I’m doing this “love myself more” project, and one of the loving things I need to do for myself is to treat myself to some major pampering in a spa. I took this as an opportunity to check out the new branch of The Spa at the 6th floor of the East Wing of Shangri-La Plaza Mall, which I pass every Sunday.

I looked up The Spa’s service menu online the night before, and decided that I really wanted to get the Volcanic Rock Massage (P1,500 in an Executive Room and P2,100 in a Suite or Villa), which involves a Swedish massage and use of hot stones placed along your spine, on your hands, and on your legs to warm and soothe tired muscles. But, I also wanted to try something else I haven’t before, so I opted for the Body Easy package, which includes the one-hour-and-fifteen-minute Volcanic Rock Massage and 60-minute The Spa Purifying Moroccan Therapy, which I haven’t tried before. At P3,000 in an Executive Room and P4,000 in a Suite or Villa, the two-hour-and-fifteen-minute deeply relaxing retreat is meant to soothe your aching body and muscles. I threw in a Brazilian wax (P1,200), since I was due for one anyway.

I initially budget for the Executive Room Body Ease and the waxing, but I was in for a surprise when the only available rooms in the Shang branch are suites, so I was forced to stretch my budget. I did forget about it when I got to the suite, which has its own steam and shower as well as a Jacuzzi. I also really loved how the spa bed was wider than usual spa beds. You can almost fit two people on it. I was able to enjoy the spa’s amenities for a full half-hour before my treatments began.

My pampering started with the Purifying Moroccan Therapy, which involves a mud rub and body wrap. The therapist began by brushing my body all over to open the pores, with the help of a spray she applied all over, too. Then she massaged rasul mud from Pevonia all over my body, after which I was wrapped in plastic and the mud was left to soak for 15 minutes. After that, I had to soak in the foamy Jacuzzi for five minutes to wash off the mud, after which I thoroughly washed off all residue in the shower. The therapist then rubbed tension relief gel on my back and legs, which gave it a soothing, cooling sensation.

Then it was time for a full-body massage and the Volcanic Rock treatment. I really love this treatment at The Spa, especially when I tried it for the first time at their branch in Eastwood. While I enjoyed my experience at Shang, it seemed the experience was a little different, especially when it came to the strokes, and I found that I really enjoyed my experience at Eastwood more. If I may make a suggestion, they should standardize their treatments. I also had the sense that the massage was a little rushed. The therapist did cap it off by applying the final step in my Moroccan Therapy, the lotion, which really smelled like fresh flowers and gave my skin a soft, smooth, velvety feel without leaving it oily or sticky.

I was feeling very sleepy by the time my back-to-back treatments ended, but I didn’t have time to worry about how I can get on with the rest of my day sleepy, when it was already time for my Brazilian wax. The therapist managed to make my experience relaxing, although I think no amount of relaxation could ever take the pain away from getting a Brazilian wax. OW.

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at The Spa in Shang East Wing, and I can’t wait to go back soon.