Unwind at one of the best spas in Singapore

IT SOUNDS like torture but this Asian massage should leave you feeling light and calm, writes Sarah Nicholson

shangri-la

GO TO a dark room in the basement of a Singapore building and let someone hit you with a couple of bamboo sticks for an hour.

Sure, I hear you say, as you back away, sounds more like something out of America's Guantanamo playbook than the way to spend a couple of precious holiday hours.

But when I tell you the dark room is the tranquil chamber in a luxury day spa, the basement is a quiet corner of Singapore's only beachside hotel and the bamboo sticks are part of a signature massage treatment, it suddenly sounds like a more appealing offer.

Sign me up, I hear you say, and point me towards that dark room in the basement.

The Rasa Spa at Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort, beside the white sands of Siloso Beach on the south side of Singapore's Sentosa Island, features the Bamboo Massage on its extensive spa menu, with this treatment an alternative to the more traditional options such as Swedish, Thai, anti-stress and aromatherapy massages.

"Engage in a novel spa treatment that will leave you feeling light and calm," is how the Rasa Spa menu describes the distinctive remedy.

"The therapist uses bamboo sticks to tap and roll over your body, creating a tension-relieving experience, and the treatment is completed with a fusion massage."

I book the massage for my first afternoon in Singapore, scheduled to be in the day spa less than two hours after my flight touches down at Changi Airport, and I'm looking forward to the therapist easing sore muscles that have spent too much time on long-haul flights.

While I'm a bit apprehensive - I have a sore neck and don't want to waste my time at the spa on a treatment that won't improve my posture - I discover the bamboo is only one part of the treatment, with the sticks working faster than hands to make the muscles warm and pliable.

The therapist starts by tapping the bamboo on my back, before using the tactile wood to knead the muscles and applying the scented oils for a more traditional massage, and then employs the same technique on my shoulders and the back of my arms and legs.

Rasa Sentosa spa manager Jenny Tan developed the signature treatment, keen to "enhance the experience" guests have during a visit to the sanctuary.

"We use the bamboo because it gets deeper into the muscles than hands alone," she explains.

"When a therapist uses her palms some of the angles get missed, but rolling the bamboo covers more area so the pressure is spread more evenly, and when you roll it goes deeper into the tissue, forcing muscles to relax faster.

"We find the muscles relax so when we start using our hands it has more impact on healing and relieving - just like a hot stone massage, when the therapist uses the stones to warm the body ready for the traditional Swedish massage."

Singapore is a haven for keen spa visitors, and there are a few more options if you would like to step outside the box and experience something a little different the next time you book a massage or facial while in the Lion City.

Aramsa - The Garden Spa (aramsaspas.com)

Aramsa - The Garden Spa was established on the idea that nature is the best healer.

This compound hides in the heart of Singapore's vast Bishan Park 2. There are 17 treatment rooms - each features a private courtyard with outdoor shower or bath - surrounded by lush, tropical vegetation. A choice of signature garden packages offer guests the opportunity to "experience being one with nature in the complete privacy of their garden spa". There is a swag of massage treatments targeting everything from relaxation and rejuvenation to sculpting and detoxing the body. Other options include wraps and water therapies.

Thann Sanctuary (hfcsingapore.com)

The Thann Sanctuary at the grand Hotel Fort Canning is inside a modern glass cube beside the historic accommodations - the stately colonial structure served as British and Japanese headquarters during World War II with an underground hall taking you to and from the spa without venturing into the heat. This urban day spa is designed to provide a contrast to the busy city outside, with four treatment rooms that each has a private bathroom and "elevated resting platform". The therapists use the aromatic Thann products made in Thailand during the blissful face, hair and body treatments.

Banyan Tree Spa (banyantreespa.com)

The Banyan Tree Spa - run by the same folks behind the luxurious Banyan Tree hotels and resorts - occupies the 55th floor at the Marina Bay Sands, just below the deck that links the three towers, making it Singapore's highest day spa. There's a selection of treatment rooms, some with floor-to-ceiling windows providing splendid city or sea views. Every therapy is a relaxed experience that's packed with ceremony and ends in the lounge with a snack of fresh fruit and fragrant tea.

Shangri-La Hotel Singapore (shangri-la.com/singapore)

The Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, the 5-star property at the top end of Orchard Rd and walking distance from the strip's best shopping spots, may not seem an obvious choice for this list, but if you're staying in the exclusive Valley Wing, an in-room massage is a must because it's such an indulgent experience. It's all about the setting presidents and prime ministers stay in the Valley Wing when in Singapore on business - and I loved soaking in a hot bath before my treatment, listening to my iPod through in-room speakers during the massage and then taking two steps to collapse on the king bed after the restorative therapy.The writer was a guest at Rasa Sentosa Resort and the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore.
 

Go2 - SINGAPORE

Getting there: There are daily direct flights to Singapore from Sydney, with Qantas (qantas.com.au), Jetstar (jetstar.com), Singapore Airlines (singaporeair.com) and Emirates (emirates.com) some of the options when booking an airfare.

Staying there: Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort (shangri-la.com) is 27km from Changi Airport on Sentosa Island. Taxis are a convenient option to make the 30-minute journey by road, or the MRT runs to HarbourFront and the hotel has a free shuttle to complete the journey. The Rasa Spa menu is on the website.

For more information on visiting Singapore, see the official tourism website yoursingapore.com

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