"Best Massage in Manhattan" by Modern Luxury Magazine
“I cannot recommend Vanessa enough! After I had my son, my body was a bit of a wreck. A friend recommended that I see her for a massage, and I was absolutely blown away. Vanessa listened to what had been bothering me and worked out so many tension issues I hadn’t even realized were causing problems. She is incredibly talented and so lovely. I send everyone I can her way because I know they will be in good hands. Thank you, Vanessa!”
Pearl B.
“Vanessa and I met about 6 years ago. It was love at first touch. She found pains in me that I never thought I had!. After a few sessions I was walking taller and feeling straighter. Being a professional makeup artist, I am always carrying heavy stuff. Standing for so many hours breaks my back. Before my work trips, I usually get a 90 min with fire cupping. I will say this practice has increased my flexibility so much that I don’t have to take as many breaks in a 14 hr day. The cupping has changed me. I am forever grateful I found Vanessa . She is also going above and beyond in precautionary measures for covid 19 . I felt super safe and very relaxed. She made feel at ease. book today.. and take those pains away!”
Jacqueline S.
“Vanessa has magic hands! Both me and my husband had the opportunity to have a massage with Vanessa. I prefer a lighter Swedish massage and my husband loves deep tissue and she did an amazing job with both of us. She was professional, room was spotless and relaxing and she listens to her clients to ensure she is working on their trouble spots! Highly recommend!!!”
Melissa V
“Had my first prenatal massage with Vanessa and it was the most wonderful experience. Perfect pressure and comfort level. Will be back even after I’m pregnant for a regular massage with her. Highly recommend Vanessa!!”
Jeannie L.
“This was the best massage of my life. Vanessa really knows what she is doing. As a professional aerialist, I get a lot of massages I had never done cupping before and I loved it! She did amazing work on all my wear and tear. She is so kind and calming as well, I was very relaxed. I am definitely going back to her!”
Geneva G.
“My favorite masseuse is Vanessa as she is skilled in sports massage and knows how to get those sore and tight muscles to relax. Genuine deep tissue massage. I just finished and feel rejuvenated.”
Mary Jane R.
“Had a massage from Vanessa. She was awesome! I almost didn’t want to write this review because I didn’t want her becoming so popular that she wouldn’t have time for me when I was ready for another visit. But hey, sharing is caring! Seriously, she’s amazing! Can’t wait to go again next month!”
D. J.
“I purchased a package from Vanessa. I’m addicted. I need my monthly massage. Due to a surgery, I get tight and need relief. Vanessa is the angel that provides it. She is very caring, asking every time if there is something specific she should focus on. Obviously, I missed several months due to covid. However, on my return, as someone who is high risk, I felt safe that the necessary precautions were being taken to keep everyone safe. I even extended my time to 2 hrs, which went by so quickly. I look forward to my monthly appointments and highly recommend Vanessa. You won’t be disappointed!”
Donna J.
“My time with Vanessa left me feeling looser, lighter and very relaxed. We did a massage and incorporated cupping (it was my first time cupping and Vanessa communicated everything clearly and I felt at ease). I loved the feeling of my muscles loosening up and my body and energy felt aligned and at peace. Vanessa has the best touch, and she listens to you and what your body communicates during the session. Really recommended!!!”
Lea A.
“You are an angel. I feel amazing.”
B.N.
“But the best is my masseuse, Vanessa. I get regular deep tissue massages. She offers suggestions on home stretches, even with a foam roller as I have one at home. She finds all my tough knots. And she’s so friendly and nice.”
Renee R.
“Okay. Stop what you’re doing and go book an appointment with Vanessa! My massage/cupping experiences with Ms. Denola have been some of the best of my life- this coming from a woman who has gotten one to two massages a month (when available) for various reasons for the last 5 years. I have seen Vanessa twice now, once right before quarantine, and once after- both times I had the best sleep of my life following the appointments. Vanessa is friendly, sweet, and takes a lot of care to prepare you before the appointment, and to follow up after. Cupping can be kind of intimidating, but Vanessa’s approach makes you feel like you’re at home, and your friend who happens to be highly trained in massage therapy just happens to be available for 90 min of body work. The space is lovely, and so it’s Vanessa’s way of curating a therapeutic experience that feels unique to me. She’s great at conversing, but there were definitely long stretches of time where I was face down, drooling into my mask, blissed out without a care in the world. Vanessa’s techniques leave me feeling that way long after I leave the studio. If you’re cupping/massage curious, or if you’re a highly seasoned massage-receiver, make an appointment with Vanessa Denola as soon as you can because it will open your body up in ways you simply cannot achieve through other methods. Thank you Vanessa!”
Alex H.
“I’ve been coming to see Vanessa and she is fantastic. Probably the best massage I’ve ever had. Vanessa is prescriptive and focuses on problem areas. I highly recommend her and her music selection.”
Sharmila C.
“Love Vanessa— She’s a great therapist! Very thorough! She is also easy to talk to, if you need more or less pressure she’s great at adjusting.”
Shantelle A.
“Now for the best part…. the massage. AHHHHHHHHHHH! I have gotten massages globally and this was definitely in the top 10. Vanessa, my masseuse, was knowledgeable about my injury (i have a sore shoulder) and I walked out of there not only relaxed, but had more movement in my shoulder. A day later i am still feeling the positive effects of her work. (THANK YOU Vanessa!).”
Sue O.
“I am not someone who has ever stopped to write a review before so this is my FIRST review on Yelp ever! I’m also not someone who treats myself to many massages… I love them, and can really use them, but I never take the time to treat myself! But my husband gifted me a massage at Pure Spa and I’m so happy he did… This was not just any massage, and Vanessa is not just any masseuse! I have struggled with pain my entire adult life and yet I like very deep work. Vanessa really listened to my concerns which can be a bit of a balancing act and instead of making my pain worse which has happened in massages in the past, she was able to give me that perfect combination of the deep tissue work I needed–working out the tightness around my joints–while still making it feel like a gentle relaxing dreamy massage. I walked out of there in a happy pain-free state. When you look at Vanessa, and see how kind and gentle she is, you cannot believe how strong she is! I’m a total convert, and plan to treat myself to more massages (and maybe even write more reviews on Yelp!)! And Vanessa is the reason why!!!”
Susan M.
“Vanessa is well, in my opinion the best. I have been a customer of hers for years and she was finally able to get me to try the cupping massage. I have to say that it has changed the game for me. I carry all of my stress in my upper back (mostly shoulders) and I always feel so much better after a session with Vanessa. She is simply the best – I highly recommend her at the risk of folks running in to see her and shutting me out of an appointment. Love you Vanessa!”
Zulma R.
“This is really something I wish more people knew about. I need to do this more often.”
Ken T.
“Cannot speak highly enough about Vanessa and the 90 minute Untie the Knot. She is amazing. I am someone whose back seems like it’s made out of brick, and she knows exactly how to work things out. I feel like every time I go I learn about some new muscle I didn’t realize was sore until she pointed it out. And she will give advice on exercises and things you can do to help in between treatments. My favorite massage therapist in NYC.”
Angela M.
“Vanessa brings a focus and an expertise to her work that I’ve rarely encountered in a massage therapist. Before the visit, my upper body was tight and my arm’s movement was limited. However, after an hour and a half with Vanessa my body felt light and tension free. Immediately I saw the change in my posture. Additionally, she took care of every detail of the session for me to fully enjoy it and relax. I highly recommend Vanessa to everyone.”
Aleksandra Z.
“I had a phenomenal time with my massage and cupping by Vanessa. It was the first time I’ve ever experienced both integrated. The boulders in my shoulders were finally loosened into tissue and I even had work on my belly which I loved. My body felt light after the treatment and I’ve been moving without feeling the tension I had felt for so long. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to reset their body and feel loose and limber. Vanessa is a truly knowledgeable and gifted healer.”
Anna T.
“If you have had any reservations about having your own experience with Fire Cupping, you should book a session with Vanessa Denola at Sacred Waters in LIC. You are in good hands when you work with her. Her space is tranquil and I found myself calm down before she ever came into the room. I know her first as one of the standout students in my graduating class at the Swedish Institute, 2008. Since then she has studied and practiced Fire Cupping and has become quite effective employing it along with many other therapeutic table massage techniques. The most memorable parts of the treatments are always the times when she has already assembled an array of cups, and then before removing them, she moves me around into different shapes and jostles me a bit. The tension in the fascia that is created by the array seems to open space between the cells in the soft tissue and this space is extended even further by the careful and intuitive movements that she makes. I also like the warming and lengthening effects of a technique where she uses one cup, and FIRE in the other hand to repeatedly reset the cup while she drags it back and forth along fascial planes. This style is used when the client would need help in specific areas where the person would rather not have any purple marks on the skin after the session. Her space is easy to get to from my place in MidTown, so don’t stress the schlep, Sacred Waters is a quick trip on the subways.”
Reinhold B.
“A nice spa experience. Vanessa is a fabulous massage therapist.”
Jaimee A.
“We felt like newly born! The massage by Vanessa was really wonderful, I really liked her technique. It was a mixture of Thai pressure points, Balinese stroking and Lomi Lomi elbows. We were lucky to find such a great therapist in the middle of buzzing pre xmas NYC, right off times square. Will definitely be back! Thank you so much!”
Tatiana K.
“…has all the amenities you would expect from a 5 star Spa. The massage was excellent. Deep pressure on my sore neck muscles like I requested. I also chose to upgrade from the standard oils others have to an organic English Rose Oil. I loved it, the whole room smelled like fresh roses. Vanessa is a healing angel!”
Jenny J.
“I get a lot of massages, and this was seriously the best. Thank you.”
Anne M.
“Vanessa was very professional. Seemed like a medical massage. Very targeted towards problem areas and really listened to my concerns. She asked me if I wanted to avoid getting oil in my hair–how cool is that. She washed her hands after touching my feet–awesome. She even made me a mimosa. And I got to sit by a fire with my cocktail–the old location didn’t have THAT.”
Kim M.
“I have been a fan of massage therapy for most of my life. The quality of the therapists one encounters varies. Vanessa, at Pure, is easily one of the most talented I have ever come across. She has healing hands and will skillfully work out any stubborn knots you may have. The new facility is top notch and the staff is very helpful. For spa customers there is free access to the steam room and sauna (which has, a great view of Manhattan) at the connecting health club. A great way to further unwind after a world class massage.”
Nick R.