Body Treatments

BEST MANUAL MASSAGE TO RELIEVE BODY ACHES, RELAX AND RE-ENERGISE.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

BEST MANUAL MASSAGE TO RELIEVE BODY ACHES, RELAX AND RE-ENERGISE.

Editors’ Choice
HEAVENLY MASSAGE ($188.32 FOR 60MIN; $258.95 FOR 90MIN)

Heavenly Spa by Westin, Level 35 The Westin Singapore, Asia Square Tower 2 (tel: 6922-6977)

The plush and tranquil space makes you feel like you’ve pressed “pause” on your super-busy life. You’ll feel relaxed and super pampered, from the welcome drink (a crisp, refreshing apple and cinnamon concoction) and cold towel infused with white tea, to an indulgent soak in the whirlpool with a view and, of course, the slow and gentle Swedish massage. Long, sweeping strokes relieve tension, loosening knots all over your body. The tester was lulled to sleep but woke up feeling refreshed, knot-free and happy.

Readers’ Choice
DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE

($58.85 FOR 60MIN; $88.28 FOR 90MIN; $117.70 FOR 120MIN) Healing Touch. Visit www.healingtouchspa.com/locations for outlets.

Don’t expect the works – there’s no private shower, steam room or jacuzzi. What you do get, however, will be a good, solid massage that gets rid of stubborn knots in typical problem spots (such as the neck, shoulders and back), while relieving tension all over the body. If you’re the sort who likes to snooze during your treatment, this one might not be for you because the therapist uses deep pressure, which can get slightly uncomfortable. Still, our tester found this extremely effective for pain relief, and the effects lasted a few days.

BEST CRYOTHERAPY CONTOURING TREATMENT (MACHINE-BASED)

Editors’ Choice
ESTHECRYO FATFREEZING TREATMENT ($550 FOR 60MIN)

Estheclinic. Visit www.estheclinic.com.sg/contact-us for outlets.

The clinic claims this is the world’s only pain-free nonsurgical fat-freezing treatment. Choose the body area you want to target, such as your back, hips, thighs, buttocks or lower back; our tester opted for the abdominals. A desensitising gel is applied before the suction pad is mounted. A word of caution: Avoid core exercises at least a day before as your abdominal area may be sore from your workout, and the suction pads could heighten the cramping sensation. Do this treatment no more than once in two months. In the days that followed, our tester felt a subtle ache in the abs which felt oddly satisfying, as though the stubborn fats were finally succumbing and breaking down. The effects should be visible in a month, and the clinic promises a 20-30 per cent fat reduction in the treated area.

Readers’ Choice
CLATUU 360 FAT FREEZE ($535 FOR 60MIN)

Cambridge Therapeutics, #08-05A2 Ngee Ann City Tower B (tel: 6733-6729)

The non-invasive fat-freezing treatment aims to break down fat cells. The machine is designed to freeze and then eliminate your existing fat deposits in the treated area. It’s suitable for tummy, thighs, love handles and arms – you can choose which area you’d like to focus on.

BEST CONTOURING TREATMENT (MACHINE-BASED)

Editors’ Choice
INTENSE FAT BURNING SLIMMING TREATMENT ($300 FOR 90MIN)

Dorra Slimming. Visit www.dorraslim.com.sg/find-us for outlets.

This tackles specific parts of the lower body, like a thick waist, tummy bulge or chunky thighs. A fat-burning and firming ampoule is applied on the area, and infrared energy is passed over it to boost its absorption and break down fats. The infrared heat may be mildly uncomfortable at first, but it settles into a warm sensation once your skin adjusts. Expect skin that looks tighter and more toned after one treatment. The tester also noticed less lumpiness on the thighs as small, stubborn fat pockets seemed smoother.

Editors’ Choice & Readers’ Choice
SIGNATURE BODY CONTOURING TREATMENT: REDEFINE-U WITH MP2 (FROM $200 PER AREA)

Senses Spa & Beauty, #03-19 The Cathay (tel: 6909-2559)

Radio-frequency waves and electro-magnetic energy are paired with Chinese massage. Your skin may feel quite warm as heat from the radiofrequency waves is delivered deep into fat layers, but it’s tolerable. (Keep in mind that the heat is meant to encourage fat breakdown, smooth cellulite and tighten saggy skin). After that, the treated area is given a vigorous massage to boost circulation and further soften the fats – this is thought to make it easier for them to be flushed from the body.

BEST ANTI-CELLULITE TREATMENT

Editors’ Choice
INTENSIVE BODY PERFECTION PROGRAMME (FROM $480 FOR 60MIN)

Estheclinic. Visit www.estheclinic.com.sg/contact-us for outlets.

The treatment combines two therapies: lipocavitation ultrasound that targets embedded fat cells, and thermo-controlled radiofrequency which stimulates collagen production to firm skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite. Both these are near-painless; the soft but high-pitched buzz of the ultrasound device is a more likely source of mild discomfort than the therapies themselves. Immediately after, the skin on the tester’s thighs looked tighter and their orange-peel appearance was slightly less obvious.

Readers’ Choice
CELLULITE SMOOTHIE ($133.75 FOR 30MIN)

Prive Aesthetics, #03-02 Palais Renaissance (tel: 6737-6639)

The technology this treatment uses – high energy radial shockwaves – may sound intense, but it feels more like a gentle massage. You’ll experience a mild squeezing sensation as shockwaves are delivered (via a tube-like handpiece) to areas with cellulite to break up the fats, but there’s virtually no pain. Other effects include boosting the formation of collagen and connective skin tissue, and enhancing blood circulation. After a few treatments, expect firmer, more supple skin and less obvious cellulite.

BEST MANUAL DESTRESS AND DETOX MASSAGE

Editors’ Choice & Readers’ Choice
THE ASIAN HERITAGE SIGNATURE ($282.50 FOR 90MIN)

The Fullerton Spa, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore (tel: 6877-8182/8183)

You’ll feel you’ve escaped the frenzied world outside. After a foot soak, the treatment begins with a scalp massage. Then, drawing on soothing Oriental techniques, your limbs are gently stretched and pressure applied to meridian points to improve circulation and the flow of energy or “qi”. The deep-tissue massage sent our tester into a blissful snooze as, using a blend of warmed (and body-warming) rosemary, ginger, lavender and black pepper oils, the therapist worked through the stiff muscles and achy areas with slow, gliding strokes and firm pressure.

BEST MANUAL SLIMMING AND CONTOURING TREATMENT

Editors’ Choice & Readers’ Choice
BOJIN MLD WRAP ($256.80 FOR 90MIN)

Healing Touch. Visit www.healingtouchspa.com/locations for outlets.

The treatment focuses on one area of the body, usually the stomach (although the tester opted for the thighs). The therapist uses gua sha – a massage using a tool to scrape the skin – to improve circulation. Our tester felt a satisfying sensation when pressure was applied, causing the skin to warm up – it wasn’t painful. The treatment ends with a neck-to-toe oxygenated bubbling seaweed wrap on a heated mattress. Sweat this out for about 15min, then head to the shower for a rinse-off. Overall, it’s a pleasant experience to help reduce water retention.

8 THINGS YOUR MASSAGE THERAPIST WANTS YOU TO KNOW

Kate Khwa, wellness director at Healing Touch, shares how to get the best out of your treatment.
1 Arrive early. It gives you time to learn more about the massage and whether it will suit you. You’ll also get to experience the full treatment.
2 Tell the therapist what type of pressure you like. Deeper doesn’t mean better for aches and pain – it’s deeply personal.
3 Tell the therapist about a recent or chronic injury or surgical procedure.
4 If you’re not comfortable with your therapist’s massage techniques, you can ask for a change within the first 10min of treatment.
5 Therapists are usually advised not to talk to you during the treatment so you can relax fully – they’re not being unfriendly or stand-offish.
6 Take a warm shower before the massage to relax your muscles.
7 After the massage, drink plenty of warm water to help your body further flush out toxins.
8 Wait two hours after your massage to shower. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that muscles are warmed up and pores opened after a massage. A shower will “let in dampness”, which in turn causes joint aches.