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Sit back and relax with a much-needed massage or a full weekend of masks and treatments at these Hudson Valley spas and wellness centers.
By Raphael Beretta, Julia Colombo, Jenna Autuori-Dedic, and Anthony Minda
According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, we’re all more anxious than ever. And as you know, chronic stress is a health hazard. Since it’s hard to chill—especially during the holidays—treat yourself to R&R at a day spa.
From the early mountain houses to more recent resort towns, the Hudson Valley has long served as a relaxing and restorative site. Today, local spas continue that legacy, offering day-long treatments as well as more extensive, vacation-friendly packages for those looking for a deep cleanse.
Birch Body Care
Kingston
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Looking for a step up from generic self care? Birch offers Reiki and waxing in addition to standard and CBD wellness massages for joint pain and anxiety. The uptown Kingston day spa also offers gift cards to purchase. If you’re stuck on what to get your special someone, gift them the experience of a therapeutic massage.
Bodhi Holistic Spa
Hudson
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The Bodhi Holistic Spa, located in Hudson, is more than just your average spa. A decidedly New Age establishment, Bodhi offers yoga, hypnosis, and acupuncture, as well as an infrared sauna and seaweed body treatments. For pairs, the Columbia County retreat offers couples salt stone massages, aromatherapy, and more. In addition, holistic body treatments range from espresso mud scrubs to wild lime scalp treatments.
Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa
Milton
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In addition to its standard spa treatments (pool, massages, a variety of body scrubs), Buttermilk is on the grounds of an organic farm and animal rescue, so visitors can supplement their treatments by wandering the apiary or meeting the donkeys, peacocks, goats, and rescued alpacas. The farm’s chickens provide organic eggs for breakfast. Antioxidant-rich red flower nature wraps, quartz crystal body scrubs, and warm stone facials round out a few of the natural treatment options.
Conscious Habitat
Warwick
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On a mission to offer services that are considerate of everyone’s health—people, the planet, animals—Conscious Habitat offers traditional massages, a eucalyptus steam room, reiki, reflexology, and holistic facials, just to name a few services.
Emerson Resort and Spa
Mt. Tremper
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Those who choose to stay at Emerson will be treated like true kings and queens. A top resort experience, complete with luxury dining and shopping, Emerson delivers with spa offerings that are sure to impress. Massages, pedicures, and aromatherapy are just some of the amazing treatments given in the state-of-the-art facilities. Rejuvenating treatments include couples’ CBD massages, active botanical facials, yoga, and much more.
Haven Spa
Rhinebeck
Haven specializes in a wide range of services, from micro-needling to custom facials to courses with the Environ Micro-Current Machine, which uses both ultrasound and electrical currents for skin care. The day spa offers a variety of packages, including bookings for parties of four or more. Plus, massages use holistic enhancements like exfoliating bamboo, lemongrass, and mimosa scrub or coffee, dandelion, and tobacco mud.
Hudson River Healing & Wellness Center
Cold Spring
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For a next-level treatment try the lymphatic drainage massage at this therapeutic spot. The unique, 60-minute experience incorporates a rhythmic massage technique (using a series of gliding, compressing, stretching, and cupping motions) to increase the rate of lymph flow for body detoxification. Fans say regular lymphatic drainage decreases bloating and reduces symptoms associated with certain skin conditions. Also worth trying: the spa’s signature “Thai-style head and shoulders” massage performed on a bed of salts, or the “rain drop massage” which incorporates therapeutic-grade essential oils applied to the spine, neck, and feet and feels just as it’s named. ($125/hour for the lymphatic draining massage.)
Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck
Rhinebeck
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One of four Mirbeau locations in the United States, Mirbeau Spa features more than just your average massage. The inn and spa’s 49-room resort includes an impressive assortment of packages. For instance, try the Romance Package; the overnight stay includes a 50-minute massage and dinner for two at Willow, as well as breakfast the next morning. To top it off, each couple arrives to fresh rose petals in their room. Facials utilize micro-roller techniques, while massage offerings include CBD-enhanced deep tissue, Swedish-style with aromatherapy, and natural healing with Himalayan salt stone crystals and cool river stones.
Mohonk Mountain House
New Paltz
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Located just outside the heart of New Paltz, this resort and spa is the perfect place for any couple or family looking for a vacation close to home. The Spa at Mohonk Mountain House offers an abundance of services, often shifting with the seasons to promote immune health and ultimate relaxation. For example, the Fall Hydrating Herbal Wrap includes a full body treatment designed to support balance and well-being using essential oils, a soothing scalp massage, and a kombucha-based facial mask. Enjoy rejuvenating stays at the magnificent mountain house year-round, while looking out at the shimmering lake surrounding the resort and the mighty Shawangunk Ridge.
My Zen Den
Beacon
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Designed to feel like you’re stepping inside a tropical sanctuary, this Beacon spa promises stress-clearing serenity. Book the popular one-hour infrared sauna treatment. Infrared heat safely penetrates the skin to increase the body’s core temperature, which results in a detoxifying sweat that has you stepping out glowing and rejuvenated. Other benefits include joint and muscle pain relief, accelerated workout recovery, and healing from injuries and relaxation of stiff or tense muscles. ($60/hour.)
Pineapple Day Spa
Pine Bush
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From body to hair to bridal, Pineapple Day Spa does it all. Fostering wellness, beauty, and relaxation since 1996, the Pine Bush spa makes health and safety for customers and employees a top priority. Book the Nourishing Sea Mud Therapy to stimulate circulation and smooth skin or the Stress-Fix Massage, featuring Aveda Stress-Fix Aromaology. Hair removal services use nurfree, a botanical and antimicrobial substance–not a wax–that is safe for the entire body.
Riverview Salon & Medspa
Newburgh
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This downtown spa offers treatments any guest is sure to love. Riverview specializes in anti-aging treatments like an oxygen facial and a special anti-aging facial meant to make you look and feel younger. The spa even offers microdermabrasion treatments for the removal of dead skin. Special packages bundle relaxing treatments together. For instance, “The Spa Sampler” includes 30-minute customized facials and Swedish massages, a traditional manicure, and an express pedicure.
Sanivan
Hurleyville
This holistic spa focuses on wellness and retreats. Services range from cleanses and dietary courses to holistic retreats that include everything from yoga and meditation to saunas and skin brushings. The three-day Babymoon Retreat for expectant parents comes with organic meals and special massages. Similarly, Shiatsu acupressure massages, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and the holistic facial take natural approaches to rejuvenation.
The Dutchess Inn and Spa at Beacon
Beacon
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Relocated from Hudson, the 10-room Inn and Spa offers intimate treatments that range from facials and deep tissue massages to specialized treatments like a pre-natal massage for expectant mothers. Of course, spa-goers will love the specialty Himalayan salt stone massages. Walkable from the Metro-North station, the spa also offers special weekend packages, including plein air painting retreats or yoga classes at the solarium or roof garden.
The Little Owl Spa
Poughkeepsie
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The Little Owl Spa is one of the most-visited spas in all of Poughkeepsie. Kiriaki Pertesis and her team of talented massage therapists offer state-of-the-art services to all guests in need of some TLC. Besides the traditional Swedish massage, the spa also offers bikini waxes, scalp massages, cupping therapy, and eyebrow tinting.
The Opus Spa
White Plains
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The Opus is the perfect place to recharge and re-energize. A luxury hotel in Westchester County, The Opus offers onsite dining, a fitness center, a pool, and the most rejuvenating spa. Services span the entire body, from hair to full body massage, including several signature body treatments, facials, and massages. You can choose to embark on your choice of four Opus Journeys, lasting 2-3 hours. One such journey–the Magnum Opus–treats your body to full body exfoliation, a detox in the Halotherapy Salt Chamber, and a warm shea butter full-body massage.
The Salt Therapy Room
Poughkeepsie
As the name implies, this day spa focuses purely on dry salt therapy in a specially designed halotherapy room. Located off Titusville Road, the spa specializes in this ancient therapy that has been recommended by healers and philosophers to help treat respiratory, skin, and other issues. The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial elements in the salt can help treat common conditions like asthma, bronchitis, snoring and sleeping problems, eczema and acne, and others.
The Windham Spa
Windham
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Across from the ski resort, The Windham Spa offers a number of winter packages for those who want a break from the slopes. Special courses include “The Warm Up” (blueberry and paprika peel, custom masque, hot stone foot massage) and pedicures with hot chocolate, pediment, and sustainably-harvested palo santo.
Troutbeck
Amenia
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Looking to enter into a getaway that is surrounded by the beauty of mother nature? If yes, then Troutbeck is the place for you. Nestled in the middle of woods right on the edge of the Hudson Valley, the spa is a place for the adventurous. A pool, sauna, yoga and meditation studio, tennis court, and fishing area are just some of the experiences to take part in at this breathtaking escape. In addition, Gua Sha facial acupuncture, deep tissue massage, infrared treatments, and somatic experiences round out Troutbeck’s wellness offerings at The Barns.
Wholeness Center
Valley Cottage
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Special medi-spa treatments include hydrafacials and laser hair removal. Wholeness Center also specializes in cupping, sound healing, and acupuncture. The spa has a program specializing in treatments for patients undergoing cancer treatments.
YO1 Health Resort
Monticello
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A proud recipient of International Travel Awards 2022 “Best Wellness Resort,” this Catskill mountain wellness paradise offers ultra-relaxing getaways. YO1 Health Resort‘s programs enable guests to tailor services to their own wellness journey. At the spa, therapies include Ayurveda, naturopathy, and hydro/mud therapies. Full-body massages use herbal oils to relieve fatigue and improve muscle stamina. Immersion baths, relieving hot stone massages, and specialized acupuncture treatments are just a few offerings. In addition, YO1’s culinary program is designed to purify the body from toxins and support immune health. Of course, the menu focuses mostly on vegan and vegetarian fare.
Zephyr Float Spa
Kingston
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During this immersive experience, you’ll step into a light-proof and sound-insulated tank (by yourself and nude), that’s filled with 10 inches of water and 1,000+ pounds of Epsom salts—get ready to feel literally weightless (the salts make a solution as buoyant as the Dead Sea.) The water is warmed to 93.4° F—the same temperature as your skin. Flotation therapy is best known for stress relief and muscle recovery, but it’s also said to boost creativity thanks to the “twilight state” (the period between wakefulness and sleep) that you’re bound to experience. (Float times vary, starting at one hour for $75.)
