Sensei Porcupine Creek

Upon arrival, I was met at the gate house by a friendly security guard who checked my ID and encouraged me to open my windows to let in the fresh air and view the grounds’ art installations.  As I followed directions, down the winding drive to turn right past the “you can’t miss it” dog sculpture, I was suddenly saturated in serenity.  A welcome crew greeted me by name, whisked away my luggage, valeted my car, and led me to the bar for a refreshing coconut water cocktail.  While we toured the high-ceilinged, light-filled main house and wandered the curving stone pathways to the pool, yoga cottage, and fitness center, my bag was delivered to my spacious, room.  What I noticed right away was that there seemed to be very few people on the property.  The intimate setting is designed to feel like you are retreating to your own private estate.  When I looked out from my patio deck, over many shades of green, I knew for sure there would be no fighting for lounge chairs by the pool.
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Porcupine Creek Accommodations

Each style of accommodations at Sensei Porcupine Creek creates a personal sanctuary with luxuriously appointed details and thoughtful amenities.  Choices include 10 Estate Rooms, 4 Casitas and 8 standalone Villas. When you make a reservation, you will first select your preferred wellness package before being directed to a room selection.  Since I wanted to spend most of my time in the spa, I chose a Discover Sensei Experience that included daily Wellness Credits to use towards services and an Estate King room.
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My room was technologically savvy with a remote control for the “sleep-in shades”, a touchscreen guest-services pad, a multi-functional-heated-seat spaceship of a toilet, and an 85-inch theater grade flat screen TV.  There was a sweet coffee and tea set up, a drawer full of mindful minibar snacks (on the house), an ample welcome fruit bowl, and a refillable stainless steel water bottle, complete with “Kira” engraved on the top.  It is an extra nice touch compared to the decal name labels most places provide. Refill stations are plentiful while chilled still and sparking filtered water is delivered daily to my mini fridge.  Turn down service includes my next days’ itinerary of fitness activities and spa treatments as well as artisan gourmet chocolates.  I may never leave...

The Coachella Valley has long provided a sanctuary for wellness seekers, artists, and adventurers.  Experience the restorative benefits of the arid climate while marveling over a mountainous landscape dotted with date trees and desert palms.  A well-maintained 1.5-mile route nature trail winds above the grounds with a moderately challenging 500-foot elevation.  Plus, Porcupine Creek’s world-renowned private golf course and tennis facilities are legendary.  After a post-strike, super-condensed Hollywood awards season, I was in serious need of some deep decompression.  I gave myself permission, on this first short stay, to simply focus on rest and rejuvenation.  After switching out my high heels and make up for some grounding and nourishment, I sampled from a menu of restorative fitness classes and healing bodywork.
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Morning yoga was a small class of six people.  There was more scientific based talk of things like “proprioception” (the sense of self-movement, force, and body position mediated by mechanosensory neurons located within muscles, tendons, and joints) than the usual chakras and Sanskrit.  Functional Fascia was a one-hour therapeutic movement class that rolls out connective tissue.  The chemistry being that we can release lactic acid back to the bloodstream and flush out toxins to heal more quickly and get through muscle soreness faster.  I liked how the teacher emphasized that we could break down the work into “movement snacks” throughout the day by keeping a foam roller out for when watching TV or therapy balls in the office to roll out tension when we have a few minutes in between tasks.  I lucked out with a private afternoon Pilates session with a terrific instructor who guided me through mindful moves incorporating Melt balls, sliders, Manduka bands, and tension rings.  I got a full body workout doing seemingly simple micro-movements.  I was a little sore in all the right ways the next day – perfectly prepped for some serious body treatments.
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Reflexology wasn’t limited to just feet, but also hands and scalp.  I was offered up some custom essential oil blends based on the elements of earth, water, air, or fire to choose my favorite.  I was drawn to the “Earth” scent and the nice therapist gave me a little bottle of the body oil to take home.  Next up: an amazing Custom Massage.  I learned something new – that scar tissue is “trainable”.  It is malleable and can be extended, softened, and shaped.  I like deep tissue work and my practitioner didn’t hesitate to dig in once he discovered how much I could take without writhing in pain.  One breath at a time, I melted through the most epic, transformative massage I’ve experienced in recent memory.  My shoulder blades have not been this open in years.  Thank you, Sensei!.