Korean Scrubbed Squeaky Clean

Mitts used during the scrub

In serious need of some pampering this weekend, I hauled my dispirited butt to the nearest Korean spa, conveniently located in the heart of K-town. When life gets you down, one of the best ways to renew is to physically beat out and remove the grime of old layers and begin with a fresh slate, literally. My roommates came along also and we made a girls day of it. After checking out several options, we chose the two-hour $130 package at Yi Pak Spa which includes a body scrub, dry and wet saunas, massage, facial and a hair shampoo/rinse. Pretty good deal!

The spa looked more like an apartment with small rooms serving as the different saunas and a large room accomodating four tall beds kinda like the ones you lie on at the doctor’s office. Not a fancy ambiance like Bliss, but I was there for the services, not the environment.

We change into robes and here's where it gets interesting. The main room doesn't have any dividers or curtains, soooo after you undress, all the services are done while you’re in the buff. Yes, at first you try really hard to maintain eye contact at all times but it gets less awkward over time, especially since it’s women only (there’s a separate couples room where men can go but it’s apart from the main room). After the first two times, you get over the shyness and feel more comfortable (our bodies are all the same!).

The Korean scrub was what really enticed me to the spa. It’s not for everyone, but as someone who loves deep tissue massages so hard it feels like the masseuse is punishing you (like tui-na), the vigorous scrubbing and subsequent clumping of gray skin falling off is supremely satisfying. Extreme Exfoliation, it should really be called. The middle-aged women wear semi-rough gloves and forcefully rub you in every direction until dead skin cells roll into grayish clusters. I envision my pores, wide open from the earlier sauna sessions, being scrubbed squeaky clean of all the dirt and sweat that seeps in from just breathing in New York City.

After the scrub, we were ushered to the dry sauna and then finished off with a massage, facial and hair rinse. The main event is definitely the body scrub but the additional services were so relaxing, and felt well-deserved after enduring the scrub! Two hours later, the result was a rejuvenated mind and buttery smooth skin. I simply glowed, and felt like a brand new woman.

What one of the sauna "igloos" at Spa Castle look like!

I think most Korean spas are no frills without fancy candles or incense, but I appreciated the experience for the ultra clean feeling I got from the scrub and how relaxed I was after the massage, sauna and facial. I plan to go back after the winter, to shed off the skin and prepare a new layer for summer tanning. Consider it body maintenance – not unlike the housecleaning we get once a quarter. I clean my room regularly but it’s good to have a professional deep-clean the apartment once in awhile to get into all the corners. Similarly, I’ll exfoliate and do bikram on the regular but need a professional to deep-clean my twice a year.

Another option in NYC is Spa Castle, which is further out in Queens but a super fun way to spend a day hanging out. The place is practically an all-day amusement park, and has a huge variety of activities - nude hot springs/baths, body scrubs, massages, a pool, and hot and cold sauna "igloos" with different themes. It is really fun, albeit can get pricey since the services are buffet-style and on weekends can be crowded with families and kids. $45 admission will get you access to most everything but the massages/facials/scrubs are additional. It's a great way to spend a day with girlfriends, get to know each other, and feel peaceful and pampered.