Anna McCormack and bump get a luxury pampering at Remède Spa in The St. Regis Abu Dhabi.
The promise
A soothing massage to ease away aches and pains of pregnancy in a calm and relaxing environment.
The experience
Remède Spa at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi is a haven of calmness and serenity. Elegant, bright white walls are softened with soft yellow-hued lighting along corridors that could be in a stately home and lead to beautiful changing facilities, a small ladies-only gym and the wet area complete with sauna, steam room and a huge Jacuzzi.
We lie on our left side hugging onto the spa’s long and curvy pillow supporting our legs, bump and head. With a thin sheet covering most of our body, Susie begins with our upper back. With long, smooth strokes that are strong but gentle Susie eases the tension out of our right shoulder, down our spine to our lower back. We can feel the stresses and strains of the day flowing away with each pass of Susie’s hands, helped in large amounts by the fantastic massage oil – a special brand called Mamma Mia, which is used exclusively with pregnant guests and contains a high grade plant collagen to help prevent stretch marks and smells divinely of orange and also contains jojoba, sweet almond oil and vitamin E.
Finished with one side of our back Susie then massages our right arm and then leg with the same extremely soothing strokes. Time seems to disappear for a while and then Susie asks us to roll over onto our other side. Somehow we muster the energy and do just that, looking and feeling somewhat like a beached whale. The process then begins again on our left side, this time with Susie paying extra attention to the tender spots we mentioned earlier in our lower back. Our left arm is massaged and then our left leg and our baby bump is given a little TLC with the massage oil.
All too soon, and after another of those we’re disappearing time moments, Susie tells us that we’re done. Genuinely tempted to ask if we can just spend the night rather than having to move, we manage to rouse ourselves enough to put on our robe and slippers (with help), clamber off the table and make our way to the relaxation area that boasts giant lounge beds, floor-to-ceiling windows and absolutely spectacular views of the Corniche.
The results
We’re not sure when we’ve ever felt so relaxed and we float home after the treatment. We sleep extremely well that night and our skin retains the glorious scent of the massage oil until our morning shower.
The pros
Not only are the surrounds elegant and sophisticated, but this is pampering that is truly beneficial. Kinks and knots are very gentle eased out of your back muscles leaving you with that floating-on-a-cloud feeling.
The cons
The treatment ends. If this could last all day it still would not be long enough.
5/5
The pregnancy massage is Dhs550 for 60 minutes. Remède Spa, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Nation Towers, Corniche Road West
