You deserve to feel Mandara good
November 4, 2003 | 12:00am
You deserve to feel this good," beckons The Mandara Spa. Nothing less is expected of the largest operator of Asian tropical garden spas in hotels and resorts in Southeast Asia. Established in 1996 in Indonesia, Mandara has since expanded to more than 62 spas worldwide.
In my recent trip to Bangkok, I personally discovered what makes Mandara special. But the sweetest surprise for me was to find out that a Filipina friend, Monica Orias, is the head of PR and marketing for all the Mandara spas in Thailand.
"The name Mandara refers to an ancient Balinese legend about a mythical mountain that flows with the water of life — an elixir charged with the power to keep one forever young," Monica explains. "Mandara Spa is considered a sanctuary of nature, where the essential elements of life are cherished. Different from any other spa in the world, Mandara Spas embrace the legend by creating an oasis of serenity and natural splendor for those seeking to replenish body, mind and soul."
In July 1999, the first Mandara opened at the Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa and quickly followed by three additional spas – the Hua Hin Marriott, Anantara Resort and Spa, and the Melia, Hua Hin. "Hua Hin is a quiet beachside resort on the Gulf of Thailand and is a two-hour drive south of Bangkok," says Monica
.We never got to see the Hua Hin locations, but Monica showed us slides of the beautiful spas. There you can choose to have your treatments either in a beachside traditional sala or in the air-conditioned privacy of a double suite.
The fifth and sixth Mandaras opened in early 2000 at the Pearl Village Hotel in Phuket and at the Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel in Bangkok. The seventh found its home in the Royal Orchid Sheraton by the Chao Phraya River.
Early last year, the eight spas opened at the JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa. Three more Mandaras opened late that year: Mandara Spa at Pattaya Marriott, Baan Boran Golden Triangle Spa, and Mandara Spa at the Bumrungrad Hospital. May this year, the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort inaugurated its own Mandara.
More are in the offing, but what I find intriguing amid the prolific blooming of Mandaras in Thailand is the unprecedented opening of one in a major hospital. I certainly welcome the idea because you need the special attention and pampering to feel and look beautiful all the more when you are sick.
Monica reminds us that massage has been part of the practice of medicine for thousands of years. "In the 5th century, Hippocrates, one of the forefathers of Western medicine, wrote that all physicians should integrate massage into their healing practices," she elaborates.
Bumrungrad patients can choose to indulge in a variety of facials, body massages, and beauty treatments in the comfort of their hospital room. All they have to do is to push the service button and request for service. Approval of the attending medical team will then be sought, after which a therapist is swiftly sent.
Every spa has a signature treatment. Mandara’s is "not to be missed, never to be forgotten." A unique blend of five different massage styles (Japanese Shiatsu, Thai, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, Swedish and Balinese), Mandara’s signature treatment is made extra special by the synchronized movement of two therapists.
If you enter a heavenly and dreamy state under the hands of a good therapist, imagine the double pleasure and sensation of two! "It is really the pinnacle of pampering and the ultimate in massage treatments," Monica enthuses.
"What makes this massage so special is how the hands of the two therapists move with such uncanny synchronization. Exacting training goes part of the way to explaining how this is achieved. The other reason is more esoteric. The massage and training techniques were developed in Bali, where one of the fundamental life beliefs is that we are all one," she further explains.
Adds a beaming Monica, "The two therapists begin the Mandara massage by touching palms together over the guest and taking a few moments to concentrate on harmonizing their energies. Throughout the massage, the two therapists remain connected by matching their breathing. The guest does not see this, but it is a part of what makes the treatment so effective."
She should be proud, because it is so good and worth another trip to Bangkok.
Monica, a licensed nutritionist and dietitian, joined Mandara in 2001. Though armed with a nutrition degree from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Monica has been with the health and beauty industry since 1984.
As a nutritionist, she was well known and loved for her sincere and practical tips. Still the same warm person despite her success, she gives us the following spa secrets to take home:
• Skin with spots and pimples are common in people with oily skin. Try to eat at least five varied portions of fruits and vegetables daily. They contain antioxidants that promote clear skin and good health. Ideally, these should be organic and therefore pesticide-free. If this is not possible, wash everything first and when appropriate, peel the skin. Drink mugs of warm bottled or filtered water each morning before or after breakfast to flush out your system and help prevent constipation.
• It’s important to cleanse your skin twice daily using a gentle soap-free cleansing bar. If you need to dry out a troublesome spot, dab with undiluted calendula tincture or neat tea tree oil. Apply tincture with a cotton bud. You should also try any of the following aromatic treatments:
• You can make your own zit-zapping gel by thoroughly mixing in a spotlessly clean cosmetic jar, 25 ml aloe vera gel, a drop of tea tree oil and a drop of lavender. To ensure that the essential oils retain their maximum potency, don’t be tempted to make larger quantities. The amount suggested here should be enough to last seven to 10 days. Apply the gel two or three times a day after cleansing for as long as required.
• Prepare your own facial sauna by filling a heatproof mixing bowl with near-boiling water, then add two to three drops of any of the following essential oils: lavender, tea tree, frankincense, juniper berry, lemongrass or rosemary. Hold your head over the steam and cover your head and bowl with a towel to trap the aromatic vapors. Afterwards, splash your face with tepid water to remove wastes accumulated on the skin’s surface.
• You can create a deep-cleansing clay pack by mixing three teaspoons of fine green clay, three teaspoons of unflavored organic yogurt, and one drop of frankincense essential oil. Smooth the paste on your face and throat, avoiding the delicate eye area. Leave on for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse off with tepid water. Allow the skin to settle for about one hour before applying a light moisturizer such as unperfumed aloe vera gel. For best results, apply once or twice a week, immediately after a facial sauna.
Those interested in contacting a kababayan to book a spa treatment or holiday in Bangkok should call Monica for great tips. You can e-mail her at morias@minornet.com or call +66028778924. Or log on to www.mandaraspa.com.
E-mail mylene@goldsgym.ph for questions and comments.
In my recent trip to Bangkok, I personally discovered what makes Mandara special. But the sweetest surprise for me was to find out that a Filipina friend, Monica Orias, is the head of PR and marketing for all the Mandara spas in Thailand.
"The name Mandara refers to an ancient Balinese legend about a mythical mountain that flows with the water of life — an elixir charged with the power to keep one forever young," Monica explains. "Mandara Spa is considered a sanctuary of nature, where the essential elements of life are cherished. Different from any other spa in the world, Mandara Spas embrace the legend by creating an oasis of serenity and natural splendor for those seeking to replenish body, mind and soul."
In July 1999, the first Mandara opened at the Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa and quickly followed by three additional spas – the Hua Hin Marriott, Anantara Resort and Spa, and the Melia, Hua Hin. "Hua Hin is a quiet beachside resort on the Gulf of Thailand and is a two-hour drive south of Bangkok," says Monica
.We never got to see the Hua Hin locations, but Monica showed us slides of the beautiful spas. There you can choose to have your treatments either in a beachside traditional sala or in the air-conditioned privacy of a double suite.
The fifth and sixth Mandaras opened in early 2000 at the Pearl Village Hotel in Phuket and at the Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel in Bangkok. The seventh found its home in the Royal Orchid Sheraton by the Chao Phraya River.
Early last year, the eight spas opened at the JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa. Three more Mandaras opened late that year: Mandara Spa at Pattaya Marriott, Baan Boran Golden Triangle Spa, and Mandara Spa at the Bumrungrad Hospital. May this year, the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort inaugurated its own Mandara.
More are in the offing, but what I find intriguing amid the prolific blooming of Mandaras in Thailand is the unprecedented opening of one in a major hospital. I certainly welcome the idea because you need the special attention and pampering to feel and look beautiful all the more when you are sick.
Monica reminds us that massage has been part of the practice of medicine for thousands of years. "In the 5th century, Hippocrates, one of the forefathers of Western medicine, wrote that all physicians should integrate massage into their healing practices," she elaborates.
Bumrungrad patients can choose to indulge in a variety of facials, body massages, and beauty treatments in the comfort of their hospital room. All they have to do is to push the service button and request for service. Approval of the attending medical team will then be sought, after which a therapist is swiftly sent.
Every spa has a signature treatment. Mandara’s is "not to be missed, never to be forgotten." A unique blend of five different massage styles (Japanese Shiatsu, Thai, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, Swedish and Balinese), Mandara’s signature treatment is made extra special by the synchronized movement of two therapists.
If you enter a heavenly and dreamy state under the hands of a good therapist, imagine the double pleasure and sensation of two! "It is really the pinnacle of pampering and the ultimate in massage treatments," Monica enthuses.
"What makes this massage so special is how the hands of the two therapists move with such uncanny synchronization. Exacting training goes part of the way to explaining how this is achieved. The other reason is more esoteric. The massage and training techniques were developed in Bali, where one of the fundamental life beliefs is that we are all one," she further explains.
Adds a beaming Monica, "The two therapists begin the Mandara massage by touching palms together over the guest and taking a few moments to concentrate on harmonizing their energies. Throughout the massage, the two therapists remain connected by matching their breathing. The guest does not see this, but it is a part of what makes the treatment so effective."
She should be proud, because it is so good and worth another trip to Bangkok.
Monica, a licensed nutritionist and dietitian, joined Mandara in 2001. Though armed with a nutrition degree from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Monica has been with the health and beauty industry since 1984.
As a nutritionist, she was well known and loved for her sincere and practical tips. Still the same warm person despite her success, she gives us the following spa secrets to take home:
• Skin with spots and pimples are common in people with oily skin. Try to eat at least five varied portions of fruits and vegetables daily. They contain antioxidants that promote clear skin and good health. Ideally, these should be organic and therefore pesticide-free. If this is not possible, wash everything first and when appropriate, peel the skin. Drink mugs of warm bottled or filtered water each morning before or after breakfast to flush out your system and help prevent constipation.
• It’s important to cleanse your skin twice daily using a gentle soap-free cleansing bar. If you need to dry out a troublesome spot, dab with undiluted calendula tincture or neat tea tree oil. Apply tincture with a cotton bud. You should also try any of the following aromatic treatments:
• You can make your own zit-zapping gel by thoroughly mixing in a spotlessly clean cosmetic jar, 25 ml aloe vera gel, a drop of tea tree oil and a drop of lavender. To ensure that the essential oils retain their maximum potency, don’t be tempted to make larger quantities. The amount suggested here should be enough to last seven to 10 days. Apply the gel two or three times a day after cleansing for as long as required.
• Prepare your own facial sauna by filling a heatproof mixing bowl with near-boiling water, then add two to three drops of any of the following essential oils: lavender, tea tree, frankincense, juniper berry, lemongrass or rosemary. Hold your head over the steam and cover your head and bowl with a towel to trap the aromatic vapors. Afterwards, splash your face with tepid water to remove wastes accumulated on the skin’s surface.
• You can create a deep-cleansing clay pack by mixing three teaspoons of fine green clay, three teaspoons of unflavored organic yogurt, and one drop of frankincense essential oil. Smooth the paste on your face and throat, avoiding the delicate eye area. Leave on for 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse off with tepid water. Allow the skin to settle for about one hour before applying a light moisturizer such as unperfumed aloe vera gel. For best results, apply once or twice a week, immediately after a facial sauna.
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