Metamorphosis: A real New York
experience from a native
Special to Spa Index Media by Teri
Goldberg, Freelance Writer, New York City, NY
Let me say upfront: I’m not a spa aficionado — this was my
fourth treatment at a day spa — and I am a very tough customer.
I visited Metamorphosis Day Spa in New York City in November 2004
for a massage and facial.
Most importantly, about the
treatments— the massage with Julia was the best I’ve had yet. The
facial was good, but not great.
Now, the details. The
spa is located in a posh part of Manhattan on 56 Street, between Park and
Madison. Fauchon is half a block away, so for those who really want to a
treat themselves afterwards, you can head over to the severely
over-priced sweet shop, which I hear is actually not up to par with the
shops in France.
Entering the spa is a bit
confusing. The address is 127 56 Street. Like many spots in
New York City, there is a store front with the same address. The entrance
to Metamorphosis is to the left of the store front, and it’s on the fifth
floor. You have to be buzzed in.
The spa itself is also
typical of prime New York City real estate—a small, long rectangular
space with little natural light. I prefer the more open airy atmosphere
of spas in Brooklyn and California, but most city dwellers will probably
not even notice the smallness of the space.
Service at the front desk
was a little confused and harried. No one seemed to take the lead
as to what I should do once I arrived. After I sat on a bench in
the main area, someone eventually escorted me to a waiting area. The
waiting area was small, but comfortable — complete with jelly beans,
chocolate kisses, Swiss Miss cocoa and lemon water, for those who were
interested.
After filling out a short
history form, I was taken to a treatment room by Vera, the aesthetician,
for my facial. There are no lockers to store clothes, so I just put my
clothes to the side, and later Vera put them in a Terry cloth bag which
was used to transport them with me.
The music in the background
was acoustic guitar. The tape did stop a few times and I was able to hear
the traffic and sirens outside.
Vera, a very pleasant woman,
did a fine job. Still, I prefer a more “organic” approach rather than her
clinical one. First, she applied a cleanser, then toner, and then a
pumpkin exfoliant. “Special for Thanksgiving,” said Vera, originally from
Bulgaria. She massaged my face. She also massaged my arms and hands for a
bit and then applied some cream and put my hands in plastic gloves, which
fit into larger sturdier plastic gloves. This "Clean as a Whistle"
facial costs $80.
After the facial/arms/hands massage, Vera
hydrated my skin with a bio peptide cream and applied a mask. She left
the room for about ten minutes, and returned to remove the mask. I
was ready for the next treatment.
Now about that massage …
Wow! I can’t tell you exactly what Julia, my massage therapist did, but
whatever it was, she did it right! She started with my back -- which is
where I said carry most of the stress -- and gave it all the attention it
needed, and then went for the extremities, rather than the other way
around. She used “deep tissue” massage -– very popular among stressed-out
New Yorkers — and Swedish massage techniques. She also used a gel rather
than oil, which leaves your skin less “sticky” afterwards. A
one-hour massage costs $85.
Would I go back? In a New
York minute. But, I’d ask for Julia and just have the massage.
--- Teri Goldberg, November
11, 2004
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