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.jpg "A shirodhara oil treatment at Antara Spa") |
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.jpg "Ayurvedic poultice massage at Antara Spa") |
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Chelsea Club Antara Spa, Chelsea - 5 bubbles
Antara Spa is a holistic day spa within the Chelsea Club, an exclusive luxury health club in London's Stamford Bridge complex, the home of Chelsea Football Club. Antara Spa is a haven of calm and tranquillity, with European, oriental, and ayurvedic therapies performed by experienced therapists. The health club boasts a spectacular swimming pool and a spacious gym with state-of-the-art facilities. A hidden city gem.
First impressions?
How did they welcome you?
What happens next?
Which treatments did you have?
What were the treatments like?
How did you feel afterwards?
What happens afterwards?
Long-term effects
Was it worth it?
What else could you have?
Any special features?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
First impressions?
The Chelsea Club complex is in Fulham, just a short walk from the Tube station. There are two luxury hotels, a supporters' centre, several restaurants and a large car park. I visited on a weekday so had a leisurely stroll round to the club, but battling through hoards of football fans when Chelsea FC are playing, might not make for such a sedate start to your day.
The club reception area was spacious and peaceful. The decor was tastefully minimalist and modern, not a hint of Chelsea FC branding!
How did they welcome you?
A friendly receptionist behind the desk greeted me and asked me to sign in. She pointed me in the direction of a cosy sofa where I could wait for a member of the spa team to collect me. Once seated, I realised that I was sitting in a spacious, contemporary restaurant, not the usual health-club snack-bar. There was a comfortable lounge area in the corner, a glass staircase up to next floor and a glass wall with a view to the pool below.
After only a few minutes, I was greeted by Flomny, the holistic spa manger. Flomny took me to the changing rooms first, so that I could deposit my heavy bag before we went on a tour of the club.
What happens next?
After my tour, I headed back downstairs to the changing rooms. There was plenty of space to change, lots of benches, and a couple of well-equipped vanity areas boasting hairdryers, straighteners and Molton Brown toiletries. There were walls of lockers and piles of bright-white towels. There was even a relaxation area with comfy red-leather sofas, stacks of current magazines and wall-mounted televisions showing Sky News.
At the end of the changing rooms is the wet area, with a sauna and steam room (both heated to a perfect temperature), plunge pool and showers.
The pool:
The pool area is below a double-storey atrium and is accessible from the changing rooms. The Chelsea Club boasts a magnificent 25-metre swimming pool, a rarity in a London spa. There is a fabulous poolside Jacuzzi to relax in, and plenty of stylish wooden loungers around the edge. The atrium floods the pool with natural daylight and you can sit undisturbed for hours (all the time I was there the pool area never seemed crowded).
The gym:
Fitness is taken very seriously at the Chelsea Club. The Chelsea Club's gym, on the top floor, boasts over 100 pieces of gym equipment. The training staff are on hand to show you how to use the equipment and give you a key to use with the Technogym equipment, so that you can log your progress.
The kinesis wall offers a range of over 250 exercises, and there are Vibrogym machines for calorie burning. There is a resistance room full of the latest weights and resistance equipment, and a fully-equipped Pilates studio. There is even a suspended outdoor running track.
The three studios offer a full timetable of classes, including yoga (Angada and zero-gravity yoga being the latest additions), Pilates, spin, step, martial arts, boxing, aerobics, salsa and more. And for those who hate wet and windy golf days, there is a PGA golf simulator.
The spa:
Antara spa has its own reception area. Once you step through the glass doors, the health-club atmosphere changes to the dimly lit, hushed world of spa.
The tasteful reception area had panels of dark wood with contrasting turquoise and cream on the walls and floor. The receptionist behind the white, oval-shaped desk was expecting me, and welcomed me warmly. I followed her down a corridor to a small seating area. She gave me a drinks menu that had a great selection of vegetable and fruit juices, and smoothies on offer. After a few minutes Flomny returned and a receptionist brought me my carrot, orange and ginger juice a few moments later.
We sat in a comfortable booth while Flomny explained the philosophy of Indian ayurvedic therapies. She also explained that Antara Spa was re-launched in October 2010 as a holistic spa (it was previously known as Escape). All the ayurvedic practitioners here have trained for at least a year in India at a recognised institution.
Finally, Flomny explained that there would be no need for a consultation form as our discussion had in fact been our consultation. She told me that my primary dosha (the predominant energy in my body) was pitta, a combination of fire and water. She described the characteristics of my lifestyle perfectly, including the types of ailments I suffer from. Consultation over, Flomny took me into one of the four treatment rooms.
Which treatments did you have?
I had the Elakizhi Ayurvedic Massage (90 minutes £140), a treatment using medicated bundles of herbal leaves, dipped in warm oil and then massaged into the skin.
What were the treatments like?
The treatment room was dimly lit and had dark-wood cabinets lining one wall and a tiled shower in the corner. The room was quite snug, and had an unusual treatment table in the centre. It was a simple wooden table with a very slight incline, and a drainage hole at the head for collecting excess oil.
My therapist Colette came into the treatment room and introduced herself. She explained in great detail what would happen in the treatment, including that the herbs she would combine were prescribed for my individual dosha. She explained that this massage was carried out in order to promote better circulation and to detox the body via increased perspiration. She said that this massage is also very effective in relaxing muscles and relieving body pain.
Colette then left the room while I disrobed, put on a pair of disposable pants and carefully climbed up onto the table. When she returned, she placed a towel under my head so that I could rest comfortably. She began the treatment with firm, gliding strokes through the covers, followed by gently rocking my body.
Next, Colette massaged a warm oil mixture onto my body to warming my muscles. Once she had heated the herb bundle, she tested its temperature on the inside of her wrist and warned me that she would now start using it with heated medicated oils.
The warm sensation was immediately soothing. Colette used a fast patting method to massage my entire body, starting with my back. She helped me turn over carefully (because of the slippery table) and continued the massage on my front, including my neck, hands and feet, paying particular attention to my marma points.
Colette never allowed the herb bundle to cool off. The room became very warm and my limbs felt relaxed and limp. After some time, Colette tucked me in under a cover and gave me a fabulous face and scalp massage that really calmed my mind.
The next phase of this heavenly treatment was the steam. I was completely covered in warm, slippery oil at this point, so Colette helped me to climb down from the table. At some point during my massage, Colette had turned on the steam in a strange little tent, which I now discovered was a portable steam pod! She checked the temperature of the steam and guided me into the pod, and to the small stool. Colette zipped me up and left the room. The smell was delicious -- I later found out that the steam had been infused by coriander seeds.
Colette's timing was perfect as she reappeared fifteen minutes when I was ready to come out. She then took me back to the table, patted off the excess moisture, and then gently rubbed the final moisturising oils onto my skin.
How did you feel afterwards?
Wonderful! Every tired muscle in my body felt completely relaxed. I felt quite light-headed and my skin was incredibly soft.
What happens afterwards?
I headed to the relaxation room. This was a very relaxing space, if a little small. There were two comfy wooden loungers, and small blue lights sunken in the dark wooden floor. I chilled for a while before heading to the restaurant for my lunch.
The lunch menu had a variety of healthy meals available, simplified by coding according to ayurvedic dosha types. My giant ravioli was delicious.
Long-term effects
I slept like a baby that evening. I normally find it quite difficult to wind down after a long day in the office, but for nearly five days, I had no trouble at all. Also, the effect on my sometimes sluggish digestion was remarkable. My skin, normally terribly dry during cold months, was soft to touch and with not a hint of a dry patch.
Was it worth it?
Every penny.
What else could you have?
Authentic ayurvedic massages, facials, exfoliations, wraps and rituals.
Oriental baths, hammam rituals, Thai massage and holistic therapies.
Modern European facial peels from Only Yourx and Aromatherapy Associates.
Mother-to-be experiences and finishing touches such as tanning, manicures and pedicures.
Any special features?
The fifth treatment room has a Moroccan-style hammam for the ultimate cleansing experience.
Who do you think would like it?
Football widows, young city types and the Chelsea elite.
Anyone looking for a top-notch spa experience in central London will love Antara Spa. And those who are serious about exercise need look no further.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave Antara Spa 5 bubbles. The spa is well designed and seriously classy. My treatment was one of the most well delivered massages I have experienced. Throughout my treatment, my therapist was highly professional yet friendly, approachable and reassuringly knowledgeable.
The facilities throughout the Chelsea Club and Antara Spa are first class, service is friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere is relaxed. This is not your average leisure club. If you buy a day pass you could quite easily fill your day and still want to come back for more.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
Of course!
We visited Antara Spa in January 2011
See also:
* Contact Details for Chelsea Club Antara Spa
* Ayurvedic massage types explained
* Find fantastic spa deals at The Good Spa Shop
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