Raise your hand if this sounds like you (or someone close to you): You’re a busy male professional with little downtime and a penchant for inhaling protein bars as you run from meeting to meeting. You’d love to de-stress a little, have the tension worked out of your neck and shoulders or the kinks kneaded out of your tennis elbow, but you’re not a spa guy, have never been to a spa (except maybe to buy a gift certificate for your wife or girlfriend), and tend to think of spas as female retreats filled with pastel-colored robes and the heady scent of lavender. The truth is, more men than ever are heading to spas not only for the relaxation and stress relief that comes from pre- and post-workout massages, but also for facials, back waxing, teeth whitening, and pedicures. As Bruce Schoenberg, co-owner of Oasis Day Spa in Dobbs Ferry, likes to point out, you don’t need to strip yourself of your masculinity when stripping down and stepping into a bathrobe. Spa treatments today are all about holistic nurturing, staying fit, and being healthy. “Once men come here and realize how easily they can recharge their batteries simply with an hour or two of treatments, they’re hooked,” he says.
Here, area spas that not only make men feel comfortable—think roomy, man-sized bathrobes and products that don’t leave you smelling like azaleas—but where you’ll find like-minded souls and facilities that cater specifically to the testosterone team.
The Spa at Equinox, Mamaroneck | The Ritz-Carlton Spa, White Plains
Oasis Day Spa, Dobbs Ferry
Escape Spa & Wellness, Armonk | Footsie Reflexology, Mount Kisco
Larchmont resident Jeanne Muchnick (www.jeannemuchnick.com)
is a massage/facial/reflexology devotee who never says no to a spa assignment.