The elements of the asian spa

Whether you go halfway around the world to relax or create the experiences at home, you'll draw on the same basic elements water; air, fire, and earth.

Water fresh or saline- hot, warm or cool... water is restorative and purgative. Water has been the essence of a traditional spa since ancient times. lmmersion is the sum and substance of ritual purification in most religions, for water is the most powerful yet soothing element on earth. According to Hindu legend, tirtha or holy water is carried from the sea by a beautiful goddess and drunk to obtain immortality, Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of good fortune rose from the foam, and as she did, so the rivers changed course to flow to¬ward her. The Chinese Kuan-Yin, known is Kannon in Japan, is goddess of water and the moon; she is often depicted sitting on a lotus blossom, a pure, water-rooted flower that symbolizes enlightenment. Lakshmi and Kuan Yin are undoubtedly related to the Yoruba goddess Yemaya, ruler of the rivers and seas, and Aphrodite or venus, the Greco-Roman deity who was born of the ocean. In Botticelli's famous painting, the birth of venus, she rises up fully formed on a shell. After a long spa. soak, you may rise from the tub feeling something like that yourself.

Scenting the air is the easiest way to create a spa mood at home, for a fragranced atmosphere – whether from burning oil or incense – enhances your sense of well-being at the first moment you inhale. But taking a few moments to breathe consciously will allow you to really center and thus benefit more deeply from your spa experience. Conscious breathing is different from normal breathing. The latter comes instinctively. To breathe consciously you become aware of your rhythm: lungs fill¬ing with air, ribcage expanding, body filling with the energy of that inhalation; then the reverse, letting go but without losing that energy.

In Oriental philosophy, breath is synonymous with inspiration from the gods, so it is no wonder that mind-body activities such as yoga and meditation focus on conscious breathing. Air is breath, and breath is life. From yoga to tai-chi to chanting, conscious breathing helps us relax Into calmness as still as a lake or, conversely, helps us tap into the rushing rivers of energy. The chi of tai chi means "vital breath", as does the ki of aikido and the qi of qi gong. In yogic philosophy, it is prana, the life energy that unites us with one another and with the whole universe.

Fire is another of the primal elements and its benefits have been used in many different cultures for purification purposes. While roaring flames don’t figure into the spa experience, the pinpoint of light emitted by a burning candle provides a most effective means of centering yourself. More dramati¬cally, an array of candles in a darkened room can transform familiar surroundings, an effect heightened by the burning of fragrance. Don't forget the heat sensation from a poultice, such as the Thai Herbal Heat Revival, or even the warm comfort produced by the friction of skin against skin in massage.

Radiant skin and shiny halt- have been created from Asia's vast botanical heritage. On the Indonesian island of java alone 6,500 species of plant have been recorded. Malaysia lays claim to 3,600 species of tree, and other tracts of rainforest still wait to be discovered.

Many of the natural treatments that are now commonly used throughout tropical Asian countries trace their origins to the palaces of Central Java. From the 17th century until today, princesses from Solo,Yogyakarta and Surakarta have experimented with natural potions of their own making. Some remedies remain safely hidden behind palace walls. Others, such as the Javanese lulur, have found their way around the region, and even the world, This famous body scrub of rice, spices and splashes of natural yoghurt is a skin-softening elixir that eclipses the best commercially available body creams. In this book we also include treat¬ments composed from clay, mud and salt.

Then there are flowers. For all Asian people, flowers are part of everyday life, right down to ablutions. If a. rose-petal bath is impossible (and unfortunately urban plumbing may prohibit such a sublime sensation) you have essential flower oils to recreate the fragrance and luxury of a floral bath. Consider the blossom-based treatments of Balinese culture, and then rec¬reate them for yourself using the recipes in this book: a floral foot soak at the start of each treatment, a massage with flower-based essential oils, an aromatherapy scalp treatment, and finally live blossoms woven into the hair. Is there anything headier?