click to enlarge Sway incorporates unique Hungarian massage techniques that blend vigorous movements with gentle strokes to enhance blood circulation and promote lymphatic drainage. Sway Wellness Club
Swedish massages are so passé. Emerging technology, TikTok and the Gen Z self-care mentality are contributing to a surge of new offerings in the wellness space in and around Denver. Ditch the basic massage you’re used to and try a service that you didn’t know existed until today. Here are five of the most interesting spas and wellness centers Denver has to offer.If you’re looking for traditional massage, this Capitol Hill holistic spa isn’t the place. When husband and wife business owners Thang Cao and Ryan Zeisig opened their spa, the intent was to offer a Vietnamese service most American customers wouldn’t recognize: a Red Dao herbal bath. The solution, filled with healing properties, is known for soothing aches and pains after a day of skiing, aiding in recovery from cold and flu symptoms and supporting postpartum recovery. By importing the bath solution that women in rural Vietnam villages harvest by hand, Sapa Spa helps impoverished farmers make a living, which is meaningful for Cao, who grew up poor in a rural village in Vietnam. Stay for other services like infrared sauna, ionic detox foot bath (which removes harmful toxins like mercury) or a Lymphatic massage using the same device popular among NBA players. Cao and Zeisig own another nail salon in town, so they know their way around a good manicure and pedicure. All nail services are non-toxic, high quality and long lasting (gel and traditional dipping power that will damage your nails are not on the menu). End your journey with Halo Therapy and relax in the gorgeous salt room, equipped with zero gravity massage chairs, and breathe in the tiny salt particles to improve respiratory health and reduce inflammation. If it’s a nice day, linger on the outdoor patio — a prime people watching spot as hordes of people flock to Trader Joe’s — and enjoy a cup of tea.Owned by a plastic surgeon, this med spa offers a variety of services, but as “Denver’s premier skincare clinic,” start with a facial. Options include microneedling, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, hydrofacial and more. Knowing which service is best for your specific skincare concerns can be confusing — and at most spas, you’re looking at a menu and playing skincare roulette. At Aesthetics by Design, your first visit will include a full skin analysis using technology to determine your level of sun damage, how much bacteria your face carries, and more alarming (but critical) data points to set the path forward. Book an appointment with Sarah, whose magic is in her ability to look at your face and say, “I know exactly what your face needs today.”
For co-founder Emily Langenderfer, the spa business runs in the family; her parents own and operate 60 Spavia locations nationwide. However, she felt called to open Sway in Larimer Square this February to cater to a younger generation of wellness seekers. “We ski, we hike, but where do we have in the city to really escape to?” That’s where Sway comes in, a wellness club offering affordable memberships featuring facials, therapeutic massages and a Remedy Room where you can cycle through high-tech recovery modalities like cold plunge, sauna and red light therapy. Sway incorporates unique Hungarian massage techniques that blend vigorous movements with gentle strokes to enhance blood circulation and promote lymphatic drainage. The ambience is gorgeous, filled with calming creams and beiges, flowy white curtains and light wood tones. What makes this place truly unique is the technology: it’s one of the first wellness clubs in the U.S. to feature Aescape, an AI-powered robotic massage system where a robot with a human-like touch will deliver a fully customized massage. Using advanced robotic arms and precision data sensors, the system generates a 3D model of each client’s body from over a million data points, enabling guests to personalize their massage with preferences for pressure and focus areas. This is the epitome of wellness for the next generation.Japanese head spas are all the rage lately thanks to TikTok, with several options popping up in the greater Denver area. If you love when someone plays with your hair or wish that the mini massage at the hair salon lasted longer, this experience is for you. At NATIV, the 60-minute experience begins with a skin analysis to understand your scalp health. From there, your head will perch above a sink while the water runs across your scalp like a mini lawn sprinkler. Relax into the detoxifying scalp mask, followed by periodic breaks for arm and neck massage, and ending with a warm towel wrap. The entire experience is a mix between luxury and a therapeutic solution for optimal scalp health.What is float therapy? Well, a lot like it sounds. You’re literally floating like a starfish in a private bathtub. Due to the high concentration of Epsom salt in the water, you’ll be surprisingly buoyant. Pop in ear plugs, turn off the lights (it will be pitch black), and start floating for one hour. It’s not uncommon for newbies to barely last 40 minutes, especially if you’re not used to being alone with your thoughts. For people who struggle with meditation, this is even harder — which means you probably need it. However, for regulars, you might hear them say “that hour flew by” as they wave goodbye to the receptionist. If you had a waterbed in the ’80s, this will feel eerily similar. Benefits include improved sleep, increased circulation and energy levels, eased depression, faster recovery for athletes and pain management.
5 Unique Denver Spas and Wellness Centers
