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)