Professional massage in luxurious setting

Serenity Relaxation Center
23 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre
(516) 678-1500, www.serenityrelaxation.com

Picture an hour of bliss. You are settled in a luxurious environment on a comfy, warmed massage table. The air is freshly scented and in the background plays soft, old-time jazz. But most of all, you are in the golden hands of a highly skilled and professional Asian massage therapist.

Serenity Relaxation Center opened in October. Owner, Cathy Zhao, first learned the art of massage in China, and then in the United States where she attended school to become a licensed massage therapist. She worked for years at the lavish Spa Castle in College Point, Queens before deciding to open her own facility.

As her center is new, Zhao currently gives all the massages herself. Once she adds other licensed massage therapists, they will be trained by her personally, so that each massage is done her way. The Asian style of massage, she explained, tends to include deeper kneading of muscles than the American style.

When you first come in, you will fill out an intake form. Zhao is extremely careful to work around any medical conditions or inflammations. Her menu of massages for men and women includes Shiatsu, which uses the fingers for pressure points, Deep Tissue massage, and Swedish, which is more rubbing and gentler. There are massages with hot stones, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, and for men, walking on the back. Each massage room has bars hanging from the ceiling for the latter. Serenity Special offers a combination. Massages are chosen to accommodate needs, such as relaxation or to alleviate pains, and to stay within physical limitations. An older person would probably require a gentler massage than a young athlete.

The center is exquisite, with attention put into every detail and accent. Art work is unique and of collectible quality. Beautiful tiling is well-appointed throughout the center. Four private rooms each house a plush massage table with heating adjustment, and a collection of natural oils and lotions.

Services can be booked for a half hour, hour or 90 minutes. No membership or annual fee is required. Each massage is timed. The timer is set only after the person is ready and under the bedding on the table. After the massage, stretches are done. Each person is offered a bottle of water and a Godiva chocolate truffle.

Serenity Relaxation Center is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Appointments are honored and walk-ins are welcome. At this time, they take cash only.