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DID THE TOUR BUT, SADLY, MISSED THE TREATMENT AT CHI SPA September 1, 2010
Can one ever have too much spa?
In running, you can “hit the wall” which means you cannot find the energy to take one more step. Can you “hit the wall” as a spa-goer? Will your body ever tell you it just needs a break?
It may sound strange to those of you who seldom visit spas, but if you’re a spa journalist – the answer is yes. You CAN experience the spa equivalent of “hitting the wall.”
When on the road, I rarely visit more than one spa a day but five spas over five days is not unusual especially when I’m on a specific spa tour such as my Serendipitous Spa Tour 2010, when I visited 15 spas in 39 days.
Yes. As those who work in a chocolate factory or cupcake shop already know, you can get too much of a good thing.
I was recently in B.C. on a mini press trip that included visiting five spas. It was day four of the trip and I was so looking forward to a treatment at Chi, The Spa at the Shangri-La Hotel in downtown Vancouver – and the first Shangri-La hotel in North America.
With its authentic Asian feel and holistic approach to the spa experience, Chi absolutely tops the category of best Asian-inspired spas in Canada.
As many of you know, the word “chi,” in traditional Chinese philosophy is the term for “the universal life force governing well-being and personal vitality.” Unfortunately, I had to pass on enjoying a treatment – on that particular day I just “hit the wall.” I did, however, put the allotted time with the therapist to good use by taking a tour and finding out what makes this spa special.
First of all, it’s an intimate spa – just six treatment rooms located on the fifth floor of the hotel and no designated Wet Area. But all the rooms are oversized and inclusive of electric fireplaces, private toilet facilities, marble soaker tubs, steam showers and vanities.
In the spacious couples’ suite there’s a separate area for Thai massage and double soaker tub, another area for the treatment beds and double steam/shower, a small tea lounge and a tiny patio overlooking the city. Wooden trays with Tibetan chimes, eye pillows and scented candles are set neatly on treatment beds. At about 800 square feet, the spa suite is the size of a small apartment. And, beautifully furnished with Chinese and Tibetan pieces.
Beyond the various Asian influences you might find at other Asian-inspired spas - design and décor and the ritual of exchanging street shoes for spa sandals, for instance - it’s the commitment to the holistic approach and attention to detail that takes the Chi spa experience to the next level.
Authenticity and attention to detail extends to copper foot bowls hand crafted for the ritual foot soaks. Hot stones for massages are heated in a traditional copper Momo streamer, and, the stones themselves are carved - with auspicious symbols including the conch shell and the lotus flower - by Buddhist monks. In the lounge that is part of the couples’ suite, there are handcrafted jade tea cups and cast iron tea pot imported – like most other accessories - from China.
The menu isn’t extensive, but it does cover all the categories including various day packages – called Journeys – of two-and-a-half to four hours in length. I’m told the 90-min Chi Balance is very popular and incorporates what therapist do best here and that is working with holistic disciplines such as Traditional Chinese Medicine.
You can get a quicky mani-pedi here, but that’s not the main reason to visit Chi. Book yourself off for a half day and enjoy the experience. I so regret that this was one spa where I “hit the wall.”
For more on Chi, The Spa at Shangrila Hotel, Vancouver
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