The art of relaxation

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Mandara Spa at the Monarch Dubai has a simple design, with a focus on the client.

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Angsana Spa’s major clientele group is stressed workers.

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Natural stones, wood and water are key design elements at The Heavenly Spa.

As life becomes evermore hectic, people want to look and feel good and spas offer the perfect place to de-stress and relax. Andrew Kennedy looks at several Dubai spas where relaxation is the name of the game.

With the economic downturn weighing heavy on people's minds and working life becoming evermore stressful, guests are looking for greater ways to relax and unwind. This is where spas are stepping in, offering de-stressing treatments to soothe even the most overworked corporate guests and tired leisure travellers.

Each spa is unique in both its style and the treatments offered on the menu, with different influences shaping each spa.

Hotelier visits three of the myriad of spas in Dubai offering a haven of respite to see what each has to offer.

Mandara Spa

Mandara Spa at The Monarch Dubai is a brand that is based in Bali, Indonesia and as such has a heavily Balinese influence.

Spa director Sharon Barcock says the spa is all about the therapists and less so the design, yet Mandara is still an inviting and serene place to be.

"It's mainly the therapists that make the difference here," she says.

"Many spas in the Middle East have really focused on what the spa facility looks like and how much money they've invested in it, but at Mandara it's very much about the client.

"While we are interested in the surroundings we keep things simplistic and minimal in design; we focus more on what the clients want and what they need."

The actual treatments themselves have a Balinese feel to them, as many of the therapists are Indonesian - Barcock says they try to incorporate their knowledge of the local culture and practices as much as possible.

"We have two key treatments, the Balinese massage and the Mandara massage - our signature treatment. The Mandara massage is two therapists working on you at the same time using blends of five different massage techniques.

"It's an unusual experience but a fantastic one and the relaxation levels are second to none," she says.

"At the moment our authentic Balinese massage is the most popular mainly because of people's timeframes and it's the most ‘typical' massage so people tend to go for it the first time they visit - once they've experienced it they often move on to the Mandara."

Mandara has tailored the spa menu to the needs of its guests as Barcock explains the importance of looking at a location and the type of clients there.

In Dubai's case guests are often short on time due to long business hours in the city and subsequently Mandara have focused on treatments most geared to relieving stress and relaxing the guest.

Angsana Spa

The Angsana Spa at the Angsana Hotel and Suites Dubai is the fifth spa for the Thai-brand in Dubai, but it is subtly different from its counterparts. Unique to the Angsana in Dubai is the rain mist shower, which is part of several different treatments available.

The signature treatment is the Angsana massage: a two-hour, medium-pressure massage that combines Thai, Indonesian, Balinese and Chinese massage techniques.

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