Mind/Body Renewal in Atwater Village

Dtox Day Spa recently opened in Atwater Village, an area that could use a good spa. Beyond its unassuming frosted glass façade on Los Feliz Blvd. is a bona fide sanctuary. Men's and women's separate facilities are fully equipped with all the accoutrements you'd expect from a high-end day spa, including lockers, robes/slippers, steam rooms and saunas. A fountain covers an entire wall of the common relaxation area, and the sound of rushing water echoes throughout the facilities, even in the treatment rooms. Brick walls and soaring exposed beam ceilings create a sense of simplicity, warmth and space, and comfy couches and chairs invite spa goers to relax for as long as they want before and after their treatments.

We were in for a unique treat during our visit: the four-handed Yin Yang massage. This treatment involves two massage therapists, one male and one female, who together administer a beautifully choreographed combination of Swedish, esalen, acupressure, reflexology, shiatsu, and reiki to induce a profound sense of relaxation. The core concept is to restore balance in the body by using the Yin energy of the female therapist and the Yang energy of the male. This was our first two-person massage, and we have to say it was incredible - a true indulgence. Each part of the body essentially got twice the amount of attention it would receive during a typical 50-minute treatment. And our therapists did indeed complement each other wonderfully; each one would work on a separate part of the body and then they would seamlessly switch places without interrupting the rhythm of the bodywork.

We took a little more time to enjoy the spa's facilities before reluctantly dressing and returning to the real world.

Review originally published 10/26/2006.