Easy Dusit at Devarana Spa

MANILA, Philippines – First, you have to learn how to pronounce it right. Spelled “Devarana,” it’s actually pronounced as te-wa-run, which comes from the Thai-Sanskrit word that means “garden in heaven.” Inspired by the literary references to this word, Devarana Spa at Dusit Thani Manila is a space devoted to serenity and peace — if only for a few hours during your escape from the outside world.

The entrance to the spa itself is nothing short of dramatic. You walk through a well-lit foyer treated with elements of light and frosted glass, the marble floors mirroring the cutout ceiling, and the corridor flanked by ponds with the sound of flowing water surrounding you and the scent of herbs and oils filling you.

Then you are greeted the Thai way with hands pressed against each other and a warm smile. “Sawadee” at Devarana Spa could very well mean “Hi there, are you ready to be pampered with a massage and let your stress melt away?” To which you answer, of course, “Oh, yes! Can we start right away?”

The spa has six treatment rooms and an area for manicure and pedicure services. The Grand Suite has a shower room, outdoor shower, steam room, floral bath, massage area and lounge; the Corner and Deluxe Suites have a built-in steam shower, floral bath, massage area and lounge; and the Standard Room has a built-in shower and massage area.

Before your massage, you will be asked to choose from two menus: which oils to use (I highly suggest the lavender oil) and what kind of massage to have, from 60 minutes to 180 minutes, and facials and other body treatments.

So when it was my turn, I asked the masseuse: “Is your energy good today?” because everyone knows that a massage is not just about kneading tired muscles but also about transferring energy from the masseuse to the client. It is, if you will, drawing the aura of one to energize the other.

Devarana’s menu of massages includes two-hour treatments such as the traditional herbal compress and Thai massage; and the oil massage of choice. The Thai massage is recommended for those who have tired, aching muscles since it involves a lot of stretching to stimulate the nerve meridians of the body, and is performed without oils. The second is a combination of different massage techniques to be determined by the spa’s trained therapist, who will design a program to suit your needs.

The 90-minute treatments are the signature Devarana massage, which combines Thai, Ayurveda, and shiatsu techniques with Swedish and aromatherapy, and comes with a bowl of hot water with kaffir lime and orange for respiratory clearing. The aromatic detoxified and contoured massage, which uses slimming oils to fight accumulated cellulite and water retention; lymphatic drainage technique is also applied to help the body eliminate toxins. And the Swedish massage, known for its relaxing long strokes to help stimulate blood circulation.

Sometimes, we are always in a hurry that we can’t or won’t stop for even two hours, but I’m telling you that two hours in this spa are worth slowing down for. I tried the signature Devarana massage, which relaxed me so much I just wanted to stay in the massage room and sleep and sleep. I especially liked the oil and pandan bath. I didn’t realize that pandan worked wonders for the skin, but the therapist said it does. The smell is heavenly — not floral or herbal…but, well, sorta like a pandan dessert.

If you have only an hour to spare and want to concentrate on a particular part of your body, choose from the Ayurvedic head massage; the ginger compress and back massage; and the reflexology foot massage. Given a limited time, my choice would always be to pamper my feet.

For those who want to take care of their body and skin, Devarana offers several body scrub treatments, such as the halo-halo body scrub, which was inspired by the local dessert using a concoction of sweet corn, red bean, banana, coconut and vanilla to hydrate and soften the skin. The lavender body scrub is to induce relaxation, moisturize your body and leave it with a radiant glow.

The lemongrass body scrub is for purifying and hydrating the body and leaves you smelling so good. The mangosteen peel body scrub uses the “queen of fruits,” which helps tighten the skin pores and prevent wrinkles and pimples.

For the body wraps, you can choose to have algae and caffeine; blue lotus and aloe; or a mud wrap enriched with sugar cane. Devarana Spa also has facials that range from treatments using marine ingredients such as seaweed, to wild fruits and berry.

There’s a category on the menu called Pampering Program. If you have half a day, go for the five-hour Half Day Harmony, which starts with a Thai herbal steam bath, includes a 90-minute massage, and ends with a 90-minute facial and reflexology foot massage. There’s even a treatment that’s called After-Party Retreat, a three-hour session that includes a massage, facial, and slimming wrap. Maybe it’s for those who’ve indulged themselves too much the night before and need to ground themselves.

Whatever you prefer, however limited your time is, there’s a treatment to satisfy what your body needs. After all, the spa’s not called “garden in heaven” for nothing.

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Devarana Spa is located at Dusit Thani Manila, Makati City. Call 867-3333, send e-mail to manila@devaranaspa.com, or log on to www.devarana.com.