A New Spirit Wellness Center & Spa, 4907 W. 29th Ave.; 303-477-1652;
The treatment: One-hour flotation therapy session, $40
This spa is for: anyone in search of a pretty, restful, unpretentious place to unwind and unplug.
First impressions: This is an understated storefront spa tucked away on a cozy North Denver block near Sloan’s Lake. Its minimalist, earthy decor is characterized by gurgling foundations, potted plants and soothing artwork.
The treatment was: different, in a good way.
Flotation sessions happen inside a long, tall, pill-shaped tank (below) in which 800-1,000 pounds of Epsom salts is dissolved in about 10 inches of body-temperature water. The resulting weightlessness combined with sensory deprivation induces peak relaxation and stress relief. There is good science behind it.
Long before one’s imagination runs wild with the thought of the unknown inside that sci-fi looking flotation pod, spa attendants talk with clients and direct them to read a detailed brochure about the experience. Newbies quickly learn that no, they won’t drown; no, they won’t be locked in; yes, it’s safe and even advisable to sleep; and yes, it will be dark (although not pitch black).
Beyond the initial awkwardness, a flotation novice also may find it challenging to embrace the tank’s quiet and solitude. These same busybodies who spend days checking off to-do lists and dashing from one appointment to the next, often have trouble with yoga’s most basic pose — Savasana — as it calls for being completely still and doing nothing but breathing. It can be torture for anxious minds.
In the flotation tank with ears submerged, those same anxious people may find their antsy inner voice amplified rather than subdued. As if Woody Allen were in there, too, it can be hard to silence the neuroses: “Is that water in my ear? Am I getting goosebumps? Will I know when my session is over? Does the staff realize I’m in here?!”
But… make yourself relax and simply float and what seems like 10 minutes in the tank is actually an hour.
Amenities: Besides being one of the only spas in the state currently offering flotation therapy, A New Spirit also has an array of services to detoxify and rejuvenate including body polishes, body wraps, facials, massage and chemical peels. Alluring treatment add-ons include a hot-oil scalp treatment ($10), reflexology ($40), and mini facials ($45).
Room for improvement: Kudos for the absence of a traditional locker room with its harsh light and hard surfaces. But on one recent visit, another client was apparently so relaxed that he simply left his street clothes and grubby sandals on the floor of the changing room while he used the flotation tank.
This spa runs well when attendants are attuned to where each client is at all times. If the staff briefly loses track of what’s happening, however, a client may be literally floating around the spa wondering where to go next.
Make the most of your visit: Plan on extending the effects of flotation therapy by doing nothing afterward. Your body will be a noodle, and your mind may be mush.
Repeat visit planned? Yes. Flotation experts recommend three to five sessions to maximize its effects. They promise that each time will produce a different experience. And some of this spa’s other services, like the 60-minute body polish with milk and honey body butter ($85), sound delightful.
Men will appreciate the facial designed just for them ($60), and a warm stone massage ($105) is ideal for anyone who needs a break from the same ‘ole deep tissue rub.
Know before you go: Avoid the restaurant parking lot due west of the spa building. You may be towed. There’s ample street parking on this quiet neighborhood block. Elana Ashanti Jefferson
