"I'm so thankful for her touch"; "the only place I go"; "I felt like a whole new person after my massage"; "she was a miracle worker." This is just a small sample of the praise that's been heaped upon Urban Oasis and the massage therapists who, apparently, work miracles there. It's no wonder clients are such believers—the staff are, too. Many of the spa's approximately 60 therapists have worked at UO for a decade or more, citing the calming environment and creative freedom as elements that keep them inspired.

The creative freedom is especially important, as UO is committed to massage as a path to wellness, not some lavish indulgence. Practitioners are able to draw from whatever modalities will best suit their clients' needs, from familiar hot-stone and deep-tissue techniques to the less common practices of ashiatsu and reflexology. That's not to say UO sacrifices luxury for results—before appointments, guests retreat to private changing rooms equipped with one of three types of showers (steam, rain, or spray). From there, they sip on fresh juice or herbal tea in a lounge that's kept quiet thanks to a ban on cell phones, young children, and bulldozers.