It was bound to happen: New York eateries gained notoriety for offering you gimmicky dishes, while the city’s hotel chains placed emphasis on themed events. So, you knew creativity would eventually make its way to the wellness community.
A Time Out writer and devoted health enthusiast tried a number of New York’s oddest-sounding wellness treatments.
Remedy Place
Their first stop was the Flatiron District’s Remedy Place, which focuses as much on the interactions of its guests as on the treatments it provides. They had little time to interact because they spent too much time recovering from the ice bath.
This experience started with more than 10 minutes of guided breathing exercises followed by six minutes submerged in a tub of 39-degree water.
Many people swear by this activity. However, they did not.
The initial calmness was quickly countered by a searing numbness in their rear end the second it hit the water. They yearned to scream but managed to let out a few groans, all the while shivering.
The supposed human interaction proved less satisfying than the polar plunge. Their partner was a robotic man more concerned with his weekend and vacation plans than the experience or surrounding environment.
The whole adventure felt more like a gut punch. They lasted a mere half-minute of the intended six.
AIRE
The next destination was AIRE, one of the most popular destinations of the spa realm. The location opened its doors in 2012 and seems to be broadening its horizons.
Though the place attempts to spin a modern take on ancient bathhouses, it is really a collection of pools ranging in water temperatures and intended to heal damaged or tired skin.
A signature offering is a wine soak. That said, the Spanish spirit’s alcohol content is removed, so even if you sneak in a few sips, forget about getting buzzed, much less drunk.
However, the establishment does atone for this fact by offering indulgers a bottle of red wine, cheeses, and grapes.
For the price tag of $650 for three hours, you also receive a cranial massage, a nearly one-hour long full body massage, and a tour of the thermal baths. They did enjoy the soak and experienced a certain degree of relaxation. However, in their opinion, the price tag was a bit too steep.
The Exhale Spa at the Virgin Hotel
The last excursion on this journey was midtown’s somewhat new Virgin Hotel, which houses the Exhale Spa.
Of all the venues they visited, this destination stood out as the one most closely resembling a traditional spa atmosphere.
Though their experience at Exhale might have been the strangest, it also served as the most rewarding and one they would certainly revisit.
They signed up for the salt lounge journey. This took place inside a small but quiet room equipped with zero-gravity chairs. The 30-minute escape focused on the healing powers of salt. They were asked to don giant compression boots and an LED face mask.
Though nervous at first, they quickly slipped into a deep sleep, during which the boots gently squeezed their legs, and the face mask’s goggles vibrated, providing a pulsating temple massage.
To Sum Up
While certain treatments proved better than others, one thing resonated: none of the experiences involved any type of invasive technology. There were no mobile phones or laptops in sight, which enabled them to take in the experience without disruption. At the end of the day, that did induce a certain level of calmness.
