Novi, MI Spa and Massage

At International Therapeutic Massage, the staff values well-being above all else. They dedicate the full appointment to the massage, refusing to subtract any time for changing, a consultation, or a quick game of patty-cake to warm up the therapist’s hands. Once a client stretches out in one of 10 treatment rooms, the therapist goes to work using various techniques—deep-tissue, hot-stone, or Swedish, for example. These techniques are designed not just to alleviate pain and discomfort, but also to improve mental well-being, promote self-healing, and enhance the immune system.

At Tamara Spa + Wellness—named one of the Best Spas in Detroit by Hour Detroit in 2010—the licensed staff has been saving jeopardized digits and parched pores with in-depth treatments for 30 years. Comprising 10,000 square feet, the spa boasts nearly 30 private treatment rooms in which to enjoy soothing massages enhanced with soft lighting and soothing music. Or, try the rain forest water journey treatment—a therapeutic punch of eucalyptus steam made all the more serene by the addition of falling water and the gentle harmonies of an all-toucan jazz trio. Candlelit whirlpool tubs invite bodies to soak away inches or stress in baths filled with milk and honey or firming and toning tonics, and miniature pedicure tubs welcome feet to soak away walking woes with help from soothing sea salts and oils. A dozen or so facials see the spa's aestheticians personalizing each step to suit skin's specific needs, leading a writer for Spa Magazine to declare, "My skin never looked and felt so good."

Sylvie Salei has strived to make people feel healthy, at ease, and looking good for more than 30 years. She has a number of ways of accomplishing that—she trained as an aesthetician in France and is a licensed massage therapist. Sylvie oversees a wide variety of services, from facials to waxing. Also available: at-home spa services as well as spa parties, although terry-cloth noisemakers will not be provided.

At each of Tricho Salon and Spa’s four locations, trained stylists stand ready to refresh outdated hairstyles with products by Schwarzkopf, Bumble and bumble, Keratin Complex, and Moroccanoil. Dr. Sonya Friedman, an accomplished author, CNN talk-show host, and radio psychologist, teams up with dermatologist Dr. Scott Friedman to helm the spa side of the business, where clients can find eight types of facials, nine styles of massage, noninvasive micro treatments, and advice for mending a hairdryer’s broken heart. Fingertips and toes in need of some TLC can also be pampered inside this full-service beauty haven, as nail techs doll-up digits with OPI and Essie polishes as well as Shellac, acrylic, and fiberglass tips.

A person who ascribes to a dynamist worldview sees the universe in terms of force or energy. At Dynamist Massage Therapy, dynamist healers increase the presence of positive, curative energy by practicing a range of ancient and modern massage techniques. Relaxation and Swedish-style massages diminish stress, and therapeutic massages address specific complaints with a custom blend of techniques. During hot-stone massages, warmth from heated rocks penetrates aching muscles. In contrast, cold-therapy massages activate sluggish nervous systems with chilled stones, ice packs, and readings from Ernest Shackleton's memoir. Therapists also specialize in reflexology, which activates pressure points in the hands and feet. Stress-reducing, traditional Japanese reiki healing techniques stimulate circulation and energy flow.

Plymouth Wellness Center & Spa's team of aestheticians and therapists deftly eases sore spots and brightens clients' outlooks with chiropractic and wellness services ranging from massage to detoxification. Spine specialists perform adjustments to treat and prevent pain and disease as skinscape experts defuzz dermises with waxing and combat aging with facials. The center’s prenatal kneadings can relax expectant mothers, and its infrared sauna helps cleanse bodies of harmful toxins, such as mercury, nicotine, sodium, and kryptonite.