I used to think spas were some far away, unachievable place that only the rich and famous get to experience, but boy was I wrong! I was out with my best friend and she invited me to come with her friends to the Sojo Spa Club in Edgewater, New Jersey. At first, I was skeptical, as a highly anxious person, I found myself doubting that I would even be able to relax! But let me tell you – I am so glad I did! Here’s what to expect your first spa day!
If you are considering going to a spa, but are scared to take the plunge, let me offer you some insight on what to expect and how to prepare for your first time!
Disclaimer: This is just my personal experience at this particular spa, I understand everyone will have a unique experience and each spa is different! I highly recommend you research the spa you’re thinking about going to and look at the reviews! Also, I am not affiliated with the Sojo Spa Club, this is just the particular spa my friends and I went to!
Pricing
I don’t want to just graze over the most obvious question many of you might be thinking, how much money do I have to spend??
In full transparency, the daily admission pass price varies based on the day of the week you book it. If you book during the week, the price varies from $90-$130, and if you book on the weekend, I see prices from $125-$140. I know can be quite expensive for many of us, but I am here to tell you how to make the most of it!
This pass gets you in for THE WHOLE DAY. So my strong suggestion to you is to book the earliest slot you can [and earliest you want to wake up… this is supposed to be a relaxing day]!! The price for daily admission is the same if you book it at 9am or 7pm, so get your moneys worth!!!
We booked our time slot for 11am and left at 7:30pm! So we had a FULL day.
Also, one other thing to note before I get into the spa experience, there are a number of treatments you can book at an extra cost. The treatments offered at the Sojo Spa Club are:
- Variety of massages [including couples massages]
- Accupressure massages
- Korean body scrubs
The most inexpensive treatment you can book are foot, chair or hand and arm massages for $60 for 30 minutes.
The most expensive treatments are the 60 minute long full body massages for $215.
Next, let’s get into what to bring to the spa!
PLEASE NOTE: You must be 18 years old to go to this particular spa.
What to bring
My friends and I didn’t have any plans after the spa, so we all went our separate ways. This wasn’t the case for majority of the groups of people I saw there. A lot of the people there had plans after the spa, probably to get dinner or go out, etc. So majority of the girls in the locker room were getting ready for the night – showering, then doing hair and makeup, and changing into a nice outfit!
So the list can depend on what you have planned after the spa day. Since I was going home, I opted for a comfortable outfit to change into before we left, and took a shower once I got home. A lot of the showers had translucent glass, so it’s a little see-through, so I personally didn’t feel so comfortable taking a full blown shower with so many people around.
Here is a list of what I brought:
- Bathing suit
- Reusable water bottle
- Change of clothes and undergarments
- Sandals [but not entirely necessary, I didn’t wear them]
- Some skincare products if you want to wash your face or re-moisturize etc.
If you have plans after the spa, I suggest adding some of these items to your list:
- Skincare
- Makeup
- Your shower products, if you prefer to use your own shampoo, conditioner, bodywash
- A hair dryer and other styling tools
- Your night-time outfit and shoes
Okay – now that we have the logistical stuff out of the way.. let’s get into what to expect your first spa day!
Arrival to the spa
Upon pulling up to the spa, you have the option to valet your car, but I opted for the free parking lot down the street [your girl is tryna get the most for my money]. You then walk into the lobby where you are greeted by staff and check in with the front desk. You are asked to confirm your reservation and any treatments if you booked and then are directed to the bag check. You are not allowed to bring in any outside food or drink, but you are allowed to bring an empty reusable bottle to fill up your water at stations all around the spa.
The next stop is where you take off your shoes, this is a shoe-free facility. It is all dependent on the specific place you go, for this particular location, you weren’t allowed to wear flip flops or shoes when walking around the spa areas. You were only allowed to wear shoes in the locker rooms, outdoors, and the bath houses.
So before you enter the upper levels [the spa], you put your shoes in a locker and its off to the spa to start your journey of relaxation!
The locker room
The first stop you go to is the locker room where you get a fresh robe and towel as soon as you walk in and find your locker to put your stuff away. Your locker number corresponds to the number they gave you to put your shoes in when you arrive, there is a bracelet that you receive from that first locker that acts as your locker key and credit card throughout the day! This is super convenient because you don’t have worry about carrying anything all day – no purse, no phone, no wallet, no keys!
From here, I changed into my bathing suit, put on my robe, and was ready to go!
The spa
At the Sojo Spa, there are a bunch of different places to go! There are the saunas, quiet relaxation area, the baths, hot stone beds, ice room, the infinity pool and the spa services area. There is definitely something for everyone. Personally, I wasn’t too into the saunas compared to others, just because I can’t tolerate the heat for extended periods of time. So I wound up bounding around quite a bit which worked best for me, but there were some people that were in the saunas or baths for much longer periods of time! It’s all personal preference and whatever you feel comfortable doing.. do not worry about feeling “weird” or not knowing what you are doing, because it is a lot of other peoples first times being in a spa too!
Here is a breakdown of what the Sojo Spa Club has to offer, but definitely look into your local area and see what kind of services are offered near you!
The Saunas
Here are the saunas at the Sojo Spa Club and the benefits according to their website:
- Himalayan salt sauna – stimulates the respiratory system’s natural ability to reduce inflammation, clear blockages, fights infections and reduces discomfort
- Charcoal sauna – increases metabolism, fights headaches, inflammation and digestion issues, and eliminates bodily toxins
- Far-infrared sauna – increases elastin and collagen in the skin, promotes relaxation, reduces inflammation and aids in muscle recovery
- Red clay sauna – improves mood, alertness, and promotes better sleep
- White clay sauna – body detoxification, increases serotonin
- Ganbanyoku sauna – hot stone therapy alleviates joint, muscular and nerve pain, healthier skin tone and blood circulation, improves immune system
- Steam saunas – traditional sauna in gender specific in Bath Houses
- Dry saunas – traditional sauna in gender specific in Bath Houses
- Ice room – boosts immune system, alleviate muscle soreness, revitalize skin cells and elasticity
- Hot stone beds – breaks down toxins, reduces stress, increases blood circulation, improves immune system
Each sauna has it’s own history and origin story that is super interesting! Some of these rooms are gender specific, some are indoors and some are outdoors.
I strongly suggest you read the signs outside of each so you understand the different benefits and components each material has! And if you are nervous about going in a sauna like I was, just know that you only have to go in for a second and you can leave if you feel uncomfortable!
And remember to stay hydrated!!!
Pictured below: Himalayan Salt Sauna [photo from Sojo Spa Club]
The Baths
There are indoor and outdoor baths at this particular spa, and they have a lot of options including men and women separated options. There is a private bath house adjacent to the locker rooms that are gender specific, there is a warm bath, cool bath and hot bath, a cold plunge and showers.
In the “public” baths, there is an area full of outdoor baths that range in benefits.
- Infinity pool – hot pool with incredible top floor views to the Manhattan skyline!
- Hydrotherapy pools – really large hot tub with a variety of different jets everywhere, it also has really incredible views
- Hinoki bath – relaxing and smooth white cedar wood bath with calming aromas
- Silk baths – hot spring micro-bubbles infused into the water supposedly nourishing body tissue and improving skin elasticity
- Carbon-rich bath – infused with natural carbon dioxide, claiming to increase blood oxygen levels and improve circulation
- Waterfall cold bath – go from hot bath to cold water to experience the cold plunge benefits
- Foot massage path – a long path with a variety of stones on the floor in warm shallow water to massage your feet as you stroll through
Pictured below: Outdoor Silk Bath [photo from Sojo Spa Club]
Summary
Overall, I highly recommend treating yourself to a spa experience, whether it is something as luxurorious as the Sojo Spa Club, a massage in your local shopping center, a facial, or just a relaxing spa day at home. You deserve a day of relaxation! It is super important to slow down and reflect on yourself and how you are doing, especially since we live in a society flooded with noise on social media.
Check in with yourself:
Is there anything in your routine you want to change?
Have you been feeling overly stressed out or anxious?
Are you stretching yourself too thin?
Set aside a time for yourself within your busy schedule to do whatever is most appealing for you!
For me, a relaxing night is taking a long, hot shower, changing into some cozy pajamas, doing a face mask, having some tea, and watching a funny TV show.. right now I am watching Abbott Elementary! Treat yourself! 🙂
Share your experience
Have you been to a spa recently? Share your favorite treatments or tips in the comments below—I’d love to hear about your experience!