The treatment: Espa Ultimate Hammam
No, it’s not going to be a white Christmas, but with the ridiculous air-conditioning in some malls and that nasty bug going around (die bug, die!) we feel we have reason enough to want to warm our cockles a bit. Add to which the party season is nigh, and you can’t argue that the best way to look fabulous is to feel fabulous. But sometimes feeling fabulous is more easily said than done, and if you’re as stressed and unkempt as some of us here at TOAD (it’s the work pressures) then you’ll be wanting something very thorough.
So bring on Espa’s Ultimate Hammam: one hour and 20 minutes of heat and water rituals, massage, exfoliation and relaxation. Sound good? The Espa spa menu calls it ‘total luxury,’ and they’re not too far off the mark.
Step by step: Espa welcomes customers with a cold, essential oil infused towel and some tea to sip on while you complete your pre-treatment questionnaire in the reception lounge. The questionnaire will give your therapist some idea of your needs, expectations and any relevant medical conditions. Our therapist for the day was the warm and kindly Yeni, who escorted us into the spa and gave us a quick tour. Sophisticated and elegant, everything here is designed to create the perfect atmosphere for relaxation. Dark wood and cosy colours, dimmed, ambient lighting and even all the right sound effects, courtesy of a water feature, create the illusion of being tucked away in a warm cave while a tropical storm brews outside.
Feeling special already, in our heavy robe and slippers, the treatment started off with a brief but comforting foot wash and massage, using mineral sea salts.
That done, we were taken into the steam room, and made to lie face down on a towel covered marble pedestal. The first step involved being smothered with Moroccan black soap and massaged all over. Working the soap deep into our skin, Yeni’s expert hands also worked on the knots and muscle tension. We turned over and the same treatment was applied to our front, with hydrating cleansing milk used for the face area. While our skin soaked it all up, Yeni turned her attention to our hair. Using pink hair and scalp mud, we were given an invigorating head massage and hair conditioning.
Thoroughly steamed and soaped, our skin was ready for exfoliation. First, Yeni washed off the soap and then out came the kese – the traditional rough bath mitt that has you gritting your teeth with some satisfaction. A thorough scrubbing commenced, with dead skin and grime peeling off till we felt raw all over. We were rinsed off in the shower corner and then taken back to the pedestal for the mud treatment, which involved being caked in a marine algae mask, and then covered with a towel. Cosy as a cupcake in an oven, instantly we felt the warm mask working its magic, providing a hot, tingling sensation all over. After we’d baked enough, there was a second rinsing, followed by an invitation to take a ten minute soak in a special bath tub, with restorative bath oils and mineral sea salts mixed into the water. Tea and an apple (yes, apple – we thought this was a bit odd too, but after all that cleansing you can get a bit peckish) was served for us to enjoy over this relaxing soak. The treatment ended when Yeni came back with a bowl of essential body lotion to moisturise ourselves with after stepping out of the tub.
Pros: As with any good hammam treatment, the effects don’t end when the pampering does. We still feel whistle-clean, silky smooth and as relaxed as limp pasta.
Cons: The disposable underwear provided is a little on the skimpy side, so if you’re of a shy disposition bring some bikini bottoms. Rest assured though, you’re in caring hands and the therapist will be accomodating – whatever your level of comfort or modesty may be. Also take into account that Espa prices are a bit steep, but with all the work that goes in, you can’t really hold it against them.
The verdict: The treatment had us so euphoric by the end, we launched into singing hallelujah in the bath our therapist left us to soak in. This kind of pleasure ought to be illegal.
The Espa Ultimate Hammam costs Dhs522. Open daily 9am-9pm, Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi (02 656 0862).
