For the ultimate in five star pampering, The Langham hotel on Regent Street has opened Europe’s first Chuan Spa, an incredibly luxurious haven in the heart of London incorporating Traditional Chinese Medicine into its signature treatments, ambience and décor. The philosophy uses the principle of the balance of the five natural elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water and the body’s opposing yet mutually dependent halves, Ying and Yang. Emphasising a holistic approach, therapists will adopt these guiding principles, using energy flows, basic elemental forces and the influence of hot and cold to create individual treatment plans.
From the moment I stepped through the entrance I was transported into a sanctuary of serenity. Greeted at reception, I was shown to the Comtemplation Area, a space of cream leather recliner chairs, to fill in my pre-treatment health forms and a questionnaire to establish which of the five elements my body may be lacking – questions included my thoughts on which colour I am most attracted, what time of day I feel sluggish and which season I prefer.
I was led downstairs to the changing rooms, themselves a treat on all the senses, where I changed in to the deluxe robe and slippers provided and perused the steam room and sauna before making my way up to meet Karen, my therapist.
A dark cosy corridor lined with plush purple carpets is home to the five treatment rooms, each named after one of the five elements in Chinese medicine. Karen talked me through the concept of the spa, before analysing my questionnaire results to establish my body had a deficit the element of Fire – hard to believe, but apparently true. Each of the five elements has a number of distinct associations; Fire is related to the heart, small intestine, tongue and blood vessels and also affects the speech. The emotions affected tend to be joy and over excitement with possible mood swings – sounds about right. Karen selected the corresponding massage oil to use in my massage, and before beginning asked me to perform a short breathing ritual to enhance the therapeutic effects of the massage and restore harmony to my mind, body and soul.
The full body Chuan Harmony massage itself was nothing short of incredible; an hour of pure, unadulterated bliss. I was definitely close to drifting off as I melted into the bed! After the hour of joy was over, Karen left me to get dressed before meeting me back in the Contemplation Area where I was served a herbal tea. I was given a homecare leaflet containing Karen’s diagnosis for future treatments and at home remedies to ease the tension she had diagnosed in my shoulders, lower back and thighs – a common side effect of sitting hunched at a desk all day!
Use of the facilities is included with treatments, so I wish is had booked in a time slot which had allowed me to hang around afterwards and use the spectacular swimming pool, located in a former bank vault -definite note to self for next time...there will undoubtedly be one!
Chuan Harmony Massage from £90. For more information visit www.chuanspa.co.uk
Love Laurel x
