Long walks on the beach, romantic candlelit dinners, bouquets of red roses and boxes of imported chocolates are standard fare people look for when they post personal ads on match.com. While these things are quite mainstream and fairly cheesy, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t enjoy treats like these which are incredibly suitable for the Hallmark holiday right around the corner, Valentine’s Day. I’m not mocking the fluff or the heart holiday by any means. I would love to spend quality time strolling around with my hubby, shoveling in dark chocolate truffles and swishing them down with a bottle of Krug. However, this cupid season, instead of nibbling on foie gras and packing the calories into your body, I am suggesting a gift that nurtures the body (and soul) instead; something both the gift giver and recipient can enjoy.
Everyone responds to touch and, more often than not, it’s well received. It’s comforting, soothing and generally triggers the happy vibe in most. Pets like to be stroked as do most creatures — there’s nothing that makes my dog happier than when I rub his neck. Who isn’t a sucker for massage and body treatments?
The tranquil spa at the Mandarin Oriental Manila is really one for the books. For me, it’s the best one I have discovered on this tropical turf. Patterned after the Oriental Spa in Bangkok, it’s an oasis of calm which I am magnetically drawn to in the midst of my chaotic life. Even if some of my actions seem chill on the surface, my mind is constantly racing which is why I love unwinding at this piece of paradise in the city. It’s a place for me to temporarily forget about the worries on my mind. Since my hardworking hubby was at work, my friend Anna came in lieu of him to help me test drive the latest special at the spa. It wasn’t very hard twisting her arm to join me (again, who doesn’t like a massage?).
Upon signing in and sorting out which type of massage we were partial to, we both slipped off our shoes and the urban life and were ready to embark on a relaxing journey. Led upstairs to the treatment room, we were welcomed with a regal foot ritual to jump-start the treatment. Once we were on our comfy beds, covered and tucked in the right places with plush towels, the therapists began with a body scrub — a major overhaul to slough off dead skin. Made on the premises of all-natural products like pineapple and tamarind, the whitening scrub was non-abrasive and smelled good enough to eat. Anna and I were chatting away at how we could have licked off the scrub for a post-treatment snack but we were hauled off to the showers for a rinse. My skin felt like a newborn baby’s butt and I was thrilled knowing that I could sport backless tops and short skirts with enough confidence to reveal supple and flawless skin.
Once towel-dried and silky-smooth, we were back on the beds to experience an hour of utter bliss through a massage. We had been asked if we preferred Swedish, aromatherapy or deep-tissue massage and we both chose deep-tissue to work out knots in our aching backs and rid our lives of stress. The room fell silent as our chatter and giggles disappeared and we both drifted off to la-la-land. I kid you not, that was one of the most relaxing massages I have had in a while and I am a total spa junkie. I was impressed with the seamless strokes the therapists employed and had to be gently awakened when the massage was over. The electronic beds they use made it so much easier to stand up again, which helped tremendously since my legs felt like Jell-O and any assistance in my departure was greatly appreciated.
Once we were dressed and escorted into the relaxation area, we reluctantly gathered the momentum to leave the spa while topping off the true Mandarin Oriental experience with a cup of tea. For the finale, a long-stemmed red rose and a box of gorgeous pralines were presented, making it a textbook Valentine’s Day gift at the end. The dainty brocade wrapped box that the pralines come encased in can definitely be reused to store pens or even makeup brushes.
Whether you have a partner or not, Valentine’s Day should be for you. Remember, you can’t wholly love someone without loving yourself first. So keep in mind that you can splurge on a gift for yourself, too. For those who are looking for something to give, the gift of touch is a perfect present for this season of love.
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Mandarin Spa’s Valentine’s Day promotion is P6,000 for a body scrub and massage for two at The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental, located at the top two floors of the hotel on Makati Avenue in Makati. Call 750-8888, or visit www.mandarinoriental.com/manila.