Rest

The Natural Healing Wellness Spa is tucked away at the end of Al Wasl Road in Umm Suqeim and offers a range of treatments for men and women with a focus on holistic healing. This week, we tried the Chi Balance Treatment, which costs Dh585 for 90 minutes. Call 04 348 3896 to book.

Tranquil setting

From the moment I stepped through the door of the villa, which has been transformed into a spa, I felt instantly relaxed. The low lighting and blinds over the windows block out the hum of busy life outside, creating a peaceful atmosphere inside. Everything looks very natural, with stone floors, and wood and raffia furniture all in keeping with the holistic approach of the spa.

Body balance

After a quick glass of water I was taken up a staircase lined with tea lights to the treatment room, where the natural feeling continued, thanks to stone-patterned wallpaper. There is no escaping that this is an old villa, but the décor has been done well to detract from this. My 90-minute treatment would consist of a one-hour massage with 30 minutes of foot reflexology at the end. However, I had just 10 minutes reflexology as the therapist tried to cure the aches and pains in my lower back. The treatment, which is always done by a member of the opposite sex to balance energies, began with a gentle back massage, followed by a more rigorous one with two herbal bags. Filled with 45 different herbs, they are heated to help release tension. A more traditional oil massage followed, which at times made me wince with pain as the knots were worked out of my shoulders before moving on to my legs – there was no chance of a quick nap during this session.



Stretched out

Just when I thought the treatment was coming to a close, my therapist surprised me by proceeding to walk on my back. Yes, he was holding on to rails attached to the ceiling, but having a man who weighed more than myself doing some nifty footwork on me was somewhat of a strange experience. I kept telling myself it would be worth it afterwards, but I did struggle to relax when he finished off by doing what I imagine is similar to what a chiropractor does (except with muscles not bones) and placing my body at different angles to bend the muscles one last time. A quick dose of foot therapy to assess whether the tension in my back had eased – it had – and I was ready to go.



Worth a return?

The therapist was very knowledgeable about the muscles, more so than many others I have had in Dubai. I never knew that there were pressure points in my hands related to my back and was surprised when this eased as the hour drifted by. I would go back because it has helped me, but as I now know what to expect, I'll be more prepared for it.