Bad mood

Meditation bath at Kaya Day Spa
I had high hopes for this treatment’s ability to boost the serotonin levels that seasonal affective disorder depletes. It promises to “ground the mind and body” and “soak away the cares of the world” with the scents of sandalwood, pine and lavender. I was led into a private room with a huge bathtub, and crawled into the (already drawn) bath with 48 massaging water jets and colored lightbulbs that can be set to coordinate to your preferred mood: blue for serenity, red for creativity, etc. I chose orange (for energy) and I dug the idea until I started thinking I could easily create a similar experience for a lot less money in my own tub by plugging in colored Christmas lights nearby. Also, the sides of the tub were very high and very vertical, which forced me to sit upright—not terribly comfy. But I did emerge from this aromatherapeutic treatment relaxed, if not a tiny bit giddy. 30 minutes for $45.
— Gretchen Kalwinski

Moor cocoon at Kiva Day Spa
Subzero wind chill. CTA delays. Salt stains on all of my boots. I’m not just SAD; I’m pissed. Though the thought of being wrapped in a tin-foil cocoon didn’t immediately bring a smile to my face, I gave it a try for a chance to emerge as a beautiful, bitch-free butterfly. Kiva offers a 50-minute version of the service, but the exhilarating exfoliating massage in the extended cocoon was well worth the extra $65. After being thoroughly exfoliated, I was placed on a sheet of Mylar and my naughty bits were strategically covered by a small hand towel while an aesthetician coated me from the neck down in a thick, green, algae-based mud (think Wicked). Baking in the foil and a heated blanket cocoon for 25 minutes activated the detoxifying and hydrating properties in the mud and left my entire body feeling as soft as a baby’s butt. 80 minutes for $165.
—Amy Carr

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