What on earth is the Bali spa ritual? We sent Tandeka Bafo to find out and she came back relaxed and rejuvenated.

The Bali ritual originates from Indonesia and was given to princesses for 40 days before their wedding day. The treatment is aimed at beautifying and softening your skin.

But that’s not all. It also claims to:

• nourish, rejuvenate and refine, and cleanse the outer layer of the skin
• remove impurities
• enhance lymphatic flow and blood circulation

What it felt like
The ritual began with a deep, full-body, Balinese-style massage, a combination of pressure point movements and gentle stroking using heady jasmine essential oil. The jasmine essential oil left me feeling calm and peaceful – as if I had left behind me the concerns of the world.

Thereafter tropical magnolia oil infused with marine salts was applied to exfoliate the skin, remove dead cells and lighten the skin’s texture.

The next step was a brief yoghurt wrap. My body was lathered with cold yoghurt that left me shivering. The active enzymes in the yoghurt act as a natural moisturiser for the skin.

After the wrap, I relaxed in a warm bath filled with water, rose milk, moisturising lavender and flower petals. This relieved remaining tension and relaxed my muscles.

In Indonesia flower petals are referred to as “mandi su su”. It is believed that flowers inspire the spirit and also soothe the eyes and calm the emotions.

The final phase of the treatment consisted of being lathered with ylang ylang-infused body lotion. The lotion relaxed me even further and enhanced my senses.

The verdict
All in all, the ritual relaxed my muscles and delivered a feeling of rejuvenation. I felt as though I had shed my old, dead skin and in its place was a new, healthy one.

I would recommend it to anyone who wants to relieve stress and spoil themselves rotten for the day.

A two-hour treatment will cost you R680.

For more information, contact:
The Table Bay Hotel
Camelot Spa
V & A Waterfront
(From the reception area, up the escalator and to the right)
Telephone: (021) 406 5000
www.camelotspagroup.com

- (Tandeka Bafo, Health24.com, October 2007)