Wednesday, September 17, 2008 A spa village By Jenara Regis Newman
CHI, the spa of Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort, is the largest spa in the Philippines. It is a whole hectare made to look like an ancient Himalayan village. Its main hall is a pagoda-like building approached through a bridge spanning a pool with koi bringing color to the shallow waters.
Entering the hall is like being transported to another place, another time. It sets the tone for the spa premises: hushed, with people speaking softly; the subtle smell of incense pervading the hall; in the background, the sound of water flowing from the lotus fountain, and above is a sculptured glass chandelier.
There are lit candles and the tinkling of bells in the spa music one hears in all the spa rooms. The hall or the sanctum is where one is determined—earth, water, fire, wood, metal.
One’s sign determines the herbs to be used and even the tea to be served in the treatment of one’s choice.
There are many choices, including the native hilot and a foot spa, a detox program, a shiatsu spa, with treatments lasting for an hour to even four hours!
Outside the main hall, one steps out to a garden to the side of which are the spa rooms, all of them wood tile-roofed.
There is a water garden, one each for male and female clients, where they can have a sauna, or a steam bath or Jacuzzi.
Beyond it is the spa swimming pool and the tea pavilion (which actually serves light meals, both to spa guests or to walk-ins).
Beside it is the shiatsu pool kept at a temperature akin to that of a mother’s womb. The treatment rooms are in 15 structures: six villas, good for couples; eight suites; and one grand villa good for four people.
Orchestrating all the activity in the spa is Australian Lyndell Nelis, who is a qualified therapist, and who has worked in Japan (she speaks Japanese), China, Thailand, England and continental Europe.
In the business for over 10 years, she is also an aroma therapist and had training in remedial therapy. She came to Chi-Cebu a year and a half ago.
Though based in Cebu, she is actually the Chi spa coordinator for Shangri-La and is very excited about the Chi spa for the Shangri-La Boracay. She attends to such details as coming up with a signature Boracay Chi spa smell, from local flora (the soaps, lotions, shampoos used in the Mactan Chi are all made locally, without preservatives).
She says there are over 80 employees at the spa, including gardeners, chefs and 30 therapists (all of them with physical therapy degree). They have been, she says, very “welcoming,” making her feel at home immediately.
In her words, “The connection is right there. They’re the best therapists I’ve ever had to work with. They really focus on the guests.”
She has been, she adds, busy, busy (and too busy to look for or concentrate on a Mr. Right). When there are few clients, she takes the time to teach everyone all that she knows in the hope that “we can move everyone up in the spa industry.”
When the spa is really busy, Lyndell says she works with the therapists and occasionally, if specifically requested, she does the treatment requested herself.
Lyndell has certainly made sure that everyone who goes to the spa will experience the best treatment, making for the client a stress-free time, letting him or her feel calm and tranquil, and totally relaxed.
