Spa Review: Natural Elements Spa and Fitness, Le Meridien Dubai

Struggling to doze off at night? Le Meridien's Natural Elements Spa has a unique treatment that promises to set your body clock right

Seeking wellness therapy for insomnia early morning is not the wisest thing to do. But when you haven't slept in 10 days - not even a wink, mind you - you're forgiven for being a headless chicken. My 9 am retreat was the Natural Elements Spa at Le Meridien, that offers, as the name suggests, natural and authentic treatments that promise to energise your body and mind. Looking at my pale, makeup-less face and examining the pressure points of my knotted back, my therapist Joy concluded that stress was taking a toll on my sleep and recommended the Ila Kundalini massage. The concept is simple: activate the energy points in the body by detangling the muscles on the lower back region. No, stress does not fly out of the window, but it definitely gives you a superhero high for a while. The massage oil - comprising jasmine, sandalwood and argan oil - is used in copious amounts. As opposed as I am to sticky liquids being applied on my already oily skin, I didn't mind this fragrant concoction. However, it was the massage technique that would get a 10/10. Joy used medium pressure to knead the strained muscles in circular motions, followed immediately by gentle stroking. This is a pattern that repeated itself throughout the course of my treatment, until I finally found myself dozing off on the massage bed.
Therapy time
The 75-minute treatment started with Joy scrubbing my feet. Usually a standard practice in spas, Joy informed me that in Kundalini massage, it becomes important to activate the marma points (areas where, according to yogic studies, energies are hidden) on the feet. As I lay on the bed, Kundalini oil was slathered all over my lower back and Joy spent a good amount of time easing the blockages there while gently stroking the marma points there. A large part of the treatment is dedicated to your back, but feet, head, neck and shoulders also get their due, though the impact is not the same.
What we loved...
Being a yoga practitioner myself, I found the therapist's enthusiasm in educating me about Kundalini massage quite helpful. But the real high point was the technique used in the massage. A strained back is often a tricky terrain since any pressure can feel overbearing. Not this one, though.
What we didn't...
Though there is no doubting the efficacy of the Ila Kundalini massage, at Dh650, the cost may be considered too steep for a treatment that more or less focuses on a specific part of the body. The music, while soothing, could do with a bit of range.
Ila Kundalini Massage
Natural Elements Spa & Fitness, Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, Airport Road, Al Garhoud
Reservations: Call +97147022430
Cost: Dh650 (for 75 minutes)
Our rating: 4.5/5