Denver’s Newest Wellness Club Blends High-Tech Healing with Colorado Soul

Denver’s Larimer Square has a new neighbor — and it’s not your average spa. Sway, a wellness club that opened its doors in late February, is the latest venture from the Colorado-based team behind Spavia Day Spa. But unlike its more traditional predecessor, Sway is less about pampering and more about redefining what self-care looks like in a fast-paced, tech-forward world.

Nearly two decades ago, Spavia started as a single location in Denver, offering high-quality spa services at prices people could actually afford. That simple idea resonated. Spavia grew into a national franchise, but its roots remained local. Now, with Sway, the family-run team is bringing the next chapter of their wellness philosophy home.

“We’ve identified an unmet need in big cities for health and wellness services tailored to younger generations,” says Emily Langenderfer, director of Sway. “We believe that wellness should be accessible, innovative and reflective of a modern lifestyle and our mission is to provide a holistic wellness club where self-care is embraced in its most authentic form.”

The flagship location at 1428 Larimer St. looks less like a spa and more like a minimalist sanctuary. The design is sleek and modern, with smooth edges lining the walls and natural textures softening the space. Sway’s services pull from familiar wellness pillars — massage, skincare, recovery — but layer in smart technology and customization in ways that feel fresh and forward-thinking.

Facials come with playful names like “Glow Getter” or “Pore Perfection,” but the techniques behind them are grounded in skincare science, powered by organic products from Eminence. Massages, meanwhile, can be upgraded with everything from cupping and lymphatic drainage to time on an infrared PEMF mat.

But the real game-changer might be Aescape (pronounced “escape”), a robotic massage system with AI-powered arms that deliver shockingly human-like touch. Using thousands of data points, it builds a 3D model of your body and adapts to your preferences over time. It’s already been embraced by luxury gyms like Equinox; now, it’s landed in Denver.

“It’s not about replacing massage therapists,” Langenderfer reminds us. Rather, she says it’s about giving people more choice. Some guests want a deep tissue massage from a person; others want to try something new that’s highly consistent and customizable. Sway is meeting both needs.

In the back of the club, the Remedy Room offers modern recovery tools once reserved for elite athletes: a cold plunge, lymphatic compression boots by Hyperice, LED light therapy and an infrared sauna. Members can flow between treatments or drop in for a specific service, depending on what their body’s asking for that day.

The Sway team wants this to be a place where people come not just to “treat” themselves, but to feel better, move better and live better. “Sway will become your go-to happy place for rejuvenation amid the bustling city life,” Langenderfer says.

I went in curious about the technology — and left pleasantly surprised. First up: the Aescape robotic massage. Billed as Colorado’s first of its kind, the treatment involves slipping into a tight, futuristic-looking outfit that allows the robot’s arms to glide over your body more precisely. Getting it on is… a process. But once I settled in, the massage felt intuitive and almost human. No, it doesn’t replace the touch of an actual massage therapist — but it’s close. And if you’ve ever hesitated to ask for more or less pressure mid-treatment, this bot doesn’t take offense.

The facial I received was refreshing, though it’s worth noting that treatments are done in a shared setting rather than private rooms. Still, the atmosphere is quiet, and I appreciated the ease of slipping from one treatment into the next without having to leave the club’s cozy rhythm.

Between sessions, I spent some time upstairs in the members-only lounge, where I kicked back in compression boots and sipped on tea. It was a nice reset — and a glimpse of how Sway wants members to actually hang out, not just book and bolt.

Sway offers treatments à la carte, but its membership model is where the local spirit really shines. For just $99 a month, members can choose from three options: the Remedy Room membership (four monthly visits to services like the cold plunge, sauna and LED light therapy), the Spa Club membership (one targeted facial or massage per month) or the Aescape Robot Massage membership (two monthly sessions with the first-ever robot massage). Each membership includes access to exclusive pricing on all Sway experiences, plus wellness lounge perks.

Yes, it’s beautifully designed. Yes, it features cutting-edge tech. But at its heart, Sway is still rooted in the same Colorado sensibility that gave rise to Spavia: wellness doesn’t have to be elite to be effective.