As cheery as the fast-approaching holidays make us, you cannot help but feel stressed — from making your Christmas list to the actual shopping, from decorating your house to figuring out your schedule to fit all the holiday parties. And the traffic is just something else around this time of the year. It’s enough to make the calmest driver lose temper, what with enduring three hours of snail’s pace crawling on the expressway.
Regardless of the time of year, however, I highly believe in rewarding one’s self with some alone time. And the best gift you can give yourself is some R&R without having to leave the metro. Right in the middle of a busy city is a sanctuary that will allow you to leave your worries behind, even for just a few precious hours.
The Terra Wellness Spa is an escape for the mind and body. Upon entering the premises, you’re greeted with a warm ambience as you’re ushered into the receiving area, where you’re served hot tea as you fill out a Personal Information Sheet. You can pick your therapy of choice from their Spa Menu or ask one of their therapists to recommend a treatment depending on your needs. Your shoes are then replaced with plush slippers as you’re led to one of the massage rooms, where you can take a quick shower before you wrap yourself in their comfortable robe.
I personally tried their signature therapy, the Terra’s Touch (P1,700), which is a 75-minute relaxing massage that combines slow and graceful gliding strokes, relieving tension and improving blood circulation. You can choose between two of their home-made massage oils, which are made from organic ingredients with a Jojoba base. The lavender-infused oil I chose was perfect to de-stress my mind and relax my senses.
Depending on your therapy of choice, you may be brought to either a single or couple room. They also have a separate area for foot therapies. The massage room was perfectly dimmed, with relaxing instrumental music playing in the background. The therapy starts and ends with a hot towel to the feet. The therapist begins with the lower body, concentrating on points that need special attention. As the pressure of the massage is determined, you may find yourself drifting off to sleep, which is the best compliment any therapist can get.
Another signature treatment is the Coco-Moringa Facial (P1,700), which combines Moringa, a powerful antioxidant, with Vitamins A and C as well as pure Virgin Coconut Oil, protecting the skin from environmental damage, healing it from minor skin irritations as well as prevent visible signs of aging. Combine this with the Body & Sole (P2,200) with Traditional Thai Foot Massage and you have a full head-to-foot treatment.
Moor Mud, which is collected from deep within the earth, is believed to possess healing and restorative powers with agents such as plants, minerals and trace elements, organic substances, vitamins, enzymes and natural antibiotics. With this, they have specifically designed treatment packages. For golfers, they have the Golfer’s Retreat (P2,700), which is a two-hour treatment that combines a Moor Mud Foot & Leg Treatment and a one-hour Sports Massage that utilizes techniques that can heal the muscles from lactic acid buildup after and alleviate muscle tension. For a more intense therapy, there is another specially designed treatment package called the Athlete’s Revival (P6,800), which is a three-hour treatment that combines a 20-minute Balneotherapy with Natural Moor treatment, a 45-minute Aromatic Moor Therapeutic Body Wrap treatment, a 30-minute Repairing Scalp and Hair Treatment with Moor Mud, capped with either a 90-minute Jade and Hot Stone Therapy or a 60-minute Earth Facial.
An interesting treatment to try is the Twin Therapy (P2,600), which is a 60-minute treatment combining the Coco-Moringa Facial with Terra’s Foot and Leg Aromatherapy. With the two pairs of hands moving in synchronicity, bliss is just moments away. If you’re a couple who want to spend some relaxing quality time together, you can try Terra for Two (P6,800), a three-hour experience that combines the Coco-Moringa Silky Body Scrub, the Terra’s Touch massage and a Traditional Thai Foot Massage.
For the ultimate experience, it would be best if you’re checked in the hotel so you can go straight to your suite after pampering yourself. Or better yet, have the therapist come up to your suite so you wouldn’t have to move a muscle. Now that is what you call relaxation.
The Terra Wellness Spa is located on the 4th floor of Discovery Suites, 25 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. For more information, visit their website at http://www.terra-spa.com. For inquiries on their therapies or reservations, call them at 638 9145, 638 9146 or 683 8222 local 3804 from 10:00 am to 12:00 midnight daily, or send them an e-mail at terrawellness.spa@gmail.com.
