience, from the décor to the treatment, felt foremost like a labor of love — it’s the kind of place that sets you at ease, simply by being there. The treatment is only the beginning at Aviva, as Shira takes great care to ensure your skin is cared for and protected well after you walk out the door. It takes a tiny bit of effort to find Aviva’s intimate location, but the reward is assured.

While you#8217;re in the neighborhood, be sure to swing by the Massage Center of Bellevue. Whether you#8217;re looking to relax, recover, or just know what it#8217;s like to be covered in hot stones, they offer it all. Swedish, deep tissue, lomilomi, and several massages I can’t pronounce, are all waiting to heal and rejuvenate.

Knowing I would soon be on thin ice if I continued to visit spas without her, I made sure to take my beautiful girlfriend to at least one. Thankfully Truce, located on the 4th floor of The Westin Hotel, had prepared their “Couples Journey,” a side by side massage, each of us with our own masseuse. Besides being the most relaxing, it was easily the most romantic thing we’d done together in some time.

More Gain, Less Pain
I wish I could say that looking and feeling good was all hot-oil massages and straight-razor shaves. Seriously. I really wish I could say that. Sometimes it takes a little sweat though, and apparently saunas don#8217;t count. But if you#8217;re tired of spinning your wheels in the gym, on a stationary bike or otherwise, Downtown Bellevue has several options to get you more from your workout.

When you#8217;re ready to get serious about fitness, Elite Fitness Training is a good place to start — heck, it worked for The Bachelor. As Kirkland#8217;s Jason Mesnick proved every time he took his shirt off during ABC#8217;s reality show, Elite Fitness gets results. Not that I watched The Bachelor…maybe once…only with my girlfriend. High-intensity cardio and resistance workouts, coupled with ever-changing circuit training ensures you never sweat in vain.

For those with demanding schedules and equally demanding fitness goals, Extreme Fitness Studios is your best bet. Specializing in hardhitting 30 minute workouts, Extreme employs a team of diverse trainers led by AmyJae Springer; an avid fitness competitor, kickboxer, race car driver, and all around badass. The quick, results-driven sessions are perfect for those fitting their workouts into lunch breaks, or other spare moments.

The do-it-yourselfers have plenty of options in Downtown Bellevue as well. 24 Hour Fitness provides plenty of space to stretch out, with a seemingly endless supply of free weights, cardio machines, and group classes. Plus there’s just something great about knowing you can bench press at 3 a.m., not that I recommend it.

For the all-inclusive experience, the Bellevue Athletic Club continues to set the bar for excellence in health facilities. From personal training to pilates, swim teams to tennis courts, you could spend a month here and not hit every offering. And considering the 4-diamond award Bellevue Club Hotel, you actually could stay here for a month.

Take Care
While the world’s economies have slowed to a snail’s pace, Bellevue seems to keep on kicking. But all that laughing in the face of the recession is not without its price. We’re working harder and longer hours, often with fewer resources. Stress is inevitable. So take comfort knowing that Downtown Bellevue is filled with professionals that will do whatever it takes to take care of you.