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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)
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