A Spa Experience That’s ‘Oddly Satisfying’ or Just Plain Odd? (Review)
Exploring relaxation of the physical and virtual varieties at The Oddly Satisfying Spa
Between the two of us, it is my girlfriend who is more intrigued by the “oddly satisfying” section of YouTube. Perfectly dissected fruits, slime compilations, and watching paint drip — these videos give her a strange sense of relaxation. For me, I find the videos perfectly fine but have never found the same kind of pleasure from them. So when we heard about a brand new “spa” experience which promised to be tailored specifically to this sensation of “oddly satisfying” satisfaction, we made our way into Ridgewood, Brooklyn to see how this Internet sensation would be IRL.
Gentle music welcomes us into the waiting room, where several other subdued participants greet us silently with their eyes. We make ourselves comfortable on buoyant pillows, and we each fill in a clipboard questionnaire. I notice they hand us perfectly pointed pencils to color in each of the perfectly formed bubbles on the survey. My feet find comfort in the pair of cream colored slippers I was handed on the way in. I work my way through a series of existential questions: what my experiences with relaxation have been in the past and questions about my responses to the physical world and the virtual world that we have created for ourselves with social media. I find myself sinking further into my seat in deep contemplation, feeling somewhat ill at ease when considering the real me vs the virtual representation of me. Taking time for myself to relax is not something that I’m accustomed to, certainly not since moving to the great city that never sleeps, NYC.
Our host for the evening, creator Tyler Pridgen, enters the room dressed in a robe and sprays rose water around each of the guests. He leans in close to a microphone set up in the center of the waiting room, and in hushed tones he welcomes us to the spa. His quiet voice reverberates around the room through the cyclical speaker setup. He invites us to close our eyes and to listen — to purposefully listen. The rules and framework for the evening are laid out for us, in a most ear-tantalizing way, with each syllable being consciously, deliberately, over-pronounced. This will be a whisper-only spa. We are invited to close our eyes, as audio oddities surround us, in a sequence I think must have been inspired by the great ASMR-based immersive experience, Whisperlodge.
Following this most unorthodox welcome, we are handed a menu of treatments and are ushered through a set of thick felt curtains into the rest of the spa where we partake in a variety of different stations. Throughout the evening we were given freedom to roam and explore the house and decide which of the experiences were ”oddly satisfying,” and which were, well, just plain odd.
Where The Oddly Satisfying Spa excels is in the amount of thought and attention has been paid to each and every patron’s experience, both virtual and physical. For those who want to partake in tactile, sensory experiences, there is a plethora to choose from — everything from slime stations, to walls made out of color changing sequins, to the wonderfully titled Fuzzidarium (an entire room covered in faux fur, with projected eyes that seem to follow you).
If you favor a virtual experience, there is also plenty on offer, like the virtual steam room or the “Mind Massage” (which included a very real masseuse to help aid the experience). Before you even put on the headset, you are gently placed into the headspace of the experience you are waiting for and actively being prepped for the moment of immersion. Combining the tactile experiences with virtual reality is a welcome combination, one which boosters both individual parts rather than diminishing either. Rather than being used to excite the mind, VR is used to help promote relaxation and provide oddly satisfying visual and audio experiences. The VR portions have been structured in a way that doesn’t feel like you are simply waiting your turn, an issue I have found at many VR exhibitions and festivals where only a few people can use the headsets at a time.
Despite there being a capacity audience of forty, at no point did the spa feel cramped or overly full, thanks to multiple large open areas, with well spaced out and varied relaxation stations being monitored by attentive spa attendants. Although there is no narrative to the evening, each of the attendants is mindful of each audience member’s participation in the spa, offering gentle guidance and recommendations as you make your way through the space. The Spa is still able to give each individual the time and space for reflection using non-traditional treatments.
This is the first iteration of the spa, as created by the new company Luxury Escapism, and I look forward to seeing what oddities they come up with next. This whole experience has the feel of a 29Rooms-inspired art installation, with room to move, view, and experience at your own pleasure, but mixed with the consciously tailored experience of an event like Whisperlodge, where the individual’s experience and state of well-being are key.
Having come into the experience somewhat skeptical, I found myself being immediately charmed by the relationship created from the virtual experiences and the tactile sensations surrounding me. As I left the spa, I was relaxed and calm, ready to face another trip on the NYC subway. Consider this one a convert to this community of oddly satisfying relaxation.
The Oddly Satisfying Spa has concluded its New York City run; sign up for their mailing list to find out where they’ll pop up next.
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