A sense of renewal
Okura Spa's new treatment prepares the body and mind for the cooler autumn weather ahead
THE OKURA Spa at Okura Prestige Bangkok is welcoming autumn with an all-new pampering treatment featuring sugar body scrub to get rid of dull skin and an aromatic oil massage to deeply moisturise the body and recharge your energy.
The Time to Renew & Recover treatment is designed to capture the spirit of autumn, when leaves change colour and flutter to the ground, making way for budding green leaves to sprout.
This time of year, especially in Japan, people reflect on impermanence and let go of emotional burdens. From a physical point of view, the change from a warm and humid summer to the cool and dry autumn often leaves the skin parched and dehydrated, the muscles tight and the mind weary. A combination of body scrub and relaxing massage is a quick way to restore balance between body and mind, and at the same time rejuvenate and soothe the skin.
The blissful two-hour massage starts with the foot scrub ritual with lukewarm lavender water and sea salt. Then it’s time for the body scrub, which starts from the legs and goes up your back to the arms and shoulders. The scrub used is Harnn’s Tropical Wood Sugar and Coffee Refiner, which has a sweet and earthy calming scent. Some people prefer salt scrub because they feel that salt grains are more refined, but sugar also has its benefits. Though the grains are slightly bigger, sugar doesn’t leave the skin feeling slightly numb likes its salty cousin.
The scrub also contains certified organic olive oil that enhances exfoliation and quickens epidermis shedding, and shea butter – superfood for the skin – that reduces inflammation and deeply moisturises without leaving too much grease behind.
Another key ingredient in the scrub is coffee. I’ve always had mixed feelings about coffee scrub. I love drinking coffee, but having the powerful, slightly sour and roasty scent of coffee all over my body for 30 minutes strikes me as overwhelming, even nauseating.
This scrub, though, has enough coffee granules to exfoliate, tighten and brighten the skin, and the very subtle aromatic coffee hint goes well with the rest of the ingredients, making it a very pleasant and enjoyable experience.
After a quick rinse, the 90-minute relaxing massage begins with Harnn’s Neroli & Sandalwood Massage Oil. Neroli, basically bitter orange blossom essential oil, has a sweet, honeyed and slight spiced scent and is considered very precious as it requires baskets of flowers to extract just a few ounces of oil. Known widely as a tranquilliser that reduces stress and calms agitated nerves, neroli oil also disinfects, brightens dark spots and rejuvenates the skin.
Long, lingering strokes and slow kneading with mild acupressure on meridian points leave you totally relaxed and energised. And a bonus awaits after your treatment, as the therapist gives you the remaining scrub and massage oil to use at home.
The Okura Spa in Bangkok is a hidden sanctuary where you can retreat into the privacy of one of five luxurious spa suites. Before selecting a treatment from the extensive menu, guests begins their personal journey with a consultation from a skilled therapist. Signature and seasonal spa treatments use only exclusive organic oils and balms.
AUTUMN LEAVES
>> The Time to Renew & Recover treatment costs Bt5,500. It is available until the end of December.
>> The spa is open daily from 10 to 10. Book a session by calling (02) 687 9000 or email [email protected].
