It\u2019s been a year since St Gregory Spa opened its refurbished flagship location\u00a0at Parkroyal on Beach Road, and it\u2019s high time you tried their exclusive and transcendental Ayurvedic therapies.<\/p>\n
Stemming from the Sanskrit words\u00a0ayus\u00a0meaning life, and\u00a0veda\u00a0meaning knowledge, Ayurveda is an ancient Indian lifestyle practice – more than 3000 years old, based on the principle that all life forms have a distinct pattern of energy called\u00a0Doshas.\u00a0Ayurvedic physicians believe that diseases are caused by an imbalance in the\u00a0Doshas\u00a0and treatments including Ayurvedic massage therapies are prescribed to bring them back into balance.<\/p>\n
An Ayurvedic massage not only relieves pain, it cleanses and revitalises the body through increased circulation, stimulation and strengthening of the lymphatic system. In addition, the nourishing and detoxifying herbal oils used in Ayurvedic massages leave the skin soft and supple and generate positive emotion.<\/p>\n
In recent years, this healing art is gaining wide recognition for maintaining holistic health and wellbeing, and is making its way on to contemporary spa menus through treatments such as the Ayurvedic Stress Relief Ritual.<\/p>\n
We gave ourselves over to St Gregory\u2019s specialist practitioner from Kerala, India, to try this special combination of two signature treatments: a full-body herbal oil massage, Abhyangam, followed by a completely rejuvenating and sleep-inducing herbal oil drip session, the Shirodhara.<\/p>\n
The harmonious movement of the massage at St Gregory spa helps relieve muscle and joint aches and nervousness, and regulates the circulatory system of the body. This holistic therapy balances physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. This takes place first, in preparation for the Shirodhara, which is a most unusual experience.<\/p>\n
Warm, soothing medicated herbal oils are applied in a slow continuous rhythmic movement over the forehead – also known as the third eye \u2013 to relieve mental tension, headaches, insomnia and memory loss. The Shirodhara treatment is profoundly relaxing and induces deep rest for renewed energy and calm that borders on meditation.<\/p>\n
It gives you the kind of deep rest that you awake from knowing you\u2019ve been someplace else but you\u2019re not sure where. The scent of sesame and sweet almond in the oil lingers long after you\u2019ve returned from the never never, and you just know it\u2019s nourishing you in unknown ways.<\/p>\n
Ananda – Sanskrit for bliss pure and absolute, is there for everyone to access. Beach Road could well be the first stop on your journey.<\/p>\n