A Holistic Experience

Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: December 2024 | Photograph By: Mary Gilian

Betty Chrestman

If you’re a spa enthusiast like me – or follow spa openings like others follow sports – then this one’s
for you.

Betty Chrestman has expanded Unfurl Wellness Spa at Highlands Creek into a serene oasis, offering a blissful holistic health experience in a newly elevated spa environment.

Chrestman, who first came to the Plateau with her family in 1991, attended high school in Cashiers. Following graduation, she went to Oklahoma City to pursue an associate degree in therapeutic massage (she’s also a cranio-sacral therapist).
She returned to Highlands in 2010.

“This is where I wanted to be,” she said. For years, she worked as massage therapist doing in-home massage only. But the birth of her daughter in 2020 prompted her to open her first studio and put down roots in the community.

What began as an intimate, one-room studio in 2021, is today a 3,600-square-foot sanctuary – the culmination of Chrestman’s passion for redefining and reshaping the local spa experience. It was borne out of guests seeking more wellness and self-care options.

Now a full-service holistic health and wellness center, it offers day-spa essential treatments but also advanced aesthetic procedures, dedicated rooms for facials, skincare, massage, body treatments, and advanced therapies, as well as a new movement studio that offers yoga, Pilates, and mindful movement classes, provided by a team of 16 trained therapists.

Unfurl’s approach to wellness is both comprehensive and inclusive, providing therapies that benefit people of all ages and health needs. The offerings include traditional massages as well as specialized therapies like CranioSacral and myofascial release, which are especially helpful for older adults dealing with arthritis, Parkinson’s, and chronic pain. For those seeking skin rejuvenation, Unfurl offers high-tech LED light therapy, which targets fine lines and promotes collagen production.

At the movement studio clients can attend donation-based yoga classes, community workshops, and wellness events. A unique “Zoomie Room” class allows parents to take time for themselves while their children participate in supervised activities.

The sense of community and wellness is central to Chrestman’s vision, “I believe in the power of wellness and community.” Indeed, every detail of the spa speaks to Chrestman’s belief in supporting local craftsmen – from the artwork to skincare products.

“What I love most is the look on clients’ faces when they start living without pain—that’s why I got into this, to watch that transformation in people who have struggled for years,” she shares, underscoring her passion for helping others achieve a better quality of life.

To experience the array of therapies that Unfurl Wellness Spa offers, or to schedule a class in the movement studio, visit unfurlwellnessspa.com or email [email protected].