Bridal fitness isn’t just about training and detox. So, if pre-wedding tension has struck, it’s time to slow things down. Here are recommendations from three of London’s most luxurious spas to restore body and soul and make you ready to face the world
Too often the focus of bridal fitness is on self-improvement – be it diet, training or detox. But there comes a time in most pre-wedding journeys when you hit the buffers. It might start with a small hitch, or something a little bigger – symptoms include a sense of panic or impending doom. The impact can cloud your judgement and even affect your wellbeing so ‘me time’ becomes your top priority.
Even if you are one of the lucky few to escape pre-wedding jitters, a day of indulgent spa therapy will do no harm at all. So we consulted the gurus at some of London’s top spas, to find out what they would recommend a week or two before the wedding day to restore a sense of balance and perfect calm. Here are their recommendations.
Four Elements at Akasha Spa
Located at Hotel Café Royal, Akasha Spa is an oasis in the heart of the West End with nine treatment rooms, a private Hammam and a Vichy shower. You’ll also find London’s first Watsu pool for hydro and guided meditation treatments.
The treatment: The team at Akasha recommend you book yourself in for its signature The Four Elements treatment. This full-body journey is designed around the four elements of nature. Therapeutic treatment is performed in warm water, while being supported by your therapist. This is followed by a soothing foot massage with warm compresses (earth). After that comes fire, a restorative hot oil massage combined with hot stones. The final air element is a tension-relieving scalp massage.
If your time is more limited, the team recommend Relax and Rebalance Ayurveda, a traditional Indian treatment using warm oil and long gentle flowing massage movements to promote deep relaxation. This treatment is followed by a soothing head massage and concludes with the pouring of warm oil onto the ‘third eye’ (your intuition) to rebalance, calm and re-focus the mind.
• The Four Seasons £240. 120 min. Relax and Rebalance Ayurveda £190. 90 minutes; hotelcaferoyal.com
Malay Massage at Ushvani
Located in Cadogan Square, Chelsea, and with numerous awards, Ushvani is a luxurious and soothing temple to wellness, offering décor and treatments inspired by Malaysian culture, ingredients and therapies.
The treatment: The team at Ushvani recommend the Malay Massage, its most relaxing therapy and perfect for clearing away pre-wedding stress and nerves. Designed to soothe, tone and contour and one of the gentlest of the Asian therapies, this uses long kneading strokes to aid lymphatic drainage – so also great as a pre-wedding detox.
If time allows, this works particularly well in combination with a Penyepit Facial – unique to Ushvani and combining traditional Eastern massage strokes with the use of chopstick-like wooden facial rollers (Penyepits). These glide over the facial muscles with an even pressure improving circulation and aiding lymphatic drainage. The treatment includes a gently decongesting facial scrub and a rejuvenating face mask. While the mask works its magic, a relaxing scalp treatment is performed on the head, neck and shoulder area.
• Malay Massage £180. Penyepit Facial £150. 90 min each; ushvani.com
Soul Retrieval at The Mandrake
Located in Newman Street, W1, The Mandrake hotel’s Spiritual Wellness Centre is all about restoring and nurturing the spirit, as well as body and mind, using rich sensory experiences. Uniquely, it offers sound therapy as a way to inspire deep relaxation and peace.
The treatment: For the ultimate in me-time, the team at The Mandrake recommend you opt for Soul Retrieval. This combines gentle Hawaiian body treatments and sound therapy using gongs and bowls. This treatment is subject to availability as it takes place in The Mandrake’s amazing penthouse, which has its own private steam room and a very large Jacuzzi located under a retractable roof.
• Soul Retrieval £375 for 120 minutes. £475 for 180 minutes; themandrake.com
MORE PRE-WEDDING SAVIOURS?
