Saturday, November 22, 2014

Serene Lounge Urban Spa and Massage + FREE GCs!!

Serene Lounge
A few days ago, I received an invite to check out this spa in San Juan and it couldn't have come at a better time!



Brian and Vanessa Sio opened Serene Lounge on July 4, 2014. For a spa that's only been open four months, Serene Lounge is doing really well. They already have a significant number of loyal customers ranging from young professionals, families, athletes, celebrities, and prominent figures. You're probably wondering, why is that? Why do people visit them instead of the other, cheaper spas in the area? Well, the answer lies in the fact that they provide a clean, healthy, and safe environment for its clients. For one, take a look at their reception/waiting area. For some reason, spas think that by turning off all the lights in their establishment, people would be more relaxed. That's not completely true. Some people even avoid dimly-lit spas because it gives the impression that it provides extra service (even though that may not be the case).

A spa with a well-lit receiving area gives a more welcoming vibe, plus you get an idea if they're actually clean or not - a important factor for service-oriented establishments like this one. 
Serene Lounge
It's also good that they have a system. Before getting started, you'll need to fill up this form which will tell them if you have any injuries, allergies or anything like that. It also asks you to specify what your pressure and stretching preferences are, and which part of your body you'd like the therapist to focus on during the massage.
Serene Lounge
They have five massage oils to choose from, all of which are organic - made with essential oils, virgin coco oil, and sweet almond oil. I went with the Stress Relief while Mike picked Sweet Dreams. They aren't strong-smelling scents (unlike in other spas) because their oils do not have any chemicals. Serene Lounge makes sure that the ones they use are safe to apply on the body. Even though people won't really notice the difference, they still take that extra step (and additional cost) to ensure that they offer the best service.
Serene Lounge
These frames are the perfect decors - they'll definitely put you in the right mood while you're waiting for your turn to be pampered. I kinda want them for my own room! Haha!
Serene Lounge
Another thing I like about Serene Lounge is that the owners know a lot about the field. They regularly go out to try different spas around the metro, so this year, they finally decided to open their own. Of course, there was a lot of research involved in the process, but since they themselves have experienced being customers, they already have an idea on what most people look for in a spa.
Serene Lounge
Serene Lounge
As I already mentioned earlier, ambiance is important. Even their restroom looks relaxing! The colors are mostly neutral; they avoided striking colors so there's nothing to distract you. Everything's easy on the eyes to keep you on your "relaxed mode".
Serene LoungeSerene Lounge
Serene Lounge
Serene Lounge
Here's the main reason why people keep coming back to Serene Lounge - they don't just hire anybody and train them. Serene Lounge employs licensed massage therapists who know what they're doing. They know where your problem areas are and will give those areas more attention. Heck, you can even ask them about your body pains and they'll be able to provide a legit medical answer. That's how good they are.
Serene LoungeSerene Lounge
Their services are different from other spas. Sure, they have the basics like Shiatsu and Swedish massages, but if you're planning to visit them, I would suggest trying their signature service - the Thermo-Aromatherapy Deep Tissue Massage. It starts off with a heated herbal pack that gently warms your back and body. The therapist then applies firm pressure that relaxes knots, increases circulation, relieves muscle spasms, reduces inflammation, and eases pain to help relax the entire body. This is perfect for me because I personally like my massages hard. For example, my therapist that night, Lea, really dug into my shoulder blades. She stroked each side more than 50 times (yes, I counted) and to be honest, it hurt, but that's exactly what I wanted. My mindset is, if I don't feel pain, then it's not worth my money. I sound like a masochist, but I'm not! The truth is, if you want them to take out all the lamig from your body, you have to be ready for some pain. It will be so worth it afterwards.

P.S. I noticed that Lea massaged parts that are usually ignored, like my inner arm, my lower back (which I badly needed), and my belly (which I super enjoyed!). According to Brian, the therapists are trained to really reach every strand of your muscles and lymph nodes, so you leave feeling refreshed.
Serene Lounge
Mike thought their Sports Therapy Massage would be a good match for him since he had been experiencing shoulder pains from his gym session the day before. According to him, it's a pretty intense massage for guys (and girls!) who really like their massages rough. This massage emphasizes prevention and healing of injuries to the muscles and tendons. It's recommended for people with active lifestyle, people with injuries, chronic pain or restricted range of motion. Between the two of us, he's more into lighter, less painful massages, and likes sleeping through his massages. Unfortunately he wasn't able to that night, but he did mention that his shoulders felt a lot more relaxed and loose after.
Serene LoungeSerene Lounge
For anyone who wants to get some sleep done, go for the Swedish Massage instead. ;)

Oh, and check out their other services below!

I'm going back for their Foot Reflex and Merry Berries Body Scrub soon! :)

If there's anything I wanted more from Serene Lounge, it's probably a longer session! I'm telling you, one hour isn't enough!! So go for 1.5 or 2 hours if you don't have anywhere you need to be afterwards ;)
Serene Lounge
Serene Lounge Urban Spa & Massage
 G/F Madison Square Bldg. 264 N. Domingo St. San Juan City
(Across Little Baguio Terraces Condo)

For appointments, text/call them at 0922-780-7355.
They're open daily from 4pm to 12mn.

GIVEAWAY TIME! <3
I'm giving away a free one-hour massage therapy of your choice to two winners!
(Open to Metro Manila residents)

All you have to do:
 1. Like Serene Lounge on Facebook
2. Follow me on Instagram (optional; extra points if you do!)
3. Share this post on Facebook (link here)
4. Tell me why you deserve to win and which of their massages (Deep Tissue / Sports Therapy / Swedish / Shiatsu / Tranquility Massage) you'll pick if you did!
5. Comment your answer below with the link to your Facebook share (by clicking your post's time stamp), your name, Instagram handle, and email address.

Contest ends on December 7, 2014! Winners will be chosen via raffle!
Good luck, everyone!! :)

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EDIT (December 8, 6:40pm): The winners are...

Max Aficial and Michelle Alegre! Congratulations!! Will contact you on how to claim your GCs! :)
Thank you to everyone who joined the giveaway! :) :)