Vida Spa & Wellness: A Mother–Daughter Gem Rooted in Healing, Community & Dana Point
When you step into Vida Spa & Wellness in Dana Point, the space just feels different—calmer, warmer, and more intentional. That feeling comes straight from the women behind the business: Julia, and her mother Rosana, a mother–daughter team whose story is as grounded and heartfelt as the treatments they offer.
From Brazil to Southern California—A Journey Built on Healing
Years ago, Rosana was working as a physical therapist in Brazil, raising her young daughter and dreaming of a life in the United States. When Julia turned 14, they made the leap. Once settled in California, Rosana naturally gravitated toward what she’d always loved—helping people heal. She moved into body therapies and massage, and just three years later, she felt ready to open the boutique spa she had always envisioned.
From the very beginning, the mission was clear: Wellness, massage, and giving back in a meaningful way.
Vida Spa donates a percentage of their proceeds to nonprofit organizations in the Amazon—groups that not only work to prevent deforestation, but also help single mothers and artisans build sustainable income to support their families.
A Family Business with Heart
Julia had been helping her mom around the spa, but somewhere along the way, she realized she wasn’t just helping, she was in love with the work. The hands-on healing, the community connection, the impact… it all clicked.
For 18 years, Vida Spa thrived along Main Street in the quaint community of Seal Beach. Two years ago their second location opened in Dana Point. (They celebrated their two-year anniversary in September!) Julia, who once lived in Beacon Hill, and still lives locally, had always envisioned planting business roots here. The space that eventually became Vida Spa—formerly Modern Acupuncture, tucked next to CVS in a bustling center with Ralph’s, Trader Joe’s, and Wee Loft—had always been part of her local routine. When a unit opened, everything aligned. Shea Properties helped them move in quickly, and since then, the Dana Point community has welcomed them.
Julia’s Wellness Philosophy: Herbalism Meets Modern Spa Rituals
Beyond running the spa with her mom, Julia studied nutrition and specialized in Ayurvedic medicine, where she discovered a love for herbalism. She currently has a line of teas and thought about doing something similar, but realized not everyone is a tea person. That passion eventually led to her beautifully crafted line of seventeen VTL Elixirs, made to help people slow down and care for their bodies intentionally. Each has its own thoughtful blend and purpose – calm, digestion, immunity, energy, libido, and more. Tinctures, long used in herbal medicine, offered a more versatile, approachable experience.
Julia’s tinctures are:
Made without grain alcohol
Safe for kids and those avoiding alcohol
Sublingual or mixable
Crafted in small batches in a licensed kitchen
Filled with pure, organic adaptogenic herbs
Instead of stopping at sublingual use, she incorporates the elixirs directly into Vida’s treatment rituals as well for a more well-rounded approach. The VTL Collagen Glow Facial Massages includes an elixir dose pre-treatment and the VTL Digest Massage includes drops applied directly onto the stomach during your massage, for example. You can find all of their VTL Elixir custom treatments here.
In addition, you can buy her Elixirs directly at the spa or online here. Julia encourages you to take them before meals, when feeling anxious, or stir them into water, tea, smoothies, mocktails… even cocktails.
Elixirs With a Social Life
Speaking of cocktails, Julia’s elixirs have already made their way into some surprising (and fun) places.
Thanks to her husband, who works in the wine and spirits world, Vida partnered with Lido House to create cocktails using four of her blends. A few favorites:
The Matcha Martini with the Rise elixir
Lido Libido, featuring (you guessed it) Libido
The Bullet Proof Shield with Shield elixir and bulletproof bourbon
For anyone trying to be more mindful while still enjoying a drink, it’s the perfect blend of wellness and indulging with intention. The elixirs are also featured at The Parker Palm Springs, thanks to their spa director who previously worked at Surf & Sand in Laguna and knew the quality of Julia’s work. And this is just the beginning. She’s looking to gradually collaborate with local partners and potentially some Dana Point favorites such as Thrive Juice Bar and Organic Tree.
Memberships, Events & the New Elixir Subscription
Vida Spa has a member-first philosophy. Their four membership tiers each offer member pricing on services, with straightforward rules that avoid the headaches many spa memberships create. Julia hopes to layer in more member-exclusive events, collaborations, and wellness experiences so that membership feels like belonging to a community, not just a program. (Please note, Vida also offers pay-as-you-go, non-membership prices as well, for those looking to use their services more periodically).
Vida also offers monthly specials and packages, and coming soon:
Vida’s Elixir Subscription
Think of it like a wine club—but for wellness. Each month, subscribers can pick up their elixir and enjoy new collaborations or partnerships as the club grows. Julia’s even exploring joining forces with local businesses that offer subscription boxes, so her elixirs can reach new audiences in natural, community-centered ways.
A Wellness Home for Dana Point
Vida Spa has quickly become a local refuge: warm, intentional, and grounded in the idea that care should feel personal. Whether you’re in for a facial, a Digest Massage, or to explore Julia’s herbal elixirs, the experience is calm, thoughtful, and rooted in connection. And that’s what Vida brings to Dana Point—a little sanctuary built by a mother, a daughter, and a community that continues to grow around them.
