Swirl Spa is probably the fourth spa I've been too. It's conveniently located at 11th and 5th Ave SW. For someone who is accustomed to walking to get anywhere, this is a big plus.
Booking
Swirl operates on a voicemail system. You call, leave a message and they get back. While this practice is fine, if you are attending to other things at the time they return your call, you most likely are to miss it. So you'll have to call again...and get to the voicemail...and so forth and so on.
I tried booking on a Saturday which is why when they called me back I got to answer the call.
First Impressions Count
I had my schedule at 4:30 and arrived almost on the dot. I had to wait for the therapist for a couple of minutes as she was finishing-up with another client. I was made to sign the usual required form...afterwhich I had to pick my oils.
The oil-picking was the fun part! Swirl has an extensive oil collection and you can go choose your own scent. If you like two or more scents, which was my predicament, they could do a combo for you. They'll also advise you if your selections would turn out badly if combined :p
Also, you get to take home any oil-left-overs after your session :)
Ambiance
The over-all ambiance was ok. The massage room came with modest decors and a massage bed. The massage bed was the "normal" one. By normal, I mean the bed wasn't thermal. While it was okay because it technically is still summer...it would be nice to have a heated massage bed in the fall and winter. Background music was ok, and I don't believe that there was cental A/C.
And to the Kneading
I signed up for the 90-minute relaxation and theraputic massage. I was really having a bad case of badback and I thought that the 90 minute would do the trick. The strokes where fine, though I had to advise the therapist to apply more pressure. As an Asian, I really heart massages that knead the muscles. I am not all that crazy about light touches, which doesn't really do anything. She worked on my back in a rather random fashion, and she was shuffling side-to-side which didn't help set the mood of tranquility. It gave me the impression that there was no clear plan on how to work my back.
Fifteen minutes into the end of the massage, she gave me a face and scalp massage, that I think was great :)
After-the-fact
I felt fine after the massage. Not really renewed or rejuvinated as one would expect. After a couple of days my back ached again. I decided to go for another massage with another spa center.
Contact Details:
Swirl Spa
524, 11 Ave SWCalgary, AB T2R 0C8
(403) 228-3046
Website: http://www.swirlspa.com/
Booking
Swirl operates on a voicemail system. You call, leave a message and they get back. While this practice is fine, if you are attending to other things at the time they return your call, you most likely are to miss it. So you'll have to call again...and get to the voicemail...and so forth and so on.
I tried booking on a Saturday which is why when they called me back I got to answer the call.
First Impressions Count
I had my schedule at 4:30 and arrived almost on the dot. I had to wait for the therapist for a couple of minutes as she was finishing-up with another client. I was made to sign the usual required form...afterwhich I had to pick my oils.
The oil-picking was the fun part! Swirl has an extensive oil collection and you can go choose your own scent. If you like two or more scents, which was my predicament, they could do a combo for you. They'll also advise you if your selections would turn out badly if combined :p
Also, you get to take home any oil-left-overs after your session :)
Ambiance
The over-all ambiance was ok. The massage room came with modest decors and a massage bed. The massage bed was the "normal" one. By normal, I mean the bed wasn't thermal. While it was okay because it technically is still summer...it would be nice to have a heated massage bed in the fall and winter. Background music was ok, and I don't believe that there was cental A/C.
And to the Kneading
I signed up for the 90-minute relaxation and theraputic massage. I was really having a bad case of badback and I thought that the 90 minute would do the trick. The strokes where fine, though I had to advise the therapist to apply more pressure. As an Asian, I really heart massages that knead the muscles. I am not all that crazy about light touches, which doesn't really do anything. She worked on my back in a rather random fashion, and she was shuffling side-to-side which didn't help set the mood of tranquility. It gave me the impression that there was no clear plan on how to work my back.
Fifteen minutes into the end of the massage, she gave me a face and scalp massage, that I think was great :)
After-the-fact
I felt fine after the massage. Not really renewed or rejuvinated as one would expect. After a couple of days my back ached again. I decided to go for another massage with another spa center.
Contact Details:
Swirl Spa
524, 11 Ave SWCalgary, AB T2R 0C8
(403) 228-3046
Website: http://www.swirlspa.com/
