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As spa consultants to such properties as the Cloisters at Sea Island and Vermont’s Topnotch, Ginny and John Lopis have decades worth of experience when it comes to spa, health and wellness. In 2006, they fulfilled a lifelong dream of opening their very own property: the Lodge at Woodloch in Pennsylvania’s lake region. The two spoke to Indagare about what makes a successful spa experience and about the current trends that are here to stay.

You have worked in the spa industry for a long time. What are some of the major changes you have observed in the industry since you started?

There’s a much greater variety of treatments. Twenty-five years ago, the entire treatment list consisted of a standard facial, a Swedish massage, a basic loofa or salt scrub, an herbal wrap and manicures and pedicures. There have also been significant increases in luxury accommodations. Spa facilities used to be more like YMCA locker rooms, but today, spa guests expect much more elegant and sophisticated facilities. Spas in the U.S. were once primarily just for women. Initial focus at spas was fitness, weight loss, detoxing from alcohol and nicotine, etc. Men rarely were seen. Now men are one of the fastest growing markets, and the program focus includes stress management, relaxation, and spiritual inspiration. Finally, there’s more sophisticated and delicious spa cuisine. Spas used to serve what many thought of as “rabbit food”, and we are now recognizing that food is one of the joys of life, and it should be delicious as well as healthy. We are shifting from a “deprivation” or “denial” mentality with regard to food, to a “moderation” and “mindful” approach to eating, focusing on portion size, awareness of our bodies and choosing what and how to eat based on our individual needs and preferences. There is no longer one prescription for everyone.

What are the major criteria that makes a successful spa experience?

Comfort is key and the ability to relax and put your feet up in an atmosphere that is not too stiff or formal. The facilities should flow comfortably and not be confusing, and there should be an appropriate separation between active and passive activities, such as fitness and treatments/relaxation areas. They also have to have warm, friendly, nurturing, personal service; technically skillful, well-trained staff; appropriate privacy, great food and a beautiful site with inspiring natural elements (mountains, lake or river, woods).

When you co-founded ISPA, the term “spa” barely registered but now there is a growing population of spa goers who are extremely sophisticated. How do you cater to this increasingly educated group?

There needs to be more staff training to satisfy the discerning spa-goer, as well as greater attention to detail in everything. For instance, guests are knowledgeable about sanitation and aesthetics need to be sophisticated, as guests are more well-traveled than ever before. There’s a continuous need for growth and expansion of the spa experience to match the growth of the consumer: their interest areas are constantly expanding, and we need to add new and exciting programs and offerings regularly, particularly as our knowledge and understanding about life evolves through science and other technologies.

What do you think the next major trends in the spa world will be and which ones will last?

Greater focus on cultivating the self as the “expert,” and less focus on external teachers and experts who appear to have all the right answers. We will shift to looking within ourselves for our personal truth, helped by guides and facilitators, rather than seeking gurus who hold all the “answers.” Also, the focus on green consciousness and strategies: guests will want to learn more at spas about good stewardship and saving the planet. We also see a push towards more spiritually oriented programming, including meditation, guided relaxation, mind/body fitness forms such as Tai Chi, Qi Gong, etc., for stress reduction and greater well being, as well as expansion in six-sensory training: developing greater psychic abilities, understanding and working with the chakras (energy centers of the body), etc. There’s a greater focus on self-healing techniques such as sound healing, color therapies, energy work, etc. as well as an exploration of psychological and social- emotional life issues, such as relationships, life purpose, creative expression, communication skills. Finally, there are more classes and experiences in the creative arts, like dancing, singing, painting and photography.

What should a potential spa-goer ask him or herself to figure out what place is right for him/her?

What do I want to accomplish or gain from my spa visit? What are my goals/objectives in going? (e.g., relaxation, specific type of guidance, outdoor adventures, socialization, privacy, etc.) What kind of atmosphere do I prefer? (luxury vs. simplicity, urban vs. nature; coed; intimate, peace and quiet vs. lots of people/high energy; structured vs. free to be on one’s own).

What are some other destination spas that you admire?

Rancho La Puerta, which offers wonderful classes and a genuine sense of community; Golden Door, the original luxury spa experience which still has superb guest service; Canyon Ranch for excellent quality, tremendous breadth of program and great staff training.

When creating the Lodge at Woodloch, how did you draw on your experience and past spa concepts?

There are numerous details at the Lodge that we had previously incorporated into some of our clients’ spa designs, and were very popular, such as our Hydromassage waterfalls and our private shower change rooms. We created new, updated versions of them at the Lodge. Of course, we learned so many things from our years of consulting, which helped us in creating something that really works.

Could you cite some specific examples of how the lodge is a compilation of the years you spent consulting?

We were fortunate to travel widely in the U.S. and internationally with our spa consulting company and worked with many of the finest resorts. We kept journals of all of our ideas and inspirations over our years of travel and integrated many of them in our design. We created boards for our architects and interior designer using photos from brochures and magazines for our interior spaces to convey the look and feel we were searching for. Our floor-to-ceiling windows, for instance, are inspired by the architecture of the Western Lodge in Colorado, and the intimacy of the interior spaces are reminiscent of an Adirondack lodge. We saw many spas that we were strongly feminine, so we chose a strong Lodge architectural style that would be comfortable for men. We felt that on an overcast winter day, zen-like interiors can feel a bit cold, so we chose a nature-inspired, color-rich palette. We wanted our guests to feel connected to nature, even when inside, with walls of windows in nearly every space. And we tried to create a floor plan that was uncomplicated and easy to remember. We often say how fortunate we are that it took us nearly thirty years to actualize this dream of our own destination spa resort, because had we been successful early on, it would have been a very different place.

What do you advise potential guests in terms of how they should structure their day with classes, treatments etc.?

Our advice to guests is to listen to their inner wisdom about what is best for them. Spas have traditionally been about “accomplishing” things: becoming more fit, losing weight, etc. But one of the greatest challenges in our world today is finding a moment of stillness—being present and at peace. For some guests, this is the greatest need, to just slow down, relax and listen to the whisper of wisdom that is always there, but often drowned out by the chatter of our minds. We designed the Lodge with a number of porches, verandas, and lounges for napping and reading, and we are finding that more and more of our guests are choosing to relax as an intentional part of their visit.

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To say that John and Ginny Lopis did their homework before opening the Lodge at Woodloch, a new destination spa that debuted in northeastern Pennsylvania in late 2006, would be an understatement. As two of eight founders of the International Spa Association (ISPA), former directors at Canyon Ranch and spa consultants for such acclaimed retreats as Vermont’s Topnotch and the Cloisters at Sea Island, the couple have lived and breathed spa, health and wellness for more than two decades. The Lodge is a compilation of everything they learned along the way. “For years, when John and I were consulting all over the world, we would collect the special details that really worked” says Ginny. “At this place, they all came together.”

Occupying seventy-five acres of serene woodland, the Lodge is located in the lake region of Northeastern Pennsylvania (it’s a two-and-a-half hour drive from New York), an area not readily associated with high-end pampering until now. The multi-level building was cleverly constructed to blend into the surrounding landscape, a lush setting of oak forest and a small lake, where guests can kayak and fish. It is divided into two wings, one of which holds fifty-eight, nicely appointed guest rooms, the other a 20,000 square-foot-spa and fitness complex. The Lodge makes liberal use of space: the long hallways are cavernous, the imposing staircases extra-wide and the ceilings soaring, but thanks to lots of cozy sitting areas, it doesn’t feel impersonal. Interiors have a comfortable, lived-in feel with overstuffed couches, leather arm chairs and fireplaces (if a wellness experience means sleek, all-white spaces to you, this is not the place). The overall aesthetic, using lots of natural materials like maple and stone, reminds of a cozy American West ski lodge; and indeed the huge floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining room were inspired by the ones found at the Western Lodge in Colorado.

The star of the Lodge is, of course, the multi-level spa, complete with twenty-seven treatment rooms, fireplace-studded lounges and a magnificent indoor-outdoor pool area. Unlike some large spas where getting lost can raise your stress level, the layout at Woodloch is logical and intuitive. The spacious male and female relaxation areas, with whirl pool, steam bath and sauna, are mirror images of one another, save for the view from the screened-in serenity porches (sorry, gents: the ladies’ view, overlooking the lake, is better). Most treatment rooms are on the lower lever, which sees—and hears—no guest traffic besides post-treatment people shuffleing into the supremely soothing whisper lounge. The large work-out facility encompasses three mind-body studios, where classes like Pilates and kickboxing are held, and a 3,500 square-foot cardio studio. It’s located on the top floor, so fitness fiends and spa goers only cross paths in the locker room (nothing worse for the easily guilt-ridden than seeing a room full of sweaty people sprinting on treadmills after a blissful massage). The lengthy treatment menu assures that even during a multi-day stay, it’s impossible to sample everything.

The Lodge at Woodloch is not the kind of place that counts calories or puts a huge emphasis on weigh loss (reportedly, there’s one scale on property, but I never found it). Rather, the owners and chef Mark Timms are firm believers that one should indulge in tasty, organic food made with healthy ingredients, as long as the sampling is modest. Portions are spa-sized—think miniature bison burger and a custard-crème dessert that comes in a shot glass—but unlike at boot camp–like Ashram, you’re not being deprived of anything (a nice wine list is available). Rather, the small is beautiful philosophy makes you realize just how super-sized meals in normal restaurants are—and how little you actually need to feel satisfied, strong and healthy. For snacks, there are stations with fresh fruit and nuts throughout the fitness and spa facilities.

Days are as active or relaxed as guests choose: there’s a long list of classes ranging from Pilates, yoga and Tai Chi to watercolor and cooking demonstrations, but many fellow guests when I visited seemed to prefer the enclave of the spa, particularly the airy pool facility, which also includes an al fresco infinity whirlpool. John and Ginny are hands-on owners who make the rounds throughout the day to meet and chat with their guests, and at dusk you will find them on the porch adjacent to the dining room that seems to float in a sea of green. “We come here every evening to check in and reflect on what a long journey it’s been” says John, who is well-versed Eastern philosophy. “We call it our ‘thank you porch.’ ” Room packages from $475 during the week in high season (July through October).

WHO SHOULD GO: Experienced spa goers who like the variety of classes and programs offered at a Canyon Ranch or a Miraval (but prefer a more boutique setting) and who like the communal feel of a destination spa. It’s also a great retreat for a girlfriend or mom-daughter getaway.

WHO SHOULD NOT GO: Independent travelers who dislike group or organized activities and who cannot picture lunching in a dining room where some fellow guests may be sporting robes; design aficionados who prefer a sleek aesthetic. Children until age eighteen are not permitted anytime during the year.

ROOMS TO BOOK: The uneven-numbered rooms face the lake and feel a touch more serene than the even-numbered ones that overlook the garden and entrance area in front of the property. As at most destination spa, visitors choose from two all-inclusive plans: go for the Complete Plan, which includes all meals, all classes and a daily spa treatment.

WHAT TO KNOW: All spa treatments and some of the classes have to be booked ahead of your visit. Call before your trip and ask that someone from the spa explains the menu and advises on an itinerary.