Spas offer various treatments for stress

Spas offer various treatments for stress

JAKARTA (JP): For hundreds of years people have visited spas
near natural springs that yield hot, bubbling and mineral-rich
water.

During the 1700s and 1800s, many doctors sent patients to spas
to bathe or to drink the water, which was believed to have
medicinal qualities. Spas were also were popular holiday spots.

Today, because of time and monetary limits, spas are visited
for shorter durations. In Jakarta, there are more and more spas
catering to the market niche of busy urbanites.

The city's spas offer relaxation therapies like massages,
saunas, whirlpools, steam baths, exercises and diets catered to
the needs of inactive Jakartans who complain of stress.

Different stress-relieving therapies are available. Some spas
blend the therapy with body care treatments, like at Thalia Le
Spa in Central Jakarta and Stylist Wellness Center in South
Jakarta.

Both Thalia and Stylist offer aromatherapy sessions for those
feeling run down. Stylist, which focuses on mental and physical
wellness, also provides yoga classes to help clients relax. To
reduce stress they offer reflexology massage, shiatsu (Japanese
massage) and simple milk baths, Jacuzzi and whirpools.
Nutritional counseling is available for those who want to mix
stress reduction with slimming.

The Grand Hyatt in Central Jakarta also has a similar program
at its Club Olympus. The club, however, is only for hotel guests.

Puri Ayu Martha Tilaar, a beauty center which claims to have
developed a traditional Indonesian body care treatment, provides
massage and jamu (herbal medicine) to combat fatigue and
weariness as well as improve digestion and blood circulation.

Jamu

"To refresh stressed-out people, we offer a traditional
treatment which includes an all over massage, body steam with
traditional aromatic spices, body compress with anti-stress
herbs, bathing in aromatic spices and jamu," said Puri Ayu's
beauty therapy specialist Worro Harry S.

For those really exhausted after heavy physical work, a
treatment to relieve muscular pain is available. The Ngeres linu
treatment includes massage, body steam, parem (medicinal herbs
spread over the painful parts of the body), bathing in warm
spices, and jamu for muscular pain.

"We provide jamu because we want the treatment to come from
inside and outside the body," Worro explained.

For a two-hour treatment, Puri Ayu charges Rp 75,000 (US$33).

Yoyoh R. Tambera of Thalia Le Spa insists that a simple body
treatment isn't enough to calm the nerves.

"Someone who has stress, should get a total treatment from
head to toe to make her totally relaxed first," Yoyoh said.

Thalia's stress reduction program starts with a scalp
treatment using essential oils. Clients soak their feet in a
basin of warm water and a basin of cold water. Sea salt and
essential oils are mixed into the water.

"While the client's head is massaged, his or her feet are also
stimulated, so that they become relaxed, too," Yoyoh said.

The next process is body care. Clients who only want to relax
may choose a 55 minute massage using special aromatherapy oil for
relaxation.

Those who want a slimmer body or who have skin problems can
combine the relaxation therapy with various body care treatments
like hydrotherapy, thallasotherapy, balneotherapy and an
aromatherapy body wrap.

Hydrotherapy with sea water and essential oils is a good
choice to relax and moisturize the skin.

Seaweed

Seaweed or algae, two of the most used ingredients for beauty
products because of their detoxification and anti-wrinkle
attributes, are used in thallasotherapy at Thalia. Besides
cleaning and detoxifying, thallasotherapy also relaxes. Seaweed
is spread across the body which is later wrapped in a warm
blanket and micron foil.

Balneotherapy, a therapeutic moor mud treatment, relieves
stress. A moor mud back treatment relieves muscular pain, while a
full body treatment is for water retention, detoxification,
cellulite and lack of tone. Moor mud has been used in spas all
over Europe for ages. Scientific research has found new
applications for moor mud in rheumatology and dermatology.

For an aromatherapy body wrap, the body is massaged and then
wrapped in a warm linen cloth which has been soaked in various
aromatherapy oils, depending on the need. A facial, manicure and
pedicure, which use essential oil to calm the nerves, follow.

A complete treatment from head to toe at Thalia costs Rp
500,000 ($220). Special prices for members are available.

Essential oils

Essential oils are the main element of relaxation programs at
Thalia.

"Due to its very tiny molecule, essential oil can penetrate
into our blood stream so that it can work better, besides it's
natural, it doesn't contain any synthetic element and it works
psychologically too," said Yoyoh. Some essential oils are more
effective for relaxation, clearing the mind and meditation
because of their psychological effects.

She said the psychological factor plays a big role in
restoring the vitality of those who are depressed or stressed.

"What we can do here is only to motivate people. If they
finally feel fresher, vigorous and good, 70 percent is because of
their own work, only 30 percent is on our account," Yoyoh
disclosed.

Having a pleasant atmosphere at home is also important to
relieve stress.

"You can light candles containing essential oils, or put
essential oils in a pot to perfume the room," Yoyoh said, adding
that people can choose the fragrance they like from hundreds of
available choices.

You can even pour essential oil into their laundry to make
your clothes smell good. (als)