Just prior to last Christmas, a new space appeared at the center of the Atlantis Gym in Secaucus. With men and women working the weights in one room and other patrons undergoing a variety of fitness routines elsewhere, the soothing flow of dripping water as part of the window displays in this odd space seemed remarkably seductive.
The Vigi Day Spa, which began leasing space from Atlantis just before the holidays, is a place where stressed out people can go to relax, offering a variety of services from facials for men and women to massage.
If the water flowing along the inside of the specially designed panes of glass was not enough of a clue about the change of atmosphere, a walk through the door into the spa would tell you how peaceful a place this was. Signs of this are everywhere: a textured lounge area where people can sip peppermint tea while waiting for one of the rooms, and the gentle strands of new age music.
The spa was conceived by Danisha Morales, who said the idea was to provide a stress-free atmosphere to escape to, if not for the lift and pull of the gym, then from the everyday stress of the office complexes situated around the Harmon Meadow mall.
The 31-year-old Morales spent four years working in massage therapy for the Plaza Hotel. She had always wanted a place of her own, to explore her own ideas of what massage therapy is all about.
She said she had learned a lot about the industry after graduating from massage school five years ago, and wanted to set up her own place.
“I know the owner of the gym,” she said. “So when the opportunity presented itself, I went for it.”
She said she has spent the last few months getting the word out to old clients and new, and though her operation is separate from the gyms, she offers discounts to those coming to her from the gym. She has also advertised widely through newspapers and coupons.
Although it is always wise to make an appointment, she said Vigi does take people who walk in.
“In fact, most of our clients are walk-ins,” she said. “We will also go to a location outside. If someone wants us to come to his or her home or to a local hotel, we can do that. We have one client in Jersey City and we go to his home.”
While her facility is open to men and women, more of her clients are currently men.
Morales said everything in the facility is designed to help people relax, from the lighting and music to the colors she selected for the walls.
The idea of relaxing has another side for Morales, who has been working with survivors of abuse and other people in physical rehab free of charge, trying to help develop techniques that will make life easier to cope with.
She has also been involved with classes to help people learn to live healthier and shape deal with stress through preventative techniques.
One package Vigi offers is an infant massage class that is designed to help promote the bond between parents and infant.
“People don’t understand how important touching is,” she said. “Parents need to touch their children, to nurture them. It is part of growth.”
Vigi offers a variety of massage therapies that include class Swedish and shiatsu finger pressure massage. The facility also provide packages for deep tissue to help warm up a person before sporting events or relaxing prenatal massage for women struggling with back and neck pain or swelling.
The facility also offers a variety of facial and body treatments, as well as arrangements for private rooms or shared rooms where several friends or family members might converse while undergoing a treatment. For more information on prices, times and programs, call (201) 865-4111.