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Lotions, Potions, Tonics & TeasAt the Benjamin's Woodstock Spa & Wellness CenterBy Madelyn Miller
One thing I especially liked about this spa is that they schedule 75 minutes for their 60 minute treatments. That allows time for the therapist to unwind, or even spend a little extra bonus time with her client. To begin each Woodstock Spa experience, guests unwind with a Gan Bei tonic or tea, made from concentrated Chinese herbs, fruit extracts and tonic water, while they enjoy a sage or lavender footbath. The specialty drink is intended to calm and balance each guest, preparing them for their spa treatment. A team of herbal experts worked together to create such Elixir Gan Bei drinks as “Kava Pacifica,” a classic serenity tonic for relaxation and calmness; “Virtual Buddha,” a formula for balance and creativity; and “Yin From the Cold,” an immune system enhancer to clear away cold and flu symptoms. The tonics’ effects range from providing energy, balance and replenishment to mental clarity, anxiety relief and sexual strength and desire. Since I am newly single, I decided it best not to try the sexual strength tonic. I need mental clarity and anxiety relief more. But I would like to try it in the future. Complementing the Gan Bei tonics’ all-natural enhancers, the spa introduces Dr. Hauschka treatments, offering a comforting and nurturing alternative to traditional European skin care therapies. The treatments, using Dr. Hauschka’s Skin Care line, are designed to support and encourage the skin’s natural conditioning and healing process in a holistic way. Dr. Hauschka takes an organic approach to supporting the health and well-being of the entire human body. Treatments incorporate gentle stretching, warm compresses of aromatic lavender, spruce, lemon or sage, and color therapy. A unique massage with mink brushes stimulates the lymphatic system and treatments conclude with a botanical healing mask. All Woodstock Spa therapists have been Dr. Hauschka-certified, offering a one-and-a-half and two-hour facial, which includes a warm sage footbath and massage with Dr. Hauschka leg and foot products. Dr. Hauschka has been in existence since 1967 and has gained an impressive celebrity following, including Julia Roberts, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz and Jack Nicholson, and now me. “We dedicate our time to personalizing each guest’s experience to provide healing and relaxation to their mind, body, and soul,” says Spa Director Kelley Wohlfarth. “Dr. Hauschka Skin Care embraces this philosophy through its holistic way of treating the skin as the living, breathing organ that it is and allowing us to tailor the treatment to meet the needs of the customer. Our new Elixir Gan Bei drinks help prepare each guest mentally for their treatment.” Along with the Dr. Hauschka treatments, the 3,000 square-foot Woodstock Spa & Wellness Center offers numerous other skin care treatments, body massages, body rituals and spirit enhancers. The spa’s facilities include steamrooms in its locker rooms, a Vichy Shower wet room, three multi-purpose body and skin care treatment rooms and a foot soak area. It also features a 24-hour fitness center with personal training sessions, yoga instruction and equipment for strength training and cardiovascular workouts. The Gan Bei tonics were created by the owners of ELIXIR, TONICS & TEAS, a popular Los Angeles Tonics & Tea Bar, to bring the benefits of herbal healthcare to a more mainstream customer. The bar has become a “hot spot” among celebrities, including Charlize Theron, Renee Zellweger, Beck, Matt Damon, Winona Ryder, Steve Martin, Christy Turlington, Seal, and Jodie Foster. The Benjamin has gone to extraordinary lengths to provide all the comforts and services to make each guest’s experience uniquely memorable. The Woodstock Spa & Wellness Center’s new focus on natural products and the general well being of its guests complements The Benjamin’s basic philosophy: “Comfort and genuine hospitality are the true hallmarks of a hotel and that’s what we excel in providing,” says General Manager John Moser. “The changes in the spa complete The Benjamin Experience and place us among the best of New York’s hotels.” The Benjamin, a Manhattan East Suite Hotel, is an intimate and sophisticated boutique-style hotel that caters to and anticipates the needs of the modern business and leisure traveler. Centrally located in midtown Manhattan, the luxury Executive Suite Hotel features 209 spacious rooms, including 97 one-bedroom suites and a deluxe two-bedroom suite as well as conference and catering facilities that can accommodate 10 to 100 people. The Benjamin also offers Chef Larry Forgione’s award-winning cuisine at the hotel’s An American Place restaurant. An American Place offers breakfast, lunch and dinner at the restaurant and 24-hour, in-room service. The massage I had was once of the most memorable ever –and my body has been rubbed all over the world. From the moment Mary touched my body, I knew it would be a wonderful massage. He hands glided over my body, pressings, kneading and touching, just where I needed it. We barely spoke a word until she was done, but she was certainly communicating with my body. This massage definitely made my top ten. I would strongly recommend you ask for Mary, but a friend who had a treatment at the same time was equally enthusiastic about her therapist. Somehow I think there are only great choices at the Woodstock spa. WOODSTOCK SPA at the Benjamin Hotel Visitors can log onto NYC & Company's website www.nycvisit.com for the latest information about transportation, hotel availability, cultural institutions, retail and special services, airline contact information and other emergency services. |
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Herbal
“cocktails” and an organic, two-hour facial are the “hot” new menu items
at the Woodstock Spa & Wellness Center, located in The Benjamin at 125
East 50th Street, at Lexington Avenue. The spa has a
philosophy focusing on the restoration of harmony and balance.
Illustrating this philosophy are two new menu items: mood-enhancing Gan
Bei tonics from the celebrity-frequented Elixir Bar in L.A. and Dr.
Hauschka Skin Care treatments and products. I tried the apricot flavored
stress buster. Not only did it taste good, but I think it worked. (It was
a little hard to tell because I was so relaxed by the marvelous massage I
received)