LA-Story spends a day with TV’s Top Warriors from Battles B.C. on a luxurious retreat to Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa

After a grueling 3 weeks of 16 hour days punctuated with 300 and some odd sword fights, LA-Story http://www.la-story.com/ and four fabulous members of the Battles B.C. sword fighting team beat a hasty retreat to Southern California’s premiere hot spring spa destination, the celebrated Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa http://www.glenivy.com/ in Corona, CA. For the many fans of the History Channel’s new action packed hit series, Battles B.C.http://www.history.com/minisites/battles-bc

the sight of teams of sword fighters battling in fields of blood is an exciting adventure into the world of warfare before the modern age. Soon after the premiere episode, Hannibal: the Annihilator scored the highest rating of any History Channel series premiere on a weeknight, audiences have come to expect colorful carnage highlighted by gorgeous big muscled, athletes in between accounts of military genius as told to us by academic military experts. What most fans take for granted is that sword fighting is serious business. And, the price of performing well on camera can be a long list of aches and pains that can last for weeks and weeks.

On the dawn of the first Saturday after the shoot sword fighters TJ Cencula, Lena Huff, Dustin Szany and Paul Jacobson woke up bruised and beaten in their beds with only one thing on their minds – a soothing, relaxing day at Glen Ivy. Just weeks before the shoot the entire team was invited to visit what many Angelenos call, the “Shangri La” of the California desert. Scheduling conflicts and just plain exhaustion kept the rest of the 20 member team at home except for these four who choose to forgo the agonies of strained muscles and bruised limbs to sit in their cars on the hour and a half drive from Los Angeles to the heart of the Corona Valley where they found rest, respite and luxurious recuperation.

Mineral Baths

At first glance a hot mineral bath was an irresistible release from the tensions of the past 3 weeks and our heroes succumbed to the promise of nirvana in Glen Ivy’s bubbling pools with glee.

Dustin Szany, Lena Huff, TJ Cencula & Paul Jacobson

For the uninitiated a thorough soak in these soothing waters is a delectable dip into hot steaming pools that heal and relax tight and tired muscles as minerals are absorbed through the skin. The calming, health-promoting powers of the mineral and sulfurous waters are two-fold. The minerals help to nourish and detoxify the skin while the sulfur serves as nature’s perfect anti-bacterial wash. The popularity of these springs is unequaled in Southern California.

Club Mud

Since many of the onscreen battles in the B.C were staged in ancient dirt each member of the sword fighting team was subjected to layer after layer of stage mud that was applied before, during and after each take. On most days after the team collapsed in-between takes still in costume and stage make-up, mud was a necessary nuisance.

Upon their arrival at Club Mud the gang plunged into the warm pool surrounding the mound of red mud without hesitation and laughingly covered each in other in mud from head to toe in sheer defiance. Everyone had a fabulous time applying the mud to themselves and to each other.

Drying was even more decadent on one of the many chaise lounges or in the Wafa, a special drying chamber. Dustin Szany and Paul Jacobson were especially surprised by the effects. “My skin has never been this silky smooth,” exclaimed Dustin Szany shortly after one of his many return visits to the mud pool, “I’m hooked.” Jacobson simply refused to leave the immediate area. “I think I’m just going to do this mud thing for a few hours,” Jacobson explained,”it feels good and it’s fun.”

Spa aficionados know that red clay has been used as a purifying agent since ancient times. It draws from the pores, absorbs impurities, and releases waste and dead skin cells while tightening and revitalizing the skin. As the mud dries, it becomes loose and powdery. Once dry the mud is sloughed off and skin is thoroughly exfoliated leaving a soft smooth texture. Patrons shower off the remaining mud using Glen Ivy’s own lavender scented Soothing Body Cleansing Gel that is in ample supply at the spa’s outdoor showers. Jacobson and Szany choose to remain in the mud while TJ Cencula and Lena Huff (a married couple) took an elevator down to the underground world of the Grotto.

The Grotto

Glen Ivy’s man-made subterranean cavern is a mysterious, magical realm filled with a natural mineral water mist and the scent of sea kelp and aloe vera. Upon their arrival TJ and Lena were “painted” with a rich green body moisturizer (the source of the sea kelp and aloe vera scent). After moving into the Hydrating Chamber where folks are encouraged to rub in the moisturizer under heat lamps, the couple quickly showered off the body masque before entering a cool mist chamber surrounding a sparkling underground waterfall for a cup of Glen Ivy tea and a crisp green apple. “It’s so beautiful and peaceful,” Lena proclaimed in awe, “we’re going to have to come back here again… and again.”

Lounge Pool

At end of the day the group reconvened in the lounge pool, to talk and drift about using the floats provided by the spa. The water is just 2 ft. deep, with temperatures that range from a refreshing 80º in the summer to an inviting 95º in the winter. The enchanting blue lagoon is surrounded by palm trees, shade umbrellas, and a delightful beverage bar.

It was not surprising to find that leaving this oasis of pure pleasure was difficult for our heroes who have pledged to return throughout the year whenever the stresses and strains of their careers demand more mud!

The amazing sword fights from Battles B.C. were choreographed and performed under the guidance of sword master Tim Weske (www.swordplay.com) and fight coordinator Brian Danner who has since formed his own company, Swordfights, Inc., (www.swordfightsinc.com) who recently filmed the History Channel’s Art of War with Battles B.C. director David Padrusch.

For more information:  marie.bargas@live.com, www.mariebargas.com