In Chinese, the word “Yuan” means “the source” as in the source of a river, understanding, energy, wellness, and Qi. Yuan Spa is an award-winning luxury day spa in Bellevue, Washington that believes optimal wellness comes from embracing the body, mind, and spirit. Open since 2012, the spa’s founder, Zhiqin Zhang, grew up in China, where she was immersed in the traditional practices of Chinese Medicine and Eastern philosophies of wellness.

The 8,000-square-foot, two-story spa has 13 treatment rooms and blends the foundations of Asia’s ancient healing philosophies with the West’s modern spa technologies. Your journey at Yuan Spa begins with the tradition of Chinese bathing, and the spa offers an impressive hydrotherapy space that includes two soaking pools, a therapeutic chromotherapy dry sauna, a cold drench shower, and a relaxing Eucalyptus steam room.

Yuan Spa’s treatment menu offers everything from massage therapy and advanced skin care to herbal body treatments from around the globe, all guided by its team of highly-qualified, multi-national therapists. We interviewed Tysan Dutta, Spa Director of Yuan Spa, who shared insider tips, recommended spa treatments to try, and more:

Why You’ll Love It: Our spa is an oasis in the heart of Bellevue for whole-person wellness. Our guests love that we offer hydrotherapy in addition to traditional spa services and they appreciate that our therapists are receptive to the wellness needs of each individual.

Key Features: We offer our guests robes, slippers, signature rosemary mint soaps, lotion, shampoo, and locker room amenities including snacks, tea, and crystal-infused water. Guests also receive full access to Hydrotherapy (soak, steam, sauna, cold drench, salt bar) for $20 with services. Spa members receive complimentary access to hydrotherapy with monthly passes.

Insider’s Tip: As your partner in your wellness, we look to you for input on how to make each visit perfect. We encourage guests to speak up so that we can make adjustments to pressure, temperature, music volume, etc. We welcome this feedback and want to ensure that guests have a deeply relaxing visit that allows them to fully recharge.

Snacks Served: Under normal circumstances, Yuan spa guests enjoy fresh fruit, Asian crackers, wasabi peas, Chinese tea, and 5-Elements crystal-infused water. Guess who book spa packages also receive a healthy catered lunch.

Bonus: Guests who book a service at Yuan Spa receive a day-pass to experience the benefits of hydrotherapy for a reduced rate of $20. (hydrotherapy services are complimentary for members). Here is an example of a hydrotherapy circuit (guests are recommended to experience each one for 10-15 minutes):

• Start with the Hot Pool: The first and last step in this blissful bathing ritual–heat the body and soften the skin.

• Enjoy the twinkling lights of the Eucalyptus Steam Room: We provide a variety of salts that can be taken into the Steam Room for a self-scrub. Leave the salt on the body after you scrub and let the minerals soak into the skin.

• Rinse off in the Steam Room Shower.

• Cool Pool: Submerge in the cool pool and allow your body to adjust to the cooler temperature. This also reoxygenates and replenishes your deep tissues, as your body circulates blood to warm your organs.

• Cold Drench Shower: For our most intense Cryotherapy–stand under the ice cold rain shower of our Cold Drench.

• Cedar Dry Sauna: Take a cool towel for your face, or cucumbers for your eyes and relax in the dry heat, letting the water from the cool pool dry off. Yuan Spa guests love visiting our urban water sanctuary, which melts away stress to soothe the body and soul. (Please note: Hydrotherapy services are not available during COVID-19).

Unique Treatment: Our Yuan Chinese Signature Massage is what sets us apart in our massage services. Choreographed by our owner/founder Zhiqin Zhang, this massage uses 2,000-year-old "tuina" massage techniques, as well as Thai stretching and tapotement to target the most overworked muscles in the body.

Insider’s Favorite: It's hard to pick just one. Here are two of my current favorites:

• The Thermal Waters of Pisa (Body Peel & Purifying Algae Wrap)
  Manual dry brushing exfoliates and stimulates the lymphatic system. A uniquely designed self-neutralizing alpha-hydroxy peel of glycolic and lactic acids is painted across body, followed by a full-body mask with aromas of citrus and peppermint–composed of thermal water from sources in Italy, renowned for generations for nutrient-rich healing properties and two distinct kinds of micro algae: Laminaria and Fucus, utilized for their remodeling, slimming, and warming capabilities. This potent mask also contains matcha green tea powder for detoxification and an extra dose of antioxidants. Enjoy a head and scalp massage while wrapped up and tucked snugly under a weighted gravity blanket. (60 min)

• Optional Add-On (30 minutes): Full-body thermogenic fat-burning treatment and patented Body Strategist Elasticity Oil for increased cell metabolism (60 min Wrap $140 / 90 min Wrap with Fat Burning Microalgae and Elasticizing Oil $195)

• Five Elements Diamond Qi Facial
  Pairing the uber-luxe line Knesko (touted by Hollywood elite for their stunning skin) and the latest gemstone collection from Eminence, we bring you this uniquely Yuan Spa experience. The Chinese concepts all revolve around Qi, with the universe consisting of the five basic elements of Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. Each of these elements relate to each other to form a proper balance. In the same way, everything on the planet, including humans, must have a relationship with the five elements. Each element has specific properties which work in conjunction with the rest to balance things out. Purify, balance and rediscover your skin’s Qi and vitality. Each guest will be able to take home their Knesko Diamond face mask (and neck mask in the 90-minute treatment) for a second use at home. (60 min $165 / 90 min $215)

Splurge Treatment: Our two-hour massage is an amazing splurge for guests who have time to devote themselves to total relaxation! This service includes a combination of Swedish, Deep Tissue, and various customized modalities.

Adding on any of our specialized “Enhancements” to a service allows guests to get a truly special, customized experience. Favorites include the “ASMR Power Nap Mini" to tap into the parasympathetic nervous system and promote deep relaxation and restoration. We also love adding CBD to services for relaxation. The “Hair and Scalp Mini” is also popular with guests who are looking for a natural scalp treatment that helps deeply hydrate hair. Additional enhancements include:

• Parrafin Therapy for Hands or Feet

• Cupping Spot Treatment | Gua Sha Spot Treatment

• KT Tape Application

• Hot Stone | Cold Marble Spot Therapy

• Sugar Back Scrub | Pear & Green Apple

• Warm Bamboo Spot Therapy

• Aromatherapy | Yuan Signature Blends

• Body Strategist Elasticizing Oil

Featured Products: Comfort Zone, Davines, Eminence Organic Skin Care, HydroPeptide, Knesko, NuFace, QYKSonic, SkinCeuticals, and Vital Body CBD.

For more information and to book a treatment, visit the website and follow them on Instagram: @yuan_spa

[Images courtesy of Yuan Spa]

Yuan Spa

1032 106th Ave NE, Ste 125

Bellevue, WA 98004

425-449-8788