Wellness in Manchester and Bedford: Spas and Studios

Manchester is best known as New Hampshire's biggest city, a place of mill buildings, minor league ballgames and busy downtown restaurants. It is also a good base for a slower kind of trip. Between the city and neighboring Bedford there is a solid mix of day spas, salons, nail studios and yoga rooms, and none of them require a long drive into the mountains. If you are searching for a spa in Manchester NH, this guide walks through the kinds of places you will find, how to plan a wellness day around them, and a few local businesses from our directory to start with.

Manchester and Bedford at a glance

Manchester is the most populous city in New Hampshire. It sits on the banks of the Merrimack River and had 115,644 residents at the 2020 census. Along with Nashua, it is one of the two seats of Hillsborough County, the state's most populous county.

The city grew up around the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, which expanded through the 19th century into the largest cotton textile plant in the world. The company went bankrupt in 1935, and decades later the old mills were renovated. Today they house offices, restaurants, software companies, college branches, art studios, apartments and a museum.

Bedford is the town just to the southwest. It is a suburb of Manchester, and at the 2020 census it had 23,322 residents, a 10 percent increase from 2010. Many of the area's salons and spas sit along the main roads between the two communities, so it is easy to combine appointments in both places in a single day.

What kind of wellness day are you planning?

Before you book anything, it helps to decide what you actually want out of the day. The Manchester area covers several distinct types of businesses, and they work best for different goals.

• Full-service day spas are the choice when you want massage, facials and body treatments under one roof, often as a package.
• Salon and spa combinations pair hair services with skin and nail care. They are good if you want to leave looking polished as well as relaxed.
• Nail studios are quick, practical stops for manicures and pedicures, and are easy to fit around other plans.
• Yoga and movement studios are the option if your idea of wellness involves breathing hard first and resting later.
• Training clinics at beauty and massage schools let students practice services under the supervision of licensed instructors.

Many visitors mix two or three of these. A morning yoga class, lunch downtown and an afternoon facial is a realistic plan in this part of the state.

Day spas in Manchester

Chill Spa is one of the better-known names in the city. Its website describes it as an award-winning spa and lists services such as corrective treatments for face and body, spray tans and hair services. It also sells gift certificates and memberships, which makes it a common choice for people buying a present for someone else. See the listing at Chill Spa.

fleuRESH in Manchester calls itself a health and wellness sanctuary. Its menu covers Hydrafacial and Glo2 facials, skincare and waxing, massage, body treatments, day packages, Cryoskin and pedicures. The business says its focus is therapeutic treatment aimed at skin ailments and pain patterns, so it suits visitors who want something more targeted than a simple pampering session. See fleuRESH.

When comparing day spas, look at three things on each website: the list of services, how booking works, and whether they offer packages. Packages usually bundle a massage with a facial or body treatment and are often the simplest way to fill a half day.

Salon and spa options in Bedford

Alchemy Salon and Day Spa in Bedford covers hair, nails and skin. Its website lists hair shaping, coloring and styling, deep cleansing facials, full-body salt glow exfoliations, manicures, pedicures and waxing. If you want to combine a haircut with a facial in one visit, a combined salon and spa like this is the efficient choice. See Alchemy Salon and Spa.

Bedford's location is part of its appeal. It sits right next to Manchester, so a Bedford appointment is easy to pair with dinner or a museum visit in the city.

Yoga and movement studios

Wellness is not only about lying still. Illuminate Power Yoga and Healing Center in Manchester offers several class styles, including heated power yoga, low heat vinyasa, yin yoga and restorative yoga. The studio also runs monthly healing workshops built around breathwork, sound baths, reiki and meditation, and it has an introductory option for new students. See Illuminate Power Yoga.

A yoga class makes a good opener for a spa day. A heated or vinyasa class in the morning loosens you up, and a massage or facial in the afternoon feels earned. If you are new to heated classes, bring water, arrive early, and tell the instructor it is your first time.

Nail studios

Amazing Nails on Mast Road in Manchester offers acrylic and ombre full sets, refills, pedicures, manicures, polish changes, dip powders and waxing. Its website says walk-ins are welcome, though it recommends calling ahead or reaching out on its Facebook page to book an appointment. See Amazing Nails.

Nail studios are the easiest piece of a wellness day to fit in. They work well between other appointments or as a quick treat before a night out.

Learning centers and student clinics

The American Academy of Health and Beauty in Manchester is a career school with programs in esthetics, massage therapy and nails. It says it has been providing career education in New Hampshire for over 30 years. Its website also lists spa services, nail services, facials, hair removal, body treatments and a massage therapy clinic. See American Academy of Health and Beauty.

Student clinics are a good fit for visitors who are curious about how the training works or who are happy to give a little extra time in exchange for a supervised service. Check the school's website for how the clinic operates before you go.

Planning a wellness day in the Manchester area

A few practical points help the day go smoothly.

Book ahead for weekends. Popular spas fill their Saturday slots early, especially for massage. Weekday appointments are usually easier to find.

Arrive early. Most spas ask you to come a little before your appointment to fill out a short health form and change. Rushing in from traffic is the fastest way to undo the point of the visit.

Tell your provider about health conditions. Pregnancy, recent injuries, skin sensitivities and medications can all affect which treatments are appropriate. Good practitioners will ask, but it helps to volunteer it.

Hydrate. This applies to heated yoga, massage and sauna-style treatments alike.

Check the cancellation policy. Spas often have firm cancellation windows. Read them when you book.

Bundle with something else. Manchester has plenty to pair with a spa visit. You can walk among the renovated mill buildings along the Merrimack, or visit the Currier Museum of Art. The Currier's permanent collection includes European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs and sculpture, with works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe and Andrew Wyeth. The museum also maintains two house museums designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Zimmerman House and the Toufic H. Kalil House.

Getting outside between appointments

If you want a bit of fresh air in the middle of the day, Lake Massabesic sits within Manchester and the town of Auburn and covers about 2,560 acres. Because it supplies Manchester's drinking water, swimming and water skiing are not allowed. Sailing, fishing and kayaking are popular, and recreational trails along the shore offer views of the lake. A slow walk there is a good way to stretch out after a morning on a massage table.

Gift ideas

Many of the businesses above sell gift certificates. A spa or yoga gift is a practical present for someone in southern New Hampshire, because it does not require a long trip to use. Check each business's website for how gift certificates are sold and whether they can be used for packages.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a day spa in Manchester NH?

Yes. Chill Spa and fleuRESH are both in Manchester and offer facials, massage and body treatments among other services.

Are there spas in Bedford NH?

Yes. Alchemy Salon and Day Spa in Bedford combines hair, skin and nail services, including facials and salt glow exfoliations.

Where can I take a yoga class in Manchester?

Illuminate Power Yoga and Healing Center in Manchester offers heated power yoga, low heat vinyasa, yin and restorative classes.

Do Manchester nail salons take walk-ins?

Some do. Amazing Nails says walk-ins are welcome but recommends booking ahead.

Is Lake Massabesic open for swimming?

No. The lake provides drinking water for Manchester, so swimming and water skiing are not allowed. Sailing, fishing and kayaking are popular.

Sources

• Manchester, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester,_New_Hampshire
• Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoskeag_Manufacturing_Company
• Bedford, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford,_New_Hampshire
• Currier Museum of Art, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currier_Museum_of_Art
• Lake Massabesic, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Massabesic
• Chill Spa official site: https://chillspa.com
• fleuRESH official site: https://www.fleuresh.com
• Alchemy Salon and Day Spa official site: https://www.alchemysalonspa.com/
• Illuminate Power Yoga and Healing Center official site: https://www.illuminatepoweryoganh.com/
• Amazing Nails official site: https://amazingnailsnh.weebly.com/
• American Academy of Health and Beauty official site: https://www.myaahb.com/