This story begins with me abruptly snoring myself awake. Now, unfortunately, it is not the first time that I have been ripped away from slumber thanks to my snoring, but it is certainly the first time I have done so while technically ‘working’.
A rasping snort jolts me back into consciousness, where after a microsecond I realize that I am lying down, practically naked (save for some basically-not-there spa pants) in a dark room with a masseuse kneading away the previous week’s deadline stresses. Realization instantly turns into an embarrassment that is only slightly consoled by the fact my face is concealed on account that it is poking through a hole in the specifically designed massage table. I try to style it out claiming that something was “stuck in my throat,” but I know that the masseuse knows, and she knows that I know she knows. If anything, it is a complement to the comfort and relaxation of the treatment. Plus, the bed is heated, and who doesn’t like a cozy warm bed?
‘Stories’ is a concept brought to you by the homegrown spa brand Sensasia. Designed to be more luxurious that its other iterations, the newly opened Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates flagship branch is an elevated version of the much-loved spa with a more restrained, but elegantly stylized interior design. Strong stone slabs and warm wood finishings complement the colour scheme of light grey hues, while its high ceilings and alcoves give it a calming, almost monastic, vibe.
Depending on how you want your story to start, the spa has two entrances—one from the five-star hotel, the other a mall walk-in option.
But more than just an aesthetic update, the new concept looks to offer a wider, more bespoke, choice of service to its clients. The ‘Build your own massage’ option seems like an obvious one at first, but it is not actually something that you come across often in treatment menus. As in any bespoke build, you can select the type of massage (sports, stretch, accu pressure…), the duration, scent of the oils, and even bolt on additions including warm candle treatments (AED100 extra), green magic gel (AED15), or additional time (AED89 for 15mins) if you really need them to eradicate some stress.
The level of enhancement customizability doesn’t stop at the type of massage. In an almost ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ style of decision-making, you have the option select different shower experiences, an ice fountain, herb saunas, steam rooms, a Jacuzzi and even a virtual reality headset, which can be incorporated into treatments to offer customised escapism to destinations including the beaches of the Seychelles and New Zealand’s mountains. “The core principles of Sensasia are based on my own desire for detail, which the experienced spa-goes will immediately appreciate, and the importance of taking both body and mind to another place entirely,” explains Sensasia founder, Salina Handa. “I want clients to arrive knowing how they feel, and how they want to feel.”
In our case, it is just comfortable enough to have a lovely little power nap.
Sensasia Stories, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Dubai. sensasiaspas.com
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