The year-old, 31-storey Sofitel Dubai Downtown has startling views of the Burj Khalifa, but you won’t see these at the spa, which is situated on the second floor. A wide hallway of textured grey stone, which doubles as a shop selling spa products, vases and robes, leads to the reception area, which is vaguely futuristic with a cloud of glass orbs hanging above a giant, white egg-shaped desk topped with a glass counter. The man behind the counter is rather morose for this line of work, so I turn to his female colleague who is more welcoming.
I sit on the seats in the hallway and fill out the obligatory questionnaire. I’m offered a thimble-sized drink of what looks like sugary juice, which I decline. I’ve chosen one of the spa’s two “signature rituals”, an hour-long “So Exhilarating body massage, a euphoric and soothing body massage using signature techniques that will shape and tone your silhouette”.
I start with five minutes in the stylish, black-slate steam room, gloriously, searingly hot and steamy and with the addition of essential oils, before being escorted to my treatment room by my therapist Gretchen, from the Philippines. She starts with an exfoliating foot scrub before lying me face up on the massage bed, which has a padded quilt-like top to it so it actually feels like being in bed.
The scrub is deftly removed without me having to get up and go to the shower. Using a balm from the Paris-based Thémaé brand, Gretchen starts with a massage of the arms, hands and feet, working on energy points. The strong movements along the underarm are particularly energising. A circular construction of changing coloured lights glows overhead as, section by section, she tugs the edges of the sheet under my body upwards, rocking me like a baby. It’s enough to make the whole body tingle. She also works a bit on my head before I turn over, soon drifting in and out of sleep to the faint guitar music in the background.
Next it’s my shoulders, which I’ve said need firm pressure, and Gretchen applies it, checking that it’s enough. She seems to sit on the backs of my legs before applying pressure along the spine and the whole back area, which is deeply relaxing. The legs are also softly pummelled and the feet get a decent going-over.
Now it’s time to turn over again, before my head and neck are massaged and a warm towel is applied over the covers to the stomach area. I’m not sure euphoric is exactly how I feel, but I have no complaints about the treatment, which, for Dubai, seems reasonably good value. As with all good treatments, the therapist somehow faded into the background. There were no unnecessary pleasantries or dull conversation – this was a quietly intuitive, seamless experience devoid of distractions or any awkward movements. It allowed me to drift into that dreamy reverie which combats the boredom that can sometimes accompany long massages. I was left feeling restored and toned, and I wished I’d gone for another 30 minutes. The therapist disappeared to bring tea after I left the room, but the small and dark relaxation area wasn’t particularly inviting, so after drinking it back at the little table in the hallway where I started, and nibbling on the dates and nuts provided, that was that.
• A So Exhilarating body massage at Sofitel Dubai Downtown costs Dh475 for 60 minutes. The spa is open from 9am to 10pm daily. Call 04 503 6333
rbehan@thenational.ae
