In the midst of the holidays, it’s nearly
impossible not to get caught up in the stress of entertaining,
shopping and decorating.
Have you been surprised by your husband’s outbursts as he tries
in vain to find the reason why half of the Christmas tree lights
have gone out, while you massage your aching upper arms after
toting sacks full of presents up the stairs to your apartment?
Do your eyes ache from searching Web sites for the perfect gift,
while your partner accidentally hammers his finger while hanging
the garland of gilded poinsettias you envisioned elegantly draped
over the windows?
There’s no time like the present for you and your mate to take
a time out to relax and remember what the holidays are really
about – reveling in and celebrating the love we have for our
family and friends.
Do it now, before someone gets hurt.
Don’t squawk about not having time or money. This is about saving
your sanity (and your marriage) as well as maintaining your health
in the midst of this hectic – yet special – time of year.
And look no farther than Daniella Stromberg and Mark Abbonizio’s
D’mai Urban Spa in Park Slope for the ultimate retreat experience
for two: a massage in the spa’s new couple’s cabana.
"Our spa is Indonesian inspired," explained Stromberg.
"It’s common there to have outdoor massages. It’s a great
way for couples to share a non-verbal level of intimacy."
Modeled after luxurious resorts, D’mai offers a serene, mercifully
quiet ambiance with all of the amenities. Waiting areas with
wicker furniture are accessorized with pitchers of water flavored
with refreshing cucumber.
The cabana itself, which opened in September, is an elegant tent
with two parallel massage tables. An opaque ceiling lets in sunshine
during the day, while candles keep the heated enclosure lit at
night. (Warning: book your appointment accordingly. If you’re
not ready to waggle your new pumpkin pie-filled love handles
at your partner, a nocturnal appointment promises to be more
flattering upon disrobing. If you have no shortage of self-confidence,
the cabana filled with daylight is a rare, lovely experience.)
"There are alternative ways to relax and recreate than going
into a bar," said Stromberg. "The spa is open on Thursdays
and Fridays until 9 pm. If you make an appointment for 8 o’clock
on a Friday evening, that’s a date."
The cabana’s wood floor is edged with stones and plants, and
after clients nestle their faces into the massage table donuts,
they are greeted by a glorious lily floating in a bowl of water
on the floor.
My husband and I gratefully threw ourselves down on our respective
tables with much anticipation – grateful for 60 minutes when
we didn’t have to talk about our over-scheduled lives.
Massage therapists Micah Kotch and Nicole Serrano applied massage
oil with chamomile, frankincense and rosemary to rub out the
"contractures in the fascia," or knots, harbored in
our muscles. (After Kotch applied deep tissue, shiatsu and myofascial
release massage techniques to my aching muscles, he was able
to offer several therapies – from chair pads to stretches – that
I could practice at home and the office to minimize future aches
and pains.)
A common complaint among couples who book their spa appointments
in the hopes of spending time together is that they become separated
during treatments.
With D’mai’s couple’s cabana booking, you’re in the waiting room
together, are massaged together and can spend time luxuriating
in the sauna after the massage – together.
"If you’re going to a spa together, you might as well do
it together," said Stromberg.
And D’mai’s sauna is the real deal. We felt like we had parked
our relaxed, massaged bodies in an authentic Scandinavian sauna
when we sat down in the wood-paneled room. It’s replete with
a large wood scoop to spoon water over heated rocks that release
nasal-clearing menthol into the air.
The spa also offers lockers in the exquisite changing rooms,
so worries about personal belongings won’t plague clients during
treatment. The changing rooms are equipped with everything a
client needs to return to life as glamorously as they arrived;
look here for everything from hairdryers to Q-Tips.
Although a visit to the couple’s cabana was just what the doctor
ordered for this stressed out guy and gal, Stromberg describes
D’mai as "an inclusive spa. We welcome all kinds of couples.
We’ve even had mothers and daughters and sisters."
Whether a gift for another couple, or a gift you give yourself
and your partner, a couple’s cabana massage is remarkably relaxing
– yet invigorating – time well-spent.
"We want this place to be a vacation getaway, be an experience,"
said Stromberg. "When you return to your life, we want you
to feel like you had a vacation, feel the rejuvenation."
Now, about those gifts.
D’mai Urban Spa is located at 157 Fifth
Ave. at Lincoln Place in Park Slope. Massages in the Couple’s
Cabana are $60 per person for a 30-minute massage, $110 per person
for a 60-minute massage and $150 per person for a 90-minute massage.
Hot stone massages are an additional $10 per person. For appointments
and more information, call (718) 398-2100 or visit the Web site
at www.dmaiurbanspa.com.
Gift certificates are available.
