Heal and Discover Yourself at Z’hado (Part 1/2)

Heal and Discover Yourself at Z’hado
This cozy beauty and wellness spa near Bugis MRT delivers quality products and services — it is soon launching its organic facial using eco-certified products from the Swiss Alps — plus actual results

By James P. Ong
Photographs Jeri Soh

Pampering body massages are just one of many services being offered by Z’hado

OUTSIDE on the narrow Liang Seah Street (opposite Bugis MRT) is the maddening eat-and-drink crowd exploring the famous “ma la” steamboat. Yet inside Z’hado, located on the second floor of a shophouse building, it is cozy and relaxing — just the way its manager Leo intended it to be. The beauty and wellness spa counts executives and tai-tais as its regulars and loyal clients. The reason they keep coming back is the warm reception, friendly and good service Z’hado offers guests.

“I don’t mind whether we are big or small,” says Leo. “I’m concerned with good service and results.” The 37-year-old manager used to be a fashion merchandiser before moving into the beauty and wellness industry because “I want to maintain my youthfulness and beauty the holistic way”.

Z’hado also offers makeup services by an experienced makeup artist

Dedication, innovativeness and creativity has made Leo pursue ways to improve the quality of therapies at Z’hado. These include its soon-to-launch organic facial using products sourced from the Swiss Alps which is eco-certified.

The name Z’hado comes from the Japanese symbol of HADO (Healing and Discovering Ourselves). Inspired by Masaru Emoto’s revolutionary best-seller “The Hidden Messages in Water”, two good friends decided to set up the spa to spread this unique philosophy of healing and health.

Click here to read part 2

Source: Heal and Discover Yourself at Z’hado (Part 1/2)

Spa Review: Aramsa Spa (PART 2/2)

SPA REVIEW
Aramsa Spa: A Lush Haven In An Urban Jungle
Click here for Part 1

By Kareena Ally | reprinted from www.streetdirectory.com
Photos Robert J. Steiner

SPOILT for choice, I opted for the Lavender Drizzle. Attended by Ivy, the therapist, the session started with a foot wash. We then proceeded to the treatment bed for an oil-prep, followed by a lavender floral exfoliation. Then, it was off for a warm shower in the adjoining outdoor garden amidst the greeneries and nature. The shower facility, which included a sunken bathtub, was designed to be hidden from prying eyes or high-rise building heightens.

Then, it was an hour of blissful Aramsa Touch massage. To my delight, I was serenaded not only by the soothing background music but also by the melodic chirping of birds and sounds of nature. The therapy ended with a relaxing facial, which enhanced my overall therapeutic spa experience.

The SD Advisor’s take on Aramsa Spa
The whole spa experience left me feeling totally rejuvenated. As a person who loves nature and spa, this combination is heaven sent. Indeed, how often do we, considering our hectic lifestyle, take time to appreciate the bounties of nature?

At Aramsa Spa, one gets to enjoy a “room with a view” while relaxing and, at the same time, nurturing one’s well-being. Moreover, it is a spa getaway within Singapore that all the bells and whistles you’d normally get in spas overseas. Best of all, it comes at a fraction of what it may just have cost you for a quick getaway – you can use the extra money for additional pampering.

Kareena Ally is a former school teacher and a holder of Master of Social Sciences degree. She is pursuing her writing career while being mother to two boisterous boys. Kareena has a keen sense of humour, enjoys traveling, reading and meeting people and is a fan of online shopping. She has a knack for finding good buys and an eagle vision when it comes to value-for-money deals.

Source: Spa Review: Aramsa Spa (PART 2/2)

Treat Yourself To A Fitness Spa Vacation

Discover new places while transforming yourself into a healthier and stronger you
By Tomer Harel

Fitness Spa Vacations

CONSTANTLY coming up with unique vacation ideas can really be challenging. Aside from the destination to decide on, there are the itinerary and/or activities you have to worry about, too.

For every travel opportunity, it is just natural for all of us to want to try and experience something we have never experienced before. It makes the trip a lot more worth it and fonder in our memories to have come back from a vacation having tried something new.

Coming from this desire are the fitness spa vacation ideas that are increasing in popularity to everyone who finds him- or herself in the position to do the travel plans.

The concept of fitness spa vacations is pretty simple, but it sure leads to a world of rewards. Being able to discover new places while transforming yourself into a healthier and stronger you is just amazing.

Such concepts are available around the world, from Thailand and South Korea to Greece and Russia.

Read more about fitness spa vacations.

$170 Ultimate Radiance Package

Spa Botanica offers special design treatment for Sun Festival

Spa Treatment Package

TREAT yourself to a special offer $170 Ultimate Radiance spa package, available only from Spa Botanica at Sentosa Island during the Singapore Sun Festival period of 17 – 26 October.

There are many spas in Singapore, and many spa treatments.

But what makes this one special is it’s designed especially for the festival and it’s being offered by Singapore’s first tropical garden destination spa, named one of the world’s Top Ten Day Spas by the Conde Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Spa Awards 2008 – Overseas Category.

Read more about this spa treatment package.

Tantric Massage Can Be Wholesome

‘I think most men would simply like to believe that the touch is sexual’
By James P. Ong

Photo credit: TANTRAPATH

SAY Tantric massage and the first thing that’s likey to come to mind is sensuality and sexuality. But if Tantra Path founder Christina Low is to be believed, it can be also be about spirituality and re-channeling energy.

There are various therapies under the wide umbrella of Tantra. “Watsu/Tantsu/ Kahuna are all forms of Tantra in a (non-genital) massage. And, of course, Kashmir Tantric massage that I teach is based on giving from a loving heart, and not a search for more physical triggers to gain arousal,” she says.

On 30 August, Low is holding a course on “Tantric Massage For Two” — one of three Tantric-themed workshops that day. What, exactly, is Tantric massage? According to the course outline, it is the massage of a loving heart and sensual touch.

Read more about how Tantric Massage Can Be Wholesome.

[iRecommend] Bella’s Seaweed Cold Mask

“The only time I woke up during the treatment was when a new layer of mask was placed on my face.”
P. Sabrina, 88DB.com writer

Bella at International Building

WHY do women do facial? “I want to look beautiful,” says Zune. “My skin complexion is not good so I do facial hoping to improve it.” “I have very sensitive skin,” says Sara. “I want to feel pampered while improving my complexion.”

A facial is a cosmetic treatment on the face, commonly involving a variety of skin treatments, including: steam, exfoliation, extraction, creams, lotions, masks, peels, and massage. Normally performed in a beauty salon, it is also a common spa treatment.

Basically women want to be pampered and look radiant, this is why women like me go for facials. When a colleague asked me to try one at Bella, I knew I needed a treat and this was one that no woman would reject. And so arrangements were made and I headed down to the Bella shop at International Building #08-06.

Read more about P. Sabrina’s recommendation for facial treatments.

Never too ticklish for a full body massage

A warm bed and a very professional masseuse – Shiok!
By Mavis Ang

EACH time my girlfriends compare how shiok their facial, spa and massage sessions have been, I would never have anything to contribute to the conversation. To me, facials are a torture and I can never relax whenever I go through these supposedly pampering massage treatments.

Needless to say, I avoided massages because my skin crawls whenever someone touches my neck, and a light squeeze on my shoulder is extremely ticklish to me. But after much convincing from friends, and thinking that I’ll never know unless I try, I decided to set up an appointment for a full body massage.

Read more on this full-body massage review.

Reaching Perfect Nirvana

Willow Stream Spa’s ‘Perfect Singapore’ is a sublime body treatment that helps you relax, revive, and find your balance with the use of a dry brush and natural Ayurvedic ingredients
By James P. Ong

EARLY this month we visited Singapore’s newest luxury spa, Willow Stream at Fairmont Hotel, and tried a massage and spa treatment that sounds very organic to the Lion City: “Singapore Perfection”. In a country known for its strict adherence to rules, regulations, and following everything to the dot, a spa treatment that proudly calls itself “Singapore Perfection” is almost a tautology — a needless repetition of an obvious fact.

That said, you shouldn’t expect anything less than perfection from this 60-minute body treatment — a carryover from the former Raffles Amrita Spa that used to call it Nirvana — designed to heal as well as pamper.

Read more about spa treatments in Singapore.

Spa Treatments In Singapore

We highlight some common spa and wellness treatments and their benefits. After reading this, you will know Ayurverda is a holistic health treatment and not a Karmasutra position
By Ronald Wan

WHAT’S in a spa treatment? A recent phenomenon, the spa became popular only a few years ago. Now, we have spa centres, wellness centres, day spa and spa salons sprouting everywhere on the island, from downtown to the heartlands. Even the aunties are booking appointments for spa therapies instead of gossiping at the void decks.

Read more on Spa Treatments In Singapore.

Spa-tisfied

Ronald Wan is now a spa convert. He can’t wait for his next session to get his body pressed and twisted.

I have a confession to make – I was never fond of spas because I could never understand the whole mumbo jumbo. Face spa, mud spa, crystal skin therapy, slimming massage – they all sound very alien and cheam to me. Also, being a guy (read: species with lazy body cells), I would rather stay home watch football on TV than to let my naked body be pressed (or is it pinched?) by someone else (doesn’t it sound like torture already?).

Hence it was with trepidation when my editor sent me to do a spa review at Body Contours. He gingerly remarked, “Look, just enjoy the massage. It’s not a torture. You will not die. I will take care of your girl for you if you didn’t survive.”

Body Contours is located at 30 Hill Street and upon arriving, you already felt serene and calm from the cascading water fountain fronting the boutique. The kind people at Body Contours showed me around before I began my full body spa scrub. I uttered a prayer.

I was told to strip and wear a pair of shorts. It seems these days, I’m told to strip everywhere I go (see other story on this writer’s waxing adventures) I feel like a Category III actor already. I promptly laid on the bed and my masseuse Jojo began to apply the scrub. I couldn’t help but feel like a spring chicken being laid out on the chopping board and getting my limbs all contorted. Okay, I exaggerate, and truth be told, I kind of liked the whole thing already.

Maybe it’s the New Age music playing in the background. Or maybe it’s the wonders of the scrub. After the scrub, I moved on to the bathroom to be ‘steamed’. For 15 minutes, I’m sweating in there, totally immersing myself in this whole therapy session so to speak. I cleaned up and then it was show time. Jojo told me gently to lie on the bed again for the full body massage.

I uttered more than a prayer this time. I prayed for salvation. Jojo began the massage from the lower limbs, slowly working her way up to the upper body portion. Everything seemed nice and easy, and soon she worked into full gear. She pressed down on my aching shoulder and neck deftly, working her magic on my lazy muscles. “Your muscles are rather tight,” she remarked. Oh yes, my muscles are so intense it must be due to stress and my heavy workload (dear Editor, did you read that?).

It was a wonderful massage. I have never felt so relaxed and flexible. And when Jojo was about to end the massage session, she asked if I wanted to twist my neck. Um, unsure and confused, I simply nodded hesitantly. I didn’t know what possessed me to say yes, but soon enough, images of killers twisting their victims’ necks in horror movies played in my mind. Wait! Is Jojo a pseudonym for a psychotic killer?

It was fast and quick. To the left. And to the right. I could hear the twisting sound of my neck. Thrice for each direction. Click, click, click. And I was still alive.

The entire full body scrub and massage lasted about an hour and a half. It was a great experience, thanks to the wonderful service offered by Jojo and the good people at Body Contours. Body Contours also specialises in their signature Winergy Infusions, where the properties in red wine is used as a spa ingredient to protect the skin against harmful radicals. It sounds rather bizarre to the uninitiated but I’m definitely game for that. No more football on TV. It’s spa time for me, scepticism not included.