San Francisco native Lily Kwong is one of those Millennials who never sits stills. A writer, entrepreneur, blogger, philanthropist, and accessories designer, she's also a regular in Vogue, which ranked her one of the world's 120 most important fashion influencers last year. An avid traveller, she's just launched LK Collection, a range of luxury tech accessories, and runs a delightful lifestyle blog, which you can read here. All that said, she also knows that all work and no play makes Jill a dull girl, so she recently snuck away from her adopted home in New York for some downtime at The Standard Spa in Miami Beach. Here's Lily's firsthand account ...
DAY 1: Thai on the Table
My back was wrecked from hunching over the computer so much. A "Thai on the Table" massage was the obvious choice – a combination of Thai yoga stretches and firm compressions. This semi-acrobatic massage was the kind of serious stretching that my body was craving. My fantastic and very informed masseuse, Mariela, not only worked through my significant knots, but gave me precious advice on how to maintain my energy levels and health given my hectic schedule.
Following the massage, I zoned out in the Hamam. I'm not kidding when I say this experience was pure bliss. With its aroma steam rooms, a piping hot sauna and generously-sized metal bathtubs, an hour in the hamam transported me … it felt like a true vacation (the lemongrass scrub definitely helped!).
DAY 2: Yoga & Foot Massage
Inspired, perhaps, by my Thai massage, the next morning I sampled one of The Standard’s yoga classes. I’ve practiced off and on for six years now, but have never come across Anusara yoga. Promising a yoga system that “unifies tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness with universal principles of alignment,” the bar was set high. This slow-moving, deep-breathing, calming yoga class was the perfect way to start my day.
I followed up my class with one of the Juice Bar’s refreshing green juices. Feeling pampered, centered and notably more relaxed I treated myself to a really, really indulgent pedicure. I’m constantly pounding the pavement and my underappreciated feet were SO grateful for this restorative foot massage (the fact that it came with bright-red summer nails was just a bonus). The combination of the organic lime salt scrub, hydrating coconut milk bath and healing bodybutter undid months of mistreatment.
I finished up my day with a bay-side lunch under the summer sun. Our busy lives don’t always allow for some much-needed relaxation time, and I can honestly say that my two days at the Standard came at the perfect time. I felt like a new person as I drove away –with a more peaceful mind, a straighter spine and cuter toenails!
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