KuBu Spa is a city spa in Henley-On-Thames, which offers treatments based on Balinese ‘rituals’. From the moment you step inside out of the busy street the calm and serenity envelops you along with the very pleasant scent of incense. At reception I was asked to take a seat and complete a form asking me various questions about the treatment I was having and if I had any allergies etc. After that I was given 4 bottles of massage oil to smell. These are the various oils, which they use for the massages and I was asked to pick my favourite. Now I have had a few massages in the past and I had never been given the chance to pick the oil before.
There were two oils which were more relaxing and two oils which were more rejuvenating. I had to take a train back to London and didn’t want to have to deal with that in zombie mode so I opted for the rejuvenating Orange and Clove massage oil. It smelt amazing and I was also informed that the oils are totally organic and are blended exclusively using organic ingredients from Bali. I had the choice of a 60-minute massage and a 30-minute body scrub or a massage for the whole time without the scrub. I opted for the massage and scrub. I thought this is a good start to the day and I was right!
I then was led through the relaxation room to the back room where I could get changed. A robe and slippers were waiting for me in my locker, which I slipped into. I took a seat on one of the relaxing loungers and waited to be collected by my therapist Laura. She led me to my room where she asked me to take a seat and put my feet in a bowl of warm water, which was filled with rose petals. It was so relaxing and I felt like a queen! She gave my feet a lovely massage in the warm water while she had a chat with me about the massage and scrub I had chosen.
I had chosen the Balinese massage which is apparently the most vigorous out of the three, the other two being Aromatherapy and Hot Stone Massage. I had never had a Balinese and thought when in Bali do as Balinese. I told her that was totally ok but to go easy on my shoulders as that is my most tense and sensitive area. She was very friendly and then explained the whole treatment process in a really nice way. So then the massage started, it was a full body massage and I could really feel her working the knots out of my muscles. She did my front and then asked me turn over so she could do my back. The whole massage was so relaxing and I felt so totally serene that I almost fell asleep. Once the massage was over she asked me to stay on my back and then began the scrub working in the opposite way so at the end I was in the same position as when she had started. My skin was tingling from the scrub and while I was coming around she let me know that my bath was ready.
There was a glass of champagne and some chocolates next to the bath. She pointed out all the toiletries on hand and extra towels. She said she would come back in about 20 minutes or so when I was finished. I stepped off the bed and went over to the massive white tub in the room, it was filled with rose petals and flowers and I couldn’t actually believe that this was all for me. I felt so special. I stepped in and the water was perfect…I laid back and submerged myself in the hot water. I sipped my champagne and ate my chocolate. I don’t think I have ever felt so utterly relaxed and beautiful. I really felt like a queen being pampered in the most royal and amazing way.
They do say all good things must come to an end but I left the room feeling relaxed and totally rejuvenated. I didn’t have a headache and I didn’t want to fall asleep, which is what sometimes happens to me after a massage. I made my way down to the relaxation room and had a lie down on the lounger while I flicked through a magazine. When I was ready I got changed and put my crown away, my day of being a queen was over but I had a massive smile on my face and felt like I was walking on air.
The whole experience is so totally professional and what I noticed the most was the huge attention to detail that the staff pays; it really makes a big difference. Everything was exactly where it needed to be and everything ran just so smoothly that it really added to the calming air of the experience. You also have access to the facilities pretty much all to yourself, the staff stager the treatment times so you don’t feel like you are in a cattle market and its in out in out. You really do not feel rushed at all and are encouraged to relax on the relaxation bed as long as you like. The bed made for two along with all the furnishings are all originally from Bali and really add to the ambience of the experience.
KuBu is not the kind of place you would come to for your everyday bog standard facial/wax/massage, this is a place where thought and emphasis has been put on a specific and very special kind of treatment. The Balinese ritual is well worth a visit for an amazing treat as the staff are just so good at what they do. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who needs to de-stress and get away from it all for the afternoon…a trip to Bali via Henley-on-Thames is well worth it.
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