Abena Bailey Features: Beauty

It sounds unlikely doesn't it? Well the wonders of modern technology – in this case a Swedish invention - means that the simulated beach experience is the ultimate spa treatment for dull days.

The Spa at Presence, on the high street, in Watford, has a beach room available for hire.

Sand, sun loungers and palm trees set against a backdrop of Thailand set the mood.

A light breeze comes from a fan and a recording of waves lapping up on the shore, birds singing and monkeys squawking adds to the experience.

Most importantly three huge real sunlight lamps suspended overhead replicate natural sunlight at a steady temperature of 30 degrees C while filtering harmful UV rays to a safe level.

Result – you do not have to use to much of your imagination to pretend that you are sunbathing in an exotic location. Plus regular use will give you a safe tan.

I tried it out and thought it was good for a sunshine copycat and it certainly kept my seasonal affective disorder symptoms at bay.

The beach is available for one to four people at a time and starts at £20 for 25 minutes. Book on 01923 237869 or visit www.thespa-at-presence.co.uk

Posted at 09:41 PM in Beauty, Spa | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tags: Beach, holiday, SAD, sand, sea, spa, sun, tan, UV rays, vitamin D, watford

Water fitness at Champneys with friends

We love going for a workout with mates and I recently made a great night of it at Champneys Tring with some movers and shakers from Hertfordshire; Danielle Dawson of Gorgeous Lingerie boutique, in Tring, April Banbury, the reigning Miss Reading and hair and beauty salon PR guru Alastair Gourley.

These people all know how important it is to look good so when I told them that Champneys had launched group spa evenings we decided to try a thalasso circuit session followed by dinner.

They had no idea what a thalasso circuit was - Alastair described it as a “newfangled jet power massage workout thing.”

In fact it's an aerobic workout in a mineral-rich warm pool that has hydrotherapy jets to stimulate and tone the muscles. Think of it like working out while having a massage and skin treatment at the same time.

Our therapist, Kerrie, guided us through a set of exercises that used aqua mitts, water weights and foam noodles. We each did a different one for five minutes then moved to the next.

Pushing the foam water weights down into the water worked as a resistance exercise to tone arms and stomach muscles.

Determined to achieve Gwyneth Paltrow arms, I donned the mitts and repeatedly pushed against the jet streams of water.

I used the noodles as an aqua bike – basically it held my body up while I did a cycling motion with my legs. I also toned my midriff with seated leg exercises, let the large water jet massage my neck and shoulders and finally relaxed in the warm water while cool water jets stimulated my muscles.

While the workout sculpted our bodies the water itself, which contains magnesium, zinc, sodium, potassium, silicon, copper, iron, iodine and sea salt, treated the skin and soothed muscles.

The minerals increase metabolism and improve circulation so helps to flush out toxins and purify the body and skin. It helps combat cellulite and improves conditions such as eczema while the exfoliating sea salt gives super soft skin.

At dinner – melon and raspberry coulis, seared pink sea bream and spice prune and pear cake with vanilla cream – we drank gallons of water, as advised by Kerrie.

The general conscientious was that we all had fun, bonded with each other and did our bodies some good too.

Visit www.champneys.com

Posted at 05:17 PM in Beauty, Spa | Permalink | Comments (2)

Tags: aerobic, beauty, Champneys, fitness, health, health, luxury, massage, mineral, muscles, pool, resort, skin, Spa, swim, swim, thalassotherapy, toning, water, water jets, workout