Spa Rituals / Treatments

5. Get Beautiful Hands:
Next to the face, hands make the most impact so get yours in great shape. Try a Mineral Spa Manicure. Apart from the regular cleaning and massage, this includes soaking hands in hot water with essential oils in it, a treatment with a scrub made from dead sea minerals, followed by a clay pack. The manicure is completed with a hot towel treatment. The scrub and pack may vary from spa to spa. There is a similar spa pedicure as well.
Time Taken: 30-45 minutes.
Price: $12 approx.

6. Soothe Your Feet:
If you have sore, tired and aching feet, opt for a paraffin-wax pedicure. The feet are soaked in warm water with essential oils to soothe. This is followed by callus softening and removal, cuticle and nail shaping, and finally a scrub or a pack. The feet are then massaged with cream or aroma oils and then gently 'bathed' in warm paraffin wax.
Time Taken: 45 minutes
Price: $12 onwards

7. Pretty On Your Back:
Don't have time for a full body massage? Opt for just a Back Massage. It improves blood circulation, soothes and softens the back. The massage starts from the lower back and moves upward. The strokes are modulated from soft to medium pressure movements, depending on your comfort level. It starts with dry strokes followed by an oil massage using a blend of oils to suit your mood. The massage is followed by a hot towel treatment, finished with a shower.
Time Taken: 30-45 minutes
Price: $20 onwards

8. For Your Body:
Nothing can be more relaxing than a full body treatment. These maybe slightly more elaborate. But here's a pick of the relatively simpler relaxants.
Body Polish: The treatment exfoliates the whole body and loosens stressed joints. You may choose from a variety of scrubs on offer. From an Indian scrub, to chocolate and sugar scrub, to even a champagne polish! These are quick and the basic idea is exfoliation. The treatment starts with a quick massage, then the scrub is applied, and finally, there's a shower.
Swedish Massage: If you're a first-timer at a spa then the Classic Swedish massage is a great start. The massage involves deep tissue manipulation techniques to reduce tension, stimulate blood circulation and soothe tense muscles. It utilises three basic strokes - long firm strokes, kneading strokes and small circular strokes. A blend of essential oils is used to suit either your mood or skin type.
Balinese Massage: From the Far East there are several massages - Thai, Japanese, Balinese. Of these the simplest is the Balinese massage. In most spas, Balinese experts give you this massage. Essential oils are used to administer the medium - to hard pressure strokes that help stimulate and rejuvenate the body.
Ayurvedic Massage: This is slightly elaborate and there's more variety to choose from - some may take over an hour and involve two therapists. The basic idea is to activate the body's seven pressure points (known as seven chakras). Different blends of oils are selected to suit individual requirements.
Time Taken: 45 minutes
Price: $30 onwards