Need some kneading?

Forget theme-room spas and invasive treatment equipment. Mandara Spa at JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa offers simple yet elegant chambers amid a lush tropical garden along with all-hand treatments and pure natural products.

Once in a while you might want to “pretend” that you’re somewhere else with a theme room while receiving a treatment. But who needs to be anywhere else when you can relax and be pampered in the tranquil natural setting? 

Mandara Spa has 16 couples’ suites and five Thai massage sala amid the greenery. And, boy, it feels like heaven when you open your eyes to see the lush green around you.

This pampering spa has only one purpose: to pamper you and make you relax. And there’s everything for everyone in the family, even the children. Though the spa has no “kid’s menu”, it will arrange suitable treatments for them provided that the children are up to it physically. 

If you have two hours and an insatiable desire to relax and get royally pampered, opt for one of the signature treatments, Ritual of Javanese Lulur. Often described as the “queen of body treatments”, Javanese Lulur was practised in the palaces of central Java in the 17th century for 40 day leading up to wedding ceremonies. Lulur is Javanese for “coating the skin”. This total beauty treatment involves a light massage, body scrub and fragrant floral bath.

The treatment starts with an idyllic and fragrant floral foot ritual and continues with a relaxing milky bath, where you get to gaze into blue sky and lush trees. Some chambers offer in-door bathtubs, too, but it is highly recommended to experience this bath in the garden. 

Then the Lulur scrub begins. The creamy scrub is a mixture of mainly turmeric and yoghurt. Turmeric is used widely, especially in Southeast Asia, to brighten and nourish the skin. Research shows that the woody-smelling root has anti-ageing and anti-microbial agents. 

Thais use freshly ground turmeric to coat and scrub the skin, and make the skin look golden. But probably the Javanese are not into golden, and that’s why they also add yoghurt to the mix to nourish the treated skin and wash off the unwanted yellow dye of the turmeric. 

Because the Lulur scrub contains no salt or harsh grainy components, it doesn’t leave your skin raw or burnt, but fully hydrated, supple and glowing.

The last part of the treatment is a 60-minute Balinese massage. The techniques, which include skin folding, kneading and long stroking with palms, help boost blood, oxygen and energy flow and leave you totally relaxed at the same time. The treatment costs Bt5,000. 

Simply using the palms, elbows and fingers, the therapists are well trained and know their treatments well. No other equipment is used, since they believe human touch has the best healing and soothing effects. 

The spa products here are all pure plant extracts and some are prepared fresh for each session. No preservatives are used. 

 

OFF YOU GO

>> Mandara Spa is located at JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa. It is open daily from 10am till 10pm.

>> Call (076) 338 201 or email [email protected].