Thinking Global in the USA #6: Korean Spa (Niles, Illinois)

 

Korean Spa Entrance, Photo by Krenda

Where can you find a Korean experience in Chicago and also leave feeling relaxed?  Take a day to rejuvenate at the King Spa & Sauna in Niles, Illinois (Chicago suburbs).  I've been to Korea twice and not had time to visit a sauna.  You can do it in the United States and the largest Asian sauna resides in Niles.  

In Korea, I did learn that you need a swim cap to swim in the hotel pool and you should not wear your bathing suit in the communal bath within the locker room of your gender.  The spa section of King Spa & Sauna has access through your gender locker room.  It also does not allow you to wear your swimsuit.  You'll find multiple pools with varying water temperature from hot to warm to very cold.  If you visit with your kids, you may choose to skip the spa section, use the locker room to change to the spa uniform, and venture into the 9 sauna sections and/or movie theater.  The experience does not come cheap.  I recommend you look on Groupon for discounted price or H-Mart grocery store nearby.  Massage has additional cost and Base Rock room has an additional $5 fee.

Base Rock room is unique, but has an extra fee.  You can find such patented room by Mr. Ono only in Chicago, Dallas, and Japan.  You lie down on a bed made of special hot stone slab.  The mineral stone Siraka comes from Japan and said to help heal.  You'll also notice amethyst crystal and coal in the room design.  The heat, lights, and quiet atmosphere made it a relaxing place.  The rock is quite hot, so keep on your thick cloth mat or it may not feel so relaxing.

The Pyramid Room, shaped like a pyramid, gives you another way to experience heat healing.  At approximately 90 degrees, I did not find the heat too hot, so it felt relaxing to me.  In contrast, I dared to enter and quickly exited the Fire Sudatorium.  I should have noticed all the other patron's eyes on me when I voluntarily entered and that no one else sat in the room.  At a 165-170 degrees, I think most pass on this room.

At the other extreme, try the Ice Room.  While you may not spend significant time chilling, it does provide a refreshing contrast after the heat.

Bul Ga Ma, the room I repeatedly visited, intrigued me with the wall patterns and pile of hot bricks that move from an oven and into the room.

The Charcoal Room aesthetics also has beauty.  Besides the charcoal, it has many amethysts geodes displayed along the wall.  The purple, white, and black colors have a regal feel.

In case you haven't surrounded yourself with enough amethysts, go to the Amethyst Room which combines the stones known for healing with yellow soil. 

If searching for more baked dirt, head to the Ocher Room which also utilizes infrared rays.  The moderate temperature makes it easy to linger. 

To surround yourself with minerals, enter the Salt Room.  The facility claims the salt blocks are 350 million year old base rocks.