I got a month unlimited for $49 and found out they also have a groupon for $29 for a month…read moreunlimited! I love the vibe and energy from this place m. It's a great location for me 5 min bike ride from home. Would def recommend. Just wish they had a bit more classes on the weekends.

Spas typically have a relaxing, inviting, private lounge area (and some with extra included…read morefacilities like a hot tub, sauna, and/or steam room) for guests to enjoy before & after their treatment. This is not that kind of place. It's mostly only called a spa because it offers multiple treatments, but it's not a place to enjoy your day at. The waiting room is small with bright rainbow cushions against dull gray walls, so it feels more like a doctor's waiting room than a spa. The masseuse asked what focus areas I wanted for my $120 remedial massage, but she didn't focus on those spots and it felt more like a Swedish full body massage than anything. I've been fortunate to have several massages every year for the past 11 years, so I feel pretty well versed in the massage experience. When I asked as politely as possible if pressure could be increased, the masseuse paused and was silent for about 3-4 counts, then said she had been doing massages back to back all day so couldn't do it. Awkward. The rest of the massage felt like I was just being touched and going through a process rather than focusing on particular areas I came in for. I wondered several times throughout if I should just ask her to stop and leave, but I didn't want to get confrontational. The receptionist was empathetic and gave me a 20% discount for the unimpressive experience. That was nice and kudos for the effort.

Two words: Highly Addictive…read more If you struggle with addiction don't visit Alkaline Spa. Seriously. Because if you do your habit will not only remain, but will most likely be enhanced. This place is the purest of its kind. Lets start with the staff. Afterall, they are your first point of contact and the reason for my ongoing addiction. They greet you with friendly smiles, their soft and pretty faces singing out sweet "hellos and welcomes" as they encourage you to step into their wonderland of bliss. They lead you into a dimly lit, zen-like waiting room and tempt you with inspirational books and glossy magazines. But before you crack open the first page, they're ready for you...and then the beauty morphosis begins....

Walking inside Siam Cabana is like walking into any Thai massage place you've ever been to, except…read moreon steroids. The overwhelming smell of tiger balm, the faux flowers and bells are all in abundance in the small space - there isn't an inch of space not covered in something kitsch. That said it isn't bad at all - it somehow just works. The staff are super friendly always greeting you with a smile. It is one of the better Thai massage places on the north shore and the north shore knows it. Even though you don't necessarily need a booking, 9/10 times when I've walked in I've been turned away. The massage itself is decent but my advice is to stick with traditional Thai massage - if you want remedial go to a proper masseuse. The Thai massage comes with the traditional foot soak, Thai pajamas and tiger balm and after an hour of stretching you'll feel great.

Excellent service whther a foot massage or a Thai or oil massage…read more Professional attention even if some of the employees do not speak much English they are polite and effective with massages, cash sometimes gets a discount during quiet times but accept creditcard debit card etc. Sometimes get busy at weekends

I never really understood that Jet song "Get Born" until yesterday. Similarly, I've never seen the…read moremovie Interstellar, but I just starred in my own version. The scientific name is total sensory deprivation, but the kids on the streets - the junkies, the tank bandits - call it floating. And it's all kinds of unreal. Full disclosure: I did a free trial session. But I dug it so much I bought two gift vouchers for my pregnant sister and her husband for Chrimbo prezzas. Here's the deal: you rock up to the Float Centre, walk down a futuristic dark-lit space-age hallway, get shown to your own private room where you shower and pop a pair of ear plugs in, then climb into a futuristic-looking float tank and pull down the lid. There's soft lights and mood music to start that fades away after the first ten minutes, leaving you floating almost on top of water that's loaded with Epsom salts and magnesium in total darkness and silence. It's a little odd at first because hey, there's no stimuli, and we're bombarded with so much of it it every day, but you focus on your breathing and let your mind wander and pretty soon you're in a state of bombed-out bliss, it's warm and fuzzy and the closest thing I can equate it to is like being in the womb. I fell asleep at the end, the deepest, most comfortable, nirvana-like nap I've ever had. While floating, Jesus-like, on top of the water. Insane in the membrane. After an hour the music comes on and gently wakes you up and you walk out of there feeling like a new person. Your mind is clear and your joints are loose from all the magnesium your skin has sucked up, and you can go lay in a hammock and drink tea and chill out before injecting yourself back into the real world. Write something on the giant chalkboard about your experience before you go. Outside of what I'm assuming heroin does to you, you just can't find this kind of relaxation in today's world. Oh and you can't go in with fake tan or hair dye because it stains the tanks, so, y'know, wash that ish off first.

I'd always been intrigued by sensory depravation tanks (aka. float tanks), and this place looked…read moregood from the get go. I went here after getting a beginner pack of float sessions, and I've got nothing but good things to say. The staff are really friendly and nice. They gave me a really good introduction the first time I arrived, and were very helpful - especially after my sessions when I was feeling super-relaxed, and a bit out of it! The facility is spotless - hygiene was not an issue for any of my visits. You're required to shower before you get in the tank, and the water is filtered between uses. You're given all the toiletries (e.g. soap, shampoo, etc, and it's the fancy stuff, not cheap at all) and towels you'll need, so no need to bring you're own. The location is at the top of the medical centre near Warringah Mall. There's an entire parking lot (with a couple of hours free) at the bottom of the building, so you can't get more convenient than that. I'm not sure how long it's been there, but it feels quite new. They have a really cool relaxation area for after your session. It has hammocks, plenty of space/mats to stretch (with foam rollers), drinks, and some couches to chill on. Make sure you allow some time to spend there after you're done. If you're thinking about giving floating a try, I'd highly recommend you do it here.

I was visiting Sydney for about 5 weeks. As I was walking down King Street I noticed The Buddha…read moreBar. I checked out their website when I got back to the house where I was staying. Shiro Dhara- what?! I work as an Esthetician and have had a lot of massage treatments. I had heard of this treatment and always wanted to try it. If you don't know what it is check out their website. Booked my appointment with Trish. Let me say she did not disappoint. She was just perfect. So perfect in fact that I went back every week until I left Sydney. I so wish I lived closer! She just knew where I needed work done. Her hands instantly found those knots and tight spots on my upper back. She is incredible!!

I love the Buddah Bar (Clinic and Emporium), great service lovely browsing for oils and candles…read morethough my main aim here is to get a Massage. Jade Clark works here a few days a week and she is worth finding time in her schedule, book a few days in advance. Massage Acupuncture is the key for dealing with those stressful days and weeks.

Adding to the very helpful reviews of other yelpers, here's my experience from the perspective of…read moresomeone totally new to yoga classes (though not yoga). I got exactly what I was looking for here: a new experience, a challenge, and the opportunity to try out some new moves. I'm not a yoga superstar by any stretch, and I found the style of this instruction to be really nice for someone who is just learning. Rather than modelling the moves, the teacher talked non-stop (really) for 90 minutes. For a new person getting distracted by the novelty of the poses (and yes, the slipping and falling out of poses) this constant flow of "how to" was extremely helpful. There is a gradual, step-like nature to almost all of the poses, which meant that I could always participate (at least partially, if not fully). I never felt pressured to go beyond my limits, and it was perfectly normal to sit out poses. Finally, this is a class I would recommend to friends who might not go to a yoga class because a) they are self-conscious about their body or b) they are worried about being berated for poor form. While there was certainly a fair share of athletes here, there was also a normal spectrum of bodies as well. And as of a few minutes in, everyone looked like a sweaty mess, and it certainly seemed like we were all way, way too hot to think about anything except how hot it was. And on the other front, I'm happy to report that the teachers here were very constructive and respectful - they did not embarrass anyone or hover around pointing out problems. Before you go, do be sure to check out their website, which nicely outlined what to expect so that I walked in knowing how everything worked.

This is a good and proper Bikram Yoga place by anyone's standards, and so I think this review might…read morework in a more instructional sort of way, rather than as a straight up opinion rant. Firstly: For newbies, they offer a $17 10 day pass. That's not 10 visits, it just means you can do as many classes as you like, within 10 days from when you first buy the pass. There are all sorts of other deals: bring 3 people and get another 10 day pass for free, get a 1 month membership before the end of your 10 days and it's only $99, etc. etc. While it all starts cheap, full membership can be quite pricy, though if you attend 3+ classes a week it can work out at below $10 a visit. They do offer concessions. What to do / what to expect: Turn up 15 minutes early if you're new. The entry isn't on Crown Street, it's right next door to Shady Pines Saloon. Take off your shoes before you go upstairs. Make sure you're well hydrated and have eaten enough (but not eaten anything in the 2 hours before class). This Bikram yoga centre is big, calming and beautiful and the communal areas smell like well-chosen incents. There's an upstairs and a downstairs yoga studio, the instructors should tell you which one your class will be in. There are small(ish) changerooms with lockers (you'll need a padlock if you want to secure your locker). You can rent mats and towels or bring your own. Don't wear a lot. For guys - just shorts is completely acceptable, and many women also just wear little shorts and sports bras. The room is heated to between 36 and 42 so you will sweat like a mofo, no matter what you're doing. The less clothing, the more comfortable you'll be. Don't worry about what you look like, everyone is so focussed on the poses that no one is paying you any attention. Ok, time to go into the room. Make sure you have your water, mat, and full-size towel. Seriously, just like in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, you WILL need your towel. If you're new, find a spot close to the back. They only let experienced Bikram-ers go up front, and it makes sense because it helps to copy them. When you first walk in, the heat can be a bit of a shock, and it also can smell a bit funky - like wet carpet - but you don't notice that after a while. Once you have found a spot up the back, put your mat down (keep it straight), and put your towel over it. Lie down and chill out for a while. Once the instructor comes into the room, everyone gets up quite promptly and stands still and tall, ready for the class. The sequence is the same each time, and it takes 90 minutes. They start with breathing exercises and a strenuous warmup, then move into the standing poses. Even the simplest looking poses can be extremely strenuous and difficult if you're doing them properly. Start small, but try to do the poses as well as possible. If you're new, you don't have to get into the full pose immediately, they suggest different options. After the standing poses, there's a series of seated ones - still difficult, but at least you get some chances to lie down and calm yourself a bit. The instructors talk fast and have a lot of rules, though they aren't particularly scary people. Breathe through your nose, keep your face calm, don't talk, keep focused, try not to wipe the sweat off, try to drink only when it's drink break time, try not to leave the room. If you feel totally overwhelmed, you can stand still for a while and/or have some water, or if you really feel bad, sit down for a while (though that can make it worse). One tip: to put some natural electrolytes into your water, squeeze a bit of lemon juice in, or just a pinch of salt. After the class you will absolutely need to take a shower. The upstairs showers are quite nice (and have great smelling shower gel) but they don't lock, and you have to get-in-get-out as quickly as possible. If you're squeamish about sweaty towels you may want to bring a second clean one for the shower. The women's change-room is small but has some hairdryers and everyone is very polite in the cramped space. This place is really serious about getting Bikram right, and the instructors are uncompromising, to the point of being perhaps a little unsympathetic to newbies who aren't coping well. If you have a heart condition or if you frequently have low blood sugar and fainting episodes, then this may not be the right kind of yoga for you. I'm not sure it's the right kind for me either, still working that out.

If you grew up in the region, you would've spent countless swimming carnivals here - walking past…read morethe canteen area brings vivid flashbacks to me. Swimming carnivals of my youth aside, the Warringah Aquatic Centre is a swimming complex located at Frenchs Forest. It's impressive facilities include a 50m pool, a diving pool with several diving boards of different heights, a few outdoor pools that are constantly too cold to swim in, and of course, the canteen. There's always something happening at the Aquatic Centre - swimming lessons for little ones, squads and development training for the older kids, Aqua Aerobics for the realllly old ones, and a bunch of people who just want to swim. The centre has great - and free -parking available, although it's a bit of a walk to the car when you're dripping wet and it's freezing outside. A better option would be taking advantage of the free hot showers, and storing something warm for afterwards in a free (deposit required) locker. The Center has impressive, stadium-style seating for parents to cheer on their little ones in the race, and also has a range of swimming-related paraphernalia if you've forgotten the all-important goggles or floaties.

One of the only indoor pools on the beaches! Easy parking, get a lane to myself half the time,…read moreacceptable price. Hot showers afterwards should be free though, currently they're cold and too short for me!

I dunno about you guys, but when I think of Newtown, I don't think about therapeutic oils and…read morerelaxation therapies. That is, until I went into Pure Botanicals. Beautiful scents enveloped me as I entered the store. Their shelves are filled with their own brand of essential oils, bath and shower soaps, shaving products, and more. According to Pure Botanicals, their purpose is to make health care easily accessible, affordable, and supportive. With this in mind, the staff is extremely helpful in suggesting natural methods to enhance one's health and wellbeing. I had a great experience at the store. Their line of men's products smells great, as it is not too fragrant. I purchased a face moisturizer to try, containing comfrey and marshmallow herbs, rosehip and Vitamin E Oil. It's pricey--around $40. Not only do they have many products (and an online store!), but also their in-store clinic offers many alternative treatments, including hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and massages. A seasoned professional in the field conducts each treatment.

Oh hello my local smelly shop!…read more I had no idea these guys has remedial massage available, or regular massage. As well as naturopaths and other holistic medicine practitioners. I was referred here by a friend who got a massage and said that they were good. So being that my neck is causing me all kinds of grief I thought I'd check them out. I'm glad I did. I've been going here for about 2 months now and Glendon has worked wonders on my neck and shoulders. I may have even fallen asleep during one of his sessions, ops! My bad. He's lovely and his knows his stuff. All the appointments happen under the shop where there's a lovely couched seating area with tea and coffee available while you wait for your appointment and you can watch the world go by through the double glass doors as you wait listening to relaxing background music. Upstairs they stock a whole range of amazing things, from candles, to burn sticks to oils and tea. They actually stock from one of my favourite tea places in here which has delighted me no end. So if you're walking past and have never gone in, go in and have a wonder.