Have you ever had to rack your brain to think of an interesting romantic night out? We all have. Given what your wallet allows, consider a "couple spa."
This is the perfect gift for both of you after enduring car traffic or commuting on a bus or a train, day in, day out.
The posh day-spa Vichy in the Cheongdam district of Gangnam in Seoul is now reaping the benefits of a surge in customers bringing their partners for a variety of treatment options.
The day-spa offers the perfect getaway atmosphere. The woodsy decor is adorned with a forest of fichus plants, the interior softly lit.
Swedish, deep-tissue, meridian massages are available along with dry variations such as Shiatsu and Thai Yoga massages which are then coupled with hydro and oxygen therapy.
According to the director of the day-spa Lee Jeong-seon, "Couples have been making up about 80 percent of our customer-base since last year and during the holidays including New Years Eve - we were overbooked with reservations from couples seeking treatment."
The rates for Vichy were at the higher end of the scale. Programs range from 130,000 won ($95) to 230,000 won per person. (There are more affordable options available outside of the Gangnam district.)
The moment you step foot inside its lobby you are greeted by a scent of fresh lavender. The marble floors, high ceilings and stone grotto with a waterfall can make you forget that just outside the walls of the establishment are familiar eye-sores like dense clusters of restaurants, bars, and convenience stores.
A therapist will then guide you into the lobby where you are given a program menu to sift through and decide on the host of treatments they provide. After the selection, you will both have to fill out a form which has an illustration of the human body. You will be asked by the therapist to circle problem areas you would like for them to focus their massage on. The most popular couple-spa packages are the following, according to the director:
La Vie Romantique (150 min.) - Aroma couple-spa (Aroma spas contain essential oils and use hydraulic pressure through water jets to help stimulate mental relaxation), Oxygen therapy, Deep tissue or Swedish massage, Foot massage and foot reflexology therapy
An important side-note must be made for the deep tissue massage. Although similar to Swedish massages, deep tissue massages can be highly painful. The benefits, however, if you can stand it, are substantial. Deep tissue massage is a more intense form of massage therapy used to target knots and release chronic muscle tension.
Refresh (110 min.) - Aroma couple-spa, Oxygen therapy, Swedish massage, Stone therapy facial (Heated pebble stones smooth in surface texture are used to massage the face which creates healthy blood circulation)
Lovely Day (110 min.) -Aroma couple-spa, Oxygen therapy, Shiatsu massage, Scalp massage
Thai Couple-Spa (80 min.) - Aroma couple-spa, Oxygen therapy, Thai massage, Yoga stretching
Finally, the creme de la creme VIP program available is appropriately titled, "Soul Mate." This program begins with a 20-minute aroma spa inside a 90+ gallon whirlpool Jacuzzi in a private room. Mixed into the water is an herbal additive that promotes "robust blood circulation and detoxification."
Couples can lean back on any of the four corners of the gigantic tub where a row of jets massage.
Two massage therapists will enter the aroma spa room shortly after the time is up and will guide you out to another room for a brief Shiatsu session during which the therapists will place a halo-like apparatus around your neck to begin the oxygen therapy. The lavender-infused air will flow faintly out of a tube aimed directly underneath the nostrils. After about 10 minutes of breathing in oxygen free of pollutants, you will be led into a softly-lit room for a Swedish massage using your choice of scented oils.
Soon after the massage, the therapists will administer a full facial massage which will be topped off with an exfoliating rubber mask and scalp massage.
After three hours of being pampered, there is no doubt you will leave feeling refreshed. You and your significant other will walk out of there feeling recharged - well, maybe until next month.
By Song Woong-ki
(kws@heraldm.com)
[출처 : 코리아헤럴드]
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