If you’re looking for a high-end luxury spa experience without having to drive to Washington, D.C., then you’ll want to stop by Enso Day Spa.
Located at 2701 Neabsco Common Place Suite 118 in Woodbridge, the spa – named for the Japanese word for ‘circle’ and associated with relaxation and zen – is owned by two military veterans, Army Veteran Michelle Maharaj and Marine Corps Veteran Chris Kopinski.
Following deployments and work trips, Maharaj would book herself for spa treatments at spas across the Northern Virginia area.
“I used to travel a lot for work…and every time I came back, the first thing that I would want to do is kind of escape to just have a moment to get back to myself. So you know, I’m gonna get my hair done, a facial, a massage – my day,” said Maharaj.
The idea for the spa came about when Maharaj grew tired of being disappointed at stateside spas.
“I would book these appointments and every single time I went to these locations – and I would find the best of the best locations, I didn’t care how much I had to pay – I just needed it. So I would go and I found that everything was so service-oriented, and seeing that, I was always just disappointed,” said Maharaj.
The concept behind Enso Day Spa was born when Maharaj began to book spa treatments while she was overseas, and saw the difference in the spa culture and experience.
“It’s a completely different world. You get an experience there – everyone cares about what they’re doing,” said Maharaj.
From that point on, she was determined to create a spa that focused on the experience and ambience for the customer, not trying to rush customers in and out the door.
A variety of amenities and experiences
One thing that helps Enso Day Spa stand out is their emphasis on “experiences” instead of “services” and the amenities they offer to all of their clients.
According to Maharaj, all clients can stop by the wine and champagne bar for a complimentary glass, and stop by the spacious locker rooms to change into a bathing suit or robe for one the many experiences one can choose at the spa. The spa has a spacious relaxation pool in the middle of the facility, where you can lounge and soak in steaming water.
Enso has trained hair stylists on-site, and they offer several hair care experiences, including cuts, coloring, styling, and styling for special events like weddings and parties. The spa offers luxury pedicures and manicures from skilled technicians, and offers the modern seating in a private area of the spa.
If deep relaxation is more your thing, Enso offers massages for individuals and couples, and several facial treatments and microdermabrasion for those that want to care for their skin. The spa also offers a steam room, sauna, and rain showers to really round out the experience for clients looking for a unique way to refuel and unwind.
Doing things differently
While dreaming up her idea for Enso, Maharaj realized that she first needed to get some technical training, putting herself through massage therapy school.
“The top two reasons that businesses fail in this industry is because they’re a technician, so they’re trained but they’re horrible with business, or they’re great at business and they don’t know anything about any of the trades,” said Maharaj.
Then Maharaj brought in spa-architect Mauro Biagi from Italy to help her custom design the space.
“All of the furniture in the space is custom made and custom designed,” said Maharaj.
A Savannah College of Art and Design student Raquel Dyson created all of the artwork for the spa, and they even flew in “living green” walls, imported from Italy.
“It brings in the green concept – it stays alive, no irrigation needed. And it stays that way for about ten years without dying,” said Maharaj.
Some of their design features may seem unconventional when compared to spas you’ll see in area shopping centers, but mimic luxury details from spas in Europe and the Middle East.
“In the nail salon, there’s bench-style seating as opposed to regular chairs, which is a little more modern and a high luxury concept,” said Maharaj.
“A sense of community”
For Maharaj, the spa is about more than the experiences a client gets while visiting – it’s also about the community they’ve been able to form along the way.
“As veterans, you build a sense of community wherever you go – wherever you’re stationed at the time. Now that we’re out of the military, we didn’t have that sense of community, but we can still strive to achieve it with the spa and with our clients,” said Maharaj.
Enso Day Spa does monthly ‘social hours’, where they offer special amenities and goodie bags to guests. Click here to see when they’re planning their next gathering.
This is a paid, promoted article done in partnership with Enso Day Spa.
