Confidential tries out Spa Satori and leaves feeling all floaty
Spa Satori has been hidden away in a far corner of the Northern Quarter since 2002, right next to the other NQ beauty institution, Reuben Wood Hairdressing and opposite what is now the Cat Café. The top end of High Street is turning into a bit of a haven for de-stress treats and relaxation, all it needs now is a Japanese rock garden and it’ll be fully zen.
The buildings in the area don’t allow businesses to give much away with their frontage, but once you’re inside you realise Satori is actually about 50 times bigger than you expect. With various treatment rooms, The Detox Box and their front space fully kitted out for make-up and manicures, there’s not a lot missed off their menu.
After the indulgence of Christmas and New Year, and a not-so-dry January (or February), it's always a good idea to kick-start some kind of a detox. Spa Satori’s Detox Box seems like the obvious option, with a Detox Massage to top it off, of course.
The Detox Box is actually a really great little invention. Again a bit Japanese-y, which we like. For all those people who love the effects of a sauna, but aren’t really into the idea of sharing a hot sweaty space with strangers, this is perfect for you. Heated with an infra red light the size of the palm of your hand, you'll sit, alone and undisturbed for thirty minutes, listening to the tinkle of Japanese music and reading a book if you fancy it. A Confidential team member did just that recently and told us that 'after about fifteen minutes I had the sudden realisation that I was sweating buckets.' Without going into the science, this thing has a better effect than a sauna does and she told us it 'didn’t make me feel like I was suffocating or being watched.' Which are both good things as far as we're concerned.
All it needs now is a Japanese rock garden and it’ll be fully zen
You'll be reluctant to be pulled away from you're 2x3 metre sweaty but quite enjoyable personal haven, but if you've got another treatment booked in (which we'd recommend) then it won't be too bad. Our team member went for the Detox Massage and on this she recalls with fondness; 'perched on a lovely heated massage bed, I was slowly kneaded and rubbed for about ten minutes, easing out all the tension and aches of sitting in an office chair all day. And then it happened – she got stuck in with her elbows. Having had sports massages before, I knew how deep they could go, but I wasn’t expecting my session at Satori to be so good. There’s a distinct difference when a therapist can massage this way to purely hands and thumbs.'
Where do we sign up?
'Thirty minutes later I got my belongings and my head together, and left the place feeling like I was slightly on another planet. Maybe I should have stayed for that cup of herbal tea they offered me instead of running off for my train. I’ll bear that in mind next time I book in for some city centre zen.'
