By Eileen Falkenberg-HullShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberTrue peace and serenity can only be achieved at a spa that is the full package in terms of treatment, surrounds, service and hospitality. It’s a carefully balanced formula that only the most extraordinary spas in the world have achieved.
Southall Farm & Inn, in Franklin, Tennessee, has a spa on site that fits into the rural landscape just outside of Nashville, providing sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of Music City. That landscape served as the inspiration when creating the spa.
“Our spa was designed to feel completely connected to the land and the natural elements around us. One of the biggest inspirations was the mineral waters, which contain more than 60 different minerals. Creating a serene, restorative experience around those waters was absolutely non-negotiable from the very beginning,” a Southall spokesperson told Newsweek.
...Santani, a wellness resort based on 116 acres of forested jungle and fertile rice fields halfway around the world from Southall, in Sri Lanka, takes a similar approach. “Santani was created as a sanctuary where silence and nature become part of the therapy. From the beginning, our non-negotiables were clear: seamless integration with nature, deep privacy, and an atmosphere free from distraction,” Mr. Vickum Nawagamuwage, founder and CEO of Santani Wellness told Newsweek.
Southall's spa continues the design aesthetic and warmth of the inn’s hotel rooms, translating it into a more serene environment to match the mission. “Architecture is a central part of the Southall spa experience, shaping not just how the space looks, but how it feels and functions as a wellness sanctuary. The design was built to intentionally draw guests into nature through large windows, natural materials, and views of the rolling hills, lake, and farm. Using sustainable cross-laminated timber and warm organic textures, the architecture creates a grounded, calming environment that reflects Southall’s commitment to the land and to mindful living,” a company representative said.
...Santani’s spa guests are welcomed into peaceful luxury the moment they arrive on property. “At Santani, we believe that the ultimate luxury is peace of mind. Creating that peace begins with removing unnecessary stimuli — no artificial sound, scent, or light, and no visual clutter to distract the senses. In essence, no bling, no noise, nothing excessive. This simplicity was not a stylistic choice but a non-negotiable principle, allowing guests to settle into stillness and experience a deeper form of restoration,” Nawagamuwage said.
He continued: “Built into the hillside across three descending levels, the spa reflects the Ayurvedic journey of grounding, cleansing, and renewal. Each space opens gently to the landscape, allowing light, air, and greenery to enter in calming ways.”
The spa experience is as much about treatments available as it is about serenity. Extraordinary spa experiences blend local influence with ideals that place a high level of importance on personal experience.
...
...“We design everything with the idea that our offerings should support every body, not just everybody, so people feel welcome, comfortable, and cared for,” the Southall spokesperson said.
Both spas use products and offer treatments inspired by local customs and culture. “Santani’s spa menu is rooted in the timeless intelligence of Ayurveda, enriched by Sri Lanka’s own healing traditions, plants, and indigenous therapies,” Nawagamuwage explained.
Santani’s menu includes herbal oils prepared according to ancient Sri Lankan recipes, using techniques based down through traditional healers.
At Southall, local influence is smelled, tasted and touched, even at the spa. “There are strong local influences throughout our menu. We intentionally use clean products that align with our vision of sustainability, and we continue to fuse our farm products into the Southall Spa experience,” the company said.
...Southall offered up examples: “A meaningful example of this is our Welcome Tea, infused with herbs from our Spa Garden and our own Southall honey, grounding each guest in the flavors and healing elements of our land from the moment they arrive. Our menu evolves over time through seasonal inspirations, guest feedback, and our ongoing commitment to innovation in well-being. As our gardens grow, as new sustainable products emerge, and as our understanding of whole-person care deepens, our offerings naturally evolve to reflect both the rhythms of our local environment and the needs of our community."
Though they have a long roster of individual elements that make their spas unique, serene bastians of wellness, Southall and Santani are similar in their missions. Nawagamuwage described his property's mission saying, “Every element, from the thermal saltwater pool to the herbal steam rooms, is designed to ease cognitive load and guide the mind back to stillness. At Santani, we honor a simple truth: healing begins when the world quiets and you can finally hear yourself again.”
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