Some people remember the strip mall at
196th and 36th in Lynnwood as the former
home of Cinema 12, the local rundown
theater that featured movies for a
dollar. It was also the place you went to cruise
on a weekend night in the pre-cell, pre-Facebook
era, checking out the kids from other high schools
in the area, in-person. Now the locale is a little
more sedate—in fact, for women it’s downright
relaxing.
The Olympus Spa was already well-known
around the Puget Sound, with women flocking to
Tacoma to experience the age-old tradition of a
Korean women’s spa. When the female population
of Snohomish County heard that they were getting
their own location, it was cause for celebration. In
October of 2005, a retreat with an Eastern twist
opened its doors, and it has been a much-needed
oasis in the middle of mall-land for years.
For those unfamiliar with the set-up, it is an
unusual model as far the typical day spa goes. A
day pass costs $38, which allows you to use the
spa’s gorgeous, sparkling clean facilities for the
entire day. This includes the pools (that vary in
temperature), steam room, sauna, and the wonderful
Earth Energy therapy rooms. The Earth Energy
rooms incorporate healing minerals like salt, jade,
mud, and sand, each kept at a different temperature
and possessing a variety of healing properties.
The rooms are havens for relaxation, meditation,
naps, and a peaceful place to decompress from the
daily grind.
Additional services are available. Perhaps the
most talked about treatment is the traditional
Korean Body Scrub. It is a unique process, a bit
vigorous, but the results are amazing. Other favorites
are the body wraps, Korean body moisturizing,
and massage. You’ll have no problem building
a relaxing day with the extensive menu of services
to choose from.
The spa has a healthy and delicious Korean
restaurant on-site. You eat in your robe, a treat
really, when you think about it. Of course, here
is a good place to warn the very modest that the
spa is a nude facility. Much of the time you are
covered (with the provided robe and cap), but the
pools require robe removal. However, it is a welcoming
place where women come for a little tranquility—and
many find that there is no discomfort
in the experience.
For women, it isn’t always easy to take a day
for yourself. But, if you do, this place is the ultimate
recommendation, a place that’s truly a gift to
the women in the North End and beyond.
3815 196th St. SW Ste. 160, Lynnwood
Mon.–Thurs. 9 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 9 a.m.–Midnight
425.697.3000
olympusspa.com/lynnwood
