Spa Review: The Spa, Address Montgomerie

Mid-week rejuvenation does not usually figure in my scheme of things. But last week was different. Between a thorough spring cleaning, preparing for a friend's wedding and work, I managed to take some time out for a session of rejuvenation and headed straight to the spa, unambiguously named The Spa, at The Address Montgomerie.
The spa menu is pretty exhaustive and has something to offer to everyone - from addressing issues like jetlag to facilitating sleep. For someone who usually makes do with 4-5 hours of sleep (or at least that's what the Health app on my phone tells me), the latter sounded particularly attractive, and hence I opted for a one-hour Tranquility Sleep Massage!
Aren't all massages aimed at promoting tranquility? Or so I wondered as I entered my dimly-lit treatment room. My therapist Diana informed me that this treatment comprised of some meditative elements, which actually endorse sleep. For instance, right at the beginning of the massage, there is an audio tape that asks you to take a couple of deep breaths and keeps a count. As a yoga practitioner, I found this aspect of the massage rather appealing. It may not necessarily make the massage better; it only adds to the experience in a rather pleasant way.
Therapy time
Right at the beginning of the treatment, a tape is played that instructs me to take a couple of deep breaths. The idea is to relax the mind even before the body gets its dose of rejuvenation. My therapist begins by spraying a Neom mist in the air. The fragrance is uplifting. She assesses different pressure points in my body and immediately spots the problem areas - neck, feet and back. Kneading, gliding, gentle stroking, a combination of techniques are employed to ease the tensed muscles. Sixty minutes later, a voice
on the very same tape informs my therapist that it's time to conclude. By this time, I am almost in slumber.
What we loved...
My masseuse Diana was simply amazing. She was great at her job, and was equally invested in advising me about how to reduce inflammation in the body through different massage techniques and diet. It also helped that she explained every step way before I even asked.
What we didn't...
The background music didn't complement the meditative nature of the treatment. Perhaps it would be a good idea to have music that is sleep-inducing, given that that's the main purpose of this treatment.
anamika@khaleejtimes.com