Though I'm just shy of my official 10-year mark, I'm a New Yorker through and through. My closet is 95% black, I can't stand slow walkers, and I lived on dollar pizza slices in college. Though I love the hustle and bustle, it—along with the general state of....everything right now—is not great for my stress levels, and my shoulders are basically in a perpetual state of tension.

So, when I was offered the chance to experience a wellness retreat, I couldn't turn it down (even though the New Yorker in me was a little skeptical). That's how I found myself at the beautiful Four Seasons Anguilla—a small island in the Caribbean—for the Sensei wellness pop-up. I felt myself relax as soon as I took in the property's ocean views and luxurious amenities, and some of my aversion to all things woo-woo even started to melt away.

While a weekend in the Caribbean was step one in my relaxation journey, the cherry on top was Sensei's proprietary Thermal Body Mapping Massage, which—spoiler alert—had me relaxing my shoulders for the first time in half a decade. Ahead, everything you need to know about the treatment and my honest review.

Four Seasons Anguilla

The Method

Sensei offers well-being retreats that combine the idea of wellness with data-driven science to help care for both your body and mind. The program was founded by Larry Ellison, technology pioneer and co-founder of Oracle, and Dr. David Agus, a physician and scientist. The program offers a variety of 1:1 programs with their "Sensei guides" that include more traditional treatments like massages and reflexology, as well as consultations that range from meditation to sleep analysis. There are also small group classes like core strength and reflective walks on the property's gorgeous beaches.

Four Seasons Anguilla

The Treatment

As part of my retreat, I was offered one wellness consultation and one spa service. I chose the sleep analysis for my wellness option, which sort of felt like a therapy session mixed with a science class. The main draw for me was the Thermal Body Mapping massage.

After chilling in the Four Seasons Anguilla's gorgeous spa area (complete with infinity pool and swinging daybed), I was escorted to one of the hotel's townhouses where the Sensei residency is currently taking place (through March 22). After settling into the Kelly Wearstler-designed room, my practitioner, John, walked me through the process.

My thermal body map.

Courtesy of author

You disrobe as you would during any other massage, and before the massage starts, the practitioner uses a special thermographic camera to take photos of the front and back of your body. The camera shows where your body is holding onto heat, which can equate to pain or tension.

"During the Sensei Thermal Body Mapping Massage experience, the Sensei-developed technology will create a visual map of the body, revealing asymmetries, muscle tightness, and potential areas of pain," per Sensei. "Using these key data points, the practitioner provides a custom massage with targeted bodywork, helping the guest gain greater flexibility and alignment while discovering a new appreciation for the body and the way it carries one through the world."

After talking through the photos—most of my heat was focused on my shoulders and hands, which I'm blaming on the fact that I write for a living, as well as my hips and knees—the massage portion begins as the practitioner focuses on those hot spots.

My Review

I can't resist something that feels a little gimmicky, yet I am also a skeptic at heart. So, heading into the treatment, I was curious to see if I could be convinced of the treatment's benefits. And I have to say, I left feeling impressed. This massage is definitely closer to a sports massage than a typical spa massage—it hurt in a good way at times—but it was still relaxing.

My practitioner was excellent at talking through everything he was doing and checking in to make sure nothing hurt. As he worked, I could feel my body responding in real time to the treatment—my shoulder relaxed, the tightness my hips I didn't even know I had dissipated, and I overall just felt better and less tense. I really liked the fact that he worked off the map to precisely target where I needed extra attention, and it all felt very methodical and purposeful.

I always feel ready for a nap after a massage, but I can't say I've ever felt as truly refreshed as I have after the Thermal Mapping. There was a lightness about me, and my whole body felt looser (though I'm sure the 80-degree weather and beautiful setting didn't hurt). Most noticeably, there was zero tension in my shoulders immediately after leaving my treatment, a feeling I don't think I've experienced since I started my career six years ago.

While I have since returned to my usual state of stress, I'll be dreaming about this massage (and the accompanying Four Seasons stay) for years to come.