On the spa horizons

It seems the whole of Australia is waking up to the fact that pampering is a powerful antidote to stress. As the spa market grows, every resort worth its sea salt is adding or revitalising spa facilities, confirming the trend for indulgent getaways balanced by delicious doses of well-being.

The word “spa” is one of the most ubiquitous around, used to describe everything from a bath of turbulent water to a total health retreat. The word actually means “a place with mineral springs” and is the name of a town in Belgium, famous for its natural mineral springs.

Wherever they occur, such springs have always been revered for their restorative properties, but it was the Romans’ love of bathing that really put spas on the map. They created lavish bathhouses with many different pools, such as those at Bath in the UK, and there are many spa towns throughout Europe. The sources of famous mineral waters, such as Vichy and San Pellegrino, all have spa facilities to which Europeans flock for therapeutic treatments and body cleansing, inside and out.

One of the most famous dedicated health resorts in the world is Thailand’s Chiva-Som at Hua Hin, which combines luxury with therapies and treatments tailored to suit your needs. Americans also love spas in a grand sense, creating total resorts with treatment rooms, golf, and other activities – an idea that is reflected in Australia’s own Hyatt Regency Coolum, which has golf on the doorstep and the Sun Spa for treatments and therapies. A resort focusing largely on health and well-being, Hyatt Regency Coolum was the first of its kind to open in Australia – its recent refurbishment emphasises the way spas are evolving here.

Taking the sun as its theme, The Sun Spa treatments are chosen to mimic different times of the day – morning treatments to make you feel lively, day-time treatments for balance and reflection, and evening treatments for relaxation. Since treatments are used to promote the feeling you crave, you don’t have to wait for the relevant time zone. For example, a refreshing morning treatment in the evening is perfect if you want to feel lively.

Somewhat slower to adopt spa culture into the mainstream, Australians are now developing a real taste for it. Sharyn and Rex Cox at Clarendon Forest Retreat are among the Weekends for Two property owners who have always put great emphasis on pampering and indulgence as a great way to relax and revitalise.

“We have always viewed the day-spa treatments as an integrated part of the experience we offer here,” says Sharyn. “While a few years ago it may have been a new idea to have a massage on your private deck as part of your stay, we are now finding that, as couples are increasingly time poor, they are using their precious short breaks more and more to rejuvenate and replenish.

“This has grown to a point where we are increasingly becoming a health retreat with private yoga sessions, naturopathy health consultations, and pampering treatments,” Sharyn continues. “We plan to include a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, and have introduced weight-friendly meals so that couples or groups can have a relaxing holiday and be motivated with new goals and healthy lifestyles.

“And all this without the rigid regime of many health farms,” notes Sharyn, adding that a glass of chilled Champagne or a bottle of red by the fire is all part of a prescription for healthy living.
In general, spa facilities are regarded as value-added extensions of the whole getaway experience, causing many properties to re-brand or make changes to existing facilities in order to integrate them more fully. Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa is one of these properties.
“In this deadline-driven age, day spas, with their restorative and revitalising treatments, offer a tranquil oasis,” says Robyn Pontynen, general manager of Lilianfels. “Guests can completely escape, enjoying healthy cuisine and an abundance of relaxing in and outdoor activities that focus on their health and well-being. It was in this spirit that we re-branded the hotel Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa, as a natural extension of the unique nature experience offered.”
Hand in hand with the rise in the number of spa facilities has come a growth in the range of products and special treatments available, from therapeutic to purely pampering, with products derived from every natural source – including botanicals, glacial mud, seaweed and marine products.

Treatment options on spa menus are often so beautifully worded that you feel good just reading about them. The wealth of different ranges includes relative newcomers, such as Sodashi and the Aboriginal-orientated Li’Tya, as well as companies such as Neo, which combines ancient Indian Ayurvedic principles with Australian herbs and botanicals.

Li’Tya specialises in products and a total package of themed treatments, integrating the precious qualities of the Australian earth and spirit. Li’Tya is expressed as a way of being – each treatment assists clients to generate their own health and balance with the use of the profound wisdom of ancient Aboriginal medicines, spirituality and healing. Examples of the treatments include Jina, a foot treatment combining pressure-point massage and an aromatic mask; while Mikiri is a deep purification treatment to help eliminate toxins, rejuvenate, rebalance, and nourish the skin. Lowanna stimulates the senses by rejuvenating the extremities, combining a facial with hand and foot treatments. Body treatments include Mala Maya and The Dreaming, all inspired by different areas of Australia.

Well-known European products such as La Prairie are used in many spas, and Guerlain is the choice at luxurious Hayman Island. The spa and beauty-therapy area at Hayman is called The Retreat, where every need is catered for with highly trained skincare technicians, massage therapists, fitness instructors and wellness consultants. There are six individual treatment rooms, as well as a dual treatment room, spa and steam room, and plunge pool. Beauty and hair services are also available, so you might choose to book ahead for a foot therapy with pedicure, or a hand therapy with manicure – a welcome thought if you haven’t had time to do so before your time away.

Another company that knows the spa industry inside out is Thalgo, whose marine therapies are used in spas and health retreats around the globe. “Spa culture is slowly emerging in Australia,” says Thalgo’s national operations manager, Janine Lindsay. “Currently, hydrotherapy is becoming a focus in many salons/spas as people become interested in wellness and natural methods of healing. Today’s lifestyle is hectic and stressful, and people are looking for a solution to their stress. Hydrotherapy offers a way to regain and maintain a relaxed and healthy body – a body that is balanced can significantly help reduce stress in our modern lives.

“Spas are increasingly being built or added to hotels and resorts, suggesting they are putting ‘heads in beds’,” continues Janine. “Keeping a healthy mind and body – the holistic approach – and the use of natural materials are the objectives, and Thalgo Marine Algae harnesses the powerful riches of the sea for aesthetic use.”

With the wide range of Weekends for Two properties to select from, you can easily realise your dream of combining restorative therapies with a relaxing break. Just imagine, after only a few hours of travelling, having a massage in beautiful surroundings – on a verandah, boat, beach, or in a rainforest or bush setting... just about anywhere!