Spa Review: We Tried Burke Williams' Tranquility Massage With Nepalese Singing Bowls
Burke Williams’ South Bay spa is located in the Torrance Towne Center which is home to more than 60 shops and restaurants.
Over the past few years, sound baths have experienced a surge in popularity with many spas and wellness studios incorporating them into their offerings. From yoga and meditation to sunset sound baths, singing bowls (traditional Tibetan tools that have been around for thousands of years) are used to create immersive, relaxing experiences that offer numerous wellness benefits such as better sleep, reduced anxiety and depression, and lower blood pressure, among others.
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When I heard that Burke Williams had added an innovative new treatment to its menu that featured singing bowls, I couldn’t wait to learn more. The Tranquility Massage is an exclusive service that integrates massage therapy with the healing effects of sound in order to create a calming experience by bringing the body and mind into a state of complete deep relaxation. It’s available at all 11 of Burke Williams’ spas including their Torrance location, which I recently visited to try out the new service.
The entrance to Burke Williams Torrance.
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Here’s what you’ll love about Burke Williams:
The leading luxury day spa was founded in 1984 and draws its inspiration from world-class European day spas, offering guests top-notch services in a sanctuary of wellness and beauty.
Burke Williams has 11 locations across California in order to offer more accessibility to different areas including San Francisco, Hollywood, Pasadena and Santa Monica, among others.
While all Burke Williams spas follow the same set of high standards, each location has its own set of qualities and details that makes it unique from the others. For instance, Burke Williams Torrance is reminiscent of a luxurious Balinese hotel with soothing earth tones and materials.
The luxurious amenities at every location include locker rooms, spacious relaxation lounges with cozy fireplaces, whirlpools, steam rooms, dry saunas, quiet rooms and private treatment rooms.
Their team of dedicated, professional therapists are trained to offer a wide variety of treatments including different types of massage, facials, nail care and chiropractic services.
Monthly memberships are available and include benefits like discounts on treatments and products, special enhancements, exclusive offers and more.
The spa has multiple retail areas that carry a wide selection of skincare and wellness products from well-known brands.
Burke Williams’ Torrance location is located in the Torrance Towne Center, an outdoor shopping center that has more than 60 stores and restaurants. The spa is located on the second floor and can be accessed via stairs or elevator. The parking situation is very convenient as it’s an open lot with plenty of available spaces and free of charge.
After checking in at the front desk I was given a tour of the facility, which offers 12,000 square feet of relaxation and wellness space. I was there during the weekend so it was on the busier side, but with multiple indoor and outdoor relaxation lounges including a quiet room, there was abundant space for spa patrons to enjoy their time there without it feeling crowded. I noticed that multiple groups of women had come there together as the spa is designed to accommodate larger groups and parties, including special events like bridal showers and bachelorettes.
There are also multiple retail areas in the spa that carry a wide selection of well-known skincare and wellness brands such as Eminence Organic Skin Care, Sonoma Lavender, H2V, and European Spa Source, among others. They also have a vast selection of gift items and sets ranging from candles to eye masks, making it a convenient place to do any last minute gift shopping as well.
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The 12,000-square-foot spa includes a large relaxation lounge.
Prior to my treatment I curled up next to the cozy fireplace in the spacious indoor relaxation lounge, which has multiple sofas and armchairs, magazines and games to keep guests entertained. There was also a snack table with fresh fruit like bananas and apples, along with infused water.
The spa has several outdoor relaxation patios and lounges with comfortable seating for those that want fresh air. There is also a quiet room with dim lighting that encourages phone-free relaxation where guests can go if they want some peace and quiet.
Additional amenities include a huge locker room (men and women have separate facilities but there is a co-ed lounge as well), individual showers, whirlpools, a steam room, dry sauna, and cool misting room.
I relaxed by the cozy fireplace prior to my service.
Various games and magazines are available for guests to enjoy.
There is another large retail area with a wide selection of products located adjacent to the relaxation lounge.
Inspired by a luxurious Balinese hotel, Burke Williams Torrance has a soothing interior design that consists of earthy tones and natural materials such as bamboo, stones, dark wood and grasscloth throughout the spa. There is a stunning wall of bells at the entrance to the women’s facilities and there are various water features that serve as a relaxing backdrop accompanied by the pleasant aroma of signature essential oils in the air.
The spa’s stunning details include water features and decor that is reminiscent of a Balinese hotel.
A beautiful wall of bells welcomes guests into the changing area and water facilities.
The spa also has several outdoor spaces for additional relaxation.
After changing into my robe and slippers, I snacked on a banana and sipped on infused water next to the fireplace in the relaxation lounge. Not long after, my massage therapist came to get me and led me upstairs to one of the treatment rooms. Sitting on top of the bed was a large singing bowl and on the table was a smaller bowl next to a mallet.
Before beginning the treatment, my therapist took the time to explain to me what the Tranquility Massage would consist of and she pointed out that it would be different from a standard massage. While light massage is incorporated into the service, the main focus is on inducing relaxation through sound and the vibrations that come from the bowls. She also performed a test patch on my skin with the oil she was going to use just to make sure that I didn’t have any allergies or sensitivities to the ingredients.
Developed by Burke Williams’ team of experts, the Tranquility Massage is an innovative treatment that incorporates sound therapy into a massage. Prior to launching, hundreds of tests and trials runs were performed, and it took several years for them to perfect the service before officially adding it to their menu. The singing bowls are made from Himalayan brass and hand-crafted by Nepalese artisans who add a personalized touch to each bowl, and the bowls are tuned in harmony with each other.
Available in 80 and 100-minute versions, the service was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. While I was lying face down on the massage bed, my therapist placed the larger bowl on my back and proceeded to gently strike it with the mallet multiple times to warm up, which sent waves of subtle vibrations throughout my entire body. It created a very unique sensation that felt like I was being massaged internally.
I experienced the 80-minute Tranquility Massage, which integrates massage therapy with the healing effects of sound to create a unique calming experience.
She walked around me while holding the smaller bowl in her hands, circling the rim with the mallet to create more relaxing sound frequencies. She held it next to my right ear before slowly moving to the left side and doing the same thing. Then she removed the large bowl from my back and placed it between my legs closer to my feet, where she proceeded to strike it multiple times, sending more vibrations throughout my lower body.
Over the course of the service, she would take a break from striking the singing bowls to perform light-touch craniosacral therapy, a more gentle yet still effective form of massage that works in harmony with the vibrations from the bowls. The body’s craniosacral system is made up of membranes and fluid around the brain and spinal cord (aka the central nervous system). This type of massage helps treat any disturbances to the body’s central nervous system by releasing tension and restrictions in these tissues to restore the natural and normal flow, which improves one’s ability to function overall.
She asked me to lie on my back before placing the larger bowl on my abdomen and striking it repeatedly while walking around with the smaller bowl, followed by more massage. Then she placed the large bowl between my ankles and created more vibrations with the mallet. When my service had concluded, she greeted me outside of the treatment room with a glass of water and recommended that I sit in the lounge or quiet room for 15 to 30 minutes before driving home.
After my treatment I felt extremely relaxed for the rest of the day, and I slept especially well that night. It was a very unique experience and one that I would recommend that everyone try at least once. If you’re a fan of sound baths, you’re likely to enjoy the Tranquility Massage because it takes relaxation to an entirely different level. Even if you prefer more traditional services, the Tranquility Massage is a great alternative therapy to incorporate into your self-care routine and help you feel more balanced as a whole. After receiving a treatment, you just might become hooked!
The treatment incorporated hand-crafted Nepalese singing bowls paired with the rhythmic movements of Swedish massage.
Cost: Tranquility Massage ($280/80 min; $375/100 min)
Insider Tip: Arrive 15 to 30 minutes early to give yourself enough time to check in and enjoy the various amenities. Swimsuits are optional for the hydrotherapy facilities. Parking is free in the outdoor lot.
Hours: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Daily)
Address: 2733 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance, CA 90505
Phone: 310-803-5550
For more information and to book a service, visit the website. Follow on Instagram: @burke_williams
[Photos by Kamala Kirk]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk