Body + Wellness

Spa Guide 2018: Best treatments to unwind and recharge

04.09.2018

By Wei Yeen Loh

Spa Guide 2018: Best treatments to unwind and recharge

This upcoming long weekend only means one thing in our books: Time to relax, recharge—and repeat! If you haven’t got anything planned for the long stretch of holidays, why not take the time to indulge in a pampering spa to knead the tension off your muscles?

So Hammam Rituals (120 mins)SoSpa, Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara

Set in neutral tones and flushed with soft lighting, the SoSpa is a slice of calm in the midst of Damansara City. Spread over 3,700 square feet, the spa features five treatment rooms, including a couple’s room, a snack and refreshment corner, and two private hammam rooms.

The two hour treatment started off with a private hammam experience, which brought me back to the time I had my first hammam treatment in Marrakech. At SoSpa, the spacious hammam room has a separate steam and shower area, and a large stone slab in the middle, on which you lie down and have the therapist slather on a thick layer of nutrient-rich black soap all over the body. The therapist then uses a rough kessa glove to scrub dead skin off, revealing baby-soft skin.

After a quick shower, you have the option of having a quick tea at the relaxation area, before proceeding into a treatment room for the full body massage, with tea elixir and argan oil. I could not find any fault with the therapist’s pressure and massage technique—an hour later, I left the spa feeling completely refreshed and relaxed. Although, one minor gripe I had would be the unheated stone slab in the hammam room—despite a towel covering it, I could feel the slab’s cool surface when the towel was wet. – Cai Mei Khoo, Editor-in-Chief

Deep Sleep Treatment (120 mins)Starhill Spa by Spa Village, JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur

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For someone who has seven to eight hours of sleep every night, the Deep Sleep treatment—excellent for jetlag and insomnia, and to improve the overall sleep quality—may seem redundant for me, but nevertheless, I was still excited to try it out. Afterall, who can say no to naps and massages during work?

After I arrived at the Starhill Spa Village, I was ushered into the lounge and given a yummy concoction of ginger, lime and cucumber juice, before moving to the room for my spa. Starting off with a bath in the ensuite bathroom that was mixed with lavender and clary sage essential oils to relax my body (and mind), we then proceeded with the hypnotic massage to a sleep-inducing 432 HZ frequency music.

I liked how attentive the masseuse was, and with her strong yet gentle massage technique, needless to say, even with my eight hours of sleep the night before, I fell into a gentle slumber in no time. The head massage at the end was my favourite. As the speakers were located to my right, while the volume was just nice, it’ll be more enjoyable if the music was evenly distributed across the room. I’ll be back again to try out the other special treatments. – Joan Kong, Senior Fashion Writer

Essa Dream State (90 mins)Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

Take the elevator up to highest floor of the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur and you’ll find yourself at the beautiful rooftop pool area—lush tropical trees amongst the concrete jungle. Quietly nestled, one might miss the entrance to Essa Spa but the flipside to the hideaway is the privacy. Walk towards the 24-hour fitness center but keep your eyes on the prize on the right.

Beyond the doors of the Essa spa, I was welcomed to a resting area. The soothing warm light and calming music immediately put me into relaxation mode. My previous evening activities involved being at Janda Baik for Good Vibes Festival 2018. Festivals get draining, so this was a perfect time to recharge.

The Essa Dream State is the spa’s signature. Using a blend of jasmine, ylang ylang and bergamot, the essential oils produce a calming olfactory response while my body was pampered with smooth, warm stones and a light pressure massage. The treatment aims to put you into a “hypnotic, dreamlike state” and I can concur. Dozing off during a massage (not the norm for me) is my body’s surefire confirmation of being in total relaxation. The light, repetitive movements calms and soothes for total tranquil bliss—great for clearing headspace. – Stephanie Boey, Fashion Writer

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