Spa Review: Bali Health Lounge, Manchester
Review: Jennifer Bonfield
Bali Health Lounge is located in the bustling hub of Manchester’s China Town district. This Urban Spa’s ethos is not about fancy monsoon showers or quartz crystal saunas (there are no wet facilities) but rather a dedicated focus on the quality of the treatments and the stellar expertise of the therapists; all of which are masters of their trade, with nothing less than super honed skills specializing in the art of eastern massage and holistic facials. A mere 1% of all therapist applicants get past the job application process here.
The concept of wellbeing is paramount at Bali Health Lounge and to demonstrate this they have created a unique Spa Membership scheme. This monthly membership plan has been created to encourage spa clients to regularly reap the benefits of massage therapy by having a spa treatment once a month. An increasing number of scientific studies show that massage therapy brings substantial psychological and mental health improvement. The monthly membership plan has 2 tiers covering both on and off peak times and starting from £43 per month including 60 minute massage. The membership also offers a whole host of additional benefits and perks from the spa. Most of us have a gym membership to keep our bods in shape on a regular basis, so it makes so much sense to do the same for our mind, body and general wellbeing.
I visited the spa on a weekday so it was peaceful and quite, so much so that I was more than aware of the noise my boots made as I tried to tip-toe into the reception. The girls on the front desk were welcoming and escorted me to a corner of the spa lounge to fill out the obligatory paperwork, which I did while sipping on a soothing lemongrass and ginger Jing tea. The lounge was filled with blossom trees and chill-out areas with sofas and plump, cosy cushions to recline into.
The spa menu is compact but this isn’t a bad thing; we’ve all sat for an eternity looking at a spa menu the length of War & Peace, struggling to select what we fancy. The massages and facials are the signature treatments but they also offer waxing, and nail services.
During for my visit at Bali it was recommended I try the Signature Swedish Relaxing Full Body Massage followed by a Payot Essential Brightening Facial. Anna, my therapist, came to collect me and guided me upstairs through the tranquil corridor of treatment rooms into my own room. Anna talked in detail and step by step about what the treatments would involve and we discussed any problem areas that would need concentrating on for the massage ( i had a strained neck and shoulders from sitting at my desk all day), she then asked if there were any particular results i needed or any concerns for my facial (my sensitive buy dry complexion needed soothing, nourishing formulas).
I’ve been lucky enough to have visited some of the best spas’ in the country, many of which deserve an abundance of praise and Bali now also sits alongside them at one of my top spa spots. The techniques Anna used were comprehensive and complex and she worked seriously hard with seemingly effortless flow to manipulate my body into a state of serene relaxation whilst using an in-house blended oil infused with the soothing scent of lemongrass and lavender. When Andrew (One of Bali’s Directors) told me about the therapist skills, he wasn’t over exaggerating. Hands down this was one of the best massage treatments I’ve ever had.
Next it was time for my Payot facial – a bespoke facial tailored to each clients individual needs. Thanks to me having the heating on full blast in my office everyday (practically making my contact lenses dry as crisps) my complexion was dehydrated and dull. No amount of at-home hydrating facemasks or nourishing oils were helping – I needed the experts for this one. Anna started with a facial massage with a salon specific silky balm followed by a double cleanse using a gentle milk lotion. An exfoliation was next, followed by a hydrating mask (Payot Hydra 24 Mask – amazing). While the mask was delivering a quenching boost to my complexion, I had a soothing scalp and neck massage. An eye cream and comforting moisturizer for sensitive skin was applied to finish. I was left to get dressed while Anna waited to take me back to relax in the lounge with another Jing tea.
After dragging myself away from this little slice of spa heaven, I headed back out onto the hectic streets of Manchester. I barely noticed the city mayhem and simply floated home on a cloud of blissful rejuvenation, I felt like a new woman. Forget the gym and embrace a totally different kind of work out; one for your mind, body and senses – this is the place where you need to be prioritizing your lifestyle membership.
Membership Rates and Inclusions.
Tier 1
Weekday: £43
Full: £53
Includes:
- 60 minute treatment
- 10% discount on other spa services,
- Discounted rate on yoga and meditation classes.
- Free skin consultation every 3 months
- Subscription to Bali Health Lounge Quarterly Newsletter
- Priority invitation to Bali health lounge Events
- Access to partner membership benefits
Tier 2:
Weekday: £58
Full: £68
- 90 minute treatment
- 15% discount on other spa services,
- Free yoga and meditation classes.
- Free skin consultation every 3 months
- Subscription to Bali Health Lounge Quarterly Newsletter
- Priority invitation to Bali health lounge Events
- Access to partner membership benefits
- Unlimited Access to massage chairs
- Unlimited use of tea lounge and complementary tea
Treatments Reviewed:
Payot Essential Brightening Facial (45 minutes, £50.00)
Signature Swedish Relaxing Full Body Massage (1 hour, £65.00)
Bali Health Lounge
1st, 48 George St, Manchester M1 4HF
www.balihealthlounge.com
Treatment Menu: View Here