Located at The Westin City Centre Bahrain, in the heart of bustling Manama, Heavenly Spa is a tranquil space offering a perfect escape from the hubbub of city life. True to its name, the spa conjured up memories of some of the exquisite spas I’ve experienced around the world.
As I walked in, the quiet, dark corridors, dimly-lit with candles, immediately conveyed a relaxed and cosy environment. Masseuse, Yanee, was to administer the 60-minute Heavenly Spa Signature Massage, something I welcomed with open arms after a long, tiring week. She did a quick consultation to assess if I had any problem areas or anything that needed extra attention, and quickly had me lying face down (yes, in the dreaded hole in the table, which can be quite uncomfortable). But, the table was well-cushioned and my face cocooned comfortably in it. A bowl of pot pourie with a gentle fragrance wafting up was a welcomed touch.
Yanee’s quick dry massage gave my muscles a little wake up call, after which began the actual Swedish massage. Using sweet-smelling warm aloe vera oil, she expertly kneaded every part of my body, starting from the lower back, all the way up to my arms and shoulders in both upward and downward motions, concentrating on the troubled areas. I could feel the tension lifting from my muscles as she massaged deeper into the tissues to remove all the knots.
After finishing the oil massage, she used a warm herb ball – a small contraption with a handle and rounded head – filled with various herbs that emanated an earthy smell. Warm to the touch, she patted it all over, pressing it gently to allow the muscles to soak up the heat. It felt like a rubber ball being pressed into my skin – a strange sensation at first, but rather enjoyable once I got used to it, as it helped me relax further.
Having finished the top half of my body, she started on the legs. Wearing heels, constantly, gives my calf muscles a good workout, even when I haven’t been to the gym. So, this part of the massage was my favourite. I could feel all the tension disappearing slowly and the sweet ache and relief was so welcome. Floating on cloud nine as my legs turned to jelly, she gently brought me back to earth by asking me to lie on my back. The heavenly treatment continued from my feet up, taking in my legs, stomach, arms and shoulders, and finished with a wonderful face and head massage.
I had a lovely tingling in my entire body and felt like every muscle had returned from a vacation. An hour had flown by, and alas, as all good things must come to an end, I reluctantly left the massage table. To top it off, Yanee took me to the relaxation room, where I had ginger-honey tea and biscuits waiting for me.
True to the promise of the spa, I felt physically and mentally relaxed, re-energised and absolutely heavenly. I couldn’t have asked for a better spa treatment – I left feeling like a new person and made a promise to myself to return again, soon!
Call 17 171-122, 17 171-555, email [email protected] or visit www.heavenlyspabahrain.com
