Music to help you relax
Dear members,
With the goal of always providing you with the best advice for your moments of relaxation, How To Spa presents its selection of relaxing music.
During a massage at a spa, it’s customary to play music to help you relax as much as possible. Very often, you’ll be offered a choice of different types of music (Zen nature sounds, jazz, world music, soft electronic music, etc.). Some spas even let you play your own playlist by connecting your phone!
When you find yourself at home while traveling, at the office, and if you want to use our relaxation guides, How To Spa will help you with the choosing music that’s tailored to your preferences.
For total relaxation
Reiki Music
Reiki is a massage practice created in 1922 by the Japanese Mikao Usui. Originally, these treatments were intended to literally improve the well-being of the recipient’s spirit. Since “Rei” means “spirit” and “Ki” means “energy,” these movements are meant to help develop, find, or rediscover one’s spiritual strength.
Reiki music is known in the spa industry for its deeply soothing effects on both the body and the mind. Blending Asian flute, piano, cello, guitar, and Tibetan singing bowls, it is composed specifically for the practice of Reiki. It is also used in many treatments for its deeply relaxing effects. In particular, it helps strengthen and accelerate the natural healing process and restores balance to the body and mind. It works on the physical, mental, emotional, and…
Download some Reiki music here: https://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/80-minutes-reiki-music-vol./id7671903137
Sound Vibrations and Chakras
It was during a conversation with Francisco Marti, a professional in the field of relaxation music, that we discovered this specific type of music designed to soothe the body and mind.
A professional musician for 25 years and a specialist in wind instruments, Francisco discovered the relaxing effect of sound vibrations and sought to learn more about them. He went on to create an album that combines his passion for ethnic music with the art of improvisation.
In her album, you’ll discover deeply relaxing compositions based on the seven chakras. Originating in Hinduism, the concept of the seven chakras is well-established in the spa industry. Meaning “wheels” in Sanskrit, they are the seven major energy centers of our body, located along a line that follows the path of the spine. Each chakra corresponds to a specific area of the body, as well as to emotions and physical and mental conditions. Thus, each is associated with an organ, a color, an emotion, and a sound vibration. Treatments that work on these chakras promote better physical and spiritual health.
Download his album here: https://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/souffle-vibratoire-relaxation-musicale/id1209313894?l=en
For a revitalizing and energizing effect
During your energizing self-massage—just like at a luxury spa—you can enhance your relaxation with more uplifting music, such as smooth jazz or smooth lounge.
You can find these songs here:
Musique Smooth Jazz : https://itunes.apple.com/fr/artist/spa-smooth-jazz-relax-room/id547557108
Musique Smooth Lounge: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/spa-lounge/id184808563
For a detox of the body and mind
Just like during a multi-day detox program at the finest wellness centers, this music was created specifically to accompany massages that eliminate toxins and purify the body.
You can find this album here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/relaxing-music-for-detox-holidays-at-health-spas/id1005157725
Have a great listening experience, everyone!
3 Brands – 3 Stories – 3 Favorites
Hello, dear readers of How To Spa,
Our team is pleased to introduce you to three of our favorite brands. These three brands align with our values and will be featured in our relaxation guides.
Home, Design, or even Cosmetics—step into their unique worlds, discover their stories, and try their products, selected by How To Spa
Kerzon, des soins naturels parfumés pour la maison et pour soi
It was while browsing a professional social media platform that we came across an article about this brand and the opening of its Paris boutique.
Impressed by the beautiful design, we were curious to learn more, so we reached out to the designers. That’s when we discovered a real gem!
Kerzon, founded in 2013 by two passionate brothers, Pierre-Alexis and Etienne Delaplace, offers delicately scented natural products for the home and body.
Inspired by their roots and travels—from Brittany to the Mediterranean, via the French capital—they find all the scents they need to create unique and delicate skincare products.
The creative process is “conceived as a material.” “Each fragrance is crafted through the lens of the fine arts to achieve, with rigor and precision, the perfect harmony that will resonate with everyone’s sense of smell.”
Candles, room sprays, laundry detergents, soaps. All of these products are available in distinct “collections.”
Our favorite is Brume Fleur Bleue. Maillette lavender, Italian bergamot, vetiver, and white musk create a truly fresh and clean sensation. You can find it here: http://www.kerzon.paris/boutique/brumes-parfumees/fleur-bleue-2/
To learn more: http://www.kerzon.paris
Whole, du linen—stylish and eco-friendly
As we were leaving an exhibition of niche brands—without having really found what we were looking for—we stumbled upon the Parisian store of this beautiful brand: Whole. Drawn in by the beautiful pastel colors of the storefront, we went inside to explore this world.
And what a lovely surprise! Throws, pillows, and bedding are scattered here and there in front of a handmade loom. At the back of the shop is their “kitchen,” where they dye their fabrics right on the spot.
Whole is, first and foremost, a socially conscious French brand. Their values are even reflected in their name:
- WASTEFREE
- HAND DYED
- ORGANIC
- LOCAL
- ECO FRIENDLY
Founded in 2013 by Aurélia Wolff, this eco-friendly and socially responsible company operates a textile design studio that uses 100% natural colors. The fabrics are eco-friendly or organic and are hand-dyed using fresh and dried plants and plant extracts.
To take things a step further, she created an open-source, eco-friendly dye vat through a FabLab, thereby becoming part of a collaborative and participatory economy.
Our favorite, the collection of hand-woven cushions. You can find it here: https://whole.fr/collections/les-series-limitees/products/petit-handwoven-mini-cushion
Learn more
: https://whole.fr
KOS, authentic cosmetics for the perfect “spa at home” experience
Discovered a few years ago in a spa magazine, this French brand created by Sophie Allouche is becoming increasingly popular thanks to its natural and authentic cosmetics.
Used in the finest spas and luxury hotels, their balms, scrubs, and oils combine pleasure and relaxation. They’re perfect for a “spa at home” session. You’ll also find our “at-home” relaxation guides in our “Create Your Own Relaxation” section.
Elixir of Legends with prickly pear seed oil grown on the plateaus of the Maghreb, babassu butter from the Amazon, beauty oil with green tea extracts grown in southwestern China… the ingredients are organic and sourced from around the world to ensure they are the finest and most effective possible.
Notre favori : l’huile corps et cheveux Jardin de l’Aube. Vous la trouverez ici: https://kos-paris.com/produits/jardin-de-laube
To learn more: https://kos-paris.com
The interview of the month
Ruth Indiathi, founder of the “Balinese Village” Balinese
Hello, Ruth. The How To Spa team is delighted to interview you, the Balinese massage specialist. Thank you for having us.
Can you tell us more about your background and your current work?
As an Indonesian spa therapist, I received my initial training in Indonesia in the 1990s on the islands of Java and Bali, primarily at what could be considered the precursors to today’s spas. There, we practiced Balinese body and scalp “creambath” massages, facial massages, as well as traditional treatments such as Mandi Lulur, Mandi Susu, Mandi Rempah, and Boreh. It goes without saying that my very first introductions to these practices date back to my childhood. These roots are obviously incredibly important, as it is a world of trust, tranquility, and curiosity that parents pass on when massaging a child. This inspires me and permeates my teaching.
I worked for Cinq Mondes in Paris in the early 2000s, during the spa boom in France, and then became a spa consultant for the Institut Coiffure et Nature in Bastille, the Six Senses Spa, the Shangri-La, and the Park Hyatt Paris. In 2007, I began working as an instructor for various schools. In 2011, I founded the professional training organization Village Balinais Formation in Paris. This center is dedicated to teaching Balinese massage to professionals (spa therapists, estheticians) in Paris and through immersion programs in Bali. In 2016, I also opened a private Balinese massage studio in the heart of Paris, where I welcome and treat private clients.
I consider Balinese massages to be a form of yoga, a natural, daily form of body therapy. They facilitate a journey toward the fulfillment of the body and the self. They allow us to go far beyond the distorted image and experience that clients usually have when they are familiar with overly simplified versions or have had a sometimes painful and chaotic experience in Bali.
The best Balinese massages are the Pijitan®/pijat Bali because they are the most comprehensive and technically structured, the most faithful to the Hindu-Buddhist tradition and the Indonesian archipelago where they originated, and at the same time, they are designed for people here. They lead to a deep sense of well-being, a natural sense of fulfillment, quite simply.
Among all the physical and emotional benefits they provide, they are characterized by the immense pleasure they bring, which is linked to the mental and physical relaxation they induce.
Your school offers training in the famous Balinese massage. This traditional Indonesian massage provides specific benefits. What are they?
I offer treatments based on the Balinese massage technique known as pijat Bali.
Both preventive, deeply sensory, and physical, I honor—through both practicing and teaching these techniques—the spirit of Indonesian expertise, which involves massaging the body’s surface to clear the mind and reconnect with oneself, the present moment, and what truly matters but is not usually visible: the body’s physical and relational needs, and the tensions that manifest within it.
On the physical level
1) They restore muscle tone, increase muscle flexibility, and treat tight areas (tension, muscle soreness, and stiffness in the neck and back).
2) They enhance sensory awareness and proprioception (perception of internal sensations).
3) They affect the circulatory system by flushing out toxins, thereby cleansing and purifying the body.
From a mind-body perspective
1) They are a remarkable source of self-fulfillment and lightheartedness.
2) They relieve fatigue and contribute to better sleep: As you enjoy the relaxation they provide, the pressures and thoughts that weigh on and tire the mind fade away, and internal agitation subsides.
3) In this moment of letting go brought about by the techniques of Balinese pijat, a gap in time and in the body begins to open up, , the client gains access to sensations and emotions that are usually unnoticed.
4) As a final benefit, the ultra-sensory techniques applied to the body’s surface in Balinese pijat and the spa therapist’s positioning—inspired by the Hindu-Buddhist tradition—lead to a new form of communication based on trust and empathy.
Are there different versions of this massage? Can it be received by everyone?
Balinese massages are diverse in that they are hybrid, drawing on Indian and Chinese medicine as well as the local traditions of the thousands of islands that make up the archipelago—the largest in the world. There is no single, standardized form of Balinese massage; rather, there are various styles.
Anyone can receive them, provided they follow the usual precautions and any medical restrictions that may apply.
Women and men who appreciate living life to the fullest and with respect will value the aesthetic expression of their femininity and masculinity.
By helping to restore muscle tone and relieve sore muscles, it is ideal for recovery for athletes and dancers.
Soothing and rejuvenating, they help restore a good night’s sleep. Engineers, journalists, and restaurant owners will appreciate it. Combined with a Balinese head massage (pijat kepala), the pijitan®/pijat Bali works wonders.
Whether you’re shy, emotional, or lacking in affection, you’ll appreciate its sensory qualities and the reawakening of simple sensations within a peaceful relationship.
You also offer other types of Indonesian massages. Can you tell us more about them?
There are many types of massage. In Indonesia, Balinese body massage is called pijat or urut; in France, I renamed them pijat Bali (body, abdominal, prenatal, Siamese pads, volcanic stones). There is another remarkable massage: the scalp massage. Known as “Creambath” in Indonesia, I renamed it “pijat kepala” in France and later “pliritan®,” a term that everyone in France has adopted. A hair beauty treatment in Indonesia, it is distinguished in France by the intense mind-body relaxation it provides and its combination with Balinese body or facial massage. Indonesia also offers its own versions of palm and foot reflexology, which can be found at my school.
Finally, according to you, What are the best places to get some exceptional Balinese massages (in France and/or around the world)?
In Indonesia, there’s plenty to eat and drink! So, I recommend that you try as many things as possible!
In Paris! As you know, I work at a studio called the “Private Balinese Massage Studio.” It’s located in the heart of Paris, in the lively Canal Saint-Martin neighborhood, just 2 minutes from Place de la République.
Conducted according to best practices and in accordance with protocol—while, of course, tailoring the approach to individual needs—my clients particularly appreciate the minimalist and private setting, the personalized care from one session to the next, the mind-body connection that develops through the body, the profound sense of fulfillment they experience, the insights this can bring, and above all, the pleasure of deep relaxation. They also appreciate having quiet time without any distractions after the sessions. I think they appreciate my rates, too!
I highly recommend the graduates who have trained at my school. The list is long—they work in spas, luxury salons, and luxury hotels, or are self-employed as fitness coaches, personal trainers, naturopaths, or bed-and-breakfast owners…. I wouldn’t want to offend anyone I might accidentally leave out. Some people use these techniques for their benefits without mentioning their origins. Estheticians appreciate them and use them for their deeply relaxing properties and their ability to be combined with body treatments. Their balanced nature is also an asset, since they allow for much more to be achieved than many traditional Asian body massages, which can quickly become exhausting for the esthetician. These come to mind.
In Paris, Ruth Indiathi, a private Balinese massage studio, http://www.levillagebalinais.com/blog/, tel. 06 50 20 62 33
Near Lille, Rebecca: Massages in Lille: http://www.lille-aux-massages.fr/
Near Strasbourg, Caroline, esthetician: Bayi Institut: bayi.institut@hotmail.fr
In Reims, Jessica, esthetician: Prélude Beauté: www.institut-preludebeaute.fr/
In Epernay, Marlies offers Balinese massage. She’s on Facebook.
In Bordeaux, Fabrice: http://www.fabrice-escher.fr/
Near Nîmes—in Uzès, to be exact—Fabienne runs “La Maison Rouge,” a beautiful bed-and-breakfast. She offers Balinese massages upon request: www.maison-rouge-uzes.com
Author: Ruth Indiath
You’re interested in:
1- Professional training in traditional Balinese massage: This program takes place year-round in Paris at our professional training center, the Village Balinais. Training and immersion in Indonesia (Bali) are offered during the summer.
2- Enjoy a Balinese pijat Bali massage at the private Balinese massage studio: Take a step back, focus on yourself and your well-being in a haven of peace and tranquility.
Village Balinais: Balinese Massage Training and Private Studio, Paris
9 Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, 75011 Paris
To register or make an appointment:
Contact: Ruth Indiathi
Phone: 06 50 20 62 33
Email: levillagebalinais@gmail.com
Blog: http://www.levillagebalinais.com/blog/
Text written by Ruth Indiathi
Chic des Plantes: Refined, Organic Herbal Teas
Hello, dear readers,
In the spa world, herbal teas are a key part of your relaxation experience. Before or after your massage, you’ll often be offered tea or an herbal infusion to help you continue relaxing. You can also find our recommended products in our relaxation guides!
Chic Des Plantes
As part of our ongoing effort to introduce you to new products, we’d like to present a brand of natural herbal teas founded in 2015: Chic Des Plantes.
We first heard about this brand while talking with fellow spa managers. We had the chance to speak with the founder, Corinne Lacoste, and sample her delicious herbal teas.
The concept? To offer innovative herbal teas in tea bags or loose-leaf form. Eleven herbal teas with evocative names, in eco-friendly starch-based tea bags wrapped in recyclable plastic.
We fell in love with Belle Plante, a relaxing rose-based herbal tea.
For DIY herbal teas, Chic des Plantes offers its 8 “Essentials”: Strawberry, Ginger, Apple, Linden, Hibiscus… all sourced from high-quality producers. The flavor is preserved thanks to a slow dehydration process, which is gentler than the standard method of drying herbs. So, when you make your own blend and let it steep for 10 minutes in hot water, the ingredients rehydrate and release their full flavor. We actually got to try the Apple-Ginger blend: it was absolutely delicious!
Their latest creations: bouillons, complete with a user guide—we really love them, especially since it’s rare to find this kind of high-quality product on the market!
Finally, to help you make even more delicious drinks, you’ll find recipes and accessories on their website.
Feel free to subscribe to discover their creations, delivered in beautiful pouches. For spa professionals, if you’re looking to stand out with a chic and eco-friendly touch, this brand is perfect for you.
Enjoy the tasting!
For more information: https://www.chicdesplantes.fr
Hinokibo: A Unique Japanese Massage
Hello to everyone,
We’d love to introduce you to a massage straight from Japan: the HinokiBō massage!
Hinokibo and Bloom Classic
Launched in Japan in 2007, it is a blend of several traditional techniques.
Whether performed on the face or the body, this treatment is one of a kind. What makes it special? In addition to her hands, the therapist uses a traditional Japanese tool: the bo (stick) made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood. Handcrafted by a Japanese artisan from Matsuyama Prefecture, this tool allows for a targeted and varied massage. In addition, Japanese cypress has antiseptic properties.
Created and offered by the Bloom Classic brand, its director, Rieko KITAJIMA, welcomed me to their Parisian offices to introduce me to the concept. I was able to experience the HinokiBō facial massage, which left me feeling deeply relaxed, with a lifted appearance and a renewed glow.
It’s worth noting that there is a targeted body treatment for slimming: it relieves muscle tension, effectively and evenly drains every part of the body, sculpts the figure and defines the contours, and firms and tones the skin.
The Massage Process
Therapist Julia settles me comfortably onto the massage table and adjusts the angle to my liking for greater comfort (head and feet). The Japanese music already transports you to this beautiful country. After cleansing my hands with warm oshibori, she wraps a cozy headband around my head for maximum comfort.
Two products will be used. Power Tree HI Gel, for a thorough facial cleansing. Formulated with a blend of Indian coleus root and Japanese cypress essential oil, it has cleansing, refreshing, and antiseptic properties. Power Tree Finish Oil is then used for the massage. Thanks to a blend of plant-based oils, it has a draining and lifting effect. Its grapefruit scent is also very subtle and pleasant.
The cleansing will be done by hand. The Hinoki oil will be used during the massage. It will be applied to the neck, around the carotid artery and lymph nodes, for a draining effect, as well as to the hollows of the cheeks for a deeply relaxing effect. The lifting effect and the boost in radiance are felt through the successive movements on the cheekbones and forehead. Forty minutes later, I feel very relaxed, and I immediately see the radiant and lifting effect in the mirror. I’m really impressed!
After taking the time to log back in, I chatted with the designer and learned about the story behind the concept. She also showed me the rest of their cosmetics line, which will be available in France sometime next year.
Want to give it a try?
If you’d like to experience this amazing treatment right away, head to Spa Molitor in Paris’s 16th arrondissement, where the treatment has recently become available in collaboration with Clarins: Spa Molitor: http://www.mltr.fr/fr/life/#spa
Bloom Classic spas are very well-known in Japan, and the brand is looking to expand into France. Professionals looking to expand their menu can contact them through their website for more information.
To learn more: http://www.bloomclassic.fr/
Clothing that is trendy and ethical
Hello Dear Members,
As Ready-to-Wear Fashion Week comes to a close this weekend, How To Spa would like to share its discoveries of a few cozy and ethical clothing brands! Through our tutorials, you’ll find recommendations for clothing items such as scarves, shawls, sweaters, socks, pajamas, and more—perfect for a relaxing moment.
Check out their websites for everything you need to build a trendy and ethical wardrobe!
BrainTree Clothing, recently renamed We Are Thought
Founded in Australia in 1995, this ready-to-wear brand offers clothing made from natural and recycled materials, produced with a focus on sustainability. Every step of the process is designed to maximize eco-design.
As advocates of the slow fashion concept, they select and collaborate with designers and producers who share their ethical vision.
Check out our selection of shawls and socks for our tutorials: http://www.wearethought.com/accessories/scarves/ & http://www.wearethought.com/sustainable-socks/
People Tree
This beautiful British brand is known for being a pioneer in ethical fashion. In business for over 25 years, it works with local artisans and producers. Its goal is to develop a new market and create opportunities for people who would not normally have access to them. Pants, tops, sweaters… the brand offers the full range of ready-to-wear clothing.
Check out our selections of pajamas for our tutorials: http://www.peopletree.co.uk/women/nightwear
Indigenous
We’ve totally fallen in love with this American brand—its style and product variety are right up there with the best!
Raw materials of natural origin, partnerships with local producers to ensure fair and sustainable trade, manufacturing processes free of harmful chemicals… their ethical philosophy is genuine and deeply embedded in all their processes.
Check out our selections of sweaters for our tutorials: http://www.indigenous.com/fashion/womens/sweaters/
