Treating Employee Stress with High-End Spas in NYC
Working is really hard, even when you like your job. When rest is prioritized, you can manage stress better, think more clearly, and perform more efficiently.
At the end of 2025 we were all...exhausted. It had been a good year and also a hard year. We were faced with plenty of lessons about how we could work more effectively while leaving more time for ourselves. At our annual December holiday dinner, we talked about the upcoming break and ways we relax. I said, “I could have a massage every day.” This gave Jill, over thoughtful CEO, the idea of assigning me a blog to write where I would research luxury massage destinations in Manhattan to share with our readers. And get some much-needed relaxation along the way.
The Four Spas I Visited
We looked at reviews online and picked four of the most highly rated spas, Aire Ancient Baths, Equinox, Sisley and The Four Seasons Downtown. I got one-hour massages at each place. No hot stones, deep tissue or aromatherapy, just a basic Swedish massage. With the exception of Aire these spas were similar in many ways. All except Aire were in hotels. The most important criteria in rating them is the quality of the massage followed by the atmosphere. All of the spaces had a sense of quiet luxury with muted earth tones, plush robes, fluffy towels, Dyson hair dryers, soft music, and cost between $300-$350. All of the massages were good.
Aire Ancient Baths
At Aire it seemed that the main focus was the experience of the different pools of water, rather than the massage. In fact it is not possible to book only a massage; time in the pools is part of a visit regardless, and many people come just for that. I love water, especially hot springs, and I was looking forward to splashing around in the pools, which varied by temperature. My favorite was the outdoor one. The low light from the candles provided a genuinely cozy and unique ambiance in the middle of a city. There are a lot of stairs connecting the different levels with a service elevator available for those with mobility issues. I was the only person there by myself, and that was a bit strange. After a half hour, one of the many helpful attendants found me and led me to an area where I was met by Clara, my massage therapist. Clara’s massage was excellent, and I left feeling better than when I arrived. I generally enjoy engaging my therapist in conversation, finding out a bit about them and sharing something about myself. This massage was conducted in silence which actually hit the right note for my mindset in the moment.
Equinox
My next massage was at the Equinox Hotel at Hudson Yards. There was not much in the lobby of the building, but I was directed to take the elevator to the Spa, and it opened into a hallway lined with vitrines containing products for sale and a small sitting area near the front desk. The person who checked me in was lovely, and he offered me a free post-massage session in an infrared sauna which I happily accepted. I had never tried one and had heard that it was good for cleansing toxins and stimulating the immune system. It uses light rather than heat and is not as hot as a traditional sauna. Like massage, the benefits accrue with consistent use. I used the sauna after my massage with Guillermo. He was my only male therapist. When scheduling on the various spas’ websites you could specify the gender of the therapist. I did not. Guillermo was warm and friendly, and we talked for almost the entire hour about food, travel and life. He was skilled and at no point did he apply too much pressure. He looked very strong, and I’m sure could give an amazing deep tissue massage, but he thankfully held back with me. After the massage, I waited for a few minutes in a lovely lounge area that overlooked the river and the train yards before being escorted to the sauna. In the relatively low heat I did not sweat. The room was big enough that I could do some yoga, so I did. Afterwards, I took myself out for lunch at Greywind, a quiet and civilized restaurant on 10th Avenue and 36th Street.
Sisley Spa
The day I went to the Sisley Spa, at the Dominck Hotel in Soho, was bitter cold. While the locker room and the massage rooms were warm and the massage table was heated, the public areas which all had floor-to-ceiling windows, were chilly. As inviting as they were, with comfortable seating and the best selection of nibbles and drinks of any of the spas, I did not spend much time there. Kathleen, my therapist, was amazing. She had over thirty years’ experience, and it was apparent in the quality of the massage. She was just the right amount engaging, intuitively targeting places on my body that I did not even realize were tight, and I felt better for days afterward. The people at the front desk were particularly gracious, both the one who checked me in and the one who settled my bill. I learned that the facility is scheduled for a renovation, and while it was certainly nice enough as is, I’m sure it will be even better when it’s completed.
Four Seasons Hotel
My last massage was at the Four Seasons Hotel in lower Manhattan. Like all Four Seasons, the décor was elegant and neutral while still feeling welcoming. Of the four locations I visited it was the most luxurious. It was the only one where I used the steam room, both before and after the massage. The waiting area was tranquil, and I loved that in addition to the expected nuts and fruit there was a jar of really delicious peanut brittle. My therapist, Tamyka, was lovely; I felt a real connection with her. She, like Kathleen at Sisley, had many years of experience and tailored the massage to my needs. I spent almost the entire hour face-down as my back required more attention than other parts of my body. I learned that Tamyka had studied massage in my home town, and that she also did facials, something I might try soon. Also worth noting, the music was the best of all the spas. They gave a choice, and I picked the sound of rain and thunder and wind, which made me happy. Afterwards I ate a delicious lunch at The Odeon restaurant a few blocks away.
There are many spas in New York. The four I visited were all well-reviewed and I enjoyed my experience at each one. Aire, where the massage was good, was different from the others because of the water experience. Having four massages spaced less than a week apart reinforced just how useful massage is for stress reduction. While Tamyka, who did my final massage at The Four Seasons, was terrific, I think the cumulative effect of all of the massages and saunas and steam in the weeks preceding her massage enhanced the effect of that one. I’m not big on New Years resolutions, but I will try to fit a massage into my schedule every few weeks in 2026.