TENNESSEE FITNESS SPA

One of the best kept secrets of our Southern neighbor, Tennessee, is a spa called, quite fittingly, Tennessee Fitness Spa. It is located in Waynesboro, TN
which is about 95 miles south of Nashville. This beautiful historic site has the only double span , natural bridge formation in the entire world. Complete with an “ice” cave, the spa is bordered by the “forty-eight Creek”, which has crystal clear cool water and many species of fish which are visible from the banks. History tells of many Indian tribes who used this spot for a meeting place until the last Cherokees were ordered out by Andrew Jackson in the 1800’s.

The spa can accomodate up to 55 guests and serves guests from all over. Meals are served in a large dining room and are healthy although not austere. Everybody who I spoke with while there seemed to report that the meals were more than adequate and quite delicious even though the food is free of salt, sugar, and caffeine, and low in calories and fat.

The spa is not a fancy facility. It doesn’t need to be. With the dogwoods, wisteria and honeysuckle gracing the grounds, the luxury is not the trivial type. It is down-to-Earth and beautifully rustic with all the basic needs very well provided for, and the fact that (when I was there, although this may have changed) there are no TVs or phones in the room doesn’t seem to be a deterrent to the many repeat guests who visit the spa. It’s peaceful and natural allowing you to get into a nice connection with the natural world.

Even though it may not be called luxurious, it offers great pampering possibilities including massage, facials, aromatherapy and manicures, and large porches and time to indulge in the forgotten art of simple relaxation with a good book or just your thoughts. Some services do require an additional fee.

The spa sits on 100 plus guest-usable acres, with many trails for hiking and simple nature walks. Everyone is encouraged to choose as many or as few activities as they wish. There are many other offerings including, vigorous walks, aerobic workouts, stretches, fitness lectures, weight training, bicycling, and volley ball.

Two hiking trails with formidable names are Satan’s Hill and Moanin’ Mountain. There is a gym which has an aerobics studio, weight room, racquetball court and fitness assessment rooms. A greenhouse covers the 30 x 60 foot pool and hot tub. Guests are encouraged to try activities new to them yet to be realistic about what they can take home to incorporate into their own lifestyle. Staffers offer words of encouragement but the atmosphere is not boot-camp-like.

There are a number of evening activities such as movies, line dancing and health and nutrition presentations.

This must cost oodles, you're probably saying. No, that’s another one of the great features of this lovely spa. Prices are affordable even for a person such as myself who often finds herself with her hands in her nearly empty pockets. How nice to know that we in St. Louis have this wonderfully affordable spa practically in our back yard.

(This article or one very similar was featured in The Healthy Planet magazine a couple of years ago)