"The Platza"
Having just experienced my first Platza treatment, it only feels right and fair to tell as many people as possible to come on down and experience it! Body by Brooklyn offers a decent assortment of packages that combine spa treatments with the chance to relax and enjoy yourself and escape for a while in their wet lounge; Jacuzzi, sauna, plunge pool, wet and dry saunas....Knowing that this exists and is just a train ride away in Brooklyn, I am definatly looking forward to the winter for the first time in a very long time.
Since the weather was so perfect today, I only wanted to spend about 90 minutes inside. That should be enough time to sweat out the remnants of the night before. Sit, soak and sweat...just what was needed. As I was looking around the check in area I noticed a very cool hat with a red star on the front. It looked warm and funky, something fun to wear when it gets cold outside. The receptionist mentioned that it was similar to one of the hats that the Platza Master wears during the Platza treatment. Hmmmm, I thought, interesting! After listening to the description of the treatment, I had to have it.
The spa bathing suit provided ample coverage and made me feel like sporty spice. I was told to go into the wet lounge and warm up. Then, after 2-3 minutes, in walked Ben, the Platza Master. He had on his own funky hat and a bathing suit. I stepped outside to stand under a cool shower for a few minutes. Inside the Russian Sauna, Ben proceeded to lay down towels and fill up buckets of cool water. One bucket was for the oak branches to soak in, and the other bucket was for Ben to dump cool water over his body as the treatment progressed.
First you lay down on the warm towels and he places another towel on your head that was soaked in cool water. Next you have the branches dragged across your back and up and down your legs. The feeling is indescribable, only that it feels like you would think a car feels like when it goes through a car wash, only better. There is tapping, brushing, and gentle strokes that turn your mind to mush. There is a brief segment where Ben runs his hands very firmly up your spine and at that point your body surrenders, done. Officially melted, relaxed and slightly hallucinating (but in a good way) you sit up and the front of your body gets the treatment as well. There is nothing else that quite compares.
At this point you'll need hand over hand help to put your flip flops back on and head out to the plunge pool.
"There, go in" said Ben, pointing to the next stop. There meaning the plunge pool. Square, tiny and very cold. I think I looked at him with a face that said "huh?, nobody said nothin' about this part." He pointed again and said "go". I did. He said "again". I did. I stayed in for about 5 seconds. There were bright colors spinning around in my brain and I liked it.
Ben walked me over to the lounge chair and wrapped a towel around my head and started to massage my scalp, face and I think my shoulders. He left the towel on my head and adjusted it perfectly so nobody could see the dopey grin on my face. Then he wrapped up my feet, pushed back the lounge chair into full recline mode and told me to take a nap.
This was the best $44 dollars I have ever spent. Hangover gone, full relaxation experienced, clarity achieved and starting a Platza fund jar tomorrow morning.
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