Guest post by Julia Allison, Media Personality and “rambunctious, inquisitive and non-sickening source of positivity”

“I’ve never been in combat,” I wrote in The Guardian UK recently, “but I’ve seen GI Jane, and from the looks of it, Fashion Week bears more than a passing resemblance to a regimented boot camp, complete in 6-inch YSLs and Herve Leger bandage dresses, in the middle of a highly organized, unrelenting mosh pit of well-dressed editors, reporters, buyers, models, photographers, press and flaks with competing agendas.”

I’ve covered Fashion Week for seven seasons, the last three for NBCs New York Nonstop channel, and I know enough to know that eight days of shows, five to seven shows a day, (again, in those six inch heels) means I’ll be hurting – or comatose – when that ninth day comes.  An emergency trip to the spa, complete with scented bath, massage, mani-pedi and a facial were the perfect antidote to my Fashion Week Hangover.

Spa Merge

My first appointment of the day was at Spa Merge on West 57th Street (right near one of my favorite shoppes, cough cough, Bergdorf’s).  Since I was staying at my girl friend’s place in Tribeca, I rode my bike up the West Side Highway path for a leisurely, relaxing twenty minute ride (and a nice sweat that I knew I would soon be rid of, thanks to the hydrotherapy!)  I was scheduled for a 15 minute Hydrotub bathing ritual with scented oils, 310 jets and a scalp massage.  All of this was to be followed by a real 90-minute fusion massage.  Mmmm.

When I walked into the spa, which is relatively new, I was more than a little impressed at the decor.  It’s not huge, but it’s NICE.  Every touch has been accounted for, from the little lavender flowers on the tray with your water (which they refreshed for me no less than three times!) to the small strawberry chaser they bring you after your massage.  This is a place for luxury, a place for pampering, a place to be indulged.  Merge is really what we all imagine in our heads when we think “luxury spa.”  The service was impeccable – I was waited on hand and foot (literally). Some luxury spas don’t have technicians who are capable of more than Swedish, but that wasn’t the case with Merge. When I requested a particularly strong massage (a former therapist had once said to me “You strong! Like ox!” What can I say?  I like a bit of pain with my relaxation.) I actually got it!  I loved the hydrotherapy prior to the massage – it really helped loosen up my muscles in preparation for the tension-releasing workout my therapist was to give them!  Although I can’t say I was a fan of the scalp massage – for some reason, on dry hair without shampoo and conditioner, it doesn’t feel as good.   Other than that, my experience at Merge was delicious.  I can’t wait to come back!

Continue reading the rest of Julia’s spa day at Spa Catchi

Spa Merge
102-108 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
646.484.4104

$50 Spa Week Treatments, October 11-17
50 Min Tub and Rub with Hydrating Full Body Warm Shea Butter Application
50 Min Merge Miracle Facial with Skin Analysis
45 Min Brazilian Bikini and Brow Wax

Massages, facials, body scrubs… you can’t get enough! And that’s great. But did you know you’re barely scraping the spa surface? New technology, reinvented techniques and pop culture all shape the way we spa today. Here, Spa Week officially announces the definitive list of the latest in emerging spa treatment trends, from holistic to glamorous.

Treat yourself to a wellness and beauty adventure this Spa Week®, $50 spa treatments September 13-19 for the West Coast and Chicago, October 11-17 for the rest of the country. The Fall spa directory launches August 16 for the West Coast, September 13 for the rest of the country, when you’ll be able to see which spas are offering which services. Try one, try all— Spa Week is the time to indulge and experiment. All these treatments will be available for just $50!

1)      Fighting Allergies

Sinus massages, breathe-easy facials and cold & flu bath salts are just a few of the spa services you’ll be seeing this upcoming Spa Week, just in time to soothe your seasonal allergies. Treat your immune system and clear your sinuses in the spa with new treatments using Eucaplyptus, humidifiers and Lymph drainage movements , to name just few of the techniques being used to assist in allergy relief.

2)      Bikini Glamour

Vajazzling made its sparkly splash last Spa Week, when bedazzling your bikini became the hot new standard in girly glamour. Other treatments are quickly emerging in its footsteps to pamper your private parts: Bikini/Bum Facials are being offered to give the same attention down there as a esthetician would to your face: toner, extractions and masks included. Also, post-Brazilian waxing rituals such as Airbrush painting and Vattooing are now the latest in vaginal adornment.

3)      Sleeping and Dreaming

Insomniac? A good night’s slumber with proper REM cycles can be just as rejuvenating as a spa treatment, so one of the hottest trends emerging in the industry is a dream-worthy mix of the two to promote better sleeping patterns. Scents such as Rosewood, Palmarosa and Vanilla are used to guide you off to never-never land while massage techniques make for a complete relaxation experience.

4)      Lash Extensions

Eyelash length, thickness, volume and darkness have gone way up on the beauty priority lists of women now more than ever. While new drugstore and professional lash volumizers continue to crowd the lash-enhancing market, the Fall Spa Week event is poised to give women more professional lash-extending options than ever before.

5)      Instant Inch Loss

Remember that magical, completely safe instant weight-loss pill you always dreamed of? We’re not saying it’s been invented (sorry), but the spa is becoming a go-to place to get instant, (almost) magic-like results in addition to providing long term benefits. Colon Hydrotherapy is becoming more popular as a quick, easy cleanse, and hot new med-spa services like the 7E Treatment and Ionithermie give immediate results by targeting muscles with waveform technology.

6)      Reiki and Energy Work

Turn your trip to the spa into a journey for the soul. Reiki, energy work and holistic healing deliver health benefits ranging from injury recovery to spiritual growth. By engaging the flow of your “life force energy,” practitioners are turning spa-goers into active believers. Look for treatments with an energy component this coming Spa Week, and may the force be with you.

7)      Acupuncture

This ancient holistic healing technique is no newbie to the spa scene, but the granddaddy of healing is suddenly making a resurgence. The World Health Organization advocates the use of acupuncture to treat over 40 conditions, from anxiety and other stress syndromes to musculoskeletal pain and injury, and the Fall Spa Week event will encourage more spa-goers to forget their fears of needles and reap the benefits of this treatment—for their face, body and both.

8)      Botox on-the-go

Pick up dry cleaning, get Botox, grab lunch… what? Yes, the age-defying treatment has become so mainstream that spas are now offering it hassle-free, and even appointment-free. Add the $50 Spa Week price tag, and suddenly “to-tox-or-not-to tox?” is one of the easiest decisions to make.

9)      Hot AND Cold Stone Massages

Spa Week’s favorite sweetheart treatment has always been the Hot Stone Massage, but the newest twist is cooler than past seasons. Instead of using all hot stones, this treatment includes the application of cold stones as well, adding multi-dimensional stimulation. Alternating the hot and cool stones helps every cell in the body receive more oxygen and nutrients and encourages a more effective removal of toxins.

10)   Champissage

Also known as Indian head massage, Champissage has been practiced for more than 1000 years in India and has now been interpreted as a custom ritual at many spas. Traditionally, it began as a system of family grooming, with mothers massaging their daughters’ hair with oils to encourage long, lustrous locks. Over time, it began to incorporate massage of the face neck and shoulders, specifically yours this upcoming Spa Week.

11)   Everything Seaweed

You’d like to be… under the sea? Why? Just go to the spa. Seawater and seaweed have similar mineral contents with approximately the same percentage as the human body. Because of this, seaweed wraps help detoxify the body, eliminate excess fluids, increase blood circulation and regulate hormonal levels. More treatments than ever are incorporating Seaweed this Spa Week. Go for a dive.

12)   Simply… Oxygen

Human beings’ star life-sustaining molecule is getting more and more play inside the spa. One of the new treatments is Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Therapy, which dissolves oxygen in the blood plasma and all body cells, tissues and fluids at up to 10 times normal concentration—high enough to sustain life with no blood at all. Oxygenating facials are also increasing in popularity, as oxygen continues to secure its reputation as the #1 skincare essential.

Experiment with these treatments and experience the true spa lifestyle for just $50 a piece during Spa Week. Make sure you’re signed up!