Obviously my job is hard, and people often remark how bad they feel for me having to keep up with the latest spa trends, spa openings and the seemingly endless innovative and therapeutic treatments that are launched on this wonderful island of health and natural happiness.
What” they ask me “do you do to unwind? Where do you go and why?”
It’s one of the most difficult questions to answer, choices are so dependent on my immediate needs, and of course desires, but the time has come to let you, dear reader, into my secret world.
When life gets really tough, and sometimes it does, I book into Four Seasons Sayan, envelop myself in the forests of Ubud and take a Shirodara treatment at the deeply nurturing Four Seasons Ayuvedic Spa. Here I am ‘away’ for a day or two, dreaming in the drip drip of the Ubud rain and replenishing my Sanskrit leaning soul.
On other days, at other times I will head over to the East Coast and get physical on the slopes of majestic Mount Agung, where, when the dawn breaks is no finer place to be, especially when you know at Alila Manggis there will be the most glorious body massage at the beach bale waiting just for your tired limbs.
And when the planets align the love of my life and I try to find the time to treat ourselves to an exceptional experience at the Bale, Nusa Dua where healthy food and private suites allow for a truly indulgent get away, here the spa has intensely gorgeous jade and crystal treatments that smooth away care and reach really deeply into residue tensions and habitual knots and restrictions. Close by is the St Regis where after a superb brunch the spa welcomes with a range of facial treatments for both men and women.
Yet there are times when there isn’t time, you know what I mean, and so in times like these I’ll drop into Theta for everything I need when I am on that side of town, coming back from dropping someone at the airport, or picking them up and giving them a surprise welcome treat. Everything they do at Theta is done with grace and elegance from foot reflexology to precision hair cutting, I love the ‘calm in the middle of Kuta’ feel of Theta.
Sunday nights are special, hanging near home means I get to go to Glo for the full manicure pedicure treatment to get groomed for the week ahead, or drop into Jari Menari for the non-oil massage with movement which is fantastic when I feel I haven’t been to enough classes at Jiwa Yoga and Dance or hit the bikes at the spin class at Motion.
Sometimes on a girls’ day out though it is fun to get up to Ayana and get a bit of the super-luxe all in treatment, great for birthdays and bride to be activities, a personal therapist will guide you through the exercises in the fabulous pool and you can float away under the endless sky while you are massaged and manipulated in the most relaxing way. After the spa head to the Rock Bar for a chilled glass of something special and enjoy watching the sunset sink into the ocean.
For very special weekends jump on the Friday flight to Mataram and spend the weekend at the TUGU Lombok, where everything from the moment you arrive is a total escape into fantasy and fabulosity, the generously spaced rooms with their elegant furniture, the soaring statues, the garden villas and the yoga and spa pavillion, not to mention the traditional Indonesian food served on the beach in candle light create a total spa experience that renews the body and inspires soft dreams and sleep…..
So there you are my secret is out, I do have one of the best jobs on the island!