Want to look and feel your best? Who doesn’t? There’s nothing like a really good massage to melt away life’s little aches and pains, or an expert facial to leave you feeling radiant and revitalized. And since 2012, locals have been luxuriating in the refreshing services offered at Birch Body Care in Kingston. “All of our services are customized to an individual’s needs, and our practitioners bring their unique skill set to each session,” says owner Ani Kaiser. “We don’t do cookie-cutter at Birch. Our massage, reiki, and skincare sessions help you push your ‘reset button’ and feel like a better version of yourself.” Growing up in High Falls, Kaiser was always drawn to health and aesthetics. “I was split between opening a boutique and, after reading ‘Hot Zone’ by Richard Preston, becoming a virologist or an MD,” she says. “I ended up pursuing photography and printmaking at Simon’s Rock College of Bard after I tapped into my creative side.” (This year, she’s hoping to get back into making art after a 23-year break.) As a young adult, Kaiser spent some time living down in the city and on Rhode Island’s Block Island; but when it was time to put down roots, she headed back to Ulster County. Her downstate experience gave her a very clear sense of what she didn’t want to do. “Right out of college, I worked in New York City with a status-obsessed fashion photography duo,” she recalls. “I saw the dark underbelly of the fashion industry circa 2001, and how grossly exploitative it was. Late-night model ‘castings’ for non-existent photo shoots, narcissism, inequality...also, it was the height of airbrush perfection, and I became all too aware of contributing to spreading a message of unrealistic beauty standards.
I wanted to do something that was ultimately more helpful to the world than harmful, and after only a year, left that fashion job and went to massage school.” Lots of locals have reason to be grateful for her principled stance. “This was my first experience getting a massage—and it entirely exceeded my expectations,” writes a Google reviewer.
Since 2012, locals have been luxuriating in the refreshing services offered at Birch Body Care in Kingston.
“All of our services are customized to an individual’s needs, and our practitioners bring their unique skillset to each session.” - Owner Ani Kaiser
“The atmosphere is serene and welcoming, instantly putting you at ease. My husband and I were massaged by Catlin and Michele, who were absolutely stellar. It was a delight to come here and to leave completely rejuvenated. Thank you!”
“They are reasonably priced and very good at what they do,” writes another happy customer. “I work in the healthcare field, so I’m on my feet all day. My fiancé works in the city and spends a lot of time on the road and on his feet. Brittany and Danielle both did such an amazing job at working out all of the knots in our backs and feet. My back and foot pain is currently nonexistent for the first time in many years.”
To begin her journey as a healer, Kaiser trained at the Swedish Institute and then used her new skills in a variety of settings. “I learned bits and pieces from all of the different places I worked at as a massage therapist: corporate giant spas, mom and pop shops, and chiropractic offices,” she says. “It was great to learn about what works and what doesn’t from the perspective of a service provider/massage practitioner. I brought all of that to the table when I opened Birch.”
“I wanted to do something that was ultimately more helpful to the world than harmful, so I went to massage school.” - Owner Ani Kaiser
Menu choices at Birch Body Care include targeted and all-over therapeutic sessions and options for pregnant folks, with add-ons like soothing stones (hot or cold), aromatherapy, and CBD products. Facial treatments are customized by expert estheticians to focus on a client’s concerns and skin health, and can be enhanced with lip treatment, LED light therapy, “power peels,” and a hair and scalp oil massage followed up with hot towels, among other options.
Kaiser, who besides her ownership role operates as bookkeeper and one-woman HR department, says she curates everything from the menu to the surroundings with an overall mission in mind: “Creating a safe space for healing and self-care that positively impacts our world. We don’t let fear and greed influence our business decisions, but instead, make choices based on what is best for our staff and community…We’ve never really ‘tried’ to stand out. Our service providers are all amazing at what they do, at holding space for clients and helping them feel great. Our clients recognize that and keep coming back. We also try to keep our prices on the more approachable end of the spa spectrum.”
The Birch name, she says, has layers of meaning. “Since birch trees are the first to grow after a calamity, they are regarded as symbols of rebirth, regeneration, and new beginnings,” she explains.
“They inspire us to start anew after a challenge or devastating event in life. They also grow fast, which means that blessings and good fortune will come fast after the difficulties in life…When a flood, landslide, or fire destroys a forest, the birch trees grow immediately, as if to protect and restore the forest.”
It’s a philosophy and practice that’s built a loyal and grateful client base, and the gratitude flows both ways. “We love our clientele!” says Kaiser. “We couldn’t be here without them. Our clients are a varied bunch, but all recognize the power and importance of self-care.”
Whether you’re looking for healing and rejuvenation or just want to look your very best for a special occasion, why not give Birch Body Care a try? Located in the heart of Uptown Kingston (one reviewer described the place a “hidden gem”), they’re open seven days a week—and there’s never a bad time for feeling better.
birch body care
73 Crown Street, Kingston
845-331-7139,
birchkingston.com
