Rockville Centre Hand & Stone turns one

I was stressed. It was 11 a.m. and I was struggling to keep up with appointments.

Upon walking through the door at the Hand & Stone on Merrick Road, I was ushered into the back. There, I left behind the haze of anxiety and stepped into a completely different atmosphere.

I stared down a dim but warmly lit hallway as the noise of the street was replaced with soft music. My eyes were still adjusting to the low light, but I could see the smile on my massage therapist, Maria’s face as she moved me into one of the back rooms.

There, she gave me a robe, a pair of sandals and asked me to undress to my desired comfort level (I kept my underwear on) before leaving the room for a moment. I lay face down on a warmed bed and then the real fun began.

When Maria returned, she worked my shoulders, back, feet, hands and legs. I was told later that it was a general purpose Swedish massage. But things got really intense when she broke out the hot stones. The warm, smooth rocks got really deep into the muscles.

After, I put my robe back on and was led into another room. There, a professional esthetician, Ashley cleaned my face more thoroughly than I thought possible. When she was finished, she said goodbye, and I put my regular clothes on to go back out into the noisy world.

This month marks the first anniversary that Hand & Stone has been in Rockville Centre. What I experienced was the spa’s basic offerings in regards to massages and facials, but the spot also offers more specialized services such as hair removal, skin treatment for specific skin types and more.

Owner Jennifer Ryan Woods and operations manager Jessica Graham tried to put their own personal spin on their shop. “We want to be the place in Rockville Centre where people can come and know our staff,” said Woods.

The spa’s staff of licensed massage therapists and estheticians are well qualified. “Everyone’s highly trained in their craft,” she emphasized. But she also vets her specialists for friendliness as well.

“We want to be that neighborhood spot,” she said. “A place that feels homey.”

Not just content to run the shop, Woods and Graham also do community outreach, holding small events at locations such as PetCareRx and HotYoga4You. “We’re interested in being active and engaged in the community,” Woods said.

Woods decided to open up her own Hand & Stone after being a member at chain’s Jericho location. She appreciated the spa’s convenience and affordability. “It’s a great model,” she said, and felt Rockville Centre would be a good fit for a new one.

“People need relaxation,” explained Woods. “We want to give people the opportunity to make that time for themselves and indulge.”