Aura spa - U Street

I have been coming to Aura spa for over a year for facials with Karen. I was thoroughly impressed with the results of the facial treatment. My skin feels incredibly smooth and revitalized, with a noticeable reduction in any dullness or blemishes. The treatment provided a fresh and glowing complexion, and the attention to detail was exceptional. Overall, the experience was both relaxing and effective, leaving my face looking and feeling rejuvenated.

Gene was great! I love Aura spas because the vibe is so relaxing (once you get through the gym), they really take care of you, its affordable, and they can often see you same day. Gene really got into a trouble area on my neck, while still giving me a 45 minute full body massage. Not easy! I was sore the next day, as you expect, but he gave me good tips to help counteract that. Gene is really good at mixing Thai massage elements (moving your body) with deep tissue. Gene is best if youre looking for deep pressure, not necessarily a gentle touch. Loved it and will be back!

If you’re looking for an esthetician I definitely recommend Karen! She’s super knowledgeable and sweet, she has really helped me with my skin.

Fantastic spa. Staff are extremely kind and good at what they do. I had a 45 minute facial and it was everything I wanted and my face needed. Spa tech was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Went back a week later for a massage and was equally impressed with the service. Very chill quiet ambiance even though it’s in a gym facility. I’ll be going back at least once a month.

Have been going here consistently for 3 years. Michael, Ian, and Jazlyn are all amazing! I have had hit-and-miss experiences with some of the other practitioners, including one being somewhat rude when I asked for a specific massage technique (to use fingers to work out knots instead of elbows - ouch). I think part of the problem is that you can’t book a specific type of massage the way you do at other massage place (eg, Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point, etc), so you’re not really sure what you’re going to get until you try that provider (which might be a waste of money if you don’t like their therapeutic approach).The real downfall of Aura though is the scheduling. The app/website is buggy, often requiring multiple password resets just to get into it… it’s also just a long list of massage time offerings making it annoying to weed through. You also can NEVER reach anyone by phone, so if you need to make an appointment change or get any other kind of information, it is impossible. Since the manager changed a few weeks ago, I haven’t been able to get email responses either. I will also echo another reviewer that it is impossible to tell how many massages you have used/have left if you buy a package unless you go back and count, keep track yourself, or ask every time you go. The admin challenges really detract from the calming/relaxing experience that a spa should be.

Excellent spa located within a gym. Easily accessible. Clean, good spa-like vibes and fully professional team. They do a good job of sending reminder and check-in texts. I would also like to recommend Jenna, specifically. Came to her with severe knots in my back built up over a long period. I went to her once and she spent 75 minutes focused on one area of my back (per my request). The knots were so bad I came back two weeks later to Jenna. She did not disappoint but my back was so bad I needed to come back for a third session two days later. Three sessions in three weeks is a testament to her amazing skill. She was able to successfully make the biggest difference after trying several other remedies. Cant say enough about Jenna.

Do NOT BUY A PACKAGE for a massage at Aura Spa. I was a loyal customer for years when I lived in City Vista. I brought a package of 12 massages in 2019, which were essentially massages paid in advance (they gave you 10 -15 USD lower price and a free massage). I have been unable to use my massages - pandemic, two city living situation. They extended my package in 2020 until May 2021 - but I could not use it due to family health emergency.I currently have 5 massages unused that I paid for in advance (approx value over 600 USD) -but the business refuses to refund or reinstate (I offered even paying delta in cost). There has been no way of knowing how many massages are left - so shoddy management of spa and terrible experience.

Visited this spa with friends as a birthday celebration. We all enjoyed our masseuse, the hospitality, and how clean the facility was. We really had a nice relaxing time and special thanks to the manager Michelle for all of her help

The masseurs and facialist were great but management has been MISERABLE the whole time therafter. Elaine called us right after our trip demanding that we pay again and called multiple times about a problem we couldnt solve. We were charged for the spa trip on our credit cards so we have no idea why she kept contacting us all day after the massage about a credit card issue? Honestly dont understand what the issue was. This is just so sloppy and made us incredibly annoyed. All the relaxation we gained from the spa was immediately erased by our multiple interactions with the the corporate office. Not worth the hassle.

I was ready to give up on massage because it felt like they were just pushing my sore muscles around. Id feel mostly better for an hour and then start hurting again. Ive been working with Jay Arovas for almost a year and he does amazing work. He has a lot of technical expertise and does frequent re-evaluations of my posture to make sure were still on track. Im sure Jay is great with a regular relaxing massage but the body work he does with me is more in line with what I imagine top athletes receive. He also gives me useful exercises at the end of the session and (when I do them) they really help. Try bodywork with Jay before you give up!

I went in to Aura Spa for a massage. The actual service was OK - no particular complaints except perhaps better time management on the masseuses part. The spa, however, seriously deteriorated my perception of the service and spa. As a first timer at this gym/spa, it wasnt clear where the spa was located within the building. The gyms front desk staff eventually attended to me to direct me to the spa. I entered an empty waiting area, two chairs and a water cooler. I served myself some water and looked around, trying to find an attendant or some indication where to receive my service or check in. I walked back out to the gym again to make sure that I didnt need to check in anywhere since, after nearly 10 minutes, nobody had addressed me. Some gym/spa staff did enter and exit the spa, but none addressed me and I couldnt catch their attention when I tried. The gym cashier assured me that I was in fact in the right area. I went back into the spa and walked around a bit, inadvertently entering the sauna area, then decided to stay put and wait for the masseuse. She arrived about 5 minutes after the service was scheduled, even though they request that you arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled service time. The massage room was cold and damp, as some of the spa rooms are in the basement. There are LED plastic rope lights, which provides a very glaring, bright light, even with the other ambient lights turned off. The masseuse did offer a towel to cover my eyes so that the bright neon glow didnt disturb me. The ambient sound system wasnt working, so the massuese put on a Spotify playlist of relaxation music, then put her phone in a glass cup to amplify the music. I appreciated her improvisation, but it didnt quiet work to drown out the noise from the attached gym and hallway conversations. Otherwise, the massage went on without event. No warmed blankets, candles, or aromatherapy - but again, its a spa in a gym, so I didnt know what to expect. When checking out, I had to pay, even though the massage was a gift and the gift givers credit card was provided and charged on the online booking system. The 60 minute massage cost $110.When I reported my so-so experience to the gift giver, he contacted the spa to provide feedback about the service and ensure that he wouldnt be double charged, after the online payment and my in person payment. The spa manager was defensive and unhelpful. Even worse, she said that I had lied to the gift giver, that spa staff responded to me literally 2 minutes after arriving and that the spa does not have neon lights. OK - so I googled the name of the lights: correct, they are not neon, they are LED rope lights, ya know, the kind that junior high schoolers might use to wrap around their bunk beds. And sure, gym staff did respond to me within 2 minutes, when I left the spa and went up to the service desks.All in all: Its a spa in a gym. it smells like a gym. It feels like a basement. The service is poor. Definitely not worth $110 + tip.

Having utilized this spa multiple times, Amparo is simply the best! She genuinely shows care for any problem areas and is very knowledgeable if there are any questions regarding skin care. Since seeing Amparo, my face has never looked better! She is gentle, but effective at the same time when cleansing and getting in to remove all the buildup and grime. I love the feeling after treatment, and continually get asked what I do for my skin. Thank you Amparo! ♡

Juan not only gives great deep tissue massages, but is really good to talk with about weight training - very knowledgeable in health and exercise. Highly recommended, especially if youre actively exercising.

Awful. Damp basement rooms with neon lights that smell my a gym or armpit. Sound system wasnt working. No one was there to receive my wife. Awful. Go there if you want to waste your money and have someone touch you, not massage you.--Just spoke to the manager to explain the bad experience who was less appreciative of my honest feedback, was defensive, called my wife a liar, and refused to reverse charges for the horrible services rendered.Go to the four seasons, avoid this place like the stinky gym plague that it is.

My friend told me about this place so I decided to give it a try. The ambience inside the spa was just calm and inviting. Their prices are quite reasonable for such a posh place. I loved every bit of the experience.

I am very proud to work in Aura Spa I love it. It is a very nice place ,nice people good atmosphere . Thank you Vida . Good bless all of you.

Had a great pre-natal massage here with Jean.

Inconvenient parking...switched my order of massage and sauna because i was the first client..ineffective massage. Left feeling stressed.

I guess I would be what one would call a spa connoisseur. I have tried almost all spas in the area, but this one has stood out as my favorite for years now. Visit them to see what I mean

Great 1 hour massage with attendant

Relaxing and easy to make appointment

I very highly recommend Juan. A true professional.

David by far is amazing!

Amazing

Spa-licious!

Great place