World Spas: Amanpuri, Phuket, Thailand

At this flagship property of Amanresorts, my spa treatment pavilion had a private dressing area, steam room, shower and outdoor meditation “sala.” The two doors on the shower meant I could step from the treatment room into the shower and from there directly to my dressing room.

My two-hour “Amanpuri Awakening” began with traditional Thai massage. I wore soft pyjamas while the therapist did pressure point massage and stretched my limbs into yoga-like positions, climbing onto the massage table to use the whole force of her body.

Meanwhile, my personal steam room was heating up, aromatized with fresh crushed exotic herbs, including plai (part of the ginger family) and lemongrass, which acts as an antiseptic and muscle relaxer. After the steam I was “stamped” (softly punched) with a hot, wet Thai herbal compress. A Swedish massage using plai oil followed, capped by one more visit to the steam room to allow the oil to penetrate.

Two hours may seem like a long time—but I didn’t want it to end.

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