AN IMPROVED YOU

The start of a new year is always a good reason to embrace good habits and invest in ourselves. OHLALA’s editor headed to Dessange Paris Bahrain to experience the powerful effects of combining spa treatments and health club workouts in a unique Slim & Trim programme.

I love the feeling of new starts. The New Year brings this excitement of ‘everything is possible’; you just have to roll up your sleeves and go after it. It can be a career change or the real possibility of embracing a healthier lifestyle. When we put ourselves first in life, everything else falls into place. Feeling good is the first step towards happy days. And Dessange has the perfect formula for re-shaping your body by combining the right training and spa treatments.

I can say that the expression ‘no pain, no gain’ is indeed quite true. However, at Dessange, this concept of bringing together effective spa solutions alongside your exercise routine might be a good reason to create discipline and keep track of your fitness goals. The Slim & Trim programme consists of a combination of personal trainer + Power Plate and Smoothing Cellulite Body Treatment and/or Endermologie Lipomassage.

My day at Dessange started at the health club. I was booked in for a session with Maylene, the personal trainer (and bodybuilder), for one full hour with a true connoisseur on the subject of getting fit. She first asked about my personal goals, and I told her that toning was definitely my biggest concern. Lack of exercise, muscle loss due to sedentarism and ageing left me with a body that could do much better if I had a consistent fitness routine.

The best thing about having a personal trainer is that they will create a programme that will be tailor-made to your needs and capabilities, constantly changing and evolving according to your progress. Maylene made a special circuit to focus on the areas I was mostly concerned about – glutes, abs and arms. The workout sequence was the following: battle rope, deadlift, slam ball (to relieve all your frustrations), Bosu Burpie, TRX single-leg Bulgarian squat, TRX suspension planking, dumbbell biceps curls and abs with the medicine ball. Everything was done with smiles and motivation, which was a first for me. Don’t get me wrong; it was challenging but enjoyable. When you have someone there for you, it helps accomplish tasks and keep energy levels up.

We then moved to the Power Plate, a machine that uses vibrations to stimulate muscles, giving the body a high-speed, low-impact workout. The Power Plate surface vibrates 25 to 50 times per second, resulting in corresponding muscle activation, increasing your strength and flexibility, boosting your metabolism, improving circulation, delivering faster and longer-lasting results. The other benefits are the increase of bone density, reduced pain associated with osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and plantar fasciitis, and an overall sense of wellbeing. I didn’t stay too long on the plate, as the recommended maximum time is 30 minutes.

I was worried that I would feel exhausted after my session, but I have to confess that I ended this intense training time with more stamina than when I started. I was ready to keep moving, and I am not an exercise enthusiast, for the record. Studies show that physical activity boosts energy and improves your mood, so nothing really unexpected, but new for me. Maylene recommended that I should exercise three to four times a week, reinforcing that consistency is key for best results.

It was time to keep working on my body shape with a Smoothing Cellulite Body Treatment through the hands of Chenda at the spa. The contouring wrap treatment aims to stimulate the body’s ability to break down fat, increase metabolism, eliminate water retention, and reduce cellulite deposits. Unfortunately, I do not have the best diet, I keep sitting for long hours, and the ageing factor has resulted in an unflattering bottom area that will thank this strong detox attention.

The treatment started with a whole-body scrubbing that promoted the extraction of dead cells and left me with an amazing sensation. After showering to remove the scrubbing cream, Chenda applied the anticellulite activating gel to my thighs, abdomen, glutes and lower back. The intense massage improves circulation in the area, refining body contour and reducing spongy and dimply skin. A 100% pure micronised green coffee cream was then applied to my entire body to smooth and enhance skin texture. After, I was wrapped in a warm blanket to promote sweat, removing body toxins and making the cream penetrate my skin for the most desirable outcome. I felt hugged and secure, such a comforting feeling, for about 20 minutes. After showering again, I went back for the final stage of this wonderful treatment – the moisturiser.

Before leaving Dessange, I was invited to go to the juice bar. A special hidden gem inside this beauty haven to try the Xtreme Green detox juice. The green drink is made with kale, romaine lettuce, celery, cucumber, green apple, parsley, lemon and ginger. It improves hydration, nutrition, quality of sleep and mental clarity. It also gives your digestive system a rest while reducing food cravings and bloating.

After arriving home and checking my body in front of the mirror, I noticed an instant improvement in my bottom area appearance in general. The skin texture was incredibly smooth, and I couldn’t believe that this problematic region was already looking much better after one session! I don’t know if the positive outcome was due to the exercise done before the spa treatment. What I can confidently say is that it did work wonders. And if you follow the recommendation of doing it twice a week, in a month your body will show great results.

Both ladies in charge of the health club and spa, Maja and Joie, also highly recommend combining the treatment I had with LPG (a 100% non-invasive mechanical lipomassage that stimulates the natural breaking down of fats for draining, slimming and firming the treated area). I’ve done this treatment before, and the results were awe-inspiring (you can read all about it in our September 2021 issue at issuu.com/ohlalabahrain). If you are looking to start the year transforming your body or taking good care of yourself, look for the specialised team at Dessange. You will find the best workout plan for you and the spa treatment that will cater for your desires and goals.