Like many people, one of my New Year’s resolutions is to look after my body better. Living at 100 miles per hour with daily deadlines, social engagements, and large city living can really take a toll. I’ve decided that “enough is enough” and shall endeavor to swap the disco dancing for personal training, dashing to dinner in heels for dates with the treadmill, and crash dieting to fit into my leather trousers for detoxing.
If, like me, the mere thought of making an appearance at the gym has you break into a cold sweat (after all, I have more pressing issues—like planning my wedding), then you, too, need an incentive. A pair of fancy neon trainers won’t cut it, but a monthly trip to the Anantara Spa at The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi may do the trick.
Enter the Thai Herbal Compress Massage. First up is the floral foot ritual, a savior for stiletto addicts, in which your feet are scrubbed, soaked, and spritzed and left feeling much perkier. And then, lying face down on the massage table, the real therapy begins. Much like a hot stone massage, the stress release from this full body Thai massage comes from the heat being diffused into strung limbs. Parcels filled with a heady concoction of herbs are steam heated and pressed onto your pressure points to alleviate pressure, and are then kneaded into taught muscles to ease any aches and pains.
As a prelude to a firm pressure massage, this stage puts your muscles in the right state to be manipulated, stretched, and coaxed back to a relaxed form. The final stage consists of a head massage complete with hair pulling (which is strangely relaxing when done correctly). After a detoxifying lemon and ginger tea, you will leave the spa with the sensation that you are floating.
Anantara Spas in the UAE:
Anantara Spa at Emirates Palace +971 2 6909000
Anantara Spa at Desert Islands Resort & Spa +971 28015281
Anantara Spa at Qasr Al Sarab +971 28862088
Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara +971 26561000
