Aman New York certainly made a big spa splash when it opened its exclusive doors in 2022, unveiling the brand’s new flagship Aman Spa. Encompassing the ninth, tenth, and eleventh floors of the historic Crown Building on the corner of 57th Street and Fifth Avenue, the private sanctuary is solely open to hotel guests and members. Design here is uber-urban Zen—think natural materials like teak and marble with moody low lighting throughout. Two private Spa Houses boast a double treatment room, a spacious living area with fireplace, and a large private outdoor terrace with a warm bath and cold plunge pool. Additionally, each Spa House features a hammam or a banya.
There is an immense quietness to the spa that seems to encourage solitude. This is luxury minimalism in the age of AI.
While awaiting a signature body treatment, I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by Mika— a massage therapist whom I had met more than a decade ago during her tenure at the Ritz-Carlton Central Park. Mika is, hands down (pun most definitely intended), one of the best therapists I’ve encountered in my decades of spa reportage. The two-hour signature body treatment that ensued was phenomenal.
This is luxury minimalism in the age of AI.
Sanali McFadden, Director of Spa and Wellness, Aman New York
I was equally impressed by Sanali McFadden, Director of Spa and Wellness. McFadden, who grew up in Sri Lanka, shared with me that wellness has always been a part of her life. “As a child, my grandmother used to offer me a massage before bath time in the evenings, and yoga and stretching were part of my daily routine,” she notes. “In addition, during a full moon, we used to participate in a special meditation ritual within a Buddhist temple. However, it was really during my time living in the Middle East that I discovered the magic of spas and began to appreciate their power.”
There is a certain magic to this spa. “The Aman Spa at Aman New York represents the culmination of all we have learned over three decades, and we are proud to provide transformative wellness and longevity experiences through functional and integrated medical services, specialist therapies, and cutting-edge culinary, aesthetic, and performance science, in a setting like no other,” attests Yuki Kiyono, Global Head of Health and Wellness Development, Aman. “Representing the brand’s flagship wellness centre in the western hemisphere, the spa provides extensive facilities, unmatched in Manhattan.”
I spoke with Kiyono and McFadden to learn a bit more.
What is the philosophy behind Aman New York, and how does it differ from other Aman spa properties?
Yuki Kiyono: Delivering the fullest expression of the Aman health and wellbeing concept yet, the Aman Spa at Aman New York is the brand’s flagship wellness center in the western hemisphere. The spa provides extensive facilities, unmatched in Manhattan, across 25,000 square feet and three floors of the hotel. The spa incorporates Aman’s global well–living philosophy, honed across more than three decades, delivering a peaceful sanctuary with unparalleled services featuring an extensive list of customizable treatments and personalized programs, cutting-edge equipment, and highly experienced practitioners, mindfulness coaches, personal trainers, and movement experts enabling complete rejuvenation and enhanced wellbeing. Through both traditional healing practices and modern science, it provides a comprehensive and holistic offering. In keeping with the brand’s approach to wellness across its portfolio, the philosophy extends outside the parameters of the spa with guests given the key teachings and tools to continue their wellbeing journey post stay.
Yuki Kiyono, Global Head of Health and Wellness Development, Aman
A first for the brand, the spa offers a Functional and Integrative Medicine Service provided by renowned physicians with conventional medical training as well as wellness expertise, overseen by Dr. Robert Graham. In addition to a master’s degree in Public Health, Dr. Graham has also achieved three fellowships in General Internal Medicine, Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies and Medical Education at Harvard Medical School. He also has a culinary degree from the Natural Gourmet Institute and is one of very few Doctor/Chefs worldwide. Within three Holistic Clinical Rooms and an Assessment Studio at the spa, Dr. Graham and his team utilise the latest contemporary health technology, such as an InBody 570 tool and an OligoScan, to determine the root cause of health concerns. These contribute to a detailed individual treatment plan incorporating key findings that aim to aid participants on their unique journey back to optimal wellbeing.
What is the focus of your treatment menu at Aman New York?
Yuki Kiyono: The treatment menu is extensive with a diverse range of therapies where natural healing practices derived from traditional medicine systems are used in tandem with contemporary medical equipment and scientific research to deliver a comprehensive and holistic offering. The menu aims to target every possible need state, helping guests achieve any wellness goal.
Which treatments are resonating most with guests?
Sanali McFadden: Currently, we are finding that our Aman Signature Spa Journeys—Nourishing, Purifying, and Grounding—along with our Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatments are resonating well with our guests. We have also seen a continued interest in our 3,000-square-foot Fitness Centre and private fitness classes, such as our yoga and Pilates sessions, alongside our unique Functional and Integrative Medicine facilities including the invigorating Cryotherapy Chamber and LED and Infrared therapy room. In addition, the desire for a restorative massage or a rejuvenating facial is always present.
Mary Bemis
Mary Bemis is Founder & Editorial Director of InsidersGuidetoSpas.com. She is a pioneering spa journalist, most recently honored by Medika Life as one of the "Top 30 Influential Voices Transforming Wellness." She is an inaugural recipient of Folio's Top Women in Media Award, and was honored by ISPA with its distinguished ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award. In 1997, she launched American Spa magazine, and in 2007, Mary co-founded Organic Spa magazine. A pioneer in the sustainable spa and beauty worlds, Mary is co-curator of Cosmoprof North America's Discover Green Pavilion. She is a Global Wellness Day Advisor, and a co-founder of the Washington Spa Alliance.
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