At White Tea Spa it was easy for me to get caught up in a sense of entitlement to the finer things in life. The name is exotic and the space is a beautiful loft on W.14th St. that breathes the air of European elegance. This spa is one of the city’s unexpected getaway spots, on the ranks of the nearest Starbucks, for those with a refined taste.

I had an afternoon appointment for a White Tea Sugar Scrub. My mouth salivates at how delicious the scrub sounds. As I waited to meet Sandra, co-owner of the spa and my therapist for the day, I found out that there actually aren’t many unappealing treatments on the spa menu – each one had a tea-licious name that pumped my imagination. Talk about an imaginary tea party.

The spa is modern-day elegance. In the grand scheme of things the flatscreen television caught in the array of essential oils and candles is not out of place at all, nor are the eye-catching portraits of feminine beauty. No, those touches really added to the experience of sitting down to have a cup of tea.

Sandra is absolutely endearing. She has a warm enthusiasm and smile. After giving me a short tour of the spa, she left me to get ready in what felt like my own personal treatment area with a chance to freshen up, change, and comfy up in one confined area. Sandra came back and we went into the room. In my case, time went too quickly. I must have been in the mood to chat because I couldn’t resist conversation with Sandra throughout the scrub. Before I knew it it was over and what I was left with was a long lasting impressing – Sandra had chosen the White Tea Sugar Scrub for me knowing I would carry the sweet aroma on my skin for hours after the treatment. What a treat.

All the treatments use formulas containing white tea for its anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties that FYI is more than you’ll get from green tea. With cuteness and style, this spa combines some nature with a lot of nurture.

White Tea Spa

104 W 14TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10011

212-647-8919

Not too sure what I was looking for, but open to the possibilities, I paid a visit to Park Avenue Nutrition and Spa. I’m a tireless seeker of health and happiness. Although I won’t turn down a vitamin rich massage, it was time for me to face reality. I knew it was time to meet face to face with a nutritionist

My visit to Park Avenue Nutrition and Spa came in two exciting parts. First, nutritionist Lisa Cohn, sat down with me to explore my diet and any grievances. After taking a good look, it was clear I needed more than a bit of help from the inside out. I gladly committed to a personal plan, which Lisa stepped in to devise. She had given me more to go on that I could have hoped for.

While that was that for my long-term commitment, how about some fast acting relief here and now? Lisa introduced me to reflexologist Kay. It was my first time giving reflexology a try. I didn’t know much about it except it was a practice as old as the stars and moon. Well, figuratively. As I soon find out, reflexology is a practice that is best explained hands-on, and it was a very enjoyable lesson.

Not the typical foot massage. I was laid out on the bed with only my feet bare, oddly feeling more self-conscious than normal.  Maybe first thing’s first, and that’s to take away that nervousness. Kay in as few words as possible explained to me the different pressure points in the feet that would help release the tension I had stored up in my mind. That was all the explanation that was needed. My response was automatic when Kay began applying pressure to my feet. For a half an hour I was so far from daily stresses, external and internal. I felt a head rush when it was over, a sign to me that my body quite enjoyed the experience.

In sum, I’d say Park Avenue Nutrition and Spa is a place to care for your body and living style. Before I left, Lisa handed me her recent article on the health benefits of chocolate (recently published on MSNBC.com), along with what other than a piece of organic chocolate. I thank Lisa for this guilty indulgence turned healthy indulgence.

Park Avenue Nutrition and Spa

1108 Park Avenue (89th - 90th Street) New York, NY 10028

212-831-7900

I couldn’t wait until mid-week to make my appointment at Day Spa Gata. It was a Monday morning, the start of another work week. I could hardly conceal the dark circles around my eyes with the miracle of make-up. The humidity in the air was stifling and by 11a.m. my skin was disgusting to the touch, my hair was in dishevel; I was feeling utterly, utterly run down.

By noon I had booked it to Day Spa Gata located at the Park Green Medical suites townhouse on the Upperwest Side. This holistic skincare spa is cozy - small but makes for lack of space with abundance of treatments. You don’t have to look far for testament to this. The hallway is lined with technology that although is unnerving to see, is thankfully kept out of the sanctuary of a treatment room until necessary.

After a short wait I was greeted by my cosmologist Lara. I was getting a deep cleansing facial. The facial is perfect a Monday midday - no extractions and smooth jazz – essentially a painless facial that didn’t remove me so far from reality I couldn’t get back to work.

Lara applied a base for the high frequency. Surprisingly I only felt the slightest shocks, nothing like what I was dreadful of. She applied a refreshing lavender glue mask after that then left the room for who knows how long. I could still hear noises from the narrow hallway aside but I don’t recall ever feeling that deep a relaxation. In retrospect I imagine it has something to do with my absolute favorite part of the facial, which was the massage. Lara had given me a massage that could put armies to sleep. Her strokes were small and firm and holy cow did they lift the muscles in my forehead, eyebrows, and temples.

When Lara came back into the room, I knew my time had come. Minutes after she removed my mask, left the room for me to change, I mustered up the strength to get ready, I snuck a peak at myself in the mirrors that lined the wall. My lifeless face was raised from the dead without any embarrassing redness to my T-Zone. The treatment was a pleasure.

Day Spa Gata offers discounts that you can inquire about at (212)-362-6263 or their website at DaySpag.com. The spa is located at 107 West 82nd St., Suite 105 New York, NY 10024.

Jackson Heights is a destination for exotic beauty. Going to the Allediana Skin Care Center marked my first visit to this neck of the woods. Out and about in this neighborhood, I became a wide-eyed foreigner, relishing the outflow of Latin music from thriving mom and pop stores that lined each street.

Everywhere I turned there was a beauty salon. I looked around, and then down at the address I held in my hand. None of the storefronts caught my eye until I arrived in front of Serenity Beauty Salon. The address checked out, the name didn’t – I had not expected that. I walked inside to ask a stylist at work if unknowingly I was indeed at Allediana’s Skin Care Center, or if not, where I would find it. He directed me pass an assemblage of multi-cultured clutter, behind which I found a staircase. I thanked him and followed a cascading decorative rug down the stairs.

At the bottom of the steps I was greeted by Iana of Allediana’s. She’s a woman with an envious figure and full golden hair. Her voice is highlighted by a gentle-flowing Eastern European accent. Iana invited me to sit and chat with her. I glanced around, noting the compact space. I wondered why I had all this time kept the basement of my house a storage area when behind the doors here were havens from the outside insanity. I told her I was made aware of her spa by word of mouth, laughing when I told her my friend received his first facial from her.

For a moment, I was disappointed there weren’t many luxuries offered at this spa, given the more upscale spas I have been to. Then it occurred to me how ridiculous that was because without denial I’m a laid back kind of person who lives to dress down as soon as her foot steps through the door. The spa was offering a touch of home and a cove-like calm.

The main treatment room has large two beds, perfect as a couple’s room. The mirror that adorned the wall reflected ambience from candlelight. I laid down on one of the beds, relaxing the muscles in my face. Soft Jazz was diffusing in the room when at some point Iana massaged the kinks out of my neck and shoulders. She applied cleansers on my face, explaining to me upon my request what she was doing as she went along. The application process went by quickly. Before I knew it my mask was on. That’s when time began to slow down. When Iana left the room for my mask dries, I began slipping into a light sleep. Going in for a European facial ended up feeling like 2 hours of rest.

There will be more to offer from Allediana’s. I write this wondering what’s becoming of the body treatment plans she had spoke to me about. When we last spoke she was soon-to-be on her way to sunny Florida for that very reason, while I was looking an escape in New York.

Allediana Skin Care is at 79-15 37th Ave, Jackson Heights NY 11372. (718) 651-0805.

Summer is here, but anytime is a great time to enjoy the pampering given to you at Supple Spa. I arrived at Supple Spa, and there was a sign outside saying how it is the most romantic spa featured on MTV. I chose to judge for myself, as I brought along my partner in crime (my girlfriend), to fully experience their most coveted treatment: The Royal Bath. The Royal Bath ($150 for one $300 for a couple), is prized for being romantic and private, so that you and a significant other can truly enjoy each other as you are treated to a unique experience. The thought of the Royal Bath, was conceived by co-owner Jason Wong nearly three years ago. He truly wishes to bring happiness to people, as well as results (skin wise and romantically) to perpetuate his ever growing love for his spa business.

The lobby of the day spa, had something I have never seen before. I have not seen another spa with it, yet it seemed so simple. They had massage chairs for their customers as the waited for their treatment. These chairs did not just buzz on certain body parts (like some other massage chairs), it kneaded, rubbed, and soothed the body feeling like human hands are touching you. After getting a kick out of the fairly clever machines, my girlfriend and I started phase one of Operation Royal Bath.

We stripped down to a pair of disposable underpants given to us by the spa, and laid down on the massage tables next to each other. The room was lit by a deep amber color as well as all of their other rooms to set the mood. The massage tables were draped in rose petals, and the gauzy curtain separated both tables, still allowing eye contact. The women that massaged us, were the most professional I have seen in all my experience. They made the moment comfortable, instead of awkwardly not speaking for an hour. They were personable, and definitely helpful. We both agreed that they did not go through the motions, they tried to get rid of problem areas. As far as staff are concerned, they are one of the best you will experience.

Phase two consisted of a body scrub containing Dead Sea salt. It removed dry skin and overall made us very smooth. After being rubbed down to get the salt off of us, we headed into the most important part of our spa adventure.

Phase 3 was the Rose Petal bath. The two masseuses took us into the room and helped us in (because we were pretty slippery). The room was dimly lit, and the décor was nothing short of romantic. There was a rose and candles near us, as well as roses in the bath itself. The masseuses washed the salt off of us in the tub, and continued to massage us. The staff got us glasses of wine, and left us alone for a bit. We looked into each other’s eyes, and felt truly happy.

After all was said and done, we did not want to leave. The staff was completely generous, and the owner was as respectful as can be. I received a price list for everything that the offer, and they are also the most reasonably priced spa in the city. A 60 minute massage is only 65 dollars and a 60 minute facial is also 65 dollars. A special added perk was something I received from the owner after my treatment. He gave us a card with “flower seeds of love” to plant together. He said that our love would blossom, along with our plants. It is definitely a very unique gift and made our trip even more romantic I guess not everything on MTV is fake.

Supple Spa
55 West 19th Street 2 fl. NYC, 10011
212-929-5948
SuppleSpa.com

I recently moved to New York from the City of Brotherly Love (a.k.a. Philly) and it’s true what they say—New Yorkers are as fast-paced as they get! But that also means they need to have a place to relax their bodies and minds from their long days at the office or wherever they call their second home. In Philly I would go to the spa as a special treat but since I’ve been here I feel as though it’s become more of a necessity. I am always on the go, whether it’s running down the subway stairs while trying not to trip, holding my work bag, my gym bag and my extra-large double-shot skim latte, or going to meet a potential source for an article at an 8:30am breakfast. Time doesn’t stop here but you definitely should every once in a while to get back to your center and find your chi—or to just not look so sleep deprived! There’s nothing better than getting a relaxing massage or covering up those roots that you swear you didn’t have last year. So, that’s just what I decided to do and I picked the most fabulous place to get it done!

Le Salon Chinois on 44 West 55th St. screams style from the moment you set your foot in the door. The entrance is a little hidden so I walked past it at first—you have to ring the bell to get buzzed up. It looks like an apartment building from the entryway but once you get off the elevator it’s like you’ve stepped into a world where only pretty things happen. The elevator smells like a salon—but like lavender beauty products and fresh haircuts, as opposed to your grandmother’s perm. The receptionist greeted me with a smile and the colorist’s assistant took my coat for me and offered me a selection of tea, coffee and cake before I even sat down to fill out the new client form. So far, so good! The assistant showed me to one of their changing rooms, equipped with body powder, lotion, towels and frocks (if I wasn’t feeling fresh, I was about to get there). I changed and was led to my colorist, Jose. His station was toward the back of the salon surrounded by a plethora of bamboo plants and his assistant was there making sure my hair wasn’t tangled, I had everything I needed and seemed eager to help Jose.

I must admit, I haven’t strayed from my regular hairstylist for quite some time (I have some explaining to do when I go back) so she’s used to my methods of description. For example, when Jose asked me what color I wanted to dye my hair I think I responded with something like “I want it dark brown but not too brown. And there can’t be any red in it at all because I hate red.” OK, check with the no red but what was I talking about when it came to the shade of brown I wanted?  My hair and I have a history of coloring and up until my last salon appointment, I was a over-highlighted blonde (which I really liked at one point but now that I’m in NY I feel like I need to ditch my hippie ways and get down to business a little more with a serious hair color—and, let’s be real here people—brunettes are hot!) When I finally took the plunge and decided to go back to “mah roots” the dye job came out with these red highlights that I despised. There’s just something about red hair that I hate atop my head. I couldn’t tell my hair stylist I wasn’t really feeling it because, well, she’s like my friend since I have been going to her for so long and I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. Besides, I knew it was just the blonde trying to come through and hold on for dear life. So, Jose came out with about four magazines and showed me some examples of brunettes…I finally went with a Sandra Bullock shade of brunette, which I later admitted to him that I wasn’t sure if I chose it because I thought the color would look good on me or because I thought it looked good on her. Either way, I figured why not?! Worse case scenario, I have to re-dye my hair. Besides, this was all in the name of destroying those pesky grays that have somehow prematurely made their way onto my scalp!

While Jose was mixing my color I witnessed a girl with the most beautiful hair I had ever seen. Her stylist was doing Japanese straightening and wow did it look awesome. Her hair looked like it should be on a Pantene Pro V commercial—you know the ones where the women have that long, lustrous hair that seems to be magically illuminated from behind and always blowing in the wind. I think that might be something my curly top might invest in next visit. While I daydreamed about the day I don’t have to blow out my hair for an hour at a time, Jose did his thing and we chatted away about life and his career as a hair stylist.

The dye was cool but luckily I had a nice warm cup of tea to keep me cozy while my timer was clicking away. There was also a good selection of magazines to read, something I find to be key while waiting for the dye to set! But when the buzzer went off I got excited for my favorite part of a trip to the salon—the wash. There’s just something about when someone else washes your hair for you. When do you give yourself a really good scalp massage? That’s right, you don’t. But at Chinois they go the extra mile to make sure your shampooing experience is spectacular! They even have neck rests on their sinks so your neck never starts to shake from trying to hold your head up while they are rinsing the bottom of your hair. I don’t know if the assistant had a crush on me or I just want to flatter myself, but he massaged my head for at least five or ten minutes. It was miraculous!

Now that my time with Jose was over, it was time to get the locks chopped. Like I said, it had been a while since scissors had graced these split ends so I was a little nervous to sit in the hot seat (a.k.a., the stylist’s chair). Ilda was a friendly young woman who asked me what I wanted done. I wanted to say, “Chop it!” but I’m really not that exciting when it comes to haircuts. I did ask her how much my split ends suggested we take off. She knew right off the bat I was a fan of the straightening iron and I hadn’t realized how damaged my hair had gotten over the past five months that I apparently had been torturing it. It also doesn’t help that while I will pay top dollar to get my hair done, I never seem to make the splurge on quality shampoo and conditioners. She suggested I start immediately! Apparently, it really does make a difference. I guess she should know—she is a professional and her hair was amazing! She was even wearing it up and I could tell that it was close to perfect.

I decided to succumb to her expertise and the only guidance I gave her was to not cut my layers too short in the back. Curly hair likes to poof so if my back layers are too short they don’t want to be tamed! I also said I’d like to try bangs, but again the curls sort of prevent that from happening. The closest I can get is really long bangs that I can wear sort of side-swept. They look good when my hair is in a ponytail or down but they are never too short that I can’t pull them back in a snap. Ilda was pretty much great! She took off about three and a half inches and trimmed a little at a time at my bangs so as to not chop them too short. She was very attentive to what I wanted but also wasn’t afraid to tell me her opinion. She also mentioned a few times that my hair was pretty dry and I would need at least one or two more cuts before it would look totally healthy again. Well, I might just have to go back to see about that! She did straighten my hair for me (she sprayed a heat-protecting spray on it before anything hot got near my head, though)—I had a very special date that night and I wanted to look perfect! Let’s just say that I think it was an overall success because the compliments kept rolling in!

So, if you’re looking for friendly service, a luxurious atmosphere (including yummy cake and hot drinks!), and to walk out the door with your head high then you might want to think about calling and scheduling an appointment at Le Salon Chinois. Don’t forget to check out their killer spa on the fifth floor, too!

Le Salon Chinois
44 West 55th Street
4th Floor
New York, New York 10019
212-956-1200
lesalonchinois.com

Are you feeling a bit like a Greek mythological goddess ….rolling a beauty bolder up the steep hill of city life? What can you honor about yourself today that will massage your mind, body and spirit back to the top of the hill with renewed vim and vigor? Vavoom! How about a new blissful perspective? As your Bodhi-spah-tvah croons, “We are all little gems in the mosaic of life”, so it is my duty to try and guide all sentient spa spirits, to inner and outer beauty, and that includes you. So here it goes…. A bolder, when sifted down becomes tiny grains of sand and salt particles, little crystal gems that can buff and polish to your advantage. And  you can find them a Bliss.  So keep it simple, and go with the flow to the sea of Bliss on 57th.

Just float on up to the third floor and into the Bliss boutique for a good look before plunging. An array of catchy slogans and names will amuse you into reading past the label. Drop a “La Mer” body cream into your sand bucket, or find “Youth as we know it…. a Love Handler…..or Fat Girl Slim…and a ..Thinny Thin Chin. Order your free Spring into Action catalogue right now by making a beauty call to 888 243 8825 . Solve all your gift dilemmas in an eye lash flutter when you purchase Blisscertificates for all the June brides you know…. and send them one on each anniversary.  You will be fondly remembered long after the bliss babies have grown.

Now its time for you to surrender your bodacious self to the care of one of those loyal Bliss technicians like Charmaine, an 8 year veteran who knows that the secret to a youthful dermis, is exfoliation. Come along now ..don’t resist…a Hot Salt Scrub for you. It’s just a bit of salt ‘n bliss….You can take it. And NO! Don’t eat the cheese and cookies in the resting room–it’s like serving candy in a dentist office!!!  Please don’t make me stop you– go ahead and eat the cheese, then go back out and get the product to remedy it…and on return book yourself a Quadruple Thighpass, a lymph clearing treatment. Whew….that’s real subliminal on- the-spot sales and marketing.

The slick, floor to ceiling, aqua tiled body treatment room, and gigantic silver sprayers above, were a bit intimidating to a vulnerable declothed mermaid. It looked to me like a high tech operating room somewhere on Marina Del Ray.  Even with Nora Jones crooning  “Come away with me” I layed right down on this liquid silver tinfoil blanket, and tried not to imagine that I was an in demand, Chilean Sea Bass prior to roasting….Oh, just a bit of butter first? Charmaine covers me with a cream foundation, then without warning splays a salt, herb and oil solution along my thigh. Ouch, careful there…. it’s tender enough. This is not what you would call a relaxing treatment, but in the end, I can assure that you will thank “no nonsense Charmaine”, for her thorough and abrasive, salt approach.  In preparation for an early spring that’s just around the corner, she sloughed away layers of those old cells, buffing and polishing the top into rejuvenation. Emollient lavender, rosemary and cleansing eucalyptus filled the air and soothed me into deep breathing.  These healing herbs seep deep and sleep beneath the top layers, and will discard any dry, scaly imperfections weighing upon mermaids or land creatures. This is a perfect recommendation for Lynnea and Carole, head mermaids from the Deeper Dialogue group….come on in Goddess’s the water is fine!  A quick warm water rinse and I return to the table where a minced cucumber eye rest works on my lids. Just in time for a brushing of lemon sage cream, to finish the dish, mmmm… perfect on any menu.

Another favorite, on the long list of spah-aholic services is the Ginger Rub. This is a combination treatment of fresh ginger root with warm detoxifying oils and a foil wrap, followed by a 20 minute soak and 100 minutes of massage. When the newlyweds have their first argument, just remind him where the bliss comes from. From deep within, of course.  Then have a Bliss bouquet of spa goods delivered for a backup to outer beauty.  Cheerful Abby, the night closer, slipped me down a cloud infused hallway for a peek into the aqua colored facial room and equipped me with a Bliss bag of my own goodies on the way out.

What would Pablo Neruda say with his poetic gaze, following a latent and lingering hand motion trickling along the mermaids curves, ” An ode to you, beautiful nude, ….with my chaste heart, with pure eyes, I celebrate your blissful beauty “.

You heard the poet …celebrate your BLISS.!! And for the fun of it, take him with you, so both of you can reap the benefits! There are plenty of masculine (Manly-Cures) and feminine tenderizing techniques to be had here, there and in most top cities. Don’t you be bashful, cause Bliss is not, and is pairing with progressive and beckoning W Hotels nationwide, to bring high tech spa services to loungers and urbanistas on the go.

BLISS 12 West 57th, 3rd Floor
Between 5th and 6th
Bliss Booking: 877 TO BLISS
blissworld.com

I was about to have my first facial ever and I was a bit nervous. Thoughts of poking and prodding plagued me on my walk to the spa. Upon arrival at Allure Day Spa and Hair Design, I descend down a few flights of stairs to a quiet and serene salon and am greeted by the staff. My fears of clogged pores are eased by my esthetician, Ela who explains the exact process before we begin. I am brought to a low-lighted room with soft music playing. After I lie down wrapped in a towel, she takes a warm washcloth and washes my face with herbal cleanser, to prep the skin. As she cleanses, I am told that the spa offers a spectrum of facials and body treatments, and that each facial is custom tailored to the guest. What your skin needs, your skin gets. And my skin had an abundance of clogged pores!

I am soothed into a relaxed state as warm steam is methodically streamed over my face bringing impurities to the surface. Ela literally spends the next 35 minutes meticulously unclogging my pores. I was told that it was obvious I had not had a facial before—oops! Even with all of detoxification going on, I felt at ease. Whatever magical techniques and tools were used, were done so without pain. I was advised that with the workout my face was receiving, I might see some irritation afterwards, but that the benefits would outweigh this. After every inch of skin has been purified, I am slathered with a grape seed mask and left to bask in moisture until it was time to remove it. A light toner is applied and I’m ready to be on my way. All in all, the process took a little over an hour, but did feel like I had at least left the city for a long weekend.

As warned, après the spa my skin felt tight, like it was sunburned. A few days later it peeled a bit as I had been told it would. But my pores had shrunk and my skin did feel cleaner than ever. Ela recommended to me that follow-up facials once a month and daily upkeep with special treatments, would keep things on track. Allure Day Spa holds their own line of spa products, including a natural toner with fruit and tea tree oil, a camphor mask, and herbal cleanser that rivals all face washes. My face hasn’t felt this soft since I was a child.

Aside from their expertise in facials, Allure is a full-service spa. The main room has the atmosphere of a hair salon, but with small rooms pocketed away from the center area, each contain their own special service. From body treatments and waxing, to manicures and pedicures, the rooms are little havens. Allure’s other specialty is body massage. My next visit just might be to experience one of the Swedish, aromatherapy, reflexology or hot stone massages. I’ll save that story for another time.

This spa prides itself on catering to the individual. Many clients request special events for their spa experience such as for bridal parties, family spa getaways, or other occasions. The Spa is happy to oblige by transforming the spa into the environment envisioned.

You can find out more at www.alluredayspa.com or by calling 212-644-5500