The Joule believes that good things come to those who wait. So, after months of anticipation, the hotel opened the doors to its subterranean ESPA, intent to change the way Dallas spas. Yep. We used it as a verb.
If the name sounds familiar, it's because ESPA has 350 spas in 55 countries. You may have seen — or experienced — some of these regal resting places in hotels like the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, the One & Only Palmilla in Los Cabos and the Yas Viceroy in Abu Dhabi.
Despite the number of locations, there is nothing mass produced about ESPA. Each spa is a reflection of its environment, including the city, geography and culture in which it lives.
ESPA founder and CEO Sue Harmsworth is very clear: What you do before your spa treatment is just as important as the treatment itself.
For Dallas, that means combining the city's glamour with The Joule's existing play with all forms of energy. The spa is two floors, and the subterranean level transports people into a calm, cozy, quiet world of ultimate relaxation.
As for how ESPA sets itself apart from other luxury spas in Dallas, ESPA founder and CEO Sue Harmsworth is very clear: What you do before your spa treatment is just as important as the treatment itself.
Harmsworth says that during a typical massage, the first 30 minutes are spent warming the muscles. ESPA's pre-treatment facilities help to warm the body so guests are exactly where they need to be mentally and physically before their spa treatments.
Experiences such as the vitality pool, crystal steam room and ice fountain take guests through a series of temperature changes. Once they are fully relaxed, they can slip on a robe and a pair of slippers and head to one of the spa's relaxation areas to await their services.
Harmsworth strongly encourages people to take advantage of this time before their treatments, because adequately prepping the body can make or break a spa experience. This is how ESPA hopes to change the way Dallas relaxes.
Another unique offering is ESPA Time, which allows guests to reserve two, three or four hours with a therapist versus booking a specific treatment. The therapist tailors each guest's time spent at the spa to ensure he or she gets the most beneficial treatments.
Some specific treatments that caught our eye? The Golfer's Tonic caters to men who have had a long day on the golf course — which, let's be honest, is 50 percent of Dallas businessmen on any given afternoon in the spring or summer.
The package includes a massage specific to muscles used on the course, including legs and feet. The treatment also incorporates hot stones and a foot soak.
We also noticed The Diva package at the Bijou Nail Salon, which includes a pedicure and champagne. But why stop there when you could have your own personal shopper from Neiman Marcus to recommend the perfect pair of Christian Louboutins to go with your nails?
To see a complete list of services, visit the website. But remember the most important thing about ESPA is that the "E" stands for education. Harmsworth is dedicated to helping people help themselves through the correct use of spa products and services.
"We see ourselves as guardians of our customers' skin," Harmsworth says. "Modern life demands instant everything, and instant everything is rarely good for you in the long term."
A treatment room at ESPA.
