Any bride worth her salt knows how important the ‘spa schedule’ is in the build up to the Big Day (or at least knows how strong an excuse your wedding is for splashing out on otherwise unnecessary beauty treatments).
I’ve been following an SS, as I like to call it, to a T: regular facials to keep my skin glowy, massages to work out anxiety-ridden shoulders, saunas to sweat away toxins to keep skin, well, glowy (glow is a big deal on W day). I had it all covered, or so I thought, until I heard about the Thai Massage at Antara Spa.
When I read the description of this massage, ‘Holistic bodywork given while fully clothed, combining passive stretches, movements of joints and breathing exercises to release energy blockages and promote overall flexibility,’ it sounded like something I could benefit from (despite the fully clothed part – what’s a spa visit without a fresh white robe and slippers?!). I definitely have a few energy blockages – table planning has created at least five on its own – and as a regular yogi and Bikram fan, am always happy to boost my bendability.
So I decided to give it a whirl. But as I lay fully clothed on the ground, only a millimetre-thick mat separating me from the concrete floor, with a strong male masseur towering over me, I wasn’t entirely sure I’d made the right decision.
Before we started, he explained that Thai massage is known as ‘Yoga for the lazy’ because it stretches and works your muscles just like yoga would, without any of the effort. He wasn't wrong. Despite the fact that I was lying on the ground, my flexibility was tested more over the course of the hour-long treatment than in some yoga classe I've been to.
In addition to limbering me up, the therapist used Chinese pressure points to isolate areas I never realised I carried tension, then proceeded to press, stretch and massage all of said tension away. I left the treatment floating and, most importantly, knot-free. At least until I start working on those table plans again...
Thai Massage at Antara spa, 60min, £80, thechelseaclub.com
Want more bridal inspiration?
Read week 1: The best pre-wedding facial by Taylor
Read week 2: The perfect wedding tan by Lyndsey
Read week 3: Finding your wedding fragrance by Leyla
Read week 4: Wedding day makeup trial by Lyndsey
Read week 5: Combating wedding stress by Taylor
Read week 6: Wedding nails nailed by Lyndsey
Read week 7: Honeymoon essentials by Taylor
Read week 8: Eat fat, lose weight by Lyndsey
Read week 9: The big underwear debate by Taylor
Read week 10: A luxuriouis and long lasting mani by Taylor
Read week 11: Boxing yoga by Taylor
