Sometimes in this job I stumble across a little gem that I’m almost loathed to share with the world; so special, so indulgent it is that a tiny selfish part of me wants to keep it my little secret. Fear not, the angel on my shoulder always wins out and tells me secrets are made to be broken…
I have visited many a spa in my time, some good, some bad, some really quite ugly, but few have left me with the lasting impact of the COMO Shambala spa at Park Lane’s Metropolitan Hotel. Readers, we have a winner.
The London outpost of a global group, COMO Shambala was designed by Christina Ong, owner of COMO Hotels and Resorts, out of her personal pursuit of a meaningful spa experience—something she felt must be possible in the right environment while counselled by the very best teachers.
In 2000 she created COMO Shambhala Retreat at Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos and the company now owns and operates seven sanctuaries across the globe, including the flagship property, the residential health and wellbeing retreat that is the COMO Shambala Estate in Bali.
COMO Shambhala Urban Escape at The Metropolitan is COMO’s central London luxury spa, taking a highly personalised approach to fitness and wellbeing for both guests and non-residents. The spa itself is a sleek, clean-lined, peaceful sanctuary, carefully designed to be gender-neutral and not too fussy. Focusing on the best possible therapies for body and face, there are six treatment rooms, including two doubles featuring steam rooms, as well as gym and yoga rooms.
I recently visited on a particularly grey, chilly and dreary London afternoon, and to be honest after my treatment I didn’t want to leave. Greeted with a hot ginger tea and a warm fluffy robe, I was talked through the fascinating story of the spa, its treatments and its motherland in Bali; within minutes I was hooked, pining for a trip to what sounds like the most relaxing experience one could ever encounter. COMO Shambala also has its own range of massage oils and products which are available to purchase at the spa, as well as selected other premium brands which are used in their signature facials.
The London spa offers a full range of treatments, from deep tissue, pre-natal and Thai massage, to acupuncture, skin detoxifying treatments, manicures and facials. I opted for the much-needed classic COMO Shambala massage, a nurturing full body massage using COMO’s signature blended oils to relax and rejuvenate. I was shown to my room by Lisa, my therapist and a trained osteopath, and after explaining my current concerns (a particularly brutal knot in my back that refuses to shift) she suggested beginning with a swift ten minutes of deep tissue on the offending area before moving on to the main event. Interestingly enough, as soon as I lay down and Lisa saw my back she asked if I had done a lot of dancing in my youth; apparently I have beautifully even muscle tone in my back which is something rarely seen other than in dancers – I knew being a slave to the dance studio had to pay off some day.
Those ten short minutes of deep tissue flew by and I felt instant relief from the knot that’s been plaguing me for months. I then selected an oil from COMO’s signature range of six; I won’t ruin your experience by describing them all, but depending on whether you want a reviving, relaxing, comforting or uplifting experience there is an oil to suit every need. The massage itself was a dream; an hour of bliss during which I nodded off at least on one occasion, I closed my eyes and dreamt that I was on the beach in Bali rather than frosty London. Afterwards the lovely Lisa gave me some tips on how to prevent my back seizing up again; it was so refreshing to have a therapist who really listened to my concerns, Lisa really is a fantastic asset to the COMO team.
Post-massage I floated back to the lounge for more ginger tea and chat, before begrudgingly admitting to myself that I couldn’t stay forever (tempted as I was to check in for the night…) and heading home. Suffice to say I will most certainly be paying a repeat visit to COMO Shambala at The Metropolitan; from the moment you walk through the door it’s an experience to relish, from the superbly knowledgeable and thoroughly delightful staff to the extra fluffy robe, I never wanted to leave. Watch this space; there will undoubtedly be reviews of more treatments in the future, and I might even save my pennies and head to Bali for the ultimate COMO experience…
COMO Shambala signature massage £90 (60 minutes). For more information and to book visit www.comohotels.com
Love Laurel x
