‘Shringaar’ or beautification has played a significant role in India throughout the ages. Great emphasis is placed on inner beauty, which radiates outwards. Herbs are selected to aid circulation, vigour and promote relaxation. The ‘Ubtan’ scrub and wrap will leave your skin feeling soft, radiant and impregnated with the scent of flowers. This is followed by ‘shirobhyanga’ and ‘abhyanga’ or the Indian head and body massages using warm herbal oils that elicit a deeply relaxing response in mind and body.

Welcome foot ritual - Ubtan scrub - Abhyanga - Shirobhyanga - Ubtan wrap - Herbal steam

The unique feature of this Lanna Ceremony is its invigorating ‘Tok Sen’ massage, where the body is tapped rhythmically with a special stick made from the bark of the tamarind tree, followed by a warm compress and oil massage. A fragrant steam bath with wild forest honey and body scrub enriched with northern Thai herbs prepares the body for the soothing effects of this treatment.

Welcome foot ritual - Herbal steam bath with wild honey - Tamarind body glow - Warm herbal compress - Tok Sen - Warm herbal oil massage - Relaxing head massage

The royal foot ritual with which this ceremony commences is symbolic of paying special homage to honoured guests. The session continues with a safflower body scrub that not only helps circulation, but also makes skin feel smooth and radiant. This is followed by a Thai floral bath with ‘Nam Ob’, or scented floral water and fresh jasmine flowers. The ceremony ends with the graceful and tranquillising Royal Thai and facial acupressure massage.

Welcome foot ritual and leg massage - Safflower scrub - Steam with jasmine body masque - Thai floral jasmine bath - Royal Thai massage - Facial acupressure massage.

This ancient Indian head massage, using the finest oils, is another typical feature of Ayurvedic healing. Deeply relaxing, Shirobhyanga promotes good vision and is an excellent remedy for insomnia while at the same time improving circulation and concentration. Rhythmic pressure is applied in accordance to the patient’s body type. Special emphasis is placed on treating ‘marmas’, or energy centres, in the head, forehead, eyes, ears, neck and shoulder areas.

Aromatherapy has been practised in one form or another since the beginning of civilisation. It is the art of using oils extracted from aromatic flowers, herbs, spices, woods and fibers to enhance health and beauty. Apart from physical benefits, aromatherapy has subtle effects on the mind and emotions. The massage is very soothing using light, rhythmic pressure.

With mouse clicking, typing, messaging and writing our hands are often over-used on a daily basis. The Blackberry Therapy is designed to thoroughly release tension that accumulates in the hands and arms from the daily tasks we use them for. The treatment works on the major channels and meridians of the arms and the reflex points in the hands in order to release deep tension.

Relax with a full body exfoliation and a massage focusing on stiff, tense and tired muscles. Involves intensive deep tissue and stretching techniques to warm, manipulate and ease the body to release tension. A scalp massage helps to relax the mind.

Perhaps the best known and powerful of all Ayurvedic therapies. The flow of energy essential to Ayurvedic practice is inherent in Shirodhara, which works at the very deepest levels of one’s being. ‘Shiro’ means head and ‘dhara’ means flow as a continuous fine stream of warm oil is poured on the forehead, transforming, connecting and energizing the various forces which sustain our life, from the circulation of fluids in the body to the subtle current of energies. One radiates with a healthy glow, emerging with a sense of centredness and calm.

Sheetala is a dosha-specific head, neck and shoulder massage employing cooling herbs. It concentrates on sensitive areas in this region and provides relief to sensory organs.

Abhyanga is a light form of massage, with the combined use of herbs, oils, touch and friction. This massage elicits a deeply relaxing response from the nervous system. It has a balancing effect on the doshas and helps to purge toxins, promote youthfulness and increase energy

The objective here is to restore the balance of natural oils in the skin by a thorough cleansing.Use of steam to extract impurities is followed by facial massage and mud mask. All help to draw out impurities and re-mineralise the complexion. Lavender and tea tree are key ingredients.

Specially developed to cleanse and invigorate the skin. The selected ingredients of lavender, tea tree and ylang ylang help in combating oiliness as well as shaving irritation, creating a healthy and well balanced complexion. Hot towel compress, scalp and foot massage are included as part of the treatment.

This facial softens, moisturizes and nourishes, using natural Damask Rose Water to enhance circulation and purify the skin. A rejuvenating facial and application of an hydrating mask are combined with a relaxing back, scalp, and pampering hand and arm massage.

This facial treatment is specially designed for mature, dry and devitalized skin. The use of rose and frankincense helps smooth and revitalize skin texture, encouraging renewal. Hydrating and rejuvenating gel and mud masks are interspersed with a relaxing yet firming facial massage.

Shiro-Nasya is a treatment that focuses on ‘marma’ points in the face, head, neck and shoulder areas. This is followed by massage with freshly prepared herbal rice ‘pottalis’ which work as compresses to clear congestion from sinuses.

Kathi Basti follows the harmonious flow of nature to ease away tensions from the spine by pouring specially formulated, warm Ayurvedic oils on the spine area to gently alleviate blockages, without causing stress or pain. This is followed by a gentle back massage and ends with the application of warm herbal compresses, leaving you in a state of lightness and relaxation.