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Hidden like a sanctuary, it
is located at the far end of the sprawling, manicured gardens of the
resort. It is a serious affair occupying a one-hectare (10,000
square meters) area with a project cost that reached US$4.0 million.
This village dedicated to soothing your mind, body, and soul has a
garden pavilion, eight garden suites for singles, six spa villas for
couples, and one grand spa villa that measures 200 square
meters. The facilities are out-fitted with
the latest and filled with
fine amenities like chamois tow |
massage technique that uses
the fingers to apply pressure) done in a typical massage bed, when
in water, it is completely different. Once your body floats and
you close your eyes, you must let go of any resistance to allow your
therapist to manipulate your body with ballet-like
gracefulness. After a while, you would feel "one" with your
therapist. To say that it is very relaxing, although it is, would be
incomplete. Somehow, because it is done on water, you
psychologically feel that you are "washing" away all your anxieties.
And because you are floating, the sensation comes close to having an
"out of body" experience. Another notable treatment is the
herbal harmony (US$116) where a heated linen pouch filled
with a blend of traditional healing herbs is pressed and rolled on
your body. The aromatic massage (US$107) follows after. The
Chi Spa also offers the traditional Philippine touch therapy
(US$84) called hilot, a technique commonly passed by one
generation of Filipinos to the other, this all-around massage
technique cures ailments from sprains to headaches.
The treatments are no doubt,
pricey but "expensive" is a relative term and is determined by the
quality you get. To begin with, at Chi, all the therapists studied
physical therapy and underwent extensive training from experts from
Tibet, Germany, and Australia in subjects that range from anatomy to
traditional Tibetan, Chinese, and other Asian healing arts. The
villas are also a "spa within a spa" with its own changing area,
shower, steam room (complete with bean bag), treatment room,
relaxation lounge, outdoor bathing area, and
garden.
Shangri-la Mactan's Chi Spa
is the embodiment of today's popular catchphrase—the "holistic
approach." The Tibetan-inspired village and the luxurious pampering
make it a notch higher.
The Chi Spa is located at
the Shangri-la Mactan Island Resort & Spa Cebu, Punta Engano
Road, Lapu-Lapu City 6015; Tel. (+6332) 231-0288; email:
chi.mac@shangri-la.com; website:
www.shangri-la.com/spa |
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DID YOU KNOW? Tibetan
"singing bowls" which are believed to have special healing
powers are made of seven different metals, which together produce
its singing sound. The sound and vibrations spreads quickly through
the body, gently massaging the internal cells and
organs. |
els, robes, and slippers.
There is nothing like the soft and smooth feel of drying yourself
with a chamois towel and slipping on a robe, also made out of
chamois. It makes the best cotton feel lacking.
And now, the treatments.
The -water shiatsu |
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