Property Profile: Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Our relationship with Ojai Valley Inn & Spa’s has evolved into a beautiful partnership over the past five and a half years. We recently caught up with Spa Director Gloria Ah Sam to share details about Spa Ojai’s exciting collaboration with Body Bliss.
BB: Please tell our readers a bit about Spa Ojai’s history with Body Bliss
Gloria: I started at Ojai Valley Inn five and half years ago in March 2009, a delicate time in the economy. Nick was already working with Spa Ojai, and I was impressed with his integrity and knowledge of the healing properties of plants. Our goal was to focus on indigenous botanicals.
We started with a line of signature back-bar products, then three years later we were commissioned to create the Spa Ojai product line—exclusive formulas that capture the essence of the Spa Ojai experience. The Spa Ojai private label retail program has been a huge success from the get-go.
BB: Tell us about Spa Ojai’s back-bar products for your signature body treatments
Gloria: Body Bliss manufactures back-bar products for our body treatments and manicures and pedicures. We offer a Lavender body treatment all year round. Lavender is ubiquitous around the resort—it blossoms year round in our Spa Courtyard. We also collaborated with Body Bliss to design our signature treatments to correspond to the indigenous ingredients of Ojai’s Four Seasons:
Spring: Ojai Pixie Tangerine
Summer: Lemon Verbena Avocado
Fall: Pumpkin Spice
Winter: Cocoa Pomegranate
Spring is especially unique, because Pixie tangerines are exclusively-grown in Ojai. We combine fresh juice from Pixies we buy from a local farmer, and incorporate use of a pixie half-shell as a vehicle to apply the scrub.
BB: Body Bliss Developed Private Label Retail Products—how are they related to your treatments?
Gloria: The products that we retail are the same scrubs, lotions and oils that used in our treatments. All four seasons are available all year long – along with our lavender line.
BB: You mentioned that recently Spa Ojai switched to unscented massage oils and lotions for your massages and body treatments. Can you tell us about the aromatherapy ritual you implemented?
Gloria: We made the switch to unscented massage oils and lotions, because of the rare occurrence of therapist and guest sensitivities to essential oils. Yet, we wanted to give our guests an aromatherapy experience. Nick came up with an ingenious inhalation ritual at the beginning of the treatment. We chose three essential oil blends—one to combat congestion, one to energize and one for circulation. All our therapists and staff were involved in the process.
BB: What is the Kuyam experience?
The Kuyam is Spa Ojai’s signature treatment combing cleansing mud, dry heat, inhalation therapy and guided meditation. Taking inspiration from the traditional healing ways of many cultures, "kuyam" means "a place to rest together" in the language of the Chumash people who originally inhabited the Ojai Valley
BB: How is Body Blisss involved in the Artist cottage and Apothecary ?
Gloria: The Artist Cottage and Apothecary is the “jewel of our Nile.” In addition to art classes, we offer Aroma Custom blending so our guests can create a unique personal scent or customized product line. We use Body Bliss dead sea salts, lotions and many essential oils.
BB: Thank you so much Gloria for sharing the beauty and bounty of Spa Ojai with us!
