I know that I am much more disciplined than most people because, even though I have 2 children and a business that I am passionate about and devote at least 10 hours a day to, I still manage to do 15 minutes of yoga every morning, dance twice a week, schedule a massage and even stick to it. Of course, there are exceptions - sometimes I have to delete them from the program, but I do it very rarely because I learned my lesson about 14 years ago and since then I decided that I have to take care of my health - I told here.
This week we are on fire with preparations for Global Wellness Day, so I was about to cancel my Shiseido Spa appointment. There was a real struggle going on inside me: 90 minutes of massage with them sounds divine. But I was also looking at my 2-page student notebook list of to do's and wondering when I'd manage to finish them.
In the end, because I love the experiences I have with them, I went. Plus I remembered the saying "Time to relax is when you don't have time for it".
The first time I entered Shiseido Spa at Stejarii Country ClubAbout 5 years ago, I think, I was struck by the colors: red and black - passion and energy - strong colors, but not like what I was used to in Romanian spas.
If you're expecting a traditional Japanese spa, you won't find it, because Shiseido Spa has reinvented tradition. Even when we find it in full, it's in a modern, bold, dramatic approach, adapted to our century, in a dynamic design of colors, lights, cheerful aromas, materials and abstract sounds that touch the senses and the soul.
The huge cherry blossom painting you see behind the reception desk I recognized immediately. It is the work of painter Maria Demergiu - whom I love - and symbolizes the nature of life.
Light is used as the core of the spa. The oak wood in the retail area, the heated marble floor and the chandelier outline this space.
Surprised by the iron texture of the reception desk, I learned that this space is created with the intention to emphasize the traditional Japanese with a contemporary bias.
In the sauna and pool area, everything is designed to send your imagination on a journey. The wood blend throughout the spa was inspired by the traditional Japanese Kumiko technique and induces a state of relaxation and comfort.
The treatment rooms have unique Japanese accents of red, blue, purple, green, gold, black and pink. From the moment you enter, you feel absorbed in the relaxing ambience, and the heated marble floor and delicate materials on the treatment bed help to clear your mind and allow you to totally relax.
It is important to know that in the Japanese view, beauty is born from a harmonious relationship between body and mind. This belief underpins all Shiseido spas around the world and everything they have created: cosmetics, spa rituals yes Kuroho - Shiseido signature massage - which I did.
Massage technique Kuroho, was created in 7 years by the Shiseido Research and Development Department. The purpose of the massage is to relax the muscular body, but also to balance it energetically. It combines muscle massage techniques with techniques that clearly map the meridians and Qi energy points in the body. The connection that Qi massage makes with the 6 pairs of meridians running through the body is closely linked to the internal organs. The massage should always start with the left side. This activates the main nerve centers of the most important internal organ - the heart - which influences the proper functioning of the other organs and balances the overall energy flow.
When I entered the room, the blue lights were already lit, like stars, there was piano music with sounds of nature and the fragrance was divine. The atmosphere was captivating from the first step.
I generally like to have my massage in almost pitch black darkness. But this time, I felt the need to leave the stars on.
What I wouldn't have realized, but Andra, the therapist who did my massage, explained that in this room - Premium Enmei - there are also filtration concentrators that improve the quality of the oxygen and the air we breathe in with 33% compared to the rest of the rooms.
Kuroho It starts with the foot bathing ritual, a sacred ritual in Japanese culture, meant to relax you before the massage begins and is the moment when the therapist connects with you. You find out what the therapy you're about to undergo entails, choose your music - because in every room you can listen to something different - according to each client's tastes. You choose the essential oils that will be used during the therapy and the type of tea you want to serve at the end of the treatment, from 7 different options.
As oils, in general, you can choose between 3 combinations:
Balancing - Ylang-Ylang and Bergamot
Lemon and tangerine tonic
Relaxing - Rose and Jasmine
I always prefer to leave myself in the hands of the specialists, I let them surprise me with their suggestions and the truth is that I never fail. Well, this time, Andra opted for the Ginza scent - the fragrance from the latest range of products they launched. Ginza has a floral bouquet (jasmine, Japanese orchid, magnolia) highlighted by woody essences (sandalwood, patchouli and hinochi). The aroma is divine. It's simply impossible for me to describe it in words, but if you have your way to Shiseido, ask to smell this perfume.
Even now as I write this article, 7 hours after leaving the spa, I continue to smell my skin and delight myself after the Ginza cream that Andra gave me at the end of the massage.
The Ginza range contains shower gel, body cream and perfume. The shower gel was in the water she soaked my feet in, and the perfume she used in the room. While we're at it, I'll tell you the story of the perfume bottle. It has an atypical design that was created by Constance Guisset, a French designer inspired by Japanese culture.
The fragrance's flavor and shapes have been designed to represent the perfect balance between strength and femininity.
The shape of a black dagger penetrating the perfume bottle makes a poetic reference to a Samurai's arsenal and reminds us that every woman has an inner strength as powerful as a Samurai's sword. And the truth is that you can't help but feel strong and confident after wearing this perfume.
After bathing my legs, he invited me to lie on the bed. Here I had another surprise. I am very cold and, even if it is warm in the spa, I always ask for an extra towel on me. I need it to be warm for the massage to work, otherwise, no matter how good it is, I can't enjoy it. This bed was heated. In fact, the room is equipped with two state-of-the-art massage beds, which have a customized lighting system, heated mattress and memory foam.
Next came the breathing exercises where the oils of your choice are used. You stand face up, one hand on your chest and one hand on your abdomen and with your eyes covered with a towel, then a series of stretching exercises follow. You turn face down and begin the actual massage, with gentle pressure over the towel that you are still covered with, the so-called 'welcome maneuvers'. Only then does the back massage begin.
Kuroho uses the Qi technique, unique to the Shiseido brand. Qi is the vital energy that circulates freely throughout our body. In massage Kuroho it stimulates the Tsubo pressure points which unblock Qi energy which induces a state of deep relaxation.
Although massage Kuroho it's a relaxation massage, when he asked me if the pressure was ok, I asked Andra to give me a deeper massage. In general, I prefer male therapists because they press more firmly, and I love deep tissue massages. Obviously, Kuroho was not designed for deep movements, but Andra understood me and increased the pressure, and I was deeply grateful to her for giving it to me as I had dreamed.
After I finished with the back and legs, came a series of pressure and patting over the towel. I was convinced that she was going to tell me to turn face up for the rest of the massage, but it wasn't quite like that. Just as I was about to ask her if I could turn around, I felt something wet, hot, but very pleasant all over my left leg.
It was an Oshibori - a traditional Japanese towel. I had been told that the massage included this moment - but I had completely forgotten about it in the state of total relaxation I had entered. Andra wiped off all the cream she had massaged me with Oshibori. I was puzzled, I didn't understand why the cream didn't stay on my skin and just when I was about to ask her to explain, I felt Andra spreading another cream on my foot. This time, it was Ginza cream.
Obviously, in Shiseido Spa therapists use only Shiseido products and patented and globally recognized massage techniques. For this reason, the Shiseido massages are identical in any Shiseido Spa in the world, so if you're not in Bucharest too soon, but you're going on vacation, you can try Kuroho massage in other locations in Germany, Italy, Dubai, Israel or Lebanon.
Their procedures are very clear, and the therapists are constantly undergoing intense and frequent training so that everyone can perform the massage in the same way. The only changes are the pressure, depending on the client's choice, otherwise all the treatment steps are the same anywhere in the world, with any therapist. In addition, all Shiseido SPA therapists are physiotherapy graduates and complete their studies with a lot of training before entering the treatment room with a client.
I had never had a massage with Andra before and I was so glad it was her because I had met her (online) when I made this recording with her on Zoom about Japanese secrets that help us relax in a very short time - you can watch it here. I was left with the feeling that I was looking forward to meeting her live and I was not wrong.
The therapy ended with some shoulder and neck stretching exercises and breathing exercises designed to wake you out of the massage-induced reverie. But the experience continued.
He asked me which tea I prefer out of the 7 variants. I chose the detox tea Vesuvius, with pink pepper and ginger. It is not spicy at all, and its aroma and taste are dreamy. And as if I didn't have enough pleasant surprises, when I picked up the white ceramic bowl with cherry blossoms to pour my tea, I found a Belgian dark chocolate bar next to it, a real delicacy.
I've been to Shiseido several times and each time I've enjoyed a revitalizing ceremony for all the senses. You live it in the moment, but think about it for months on end. It's definitely not just the therapies, combined with the effects of the products, but the fact that everything, every step you take, is designed to give you a full sensory experience.
Shiseido Spa is the equivalent of a savoire-faire of Japanese tradition, created over 148 years of experience and Omotenashi, the devotion to the customer that translates into a welcoming and warm attitude from the first smile that greets you at the entrance. The warmth of the girls at the reception, the therapists' willingness to help you and give you the best recommendations, the special attention given to the clients when recommending treatments, all contribute to your well-being and peace of mind. It doesn't matter if you do a 30-minute spa treatment or a 90-minute spa treatment, the full experience you have brings you that much good mood.
Japanese beauty secrets, unique massage techniques, influenced by Japanese culture and tradition, together with Shiseido products, which are a combination of Eastern traditions and Western science and technology, make their full contribution to your well-being and make you long remember the experience you enjoyed at Shiseido Spa.
The effect in my case? Today I feel like dancing for no reason. Nothing has ever touched me, I was and am Zen. And I feel I'll be Zen for many days to come.
Ioana Marian,
Founder despreSpa.ro
Virtual Wellness Explorer
