Our SeriAsia Spa Experience

 About a month ago, I scored 2 Metrodeal vouchers of a 60 minute full body massage and oxygen facial from SeriAsia, a spa in Southgate Mall in Magallanes. When I got the vouchers, I thought of sharing it with my hubby so we can have relax and unwind for awhile.

SeriAsia is at the second floor of Southgate Mall, along with other salons. Southgate Mall can be reached through MRT (alight at Magallanes station), buses that pass by EDSA or jeepneys going to Mantrade.

We can already smell the "spa-ish" aroma from the escalator. Inside the spa, you will be welcomed by their friendly staff who will then offer you coffee, tea or wheatgrass while waiting. SeriAsia also offers a variety of wellness products like coffee with ganoderma mushrooms (from Malaysia, as I was told), lotions, vitamins, masks and a lot more. A former colleague told me that their 6 in 1 lotion is good as it is not sticky and it helps lighten the appearance of stretchmarks.

SeriAsia also offers a wide variety of spa services from massage to scrubs to facials. However, they do not have jacuzzi or steam bath. Perhaps it is because of the limited space.

This is their facial room. The "room" is enclosed by curtains so if privacy is a big deal, you might find this an issue. However, for me, this is just okay. this is even better than Let's Face It's row of beds where you are literally rubbing elbows with each other. SeriAsia can only accomodate 2 guests for facials at the same time.

Their Oxygen Facial is one remarkable facial for me. It is very relaxing yet I can really feel that my skin is deeply cleansed. Initially, the therapist cleansed my face with a combination of facial wash and a sea salt scrub. The usual 5-minute facial sauna (steam) came after. Instead of the tedious pricking (which annoyed me always), they use an intensive vacuum. This will exfoliate your skin and extract blackheads/whiteheads. A cool mask is applied after and will be left for 15 minutes. The oxygen infusion will come after the mask. This is the most relaxing part of the facial. It is cool and hydrating. Oxygen Facial has anti-aging and rejuvenating properties and is becoming popular globally.

You can also enjoy foot scrub or massage here.

Our vouchers also include a full body massage. SeriAsia has a couple's room. Actually, its the only room that they have, so that also means they can only accommodate 2 persons at a time. It is better to book ahead to secure a slot especially on peak days.

What I like about their massage is the pressure. The therapist were able to capture the pressure that I want. Hard on my back but gentle on my legs, thighs and arms. They also use good-smelling aromatheraphy oils and a mentholated balm. I asked what balm was that and they said they sell one in a big jar (P1000) and a small tub (P99). however, the latter was out of stock.

They also provide a robe and boxers for your perusal. The massage ended with a warm towel to remove stickiness of the oils used.

An Ecospa in the Metro: Zenyu at Hotel H2O

The pollution in the city agravates stress we undergo on a daily basis. Research shows that when are stressed, our bodies produces corticosteroids that weakens our immunity. Likewise, pollutants and free radicals hinders the rejuvenation of our cells, thus, causing premature ageing. When stress and free radicals are combined, we become moer susceptible to diseases.

Going close to nature is one way of recharging yourself, like going to the beach, waterfalls or doing yoga in a garden. This is because you are immersed with negative ions that come from the waterfalls, the beach or the plants from the garden. But what if you live in a city where all you can see are tall buildings? It's time to go to Zenyu Ecospa, the only negative ion spa in the Philippines.  

Nestled at the 4th floor of Hotel H2O in Manila Ocean Park, Zenyu Eco Spa is a real sanctuary of wellness. Hotel H2O also has nice marine-themed rooms where you can stay for a night. It also offers sumptuous gastronomic offerings.
 

The lobby towards Zenyu Eco Spa.

Zenyu Eco Spa offers a wide variety of treatments like massage, body scrubs and a lot more.

The whole floor of Hotel H2O where you could find Zenyu Eco Spa was covered with a special negative ion paint. Negative ions promotes better blood circulation and counteracts free radicals. They even have an area where they placed specimens like raw eggs that did not become rotten even if it has been there for many months.

Zenyu Eco Spa also offers other negative ion products. The most unique of which is the PIRKARE powder.

The PIRKARE powder has a variety of uses:

They also have negative ion plastic bags where you can put food to minimize spoilage.

They also have socks that is said to promote better blood circulation.

Zenyu Eco Spa welcomes guests with this yummy drink - fermented raisins. It tastes like wine, actually, like Baguio's strawberry wine.

And would you believe that this drink was made in this negative ion pail? And it is just left at the corner of the retail area. Yet, it is clean and delicious, and I am loving it.

After consuming the drink, I proceeded to the fish jacuzzi. Here, you can soak your entire body and have the fishes nibble on your skin. It's scary at first but after awhile you will get used to it. My skin felt smoother after soaking here for 15 minutes.

Their lockers are equipped with a hi-tech security system that requires 2 digital keys before you could open it. So your key plus the master key from the concierge is needed. This is to make sure that you only open your locker in the presence of a spa staff, for security reasons.

After enjoying the fish jacuzzi, I went to the hot bed. This is like a sauna, though it is not suffocating. The heat here is just enough to make you sweat and to calm your tired muscles. What's good about this hot bed is that you can even bring your celphone and cameras here as it will not get damaged by the heat, unlike in saunas.

The hot bed is perfect for those who have backaches, dysmenorrhea and other muscle pains. A 30 minute hote bed session is enough but I swear I could stay here for an hour. You can also do yoga here.

Following my hot bed indulgence is a massage.Their rooms are quite spacious and are modern. It's  cold because it has individual air conditioner inside.

They also have couple's room perfect for an anniversary treat.

Zenyu Eco Spa is really a unique spa. It's not just about the massage or scrub it offers, but it's a holistic approach to wellness. I shall visit Zenyu Eco Spa again for another round of rejuvenation. 

Find your element at Chi, The Spa at Shangri-la

When you are tired and do not have enough time for an out of town vacation, a hot bath and a massage will suffice to rejuvenate your body. Chi, The Spa at Shangri-la offers a wide variety of spa treatments that will definitely make you feel like king or queen, sans going out of the metro.

Chi Spa is located at EDSA Shangri-la in Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City. It is nestled on a separate building to ensure serenity and exclusivity of the place.

Going to Chi Spa, you will pass by EDSA Shangri-la's poolside.

You will be welcomed in their posh lobby. I remember the lobby of Boracay Shangri-la. They almost look the same. This only proves that the Shangri-la group is maintaining consistency on ambience and service among their hotel in any part of the world.

There is also a retail area beside the lobby. You can buy skin care products, candles, oils and a lot more.

 

We waited in the couch and they gave us honeyed ginger ale. I do not usually drink ginger ale as I am not a big fan of ginger and its distinct taste. However, this one is an exemption. The sweetness of honey balances the spiciness of ginger. Plus, as I am having sore throat that time, this ginger ale helped relieve my condition.

Before the treatment commenced, they let me sign up a client's sheet that will also determine your element. Also, you can put here if you have special needs like the intensity of pressure you prefer, or if you want them to avoid some parts of your body or concentrate on one. The service is very personalized. This I think is what differentiates Chi Spa from the other spas out there.

After the consultation, we went up to my room. I asked if I can view the overnight accommodations upstairs but they are fully booked that time.

There is also a receiving area upstairs.

Here my room: Padma

Upon entering the room, you will see a foot therapy area. All rooms here are identical.

The room has its own shower and steam bath, a rest room, a closet, a vanity area and a massage area. Here's a peek at my amenity kit: disposable thongs, soaps, shower cap, blow dryer.

And there's also cold water with zesty lemon.

Here's the massage area. The bed is equipped with hot blanket so you would not chill after shower.

En-Wrapture is a treatment that starts with a 30 minute steam bath followed by a muscovado sugar body scrub. Muscovado sugar mixed with extra virgin coconut oil removes dead skin cells while maintaining your skin's moisture balance. Extra virgin coconut oil is known to have superb moisturizing properties.

The body scrub will be followed by a hot shower. Afterwards, a white clay wrap will be applied to your body. It will end with a warm blanket wrap.

That chime is what they use to let the client know the treatment is finished.

Following the En-Wrapture treatment, I went through their Green Tea Facial.

It is an all-natural facial that uses spirulina, oats, green tea and yogurt. No extraction or peeling done here. This is more of a relaxing kind of facial.

And after almost 2 hour of rejuvenation, included in the package is a robe that you could use on your next visit or during their yoga classes.

Special thanks to Ms. Claire of EDSA Shangri-la.For more information, visit their site here.