A hammam visit followed by a soothing massage left Liz O’Reilly planning a ladies’ day at Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain.
Looking back, it’s hard to believe that just a few short years ago, hammam was one of my least favourite spa treatments. In fact, at one point, I actually described it as like being ‘boiled and peeled’ thanks to my rather sensitive skin and a somewhat over-enthusiastic application of the kessa glove.
These days, that opinion couldn’t be further from my thoughts and a visit to Talise Spa at Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain shortly after it opened played a big part in changing my mind.
Rather than dreading the whole process, I learnt that hammam could be my skin’s friend and have since become a little addicted to the whole ritual. So, when I was invited back to see if those high standards have been maintained, I jumped at the chance.
The drive down to Jumeirah always feels a bit like going on holiday, add to that the prospect of some serious pampering on a weekday morning and I can honestly see why friends think I have one of the best jobs around.
I arrived in bright sunshine and was greeted by Laxmi, a new therapist recently arrived from India, who was keen to help me get settled. After stowing my belongings, I wrapped myself in one of the super-soft, plush white robes and headed into the heat of the hammam.
A huge circular marble slab sat in the middle of a cavernous, dimly-lit room, almost like an altar. Gentle music and a deep, all-encompassing warmth added to the feeling of reverence. Water troughs bubbled around the sides and shower nozzles in a dull, burnished bronze added an extra touch of luxury.
The marble slab, surrounding benches and even the floor radiated gentle heat as Laxmi invited me to sit and used numerous jugs of warm water to thoroughly soak my skin before lathering me from top to toe in the famous Moroccan black soap. Then it was time to head into the steam room for around 10 minutes at 50-plus degrees to allow the soap to soak gently into my skin.
A cool towel placed over my face and a bottle of chilled water allowed me to fully enjoy the purifying sensation of the heated steam, each breath taking me deeper into relaxation as the warmth spread though my chest and body.
I was almost sad to emerge out into the hammam space for the next part of the ritual – never my favourite – in which Laxmi used a kessa glove to scrub away all the dead skin I’d accumulated over a recent holiday when my skin had absorbed rather too much oil, sun and sea salt.
She followed this with a delicious full-body application of cleansing gel from Irish organic company, Ground. I picked up scents of lavender, lemongrass and cedar – a mix of oils that left my skin feeling nourished and ready to absorb the full body mask that followed, finished with a light final bubble cleanse.
My face also got some pampering with a liberal application of Ground’s black seed and lime facial balm that quickly had my skin feeling plumped and hydrated. My hair was not forgotten with a thorough wash and condition before Laxmi left me alone to shower off the last traces of product before heading to the massage room where the second part of my recovery ritual was to take place.
Mindful that my skin had just undergone a thorough exfoliation, she chose a soothing sweet orange and geranium oil blend for my massage. This particular mix is known for its antioxidant and antibacterial action from the citrus coupled with balance and the promotion of emotional well-being from the geranium.
The warmth and softness of the bed combined with dim lighting soon led to a deep sense of relaxation and I thoroughly enjoyed Laxmi’s knowledgeable stretching and minor pressure point manipulation.
Without being told, she zeroed in on my shoulders and right hip, areas in which I generally carry stored up tension. Working diligently to release the pressure, she applied a blessedly painless combination of kneading and circular motions and, before I knew it, I was drifting off to sleep.
All too soon, it was time for my treatment to end and Laxmi showed me to the relaxation area, where I took some time to come back to Earth with the help of lemon and ginger tea accompanied by dates and nuts.
Then, before leaving, I took the opportunity for a good look around. Talise Spa has both men’s and women’s sections with the women’s side housing a gorgeous indoor swimming pool flanked by sauna and steam rooms. There are also two gyms – mixed and ladies only – with a huge variety of top-of-the-range equipment and separate spaces for
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