massage

Massage, a relaxing ritual for both you and baby, is said to improve your tot’s muscular coordination, circulation, and immune system, help you distinguish your baby’s cues, and aid in ailments like insomnia and teething.

Whether you’re a New Yorker or a tourist who’s checking out the Big Apple this weekend, make your way over to the new Limelight Marketplace: The next three Sundays, Om Aroma & Co., an organic spa and skincare line, is offering free (yes, free!) mini-facials or 10-minute massages with a $20 in-store purchase. What better way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon than with a mini spa session?

Perhaps the most impressive feature of the Spa at the newly renovated Surrey Hotel is the sheer intimacy that envelops you from the moment you step inside the spa, located on the hotel’s second floor. The entrance design has the familiar and welcoming feel of a friend’s (magnificently decorated) living room. The spa has just five spacious treatment rooms and each contains an armoire for storing personal belongings and a private shower, allowing you to avoid seeing other spa-goers in your robe and slippers.

Our favorite kind of trend is hitting airports around the world; the spa trend. More and more airports around the world are installing in-terminal spas, so when you land in London or touch-down in Tokyo you can unwind before you even pick up your checked baggage! Check out or directory of airport spas before you fly and keep in mind some of the best treatments for curing post-flight-stress.

Expecting moms are restricted when it comes to so many things that those not-with-child take for granted.  From giving up sushi and cocktails, there are some things that moms-to-be just have to forego, but spa days are definitely don’t have to be one of them. There are many treatments that are safe for pregnant women, […]

Father’s Day is right around the corner, which means that it’s time to plan the perfect gift to celebrate your dad! We’ve put together our short list of some great spas that are perfect destinations for you and your pops to have a fun and relaxing spa day. Whether it’s a leisurely lunch and massage at a location close to home, or a long weekend spa trip, we know that every dad needs a little rest and relaxation – and you can be the one to give it to him!

No plans for the holiday weekend? Two words: spa staycation. Grab your honey, your best friend, or go solo to a getaway spa that’s in short distance from home. Relax with a massage treatment or get reenergized on a scenic hike. Long weekends were made for spa. Find spas in your area and look for last-minute deals.

There’s no better gift than the gift of spa for Mother’s Day… except perhaps giving your mom a spa gift that includes you tagging along for some mother-daughter bonding and some indulgent relaxation for yourself! Now that’s what we call a present! We’ve come up with some tips for making the most of a mother-daughter day at the spa to ensure that your mom gets the most out of the experience and that your day of leisure shows her how much you appreciate her.

The name of this massage comes from the Japanese word Shi (“finger”) and refers to the fact that it relies on slow, steady pressure rather than flowing strokes. Besides the fingers, the therapist may use her palms, elbows, knees and feet. At many spas, shiatsu is done on a floor mat and you wear loose clothes. No oil is used. If you do undress, the therapist usually keeps a sheet between her hands and your body the entire time. Classical Japanese shiatsu actually has more in common with Western massage than traditional Oriental medicine as it works primarily on the muscles and connective tissues, not chi (energy) and meridians (energy pathways).

Question: My mind swirls with thoughts when I get on the massage table and it is hard to relax.  Any ideas? – SR Answer: Dear SR, You are not alone – it is very common for us to have our minds darting to and fro, buzzing with thoughts, when we first get to a spa […]

My spa day commenced with an Epsom salt foot soak and a glass of organic tea in the Kipahulu Relaxation Room. This area is also known as “Maui Under the Stars” because the ceiling looks like a nighttime sky lit by constellations (fiber optic twinkling lights). The initial salt soak helped me relax, from toe to head, as native Hawaiian music played in the background.

Last week my husband and I took a long-overdue little vacation. It was time to decompress, so we decided to go to the Banyan Tree Mayakoba in Riviera Maya, Mexico. I must confess that it’s hard not to go to a spa anytime, let alone when I’m on vacation, so I talked my husband into doing a couple’s treatment. We selected the Thai Classic massage. Our experience began in the tranquil spa reception area with a delicious drink of what I think was hibiscus (or some other flower) juice. Our therapists, Aida and Jaye, greeted us and then brought us to our spa villa. Since Banyan Tree is an Asian-owned company (this is its very first property in North America), all of the therapists come from Thailand

By Erika Allen Have you always wanted to be in the Guinness Book of World Records?  Have you ever dreamed of having a massage in an open lavender field in Australia’s spa Capital, Daylesford?  Both of those goals can be accomplished at the end of this month during Daylesford’s upcoming Massage en Masse, during which […]

Spas in the Windy City are gearing up for SpaFinder Deal Days next week. Starting March 8–14th, each spa will offer select treatments for $50. Deal Days spa treatments offered in these Chicago spas listed here will range from Acupuncture Sessions, Deep Pore Cleansing Facials, Laser Hair Removal, Mani/Pedis, Massages and more! Contact the spas […]

Already known for being a business-savvy city, home to international headquarters of The Coca-Cola Company, AT&T Mobility, and Delta Air Lines, Atlanta is also becoming a hotspot for the spa industry. Schedule a treatment at one of the spas gearing up for SpaFinder’s nationwide Deal Days event, March 8-14, and discover a soothing retreat from the vibrant cosmopolitan city. Indulge in pampering spa services—mani/pedis, facials, massage, and more—for just $50!

When my assistant, Dulcy, and I went to Istanbul several months ago to check out places we might want to include for delegates who will be attending the Global Spa Summit, we decided to try out one of their famous and authentic hamams (hammams in Arabic). Dulcy wrote a great blog about it that was […]

My trip to Istanbul last September was whirlwind. Two and a half days, myriad hotel tours, and one trip to the hammam. What exactly is a hammam you ask? Think part serenity… part surprise… and brand new skin!

I just love it when a spa trend we predict (especially one that some people think is “out of the blue”) begins getting buzz. So how fitting that a week ago we predicted the 2010 spa trend “Year of the Hammam” and in today’s USA Today they talk about the new Silversea Cruise ship with […]

I recently had a massage at a luxury hotel spa and knew beforehand that a 20% gratuity would be added to the bill. When settling my bill, I was asked if I would like to adjust the gratuity percentage. I felt that the 20% was a good tip and left it, however, I got the impression that they were disappointed that I didn’t increase the amount. Do high-end, luxury spas expect more than 20% tip?

I booked two treatments, at FineLiving New York Ayurveda in New York City, (earning me 180 SpaFinder Rewards Points just for booking online!). The first treatment was a type of Ayurvedic massage called Abhayanga (ah-bh-yan-ga) and a traditional (but oh-so-strange-to-me) treatment called Shirodhara (shear-a-dara), an herbal hair and scalp treatment where a warm stream of oil is poured gently on the forehead, to create a state of meditation.