Spa la Vie by L'Occitane - Spa Paradise


If you have experienced L'Occitane products ever, you'd instinctively know that the L'Occitane Spa will be divine as well. So we recommend that you pick up the phone and make the booking!

By: Karishma Suri

Posted on: November 5, 2012

Spa la Vie MumbaiHow is Spa la Vie by L’Occitane different from the countless other spas dotting the Mumbai city? We think it redefines the very concept of ‘luxury relaxation’. And this includes the way they have designed their treatments and the space.

The 8,000 sq ft Spa la Vie by L’Occitane, is quite a Mediterranean wellness sanctuary, which gives a feeling of escape and space which the tightly packed city of Mumbai truly lacks. How do they do it? Simple. With a 20 ft literally breathing green wall, double height ceilings, open spaces, generous natural light and use of rich materials, the place manages to create a spa setting unlike any Mumbai has seen before. And spa treatments are not only what they offer. If a quick fix is what you need, go to the water ensconced Lounge before or after your treatment for foot treatments or a manicure and pedicure, or loll around the private spa courtyard or the retail area for L’Occitane products.

Every ingredient, every ritual is drawn from the L’Occitane grand herbarium, a resource of hundreds of essential oils and natural ingredients. With clay-covered walls, light-coloured woods, windbreaks made from reed stems, an abundance of pebbles, shades and hues that seem lightened by the salt, sun and wind, the spa is a calming place with a Mediterranean palate. It uses colours of natural materials and stones, like the noce travertine (a kind of tile), and makes the place comfortable, cosy and homelike. Whether nestled in an 18th century palace in Rajasthan or hidden in the midst of buzzing South Mumbai, L’Occitane Spas can be found in quite a few places in India. Let’s see how the newly-opened Mumbai outlet fared.

Spa la Vie by L'Occitane MumbaiOpulent Indulgence
To put in the facts first, the spa houses seven treatment rooms which includes three single treatment rooms, two VIP couple suites, one Ayurveda room and one heated stone Hammam and Vichy Shower room. Each of the rooms have a name assigned to them which will surely remind regular L’Occitane clients of the ingredients used in their signature products. According to the treatment you pick, make one of these seven rooms your home for a few hours: Shea, Angelica, Almond, Verdon, Hammam, Tulsi and Immortelle.

Your experience throughout takes you on a true olfactory journey, sequenced at every step by soothing or energizing aromas. The voyage of the senses continues through gestures, sensorial textures, relaxing music and the herbal teas inspired by Provencal traditions. The treatment that made me sigh for the anticipatory relaxation that was to come my way was the Almond Detox Wrap and Relaxing Aromachologie massage. Though not on the menu, the flexibility of the place allows you to customize treatments as per your needs and preferences. With a duration of around 90 minutes, one is assured of holistic relief.

The journey, as they call it, begins with a warm welcome and an introduction to the spa followed by a spa show around. Ensconced in a serene atmosphere, you’ll slowly feel the stress leaving your body. Freshly sterilized slippers are provided to wear from the minute one enters the spa, as is an invigourating signature tea served hot to detoxify the body and boost the immune system. Setting the tone right for the delicious pampering to follow, a health assessment form is given to know about the specific needs of the guest which helps the spa expert design a customized treatment along with products to be used as per the skin and body type. The room I was given was Angelica, which was warm and welcoming, with the only concerning factor being the lack of a lock and water closet in the room.

Spa la Vie by L'Occitane MumbaiAn escape into yourself!
The treatment begins with a soothing Provencal steam bath to open the pores and a calming foot ritual given with rose powder. During the foot ritual, the therapist will quickly brief you about the procedure and benefits of the treatment. Bask in a strong but invigourating scent as the therapist then sprays a mist made of lavender, tea tree and geranium on the head pillow to ensure soothing aroma throughout the treatment.

Sense the professional and quick strokes of your therapist as she applies the Almond Detox Body Wrap on the neck and back. The self-heating action of the wrap is said to stimulate microcirculation, while the clay and essential oils of Cypress will deeply purify the body, help release toxins and address water retention. While the wrap is left to do its job, the therapist performs a relaxing scalp and foot massage to keep you pampered. After the wrap, I was ready to receive L’Occitane’s signature relaxing Aromachologie Massage. Swedish effleurage strokes, Chinese acupressure and Balinese massage techniques come together to stimulate circulation and ease tensions while the Aromachologie essential oils of lavender, tea tree and geranium ensured complete relaxation. And because I had recently suffered a neck spasm, and was extra careful about it, the therapist went a step beyond and gave me a relieving steam with hot towels. This heavenly-soft experience left my mind and body absolutely rested.

Other appealing treatments, which may suit your needs better, include Camargue Summer Rain, Well Being from Head to Toe and the Immortelle Secret to Brightness Facial, which are all highly recommended.

Spa la Vie by L'Occitane MumbaiA world of its own
Looking for a place to throw your next bash? Spa la Vie by L’Occitane gives a unique and ideal option for a spa party. Bridal shower, birthday, wine tastings – the Spa party is fast becoming a popular way to get together – where people can get a complete spa tasting session, including manicures, pedicures and mini massages while sipping on champagne and nibbling on tapas. Absolutely customised, call in four intimate friends or organise a more luxurious soiree for up to 50 people at the spa. If you end up loving this spa ‘cocoon’, Spa la Vie also offers a limited number of VIP Memberships.

With such an expansive area at their disposal, the spa is Mumbai’s largest day spa and also Mumbai’s first true international day spa. Incredibly enough, the spa features one of Mumbai’s first heated stone Hammam beds. Spa addicts would jump in glee after discovering this quiet place tucked away in a lane that, well, may be a little hard to find at first, but is absolutely worth every second (and penny)! I sure did!

Coordinates: Apollo Mills Compound, adjacent to Lodha Bellissimo, NM Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai
Ph: +91-22-2305 9055
www.itsmyvie.com

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