Description
Elbow in the neck, knee in the back, a few good punches—not what I expected when I signed on to try the Traditional Royal Thai Massage with Herbal Compress ($110 for an hour, $220 for two) at the full-service Banyan Citispa in Soho. And yet Maggie, my masseuse, found a way to use both gentle and firm pressure-point therapy in this two-hour session by combining Swedish-style rolling massage with aggressive limb pulling. It started like any other spa treatment: I was naked under a towel and mellow instrumental music played on the speakers overhead. Soon, however, Maggie was jabbing various body parts into my back and twisting me into a pretzel, in between occasional knuckle cracking and kneading of the flesh. At one point, she actually leapt onto the table in the dark private room and grabbed me in what I believe was a classic wrestling hold (was that a half nelson?). Just when I thought I’d have to cry uncle, she slathered on more hot oil and placed a superhot herbal compress on my lower back; I felt my body, and all of its gnarled woes, melt away. Afterward, I hung out in the lounge, noshing on dried fruit and nuts while reclining on the cushiony chaise. Did I feel the release of toxins and alleviation of sluggish blood flow—as promised in the brochure? Not really. But I did feel a sense of accomplishment and relaxation (or was that exhaustion?).—James Oliver Cury