Christmas is a-coming and the goose is getting fat. You still haven’t bought your presents, there’s a mountain of unsent cards on your desk because you can’t remember anyone’s addresses, the diary is packed with work parties, drinks with clients and family gatherings and time is running out (or maybe that’s just me…)! It’s undoubtedly a stressful time of year, so for those of you that are in dire need of a little R&R to counteract the festive stress, I have selected five of the best relaxing, reviving, stress-relieving and revitalising treatments this fair city has to offer. So sit back, relax, out your feet up and get the phone ready to book your appointment…
Amongst the leafy streets of Pimlico lies a hidden treasure – the Dolphin Square Spa. Part of the amazing Dolphin Square residential complex, the capital’s newest luxury spa is the only one in London where guests can have a complete immersion in the age old cleansing and purifying rituals of a true Moroccan Hammam – a little slice of Morocco in SW1. For him & for her, the spa’s philosophy fuses ancient expertise with modern innovation, a concept that is echoed throughout the spa’s design. Bringing together the hugely beneficial rituals of Moroccan wellness and grooming which include Hammam, Rhassoul and a Salt Infused Steam Room experience, guests can enjoy the contemporary feel of this 4,000 sq ft spa which has five rooms for spa treatments, two studio rooms for no fuss, time conscious, approach to regular maintenance & salon style treatments, relaxation lounges and a walled courtyard. I partook in the Moroccan Rose Indulgence, a signature treatment involving a full body exfoliation and moisturise followed by a facial, all using Aromatherapy Associates’ Rose products. My therapist Sinead used the Natural Exfolitating Grains (made from ground olive stones) and Rose Wash to scrub me smooth, before cocooning me in the Rose Hydrating Gel, Cream and Oil and wrapping me up to relax. The facial used the Rose Renewing Cleanser & Tonic, Rose Cleansing Exfoliating Cream, Rose Hydrating Mask and Rose Eye Serum & Moisturiser. Post-treatment I was guided to the relaxation room to enjoy some Moroccan mint tea, healthy snacks and a stack of magazines – indulgence by name, indulgence by nature. £110 for 85 minutes www.dolphinsquare.co.uk
For busy girls and guys on the go, the City Stress Buster at the newly-opened Aromatherapy Associates spa in Knightsbridge has your name all over it. A full-body treatment with massage, mini facial and scalp massage, the treatment is an hour and a half (or hour) of unadulterated bliss. Your therapist will have you fill in a short questionnaire about your feelings for the day so she can determine exactly which AA oil is best suited to your needs – after discovering I was feeling stressed out, emotionally drained and lacking energy I was prescribed De-Stress Mind and Support Equilibrium. My therapist successfully pummeled out the (many) knots in my back and I drifted off to a peaceful slumber during the head massage (the ultimate sign of a successful treatment!). The beautifully decorated treatment rooms are luxuriously plush without being pretentious, and post-treatment you are encouraged to sit and relax with nibbles including fruit & nuts and macaroons. Perfection. Plus above the treatment rooms at ground level the new boutique offers the whole AA collection, so you can splash out on recommended products to take home. For more information visit www.aromatherapyassociates.com
If you need to completely switch of with no disturbance whatsoever, then Floatworks near London Bridge might be the answer to your prayers. You will be welcomed into your own private chamber containing your own state of the art flotation pod – 700lbs of Epsom salts in 170 gallons of water and heated to body temperature. The purpose of the session is simple – you float. You have on hour in which to lie down in your pod with the door closed (slightly odd feeling, but oddly comforting…) lights on or off depending on your preference, and nothing but your thoughts for company. The tranquility inside the pod allows your mind to drift into a deep state of relaxation, bit fear not – soft music will be played into the pod ten minutes before the end of our session to wake you lest you drift off completely. The benefits of floating are many and it has long been proven to be beneficial to health. As well as addressing conditions such as insomnia, jet lag, anxiety, sports related injuries and arthritis; regular floating can improve concentration, promote relaxation and generally energise and rejuvenate – great for de-stressing. Single hour session £45, membership options available. For more information or to book visit www.floatworks.co.uk
Nestled underneath the creative hub of the West End’s Bloww salon lies the Africology Urban Spa, the first in the UK after migrating from some of the most exclusive resorts in South Africa. Offering indulgent holistic treatments inspired by African traditional wisdom and rituals that help to establish harmony between body and mind, this luxurious and calming retreat from the hubbub of London's West End evokes an inviting sense of warmth, tranquillity and comfort within all who enter. You can relax in the knowledge that our highly trained therapists will do everything they can to make your visit a memorable experience. The 100% natural Africology products used in the treatments have been formulated to capture the rejuvenating and healing essences of Africa, helping to revitalize skin while preventing damage and premature ageing. The Africology Slimming Detox Wrap uses an African plant combination infused into a natural mud to help with circulation and lymph drainage. This very effective clay contains l-carnitine and caffeine, which act as fat strippers and mobilisers to stimulate lipolysis. This invigorating wrap begins with stimulating and exfoliating, working on circulation and lymph drainage before the warm wrap is applied and heated. This wrap works particularly well for bodies in need of a detox owing to acidic conditions, arthritis and oedema (i.e. over-indulging during the festive season and needing to combat the Christmas bloat…). Completed with a circulatory massage it’s a delicious treat. For more information visit www.bloww.com
Finally to indulge your fingers and toes in serious styles, head to the new MW Nails (pictured above) near Chancery Lane. No your eyes aren’t deceiving you, the salon really is set out like the inside of a fabulously retro 70s airplane. As the website suggest, ‘buckle up and let us transport you back to a time when men were men, hair was golden and bodies were bronzed!’ Couldn’t have put it better myself. Using the interior of an actual out of service plane, the interior boasts original seating and clever used of the accessories – the plane windows are cleverly turned into shelves, which the metal trolleys usually reserved for in-flight meals contain all the tools of the trade. The menu takes the form of a departure board and the manicurists are expertly turned out in terribly chic retro uniforms, complete with little air hostess hats. I enjoyed a glass of bubbly whilst indulging in the Captain’s Cockpit, a 90 minute treatment of exfoliation, massage, deep moisturizing paraffin hand wax and shape before finishing up with Two Weeks to Tahiti – Shellack gel polish in the colour of your choice, 14 day wear, mirror finish, zero dry time, no nail damage and all done in under half an hour. Amazing. Perfect nails here we come. For more information visit www.mwnails.com
Love Laurel x
