A salt scrub and a long, restorative massage at Heavenly Spa by Westin became Bushra Hakim’s gateway to fresh skin and a calmer mind this month.
September has always felt like a weird in-between month. Summer isn’t completely over, but you can feel the shift in the air with a lot more breeze and a sense of things slowing down. By this time, my skin usually tells its own story: too many hours in the sun, driving around with the AC blasting, travelling and generally not giving it the attention it deserves. It feels dry, tired, a little overworked, much like the rest of me, which is why the idea of a “full reset” at the Heavenly Spa by Westin at The Westin City Centre Bahrain sounded perfect.
As I stepped out of the elevator on the third floor, I was welcomed into the spa’s expansive reception. Bright and spacious, the room carried a serene energy, its white, green and blue tones complemented by the soothing sound of a fountain that divided the male and female areas. Here, you will find on display some of the best-selling products from top wellness and skincare brands like Pevonia and Elemis.
Kim, my therapist for the afternoon, welcomed me graciously and asked me to fill out the consultation form while she brought over a detox smoothie – a cool mix of green apple, cucumber and mint, along with a cold towel. I was cooling down from the inside out. Considering how humid it was outside, that towel might have been the most heavenly thing I’d felt all week.
I went there to try the September pampering package: The Full Reset. A treatment designed for a proper refresh for the body after a long summer. It combined a 30-minute body scrub with 90 minutes of the best-selling Aspire massage. Kim led me through to the women’s section, starting with the changing area, where my locker was fully stocked with every amenity you could possibly need, from combs and shower caps to vanity kits and plush towels. I changed into the fresh robe and slippers before being given a brief tour of the facilities. Guests can use the Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and shower before or after treatments, which already makes it feel like an all-day experience if desired.
I was led into the treatment room where the bed was pre-warmed, layered with soft towels and felt like an invitation to just let go. Kim began by wiping my feet with warm towels and giving me a short dry massage, just enough to ease me into the ritual. She then dampened the skin with warm water before applying the lemon scrub from Elemis. Working in sections, she used circular motions to buff away dead cells, moving with a rhythm that was calming in itself. The scrub was surprisingly gentle and not like the harsh, scratchy kind that leaves your skin feeling raw. Instead, it felt nourishing, the oils in the formula leaving my skin smooth and hydrated rather than stripped. The lemon fragrance was light and refreshing, not overpowering and the entire process lasted about half an hour.
Afterwards, I hopped into the shower conveniently inside the treatment room. I was instructed to rinse with only water, no soap, so the oils could continue working. When I walked back out, my skin already felt transformed – softer, cleaner and visibly brighter, particularly on my hands, which usually bear the brunt of the sun when I’m driving.
The bed had been re-warmed for me, a thoughtful touch so I wouldn’t feel chilly post-shower. The part I’d been looking forward to the most started: the 90-minute Aspire massage. What I love about this treatment is that it’s tailored to your needs. You can choose the oil and the pressure. I went for mandarin oil, known for its relaxing properties. If I’m being honest, my back has been paying the price of bad posture and my shoulders usually feel like they’re carrying a backpack of bricks. I did not even have to tell which shoulder was worse, but the second Kim touched my back, she knew that the right one, of course, was my perpetual trouble spot.
She began with my legs, using a pressure that was firm but never uncomfortable, her thumbs and palms working together to smooth out tension. When she moved to my back and shoulders, some extra time was spent there, methodically loosening the knots I didn’t even realise had existed. One of the highlights was the way she worked on the nape of my neck. It’s an area so often ignored, but I could feel the tension melting away under her expert touch. Towards the end, she asked if I’d like her to include a scalp massage. That was an easy yes. She alternated between massaging my forehead, temples and scalp. I found myself drifting off to sleep in the blissful half-dreamy state where you’re so relaxed you forget the world outside exists.
The massage soon came to an end, which, to be fair, could have lasted the entire day and nobody would have heard me complain. The 90 minutes seemed to have disappeared in what felt like 20. Kim suggested that I take some time in the relaxation lounge, where ginger-honey tea and roasted nuts were available. I sat there unhurried, sipping slowly, before heading into the sauna for a short while as recommended.
By the time I left, I felt lighter, calmer and strangely energised and not in the hyper way coffee gives you, but in a grounded, steady way. My skin was glowing, my muscles no longer felt knotted, and I walked out with the sense that I’d pressed a reset button I didn’t even realise I needed. Energised enough, I joked to myself I could even take on a shop-a-thon at City Centre Bahrain afterwards.
For more information or to make a booking, please call Heavenly Spa by Westin at The Westin City Centre Bahrain on 1717 1000.
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