After a long day in the office, there’s nothing better than heading straight to the spa to relax, especially if it’s for I.Sawan Residential Spa & Club’s signature escape. Some think it’s only right –that is, deserved – if you wait until the weekend to get in some rest and relaxation. However, I beg to differ. Allowing peace and serenity into your life even during a work week means that you ensure you are the best version of yourself – not just on weekends.
Mid-week, at 7pm on the dot, I made my way to Bangkok’s Grand Hyatt Erawan, peeling off the energy of a hectic day and feeling an oasis of calm descend upon me. Walking swiftly through the lobby, I took the lift straight up to the fifth floor and was warmly greeted by staff, who, in being conscious of the time and the fact that we were in the midst of a work week, wasted none whatsoever.
I was informed I would be getting the three-hour Signature Escape (9,500 Baht) that will leave me feeling relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated.
The signature escape is a half-day package (three hours) combining the spa’s most popular individual treatments. There are a number of other “escapes” on the menu that touch on different pressure points, all of which are designed to cater to specific needs, be it cellulite reduction, muscle relief, “for him” treatments, anti-ageing or for overall well-being.
On entering the treatment room and after my feet were dipped in petal-filled water, scrubbed clean and dried, my journey into another more peaceful realm started with a 60-minute moisture wrap and body scrub. Using a cooling white lotus skin conditioning body wrap, the lotion was applied all over my skin while the bed beneath me was heated; then I was wrapped up in cling film and towels and left to lie there for a bit. It sounds very unglamorous, but it actually felt very calming and still.
The trick is not to move around too much, because then you find the warmth of being buried under thick lotion and blankets soothing instead of uncomfortable. And the feeling when the towels and cling film come off… the contrast makes you appreciate air and oxygen all the more. Then came the Jasmine Rice & Lemon Grass cream polish, a soothing exfoliation suitable for all skin types that gently removes dead skin cells to reveal soft, silky skin.
The annoying bit was having to get up a third of the way into the treatment to have a shower, as this could have the potential to upset the overall chi of a “signature escape”. However, after washing away all the body scrub, a climb back onto the massage bed was followed by an hour of the most amazing massage I’ve had in years: a unique combination of Swedish, aromatherapy and Thai. The techniques were provided at medium pressure with the spa’s signature aromatherapy oil blend of lemongrass, cypress and Thai herbs. This is meant to be a rejuvenating treatment that increases circulation, detoxification and flexibility to assist in natural recovery from jetlag, muscle tension and stress. The most impressing thing about this massage was that not once did I feel like the therapist – her name is Lek and she is highly recommended – was either going too hard or not hitting the right spots enough. She found and attended to each pressure point so well and I’ll say it again, it was the best massage I’ve had in years. My faith in spas, in that one hour, was restored. And I feel this particular hour was the signature part of the entire signature escape.
Then followed a 60-minute hydrating facial, using hydramemory products from the Italian skincare brand Comfort Zone. After my face was wiped clean, the product was applied to my face and left there for some time while Lek proceeded to massage my head and scalp. The facial was meant to restore my skin’s silkiness and vitality with moisture-replenishing ingredients. When it came off, my face felt lighter, brighter and like all the skin cells on it were individually smiling.
I can honestly say, hand on heart, I had reached a bit of a boiling point with Bangkok’s spas, which I am very well acquainted with. The spa market here is heavily saturated, and as experience tells me, filled with spas that end up making you feel worse about yourself: either the massage too rough, the timing completely wrong, the know-how not up to scratch or somehow or it just doesn’t quite feel right. Now I can say I really know where to go when I need to visit a real spa. I.Sawan Residential Spa & Club at the Grand Hyatt Erawan is a God-send. If you’re having a rough week, remember to stop by.
For more information, have a look at the I.Sawan Residential Spa & Club website: www.hyatt.com.
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