After a long week at work or simply a series of intense workouts, there's nothing Deacon likes better than a great massage. Rephrase that: Deacon pretty much likes his rubbies any way he can get them - and since he's a dog, that pretty much just involves flopping over on his back and asking you for a tummy scratch.McLean, on the other hand, is probably a certifiable massage junkie. From Annapolis to Alexandria and beyond, she's dedicated herself to exploring some of the area's best massage spaces to ensure that you, dear reader, don't waste your moolah on a sub par session.
So when Pamela Woolford, owner and massage therapist of new Dupont Circle studio Peace and Ginger sent a press release, she was more than happy to test it out ... on behalf of Deacon, and yourselves, of course.
Woolford operates her single-room studio out of the third floor Dupont space occupied by District Wellness Group, a holistic wellness space that offers life counseling, acupuncture and massage therapists. A former dancer and theater buff, Woolford elected to open her own practice after graduating from massage school rather than work for another spa - she had her own vision of what she wanted to bring to the table.
The fairly extensive menu offers most of your traditional massage specialties as well as her signature warm ginger oil massage, which uses custom soy-based oil candles to create a soothing massage in a peaceful ginger scent.
We opted for an hour-long traditional Swedish massage, determined after a brief consult with Woolford, who asked specifically about any areas of tension and what types of pressure we'd prefer.
The room itself is larger than your average massage space, with a small window facing Dupont Circle allowing some sunshine to filter through the pretty blinds. The bed, while unheated, was quite comfortable, and the blankets covering it where both soft and snowy white. Soothing music played in the background, and a few of her siguature ginger candles were lit to provide a background scent. (More are lit during a ginger massage, Woolford says, as she works from as many as four candles at one time to ensure optimium scent and oil temperature).
Our neck and shoulders suffer the most - being stuck at a computer all day is not the best for your body - and so we began on our back, a small pillow under our knees for added support. The gentle face and shoulder massage was instantly relaxing - Woolford's touch gentle yet firm. As she expertly kneaded our tension points, moving to the arms and the legs, we noticed that we'd been on our back for quite some time. At some point, we flipped to our stomach.
Despite our blissful state, we were aware enough to notice the clock - the hour had run nearly ten minutes over, covering closer to 70 minutes than 60. For the price ($100 per hour), this was a welcome treat - many similarly-priced places only offer a 50 minute massage for their "hour" billing, factoring changing time and a consult in the price.
We changed and met Woolford in the small waiting area, where she presented us with a small glass of water, a cup of organic fruit nectar, and several pieces of vegan ginger dark chocolate, which had a pleasantly tangy aftertaste.
There's nothing bad we can say - the room was peaceful and quiet, despite other occupied offices next door, and Woolford's touch was both experienced and intuitive. When asked why we spent so much time on our backs, Woolford replied that those determinations are made on a per client basis, but she often finds that the position is more relaxing to the client, particularly those who suffer from upset stomachs on a frequent basis. We don't, but the massage certainly felt divine!
We left, the bright summer sunshine hitting our still-warm muscles, and felt better than we had in days. If you're in the area or simply searching for a great massage, we'd highly reccommend an appointment. It truly feels as if you are paying for service rather than additional amenities like a steam room or fancy product name. Plus, we liked that she uses organic and sustainable oils in her treatments.
Book between now and September 5th to recieve $40 off any 90-minute massage, $50 off any 6o minute warm ginger massage, or $60 off a 90 minute ginger treatment. New clients can also recieve 15 percent off their intitial appointment.
Frequent visitors get perks too:
When you get four full-priced massages, you get a free upgrade from a one-hour massage to a 90 minute massage or a deluxe warm ginger oil massage. And when you get four more, you get a one-hour massage free of charge--or a massage gift certificate that you can chose to give to a friend, a family member, or someone special.
You can also earn a $20 credit towards massage services, for yourself or someone else, each time you send them a new client. That way, you can earn a free one-hour massage when you send in five new clients. Or you can spend credits as you go by taking $20 off the price of a massage service anytime you'd like. It's up to you.
We'd thank you greatly if you mention "Deacon Does DC" when booking ... we'd like to return soon!
Photo by Bill Petros
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