Rejuvenating at Deva Spa

I never used to care for massages. Crazy, I know. I mean, I liked them, but like a typical New Yorker, relaxing is not easy for me to do. Recently though, I noticed I’ve been carrying a lot of my stress in my upper back. I don’t know if it’s something I just always ignored, but it’s been more apparent since I had a wee bit of a run in with a car a couple years ago (as in, the car ran into me).

Last Friday, I had a pain in the right side of my back/shoulder area that I couldn’t tell was from sleeping wrong or from all the work I’ve recently taken on. Whatever the case was, I knew I needed a massage. Badly. And I really didn’t want to shell out the money only to be disappointed, so I turned to the lady who knows best on everything spa: Michelle Joni Lapidos of SpaWeek.

I had asked her about her personal spa recommendations a couple years ago actually and starred that email. One of her picks was Deva Spa in Soho. I booked myself for their earliest appointment (thankfully, I got one for the next day at 3pm).

Deva Spa is actually an extension of curly hair salon, Devachan. Located one floor below the surface of the salon, you enter a completely serene escape right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Soho. I checked in and was immediately taken to the ladies area where I had my pick of my own locker that already had my white spa robe and slippers waiting for me. Afterwards, I waited in a private lounge area where all the spa goers can relax, drink tea and grapes, before their massage therapist greets them.

I was met with Nassima. She asked me what I wanted her to focus on and if I wanted aromatherapy with my oils (yes. I picked honey/ginger but quickly asked her to change it to a more relaxing lavender). In NY, it’s so easy to be left with a dingy semi-private room (and when I say semi-, I mean, there is only a curtain between you and the next client, which sometimes is a random grunting man. Not relaxing at all). Here, you have a luxurious room, dim lights, and canopy HEATED bed, and soothing music while you’re enjoying one amazing massage.

Back to my original point that it’s hard for me to relax and enjoy a massage, here it seemed like the hour went by too fast. I felt like a new person leaving the spa, and the back pain (now even two days later) is all but a memory.

The one thing I was confused about was I read about their no-tipping policy, but when I went to pay, they asked me if I wanted to put my tip on the card. Believe me, the attentive Nassima deserved it, and didn’t want to ask about their policy because I thought maybe I was mistaken. But when I went back online again to places like Time Out New York’s review, I saw that it said the same. A little confused, but oh well. If you go, you should probably ask beforehand!

UPDATE: Their policy has since changed, so it’s best to leave the customary tip!

Massages start at $150. Check out their spa menu — they have a bunch of specials, like their “Mommy Dear-rest” for pre- and post-natal massages as well as “Deva Duets” for couples, which features a full jacuzzi milk bath and private room in case you’re looking to share your spa time!

Spa info:
Deva Spa and Salon
425 Broome Street
at Spring St.
New York, NY 10013
212.274.8686 or 646.454.4300

x
Shy

“Like” Beauty and the Feast on Facebook
Follow Beauty and the Feast on Twitter