Sometimes the best spas don’t have a waiting list a mile long, and the treatments don’t always cost as much as plastic surgery.  We’ll help you discover some of the most valuable hidden gems in our ongoing feature, Spa Spotlight.  Have a spa you’d like to recommend?  E-mail us at info@beautyxpose.com and tell us why!

Our first spa in this series is Graceful Services in New York City.  Specializing in massage therapy, Graceful Services comes highly recommended by Gabrielle Fehling, owner of Empire Kayaks and a massage therapist herself (so you know this spa’s the real deal!). She and her husband have been frequenting Graceful Services about twice a month for the past five years.

“When you really find a place that’s good, you keep going,” she proclaimed. “There’s no fuss, no sitting around waiting in a robe. You simply get a great massage and go!”

While we haven’t had the chance to try out Graceful Services ourselves yet, you can bet it’s at the top of our list for the next time we’re in New York!  Read on to learn more about this special spa from our Q&A with the owner, Grace Macnow.

BX:  How long have you owned Graceful Services?
GM:  I established Graceful Services in 2001. It has been 8 years now. This is a small spa, but we now have two more locations and over 200,000 clients.

BX:  Do you consider your services as “budget-friendly” for all?
GM:  Yes, absolutely! Most Swedish massages will run you $100-$150 for an hour. I charge $60 – $70. A Thai Massage [will run you] $180, and I charge $80 for an hour. I have many other bargains as well.

Thai Massage at Graceful Services

BX:  You feature a fairly unique service – Thai massage.  Where did you first hear about it?
GM:  Just word of mouth. This is one of the oldest massage techniques in the world that is still being used today. Because we specialize in massage, it made sense that we would expand this part of the business, so I looked into studying Thai Massage.

BX:  What do you think are the benefits of this style of massage?
GM:  Every massage has its own benefits. Thai massage is like passive Yoga. Someone does it for you. It is different than the stretching, because it works on the meridians. It gives your body balance and energy. It also relaxes the body and mind and increases blood flow.

BX:  Who would be the perfect candidate for this massage?
GM:   Any one who experiences stiff limbs, poor circulation, needs a good stretching after a workout or has a high-stress job. It is excellent post-natal care for women.  Teens who experience growth spurts will enjoy it. This massage is not recommended for anyone who has just injured themselves; however, it is a good therapy one to three months down the line.

BX:  Are you getting a lot of requests for this treatment?
GM:  Yes! We started promoting Thai massage in March, and since then sales have increased quite a bit, and the Thai massage is one of our best sellers. We get more and more requests for it each day. Sometimes a group of five to seven people all request the Thai massage. People love it!

Experience one of Graceful Services’ renowned treatments for yourself!
For more information and to book an appointment, visit www.gracefulservices.com and call 212-593-9904.

Photo Credits:  Cover Image – Steve Woods; Foot therapy – Luis Solis; Thai massage and logo – Graceful Services.