AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT - By Shari
Bali has some of the most beautiful tropical spas in the world. Several of them have won top awards with Conde Nast and the Crystal Spa Awards. Luckily, you have the opportunity to choose from an unlimited assortment of health and beauty treatments in some the most beautiful spas in Bali. However, some of these spas do offer some unusual treatments beyond the standard fare. You can find the standard fare on the spa menu at most spas, such as Balinese, aromatherapy and warm stone massage plus body scrubs, wraps and facials; these are the treatments that most people have. I have had hundreds of massages and spa packages but the ones I tell my friends about or even post on facebook are the unusual treatments I’ve had. These are the truly memorable experiences you want to try for something completely different.
JAMU TRADITIONAL SPA is probably the only spa in Bali offering the traditional healing Kerokan or coin massage. Commonly found in the villages this treatment is used to ward off masuk angin or entering wind, a common ailment with Indonesians. The symptoms can be chills, fever, feelings of flu or just feeling under the weather. Generally it’s blamed on getting cold. Scraping a coin across the back and chest area between the bones relieves these symptoms. Jamu offers a choice of a gentler scraping with a large flat bean or a stronger method using a coin. Both methods are relatively pain free. The unfortunate side effect is red stripes looking like you’ve been whipped. However, these stripes soon fade within a couple days by the time you will be feeling back to good health. This ninety minute treatment also includes a nice footbath ritual and a wonderful traditional massage. If you’re feeling like a cold or flu is coming on head to Jamu Spa at Alam Kul Kul in Kuta or Tanjung Sari Hotel in Sanur.20% Discount for KITAS holders and 50% for locals. 361-704581
L’AYURVEDA CENTRE for inner beauty and holistic care. This is not a pampering spa, but the two main purposes are to preserve the health of an individual and to heal the sick. The atmosphere is spiritual and all the skilled therapists practice meditation. They have special therapies using meditation techniques to teach you how to overcome stress, overcome emotion imbalance, free from anxiety, improve vision, mind culturing and hypnotherapy. During these 30 minute sessions you learn the techniques to use at home. Their speciality is Ayurveda treatments, which are intended to balance the energy doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha to restore health. Besides the popular Shirodhara head treatment, they also have an Ayurvedic Abhyanga body massage based on your body constitution designed to rejuvenate your body, calm your mind and culture your emotions. The therapist created a special blend of oils for my body type and used her skills to work on my body by stimulating the energy centres called marmas to detoxify and balance. I was in a state of bliss at the end of the treatment and had to force myself to climb off the massage bed and leave. They have a lovely gift shop selling crystals, brass Hindu and Buddhist statues and books as well as evening meditation classes. Located on Sunset road near Carrefour. 7801595
OAZIA VILLAS & SPA in Canggu is set in a style of white wood and curtains looking out to tropical greenery next to the river. All the treatments are holistic, using 100% natural products. Their special rituals are named after the Balinese phases of the moon, offering 4 different massages combined with tantalizing body scrubs and wraps that are tempting to eat. Because the phases of the moon are influenced by the ebb and flow of the oceans, our bodies are also influenced by the lunar phases. Choosing the treatment that “feels right” for you may not be the current phase of the moon but this is not significant as we have moved beyond our connection to the physical universe. The Tilem (nurture of the dark moon) ritual is given by 2 synchronised therapists followed by a fresh fruit body mask to plump and rejuvenate the skin with a final exfoliating scrub with black pepper and sesame seeds. The Bulan Penangal ritual is an invigorating Balinese massage then wrapped in a mineral rich seaweed body mask. The Purnama (Light of the full moon) is for a stronger healing with the 90 minute Oazia Contour massage followed by a scrub. Bulan Pengelong is an intuitive healing massage, which is very strong followed by a milk & honey rose petal body mask. The treatments left us feeling relaxed and balanced with glowing skin. Oazia also has a Watsu pool for a blissful water treatment. 361-8446105
REMEDE Spa at St. Regis has a couple of very unique experiences on offer. Firstly, a holistic master from Solo, with a long list of qualifications in Acupuncture, Javanese and Chinese medicine and Reiki to name a few, does a consultation to check your general health, acute and chronic problems in the body. He checks your pulses and probes some pressure points, while asking questions. After his diagnosis he will make a recommendation for which holistic treatment would be the most beneficial to restore health, such as detoxification, rebalancing or master healing. Secondly, I enjoyed the signature ritual called Bloody Mary, inspired from the legendary drink. I was ushered into the luxurious room with black walls with a swarm of backlit cut-out images of butterflies flying across the walls. In the centre of the ceiling is a faux skylight with a kaleidoscope of butterflies fluttering toward the shimmering crescent moon. Soft music played as I reclined on the electronic massage bed that adjusted to my body. The ritual began with an energising tomato, pineapple and wasabi body reviver to polish and soften the skin. After the garden shower I was coated with a vodka, tomato and clay body mask that, acts as an antioxidant. Supposedly, the vodka is good for the elastin in the skin. Wow, maybe I should stop drinking it and just rub it on my skin! While wrapped in a warm cocoon, my therapist gave me a soothing head massage. After a second garden shower I returned to the butterfly room for a marvellous massage. The grand finale is the soak in the gigantic onyx flower bath of tomato, vermouth and mineral salt, whilst sipping a delicious Bloody Mary! While enjoying my cocktail I contemplated what a divinely decadent ritual this was. The only thing to improve it would be to share my Bloody Mary with Johnny Depp. I felt fantastic after I dressed and found myself singing a James Brown song, “I feel good” on the drive home. REMEDE Spa has 15% discounts on some mornings for local residents from 8 – 11, with use of the sauna, steam and vitality pool. This is an excellent prelude to the fantastic Sunday brunch at Boneka restaurant. 361-3006716
TALAGA SPA located in Seminyak specializes in using pure virgin coconut oil in all of its treatments. VCO is known for its healing properties of improving the immune system, promoting weight loss and softening the skin and hair just to name a few of its benefits. All of Talaga’s therapists practice meditation and are trained to balance energy. I tried The Magical Coconut ritual of 150 minutes of bliss. First the feet are purified with coconut water as part of its footbath. Then begin with a coconut body scrub scented with fruit or flowers to remove the dead skin cells. Next balancing the energy with sound resonance and aura touch healing to clean and balance the energy. Continue with the Balinese Urut massage, which comprises a mixture of deep tissue, myofascial release, trigger point and therapeutic touch. This massage will release all tension and knots you may have. For the grand finale the therapist performed a chakra touch healing to balance the 7 chakras. Talaga has 10 different coconut rituals plus a la cart. Special discount prices available for local residents. 361-8733831 / 8783951
THERMES MARINS SPA at AYANA Resort recently won the Conde Nast Traveller Readers Award for #1 Spa in the World. Here, you can enjoy one of the best spa treatments that I know of, the Aquatonic pool; which contains water from the Indian Ocean and warmed to rebalance mineral deficiencies and provide the body with curative and preventative properties of seawater. As you travel through the therapy pool of 62 hydromassage stations you massage each part of your body, from the arches of your feet to the nape of your neck. It takes 2 hours to complete the circuit and afterwards you’ll feel so relaxed and rubbery in every part of your body when you finally emerge from the pool. This is the best water massage that I know of and is great preparation for a thalassotherapy or a traditional massage. The strong jets on the thighs are great for reducing cellulite. After this fantastic experience you’ll want to return many times. Thermes Marins Spa now has memberships available with unlimited use of Aquatonic Pool with many additional benefits. Rp 2.500.000/person/month Rp 4.250.000/person/2 months Rp 6.000.000/person/3 months Rp 20.000.000/person/year
Call 361-702222 to book a session and more information on the additional benefits of a membership.
