LIFESTYLES FASHION & FITNESS Sensual Indulgence, Together Massages and other spa goodies can be even more fun for two By Debbie Geiger Laurie Selwyn and Keith Condon wanted to celebrate their first anniversary as a couple and knew they found something special when they heard about the Village Spa in Roslyn. Decorated in the comfortable ambience of a bed-n-breakfast, the spa features two suites that allow people to have massages either alone or next to each other, followed by an evening of pampering and indulgence. Owner Rick Joseph leaves no detail overlooked, from the slippers he warms in the microwave to the flowers and candles he places on the suite’s intimate table for two. High-tech amenities such as telephones, computers, and DVD players are on hand but almost seem out of place in the spa environment. After their hour-long, side-by-side massages, Selwyn and Condon donned bathrobes, sipped wine and enjoyed a room service meal from the Jolly Fisherman restaurant next door. Then, they ate dessert while their feet soaked in warm baths; neck wraps soothed away any remaining tension. “It was a relaxing experience,” says Condon, 34, of Islip Terrace, of their three-hour indulgence, which took place in March. “It was perfect,” said Selwyn, 33, a personal trainer from Roslyn Heights. Going with a partner to the spa seems to be catching on all over the metropolitan area. Soothing the mind, body and soul is what Rick Joseph had in mind when he opened Roslyn’s Village Spa 13 months ago. When he designed the space, he knew he wanted to cater to the needs of couples and be able to customize his services whenever possible. The suites have been used by men and women looking for a romantic evening, mothers and daughters on a Sunday afternoon, and small groups of friends enjoying a ladies’ night out. “I wanted to make things easy for people,” Joseph says. “Whatever they want, I accommodate what they are looking for.” His idea of personalized service is one of the hottest trends in the spa industry, says Mary Bemis, editor in chief of American Spa magazine. “People want personalized treatment. You’re paying a premium price, and you should get what makes you feel good.” Pamela Price, co-author of “100 Best Spas of the World” (Globe Pequot Press, $19.95), agrees. “A spa really has to listen to what people want. These treatments are expensive. They want to please the public to bring in the people. It has to be more than a massage. If people are going to spend hundreds of dollars, it has to be a good memory.” It seems that sharing downtime at a spa evolved from a tradition of couples going to bath houses for similar reasons, says Hannelore Leavy, founder and executive director of the Day Spa Association in Union City, N.J. “we don’t have that anymore. Somehow, it’s being revitalized within the spa industry. They are cleaner, more ethical, and it’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon or evening together.” At the Village Spa, couples massages start at $180 (Selwyn and Condon paid $315 inclusive for theirs because it included dinner and additional time to relax). Debbie Geiger is a freelance writer.