Seasoned spa enthusiasts will know that nothing gets into the belly of a muscle like hot stone. Add to this the onset of the Mumbai monsoon and a hot stone therapy seems like the perfect therapy to indulge in. Spa by JW at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar has launched some bespoke therapies centred on the wellness properties of the hot stone which I happened to get a slice of.
On offer are treatments like the Monsoon Bliss that is ideal for detoxification of the skin. It begins with a scrub which removes dead skin, dull layer and old cells skin followed by a Traditional Swedish massage technique to prepare the muscles using massage oil. Then the hot stones are applied on the back to promote deeper sense of relaxation. There is also Hot Stone Foot Reflexology that uses warm basalt stones and various massage techniques on the feet and lower legs, to bring about enhanced relaxation. The healing properties of the Basalt stones is said to boost circulation, release stored tension and recharge energy levels.
I zeroed on the 90 minute-long Hot Stone Therapy. My polite therapist Namgay escorted me to my treatment room and consulted me on the areas I would like to address through the treatment. To start off, she leveraged the traditional Swedish massage technique to prep my muscles for the therapy ahead. Post this, she placed the warm stones on key acupressure points of my body. They are then worked over my body, deep into the muscles, getting into areas of tension at a profound level, persuading the muscles to release the trapped energy. And with the hot stones melts away my stresses.
Through my therapeutic journey, Namgay methodically tackles my pain-points one after the other- the knotty back, the stony heels and the underworked arms. I felt a pleasurable tinge traverse. Just a few minutes into my massage and I could feel the weariness take flight.
It soothes my deep troubling muscle areas and the warmth of the stones penetrates with the healing heat into my skin. The final touch is a rejuvenating head massage performed by my nimble-fingered therapist and I feel like I’m floating on the clouds. Post my spa session, there is warm Apple Toddy and a delicious sweet corn snack waiting for me which is a scrumptiously fitting end to my spa sojourn. The result is sparkling vitality with the added bonus of intensely hydrated skin and a glow that emanates from within me…
The hot stone therapy is priced upwards of ₹6499 for 75 minutes and ₹7499 for 90 minutes.
Where: Spa by JW
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Andheri, Mumbai 400099 India
Phone: 022 2853 8888
Note: The critic was invited by the brand but all the opinions expressed herewith are her own
