Pleasure principles

If I die and go to heaven, I’d expect to wake up in a private villa at Mandala Spa in Boracay. It may be a very strong statement but after a visit to this heavenly place, you’d completely agree.

City living boasts of urban pleasures and offers a plethora of tempatations for all your senses but living life in the fast lane can take a toll on the mind and body. Living a hectic and harassing Manila lifestyle, I felt a peaceful getaway was in order to save my sanity and my soul. When a friend suggested a Boracay break and treatments at Mandala Spa, there was no way I could refuse.

I’m a total massage slut and have been around the spa block in search of the best massage. I’ve been in and out of hoity-toity spas which claim to offer the newest, most advanced services, and I’ve used mom and pop home services that cost less than my daily coffee intake. You know you’ve been around when you can already predict the masseuse’s next stroke and get bored to tears with a routine that never changes.

Mandala Spa’s Hawaiian Kahuna massage took me by complete surprise. Ushered into my private spa villa, the therapist began by giving me a royal foot bath, which gently exfoliated and cleaned my piggies.

After the foot treatment, I was hoisted onto a plastivc-covered massage bed, completely swathed in 100% virgin coconut oil, and then kneaded like fine pastry dough.

The Hawaiian Kahuna massage stems from the Polynesian Ka Huna tradition and is characterized by the Huna’s nurturing approach to holistic healing. Meant to balance out the body, mind and soul, the massage delivers a sense of total well-being. My therapist did just that, with long, strong but gentle uninterrupted strokes. The flow of the whole treatment was perfect and relaxing, so much so, it was practically coma-inducing (meant in a good way). Light stretching followed the rub down and I felt like a tiny, flexible, Chinese acrobat being pulled from all directions. A tropical bath filled with kalachuchi flowers was the essence of perfection.

After the treatment, I felt like my worries were literally rubbed away. My skin was supple, smooth and glowing. This is just what life should prescribe when in need for total relaxation. Once languid and stressed, I felt instantly healed, energized and ready to embrace a Boracay night.

On my last day in Boracay, feeling wiped out from the sea and sun, I opted for a cool cucumber aloe wrap. This treatment,like the Hawaiian Kahuna, began with an exfoliating foot bath. But this time, instead of going straight to the massage, a generous mixture of chilled chopped cucumber and aloe vera was applied all over my body. I was then delicately wrapped in banana leaves so that the ingredients would better penetrate and nourish my overly dehydrated skin. Once rinsed, I felt revived and ready for the signature massage. Utterly blissful and seamless, this graceful massage was a journey into a state of relaxation which I haven’t felt in a very long time. Long strokes, deep pressure and combined ancient healing techniques gave me ultimate serenity.

* * *

Comments? Email me at jcantonio@gmail.com