It
used to be that keeping healthy and fit was synonymous with “working
out” in a gym that was strong on odor, but not on cleanliness.
These citadels of sweat were difficult to find and were most
frequently located on university campuses, at YMCA’s and
at a smattering of regal health clubs. Spas, on the other hand,
weren’t about keeping fit, but were for those already sick,
recuperating or terminally ill. Furthermore, they were usually
found in remote mountain areas of Europe where their wealthy and
infirm clients could soak in mineral-laden hot springs. My how
the World has changed!
Today, if you turn on a television set anywhere on our planet,
you are likely to find a muscular woman exercising to music and
exhorting an audience of panting subjects to keep up with her.
Health and fitness clubs dot the urban landscape and use famous
people with beautiful bodies to tell why their brand of exercise
is superior to that of their competitors. And, perhaps most significantly,
spas now concern themselves with keeping fit rather recuperating
from illness. In fact Webster’s Dictionary has recently broadened
the word “spa” to include “commercial establishments
with exercise rooms, saunas, etc.”
In
Bangkok it is in the “etc” where the excitement and
change can be found. The city’s hotels and a number of independent
businesses have invested enormous sums of money into facilities
where exercise, saunas, Jacuzzis, and a variety of massages, “body
rubs,” and “body wraps” are a part of the keeping
healthy scene. In addition many of them have juice bars, shops
selling health food, and a variety of beauty and barber services.
Some of them even have restaurant facilities offering food designed
to keep patrons lean and healthy
One of the things that make Bangkok’s spas unique and interesting
is the combining of Western and Eastern elements. Most of the
city’s spas emphasize that they not only aim to promote physical
health and fitness, but that they also seek to promote mental
health by alleviating stress and bringing people into “harmony”
with the world in which they live. The Grande Spa at the Sheraton
Grande Sukhumvit, for example, describes itself as “A Sanctuary
for the Mind, Body & Spirit.” The Devarana Spa at the
Dusit Thani Hotel makes it clear that it takes a “holistic”
approach and that it believes keeping fit involves both the body
and mind.
An example of a massage that uses elements from both the East
and West can be found at the Mandara, a spa brand with outlets
at the Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel, the Royal Orchid Sheraton
and the Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa. “This Mandara
Spa signature treatment, performed by two therapists working together
in rhythmic harmony, is the ultimate massage experience. Sensory
indulgence is combined with the healing powers of Aromatherapy
and tactile therapy. A unique blend of five different massage
styles, Japanese Shiatsu, Thai, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, Swedish and
Balinese. This full body massage was created with pure pleasure
in mind.”
In
some instances the physical fitness portion of the fitness equation
(exercise facilities) is separated from the spa portion (massages,
body rubs and body wraps), but when a hotel is involved, they
are frequently combined into a single center, albeit with separate
facilities. In addition the idea that sweat and exercise are for
men only is long gone, as is the idea that beauty treatments are
solely the province of women. Today, women pump iron and sweat
along with the males, and the guys can be found having manicures
and facials. The Club Erawan Fitness Spa, for example, offers
the following: “Fitness Facial For Men: Designed specifically
for men, this relaxing deep pore cleansing facial features an
anti-oxidant mask and anti-stress massage.”
An interesting sidelight to the unisex aspect is the fact that
many places offer services for couples who want to share their
“spa experience” together. The luxurious Aspara at the
Hotel Plaza Athenee offers four “Couples’ Spa Packages.”
One of them, “The Aspara Deluxe,” sounds especially
intriguing. For 5800 baht++, the loving couple can enjoy the following
together: “Body Glow (30 minutes), Swedish Body Massage (45
minutes) and Thermo Active Mud Fest Treatment (45 minutes).”
The Oriental Spa at the venerable Oriental Hotel has a six hour
“Anniversary Celebration” for couples that will make
anyone happy to have been married.
Although
facilities are often combined into a single center, hotel guests
who simply want to exercise can usually find exercise equipment
or a weight room where they can workout and then have a simple
shower as a part of the cost of their room or for a minimal fee.
If the spa is independent and not connected with a hotel, there
often is no place to workout. The Well Being Spa in the Sukhumvit/Thonglor
section of the city is an excellent example of an independent
spa that concerns itself solely with pampering in a spa environment.
Relieving stress is obviously important to many people utilizing
the services of a spa and most of them have devised special treatments
designed to accomplish this result. The one hour “Stress
Buster” treatment at the Royal Health Spa in Le Royal Meridien
includes 30 minutes of foot massage, 30 minutes of neck, shoulder
and head massage, and herbal juice, fruit juice or mineral water
for 1700 baht++.
Another of life’s perpetual problems addressed by spas is
weight reduction. The 60 minute “Slimming Body Pack”
treatment at the Devarana Spa describes its 2500 baht++ attack
on fat and cellulite in the following way. “Seaweed extracts,
essential oils and herbal concentrates act to remineralise the
vascular and lymphatic systems, providing a highly effective treatment
against cellulite. The high iodine content of this pack also helps
to stimulate the metabolism, encouraging detoxification and aiding
weight reduction.”
Particularly
enjoyable treatments at spas are body scrubs that exfoliate and
stimulate the skin. The Banyan Tree, a hotel well known for the
quality of its spa, uses items as diverse as apple, coffee, dill,
rice and sandalwood, salt, and tamarind and oatmeal to scrub and
heal the skin. This kind of treatment often involves “facials.”
The Mandara Spas’ “Declear Nourishing & Hydrating
Facial” is “specially formulated for dehydrated and
dry skins … Wrinkles and fine lines are diminished and the
epidermis is visibly refreshed. Its long-term effectiveness reinforces
the barrier function of the epidermis so it is better equipped
to combat aggressive climatic conditions.”
In Bangkok Spas and Fitness centers recognize that remaining healthy
involves taking care of the whole body. Enter one of the places
listed below and you will be pampered and guided into to a state
of physical and mental well-being.
Aspara Spa, Hotel Plaza Athenee (0-2650-8800)
Banyan Tree Spa, Banyan Tree Hotel (0-2679 1200)
Being Spa, 88 Sukhumvit Soi 51, (0-2662-6171)
Chou Chom Health Club & Spa, Hilton International Hotel
(0-2253-0123)
Club Erawan Fitness Spa, Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel (0-2254-1234)
Devarana Spa, The Dusit Thani Hotel (0-2236-9999)
JW Health Club & Spa, JW Marriott Hotel
Mandara Spas, Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa (0-2476-0022),
The Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel (0-2261-9000), The Royal
Orchid Sheraton
Swiss Perfection Spa, The Regent Bangkok (0-2251-61270
The Oriental Spa, The Oriental (0-2659-9000)
Royal Health Spa, Le Royal Meridien (0-2656-0444)
Tantara Health Spa, Pathumwan Princess Hotel (0-2216-3700)
The Grande Spa, The Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit (0-2653-0333)
