“ The vast majority of our Facebook fans are in the Colorado Springs area, with a sizable percentage located here in Manitou Springs.
This is logical given that we’ ve only been open for a year and have focused on creating local awareness. In time, we’ ll be branching out toward national and international markets but our main guests are locals or from surrounding towns in the Colorado Springs area.”
— KAT TUDOR n CO-OWNER n SUNWATER SPA n MANITOU SPRINGS, COLORADO
After a ceremonial cleansing of the spirit in the waters of the Ganges River, considered holy by many, Goede mentioned to Tudor that his hometown in Manitou Springs, Colorado, exudes similar spiritual energy as Rishikesh, minus the holy river. Tudor, in response, said that the mineral springs that flowed through the mountains of Colorado had the same healing properties as the Ganges River. Soon after this conversation, they launched a healing arts space called SunWater Spa, which revolved around the restorative waters of Manitou Springs.
Healing Traditions Historically, Manitou Springs was considered sacred by the Cheyenne, Mountain Ute and Arapaho tribes. The early settlers believed that the eruption of bubbles in the mineral waters was the
breath of the Great Spirit“ Manitou.” To celebrate these native beliefs and local culture, SunWater Spa incorporates local healing traditions into its core services. In fact, during its grand opening, which was named“ Spring Awakening,” in August last year, the spa highlighted ceremonies, dance and music by the Ute Indians and the Mayans. The event was a major success in the local community, attracting more than 800 guests to the spa.
“ Just one year after our opening, we now offer more than 25 weekly movement, yoga and meditation classes such as Aqua Yoga, the energy-infused MELT, Beginner’ s Mind: Intro Meditation, Cosmic Yoga and Yoga for Healing,” says Tudor.
Aside from this, the spa also offers its popular indigenous and natural massage treatments, such as the
November 2016 ■ PULSE 17