According to ISPA, the 17,000 spas scattered now throughout the U.S. are grossing $10 billion a year. Ancient Asian religious practices are in high demand at luxury resorts and spas where guests indulge in daily doses of yoga, meditation and aromatherapy. Buddha statues, lucky bamboo bouquets, minimal melodies and herbal teas that appeal to the senses create the desired ambience.

These age-old notions are packaged as "wellness" in the Western world, while any possible spiritual benefits often happen without us even knowing it, creating a renewed serenity and balance. Going beyond these traditional inspirations, some wellness resorts and spas are even adopting the rituals of Native American and Mesoamerican cultures, with shamanistic sweat lodges, crystal healing and sage burning.

To attract consumers, the more spiritual amenities on offer the better. For example, Tacoma's Hotel Murano provides an entire Spiritual Menu, which indulges guests with their choice of copies of the Bhagavad Gita, the Torah or the Qur'an, among others, as alternatives to the Bible.

By: Beth Preddy, KWE group