Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa opened in Brookfield, CT in September 2013 and has quickly established itself as an affordable go-to destination for relaxation for busy people of all ages. Owned by Rob and Marianne Durr - who own another award-winning Hand & Stone spa in Poughkeepsie, NY – Hand & Stone’s desire is to make people feel good.

 

“We’re here to relax people, “says Rob Durr. “We want the spa experience to be easy and enjoyable, not something that creates additional stress.” A key part of Hand & Stone’s business model is affordability, which for decades has been a barrier for people who might desire spa relaxation services. “Part of our business model is to make the spa experience more convenient and affordable for people,” Durr says. “People have had enough of feeling stressful and frantic and are looking to change. We’re here to support them and make it possible for relaxation to be a regular part of their lives.”

 

Hand & Stone is a Hamilton, N.J.-based franchise founded in 2005 by physical therapist John Marco. It is one of the fastest growing spa franchises in the country with 125 locations currently open. Durr knew he wanted to run a business and says what attracted him to Hand & Stone was both the corporate philosophy and the services themselves.

 

“You’re selling relaxation. What could be better, especially at a time when so many people really want to become healthier,” Durr said. He schedules himself for a few services per month and understands the real value of his service line. “That hour of silence is so important for all of us. It can be hard to find in daily life, but we’re here to make it easy.” Even the location is convenient in a shopping mall anchored by Shoprite and other busy stores commonly frequented by clients. 

 

While the clientele at Hand & Stone tends to be more women than men, there is a wide age range and surprisingly high interest from teens. This is driven by parents as well as the teenagers themselves due to the facial and skin treatment services offered. The spa offers two product lines which allows them to treat a wide range of skin issues. “It seems like this younger generation has interest in a healthy lifestyle and is far more aware of taking care of themselves than many of us older adults,” Durr says. He hopes developing good self-care habits early on will serve the adolescents well later in life. 

 

An introductory one-hour massage is $49.95, as is a classic facial. A full body, hot stone massage – the signature Hand & Stone massage service – is $69.95 as an introductory offering. Membership is on a month-to-month basis at $59.95 a month, with either a one-hour massage or facial to choose from. Additional services can be purchased during the month at a reduced rate. 

 

All Hand & Stone therapists are employees of the company and are licensed/certified in their specialties. Add-on services include energy work, cold stone face massages that can help with sinus issues and hair removal with a soy-based product. However, the spa does not seek to become a one-stop-shop wellness center. “I’d rather limit the services that we have so we can do those services very well rather than try to be all things to everybody,” Durr says. “Our goal is to focus on delivering great and affordable massage, facial and hair removal services.”

 

“People think this sounds too good to be true; they ask what the catch is,” says Durr. “There isn’t one. It’s just this simple. We want people to be able to relax and support the global movement toward better health.”

 

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa is located at 143 Danbury Rd., Brookfield and is open weekdays from 9 am to 10 pm, Saturday 8 am to 8 pm, and Sunday 10 am to 6 pm. 203-775-2244. See ad page 11.

 

Natasha Michaels is a contributing writer to Natural Awakenings.