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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."
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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."
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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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